Welcome to my corner of the internet where you can learn about my projects, my advocacy, and my work – thanks for stopping by!
On my site you’ll find a repository of my publications, blogs, info and resources including lots of freely available content on my work with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial research, including video seminars, presentations and publications.
You’ll also find many of my Speech Language Therapy resources, as well as my news and views on places that I have travelled and my interpretations of current events which may influence healthcare practice around the world.
Have a look around – starting with latest posts is a great place to start!
About Me
After growing up in East Sussex, United Kingdom, and later in Christchurch, New Zealand, I have the privilege of being able to call several places home. From 2018, I had the opportunity to spend several years living and working in the United Kingdom based in the vibrant city of London, before returning to Aotearoa New Zealand for several years. From mid-2026, I have found my latest home on the sunny Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
I have both a personal and academic interest in cleft lip and palate and travel the world to learn about cleft, as well as share my knowledge about cleft to upskill others.
I completed my Speech Language Therapy honours degree in 2015, and worked as a Speech Language Therapist for several years at the TalkLink Trust in the specialist area of Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC). I have also worked extensively in the charity and not-for-profit sector: I am a former CEO of Cleft New Zealand, and in July 2021 completed my role as the Adult Services Project Lead at the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA) in the UK.
Currently, I work as a Lecturer in the Speech Pathology programme within the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University. Within my research portfolio, I lead a programme of cleft and craniofacial research with a particular focus on investigating quality of life across the lifespan (including adolescents, adults, and older adults) for people with cleft and other craniofacial conditions. Although the programme is based in Australia, we conduct research with global impact and partner with colleagues and institutions all around the world. Everything we do is designed to improve clinical practice and ensure that patient voices and perspectives are kept at the heart of cleft and craniofacial care.
In 2021, I completed my MSc research degree at the University of Canterbury in Speech and Language Sciences looking at the psychological impact of speech differences in New Zealand adults who were born with a cleft. In 2025 I completed a PhD in both Speech and Language Sciences, and also in Psychology (also at the University of Canterbury); this was a three-year follow up study designing, delivering, and evaluating speech language therapy and psychology interventions to improve quality of life for people who were born with cleft.
Finally, I do a lot of consultancy, guest presentation, and partnership working with organisations and institutions all around the world. If you have an opportunity which you think that I might be interested in, please get in touch.
Except where otherwise stated, all views are my own.
Kenny Ardouin 