Ms Ann Smaill, of Arrowtown, ONZM for services to speech-language therapy
Ms Ann Smaill is a speech-language therapist who pioneered Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in New Zealand. She built the systems, workforce and funding structures to make AAC devices available to New Zealanders who needed them. She established the TalkLink Christchurch and Wellington offices and secured contracts with government agencies. She was a founding member of the Assistive Technology Association of New Zealand (ATANZ), and has contributed to university programmes, ensuring that Speech-Language Therapy and Special Education students graduate with awareness and skills in AAC. She has been recognised within the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Ms Smaill launched KiwiChat camps where over 500 participants share AAC experiences. She leads the Tua o te Pae Project, developing synthetic Te Reo Māori voices for AAC devices.