Nat Munro

Biography

Dr. Natalie (Nat) Munro is a Professor of Speech Pathology at Southern Cross University’s Faculty of Health. A certified practicing speech-language pathologist since 1996, she has extensive experience in academic, clinical, and educational settings, including NSW Health and various schools. She completed her PhD at The University of Sydney in 2008, focusing on word-learning in children with language disorders, and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Studies in 2009. Nat has held leadership roles such as Course Director for the undergraduate speech pathology program at The University of Sydney and APRU Asia-Pacific Women in Leadership Mentor.

Her research covers speech and language development from toddlerhood to adolescence, collaborating with experts in speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, community pediatrics, education, and linguistics. With over $5 million in grant funding and more than 75 refereed publications, Nat is recognized for her significant contributions to the field.

Research

Dr. Munro explores individual differences in speech, language, and communication development among children with developmental language disorders, speech sound disorders, ADHD, and autism. She also focuses on evidence-based interventions to support children and their support systems. As a heritage language speaker, Nat has a keen interest in multilingualism. She received the DVC Research/Brown Fellowship and has been a keynote speaker at international conferences, establishing her as a global leader in developmental language disorder research.

Community Engagement

Dr. Munro was an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders and is currently the Editor-in-Chief for The International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. She is also a founding committee member of SpeechBITE, an online database for speech pathology interventions. Her collaborations with local health districts, early childhood education, and non-government organizations have earned her recognition for integrated care and collaborative achievements. Nat has appeared on ABC Sydney and the Talking DLD Podcast and serves on the research advisory committee for SATB2 Connect.

Supervision

Dr. Munro has supervised eight PhD students, four research masters students, and over 20 Honours students, many of whom have received awards and grants. She has also examined PhD and Masters theses.

Teaching

An award-winning teacher, Dr. Munro is committed to advancing speech-language pathology. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2021) and a former National Tour Speaker for Speech Pathology Australia. Nat has co-led and developed online professional development modules on Developmental Language Disorder and is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, having participated in the SAGE Self Assessment Team at The University of Sydney.

Other

Dr. Munro is a research affiliate at The University of Sydney and a member of Speech Pathology Australia, the International Association of the Study of Child Language (IASCL), and the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP).