Meet the Staff

Dr. Noreen Simmons started in her current role as Executive Director (ED) in January 2010. As ED she has broadened the Society’s provincial early intervention services, increased government funding and raised the profile of the agency as a clinical teaching and research unit.  Her experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist in India, the Middle-East and Canada has helped advocate for, improve and expand programs and services so that families have opportunities to make optimal communication choices.  Dr. Simmons’ research  in linguistic and cultural diversity has enabled access to a global-range of expertise in the delivery of family-centered services.  She provides lectures, workshops and presentations nationally and internationally and is also a member of the teaching faculty at the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences, UBC. She is a lover of dogs and in her leisure time likes traveling with her family, reading and entertaining her twins

Linda Spencer has worked with the Surrey Early Speech and Language Program (SESLP) since 1991 as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and now acts as Program Coordinator. Following graduation from Western Washington University with a degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, she worked in Grande Prairie, Alberta with children from three to fourteen years. Linda then obtained her Master’s degree from University of Western Ontario and returned to BC to help start SESLP and has remained there ever since.  Some of Linda’s highlights have been co-developing and facilitating our parent language and phonology workshops, our songs and rhymes group for toddlers, a language group for 4-5 year olds and our Kindergarten Readiness Info Night.  In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, canoeing/kayaking, camping, snow-shoeing, being involved with the Scouts, reading, painting and spending time with her son

Mindy Dhillon retired from her position at Fraser Health as the Clinical Practice Leader for the Public Health SLP Program in 2016, at which time she was happy to continue her career at BCFHRC where she has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in the Surrey Early Speech and Language Program (SESLP).  Mindy received her Masters of Arts Degree from the University of Western Washington and has been practicing in the field since 1985.  She has experience working with all ages, but more recently has focused on preschool children. She is certified to provide Lidcombe Stuttering Therapy, the Hanen – It Takes Two to Talk program, More than Words, Learning Language and Loving It, and Target Word workshops for parents.  In her spare time, Mindy enjoys running, Pilates, yoga, reading, going to movies and plays, snowshoeing and spending time with her family and friends.

Suna Karamani, a University of British Columbia graduate, has worked as a Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) with the Surrey Early Speech and Language Program since January 2015, where she made the gradual transition from the private to public sectors. Prior to then, she worked as an English as a Second Language teacher for Simon Fraser University and Burnaby Continuing Education. In her current role as a SLP, she enjoys providing individualized support to families, leading parent-and-child groups, facilitating parent workshops, collaborating with her colleagues and community members as well as mentoring students and volunteers. In her spare time, Suna enjoys spending time with her growing family. In the near future, she hopes to bring her love for skiing, camping and travelling into her son’s life.