Welcome Address by ESLA Chair Sahra Mengal

Dear ESLA community

It is with great enthusiasm and commitment that I take on this responsibility, and I look forward to working alongside our dedicated member associations, professionals, and stakeholders to advance the field of speech and language therapy across Europe.

ESLA plays a crucial role in supporting and promoting the highest standards of practice, research, and education within our profession. Our collective efforts help ensure that individuals with communication and swallowing disorders receive the best possible care and support. In the coming years, my vision is to strengthen collaboration across our network, enhance professional development opportunities, and advocate for policies that reinforce the importance of our work in healthcare and education systems.

As we navigate an ever-evolving healthcare landscape, it is essential that we stay at the forefront of innovation and best practices. By fostering greater collaboration between member associations, academia, and practitioners, we can elevate the standards of speech and language therapy and ensure that our profession remains dynamic and responsive to emerging challenges.

One of my key priorities will be to expand ESLA’s role in advocacy and policy-making. It is crucial that we raise awareness of the importance of speech and language therapy among policymakers, healthcare providers, and the general public. By strengthening our presence at both national and European levels, we can ensure that speech and language therapists have a stronger voice in shaping policies that impact the lives of millions.

Additionally, I am committed to enhancing professional development opportunities for our members. We will work towards expanding access to high-quality training, fostering international collaboration in research, and creating platforms for knowledge exchange. Through conferences, workshops, and digital resources, ESLA aims to empower professionals with the latest evidence-based practices and technological advancements in the field.

I encourage all member associations to actively engage in ESLA’s initiatives, share knowledge, and participate in discussions that shape the future of our profession. Your voices, experiences, and expertise are invaluable in driving forward our shared mission. Together, we can build a stronger, more unified community dedicated to improving communication and swallowing health for individuals across Europe.

Thank you for your continued dedication and support. I am excited about the journey ahead and look forward to working with all of you to make a lasting impact.

All the best,
Sahra Mengal,
Chair, European Speech and Language Association (ESLA)

Meet the new ESLA Board members - part I

Newly elected ESLA Chair, Sahra Mengal, has over 17 years of experience in working with the pediatric population, and currently serves as a manager for pediatric SLT services in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

She likes being an SLT for a variety of reasons. It allows her to make a real difference in children's lives, helping them find their voice and communicate with confidence. 

Seeing their progress - whether it is saying their first words, improving social interactions, or gaining independence -  fills her with a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment. She enjoys the challenge of problem-solving and working closely with families  and caregivers to create meaningful change. The field is constantly evolving, so there is always something new to learn, whether it is new therapy techniques, technology, or research. In her current position as a manager, she likes to mentor, guide, and support other SLTs, helping them grow in their careers, develop new skills, and feel empowered in their roles. She has the opportunity to shape the quality of care provided to clients by influencing practices, policies, and team dynamics. She enjoys having the opportunity to foster a supportive, respectful, and motivating work environment where therapists feel valued, heard, and inspired to do their best work.

She has been part of ESLA since 2019, serving as a delegate for the Danish SLT Association, Audiologopædisk forening (ALF) for the first four years. In 2022, she joined the ESLA Board, taking on the responsibility for communication and engagement. 

Sahra’s motto is Giving Every Voice a Chance - With Responsibility and Compassion.

During ESLA’s recent General Assembly, Sarah Degiovani became Chair Elect of ESLA. In her clinical practice, she mainly works with adults, especially in the neurodegenerative field but also post stroke. What she enjoys most about being an SLT is helping people communicate across all stages of life. Sarah Degiovani has known ESLA literally all her life and has followed the organisation’s activities for many years. Sarah aims to make sure that ESLA becomes a household name in the SLT community. Every voice matters if we want to go further and higher!

As a huge Alexandre Dumas fan and an all time team worker, Sarah’s motto is Un pour tous et tous pour un.

Maria Kyriacou is ESLA’s new General Secretary. She works with children in early intervention, phonological disorders, autism, and cleft palate. What she appreciates most about her work as an SLT is the interaction with children and their honesty, as well as making a difference in people's lives. She was previously involved in ESLA as a delegate from the Cypriot SLT Association between  2013 and 2022. She also served ESLA as the Chair of the SLT Day & Webinars Task Force in the past. 

Maria’s Motto is Be kind!

Meet the new ESLA Board members - part II

Spyros Koutras from Greece (Panhellenic Association of Speech and Language Therapists, PAL) will be ESLA’s Treasurer for the next two years. His professional background is primarily in paediatrics, with a focus on communication disorders. In recent years, he transitioned into academia, where he now mainly delivers clinical modules and conducts research, particularly in the fields of inclusive education and bilingualism. He loves the diversity that comes with being an SLT as it blends science, psychology, education, and creativity in a way that constantly challenges him to think critically and empathetically. No two days are the same, and each case and/or student brings a unique perspective that teaches him something new. Spyros has been actively involved in ESLA since 2022, serving as the official delegate for Greece. 

Spyros’ motto is Empower through communication, lead with integrity, and always stay curious.

ESLA Board member Helje Möller has been working in the field of education in the same preschools/kindergartens for 25 years now. The children she works with are between the ages of 2 and 8. Since these are public preschools, she encounters almost the full range of childhood disorders related to speech and language, as well as intellectual and neurodiversity-related challenges. Her full-time job is in a special group that brings together children with more severe speech, language, and social disorders. Working in a small group alongside special education teachers gives them the opportunity to provide an individual approach and focused attention to each child.

Their main goal is to help these children grow and develop the skills they need to successfully transition into the mainstream public school system - and to do it in a way that celebrates who they are. Helje finds Speech and Language Therapy incredibly rewarding, with no two days ever being the same. It is a field where she gets to be creative and can truly make a difference in a child’s life. She also enjoys a good challenge. Every time she meets a new child, it feels like the beginning of a riddle, she gets to help solve. One of the most magical moments is seeing the change in a child’s eyes and behavior when they realise they can express their feelings, needs, and thoughts - when they understand they are being heard and understood. And after all these years… she still loves playing games ;).

Helje first joined ESLA in 2017 as a delegate on behalf of the Estonian Logopedists Union (ELU). On a national level, she was elected to the Board in 2016. From January 2022 to January 2025, she served as the association’s Chairwoman.

Professionally, Helje lives by the motto Every child has the right to be heard, understood, and loved. Another phrase that resonates deeply with her is Human diversity is the objective reality.

ESLA Board member İlknur Maviş works with people of all ages, treating not only children with developmental language disorder as well adults with aphasia. What she enjoys most about being an SLT is improving people’s quality of life by helping them overcome communication challenges. İlknur is the president of the Turkish SLT Association (Dil ve Konusma Terspistleri Dernegi, DKTD) and has been involved in ESLA as a delegate for two years. 

Her motto is Be creative, listen to others, find the best way, and work for it!