About Us
Evidence-based, dynamic and responsive
The Communication Lab is a collective of like-minded clinical practitioners, who love working together to make a difference. With years of experience, a strong team spirit, and a deep commitment to putting clients at the heart of everything we do, we focus on collaboration, sharing ideas, and staying connected to the latest research and evidence-based practices. We deliver flexible, high-quality speech pathology support to families throughout Sydney’s Northern Beaches and North Shore.
Our Team
Ingrid Steyns
Speech and Language Pathologist, Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist
BBHS, MSLP, LSLS Cert. AVT ®, CPSP
Ingrid has a genuine compassion and gentle presence, which shine through in her every interaction. She combines deep knowledge and thoughtful insights to create an environment where others feel understood and encouraged.
With extensive clinical experience, Ingrid specialises in helping individuals with hearing loss develop their listening, speech, and language skills. This includes cochlear implant evaluation and rehabilitation. Her expertise spans across both non-profit and private sectors, and she has trained clinicians in regions across Australia, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, all aimed at improving communication outcomes for those with hearing loss.
Ingrid has also designed and delivered international clinical training programs for a leading global cochlear implant manufacturer; she is passionate about sharing her knowledge and has developed strong skills in providing professional learning to others. Her experience in training clinicians has allowed her to mentor and guide professionals in improving their practice, fostering a collaborative environment focused on growth and development. Ingrid has presented at both Australian and international conferences and has lectured at the University of Sydney.
Renowned for her ability to bring professionals from diverse fields together, Ingrid excels at identifying shared goals to improve outcomes for individuals. She is deeply passionate about enhancing communication and quality of life for people with hearing loss.
Outside of work, Ingrid values meaningful connections with her family, friends, and nature. She can often be found by the beach, walking or running, or enjoying bike rides around the lake with her children.
Jen Whiteway
Speech and Language Pathologist, Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist
BLibStudies, MSLP, LSLS Cert. AVT ®, CPSP
Jen's warmth and genuine care shine through the moment you meet her. She listens with empathy and responds with heartfelt compassion, making others feel comfortable and valued.
Jen brings extensive clinical experience in developing listening, speech, and language skills for people with hearing loss and specializes in cochlear implant evaluation and rehabilitation.
She has worked in both private practice and not-for-profit organisations and is passionate about her work with families to ensure they are supported to thrive and foster their child’s communication development.
As a clinical innovator, Jen has developed learning pathways to help clinicians transition from general practice to a listening and spoken language specialty, supporting over 30 clinicians in earning advanced qualifications.
She shares her knowledge and clinical expertise through professional learning opportunities, having presented at international conferences and lectured at the University of Sydney. Jen is also an experienced researcher and analyst, specialising in complex clinical data.
In her spare time, Jen can be found walking the bush walks of Sydney with her family and dog or curled up on the couch with a good book, a cup of tea and a lap full of knitting.
Joanna McAdam
Speech and Language Pathologist, Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist
BA, MSLP, LSLS Cert. AVT ®, CPSP
Joanna is a clear communicator and careful thinker, who dedicates herself to helping others succeed. Her expertise, empathy and thoughtfulness are apparent in all her interactions along with her honest and approachable nature.
Joanna is highly experienced in developing listening, speech, and language skills for individuals with hearing loss. She has specialised knowledge in cochlear implant evaluation and rehabilitation, and is dedicated to support individuals to achieve better listening and communication outcomes.
Joanna also has a keen interest in executive function development, focusing on the cognitive processes that influence learning and behaviour. She is skilled at running group programs for therapeutic intervention, creating effective and engaging environments for individuals to thrive.
In addition to her clinical work, Joanna has significant experience in managing and training clinicians, where she mentors and supports their professional growth. Her approach fosters collaboration and continuous development, ensuring that both individuals and teams are empowered to deliver exceptional care.