The Team
Banu Balaji
Occupational Therapist / CEO & Founder of Therapix
Banu Balaji is a seasoned occupational therapist with over two decades of experience in HSE, Ireland, specialising in working with children and families within the realm of child and adolescent mental health. Banu is a visionary entrepreneur, embarking on an exciting technology to revolutionise support systems for parents and teachers of children of determination, leveraging innovative solutions to enhance accessibility and quality of care.
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Banu also produces and hosts the Therapod podcast where she makes therapeutic information easy to understand and accessible to parents and teachers.
Banu offers consultations, training, and coaching for parents, teachers, and schools
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Julie O’Meara
Speech and Language Therapist
Julie is an experienced speech and language therapist dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and young adults. With over 10 years of practice across Vietnam, Australia, the UK, and Ireland, she brings a global perspective to her work. Julie has significant experience in mental health, where she combines her expertise in communication with a deep understanding of emotional well-being. An advocate for neuro-affirming and trauma-informed care, she is passionate about helping families enhance communication and connection to foster secure, positive relationships with their children. Julie specializes in neurodevelopmental assessments and interventions for conditions such as ASD, DLD, and ADHD, providing tailored support throughout the lifespan.
Dr. Elizabeth Joy Shaffer
Founder of Therapeutic Innovations International, LLC
Dr. Elizabeth Joy Shaffer is the founder of Therapeutic Innovations International, LLC. With a strong foundation in occupational therapy and human development, she has devoted her career to creating ground-breaking therapeutic solutions that tackle complex educational and health challenges globally.
Dr. Shaffer is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Forum for Inclusion Professionals and serves as co-chair of the IFIP Specialist and Therapist Board. A U.S. board-certified occupational therapist residing with her family in Belgium, she facilitates onsite and online training and coaching programs, merging Eastern health practices with Western evidence-based therapeutic approaches to enhance the growth and development of families and educational institutions worldwide.
Dr Micaela Connolly
Clinical and Educational Psychologist
Micaela is a senior educational and child psychologist with over 25
years’ experience of working in disability services, providing psychological support to
children and adults. She currently works on an interdisciplinary team
in a disability service for children and young people. Micaela’s work involves
assessment, therapy, training, and the development and implementation of materials
and programmes to advance understanding and awareness of autism and ways to
support autistic people.
She is passionate about working in a person-centred, neuroaffirmative, and strengths-focused way. She is a
chartered member of the Psychological Society of Ireland.
Impa Hiriyana
Speech Pathologist, Maple Leaf Speech and Language Services, Canada
With over 12 years of clinical and Management experience, Impa is dedicated to improving virtual healthcare delivery and advancing digital speech-language pathology. Her mission is to empower healthcare professionals, enhance client care, and contribute to a more accessible virtual and digital healthcare system for all children and their families with special needs.
Her expertise is screening, assessing, and treating children with communication challenges, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Apraxia of Speech, and Augmentative Communication. She has worked across various settings, including preschools, daycares, and schools, to help children develop the communication skills they need to thrive.
In 2016, Impa pioneered “The Three Handed Approach” and the “Co-pilot Approach” in Alberta through her virtual service delivery, two innovative models designed to improve access to speech therapy for families who lived in remote areas. These methods have since made a significant impact by expanding services to underserved communities.
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Stefania Finelli
Senior Clinical Psychologist
With over 15 years of experience both in Italy and in HSE, Ireland, she has extensive experience of assessing and working therapeutically with both children and adults, specialising in diagnostic assessments for Autism Spectrum Conditions and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. She adopts an integrative, collaborative and person-centered approach to help the children she works with reach their full potential. She also completed a Master’s course in Pedagogical Coordinator at University of Florence magna cum laude, and she is very passionate about providing creches, preschools and schools psychological and pedagogical supervision and support.
She is a Chartered Member of the Psychological Society of Italy.
Georgie Cooney
Georgie Cooney is an author and a fully qualified teacher who is passionate about creating a positive learning experience for all children. As a teacher and a dyslexia specialist, she has taught in a variety of schools both at home and abroad. Georgie has also spent many years training teachers to teach and understand neurodiverse learners.
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Up until 2025, she was coordinating the Cork Workshop for Dyslexia Ireland. Georgie was also a co-host on the podcast The Long Way Back with Timmy Long where they discussed all things Neurodiversity. Furthermore, she was a tutor for ICEP (Institute of Child Education and Psychology) and a trainer for CyberSafeKids Ireland.
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Georgie’s main job (that she loves) is working with a range of learners with learning differences both in Co Cork, Ireland and in and around Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, U.K.
She is rarely seen without one one of her many dogs and continues to love being with her family and friends whilst walking, talking and learning. Georgie is currently studying a Masters in Autism and Neurodiversity with the NSPC and perseveres with her love of learning.
Fred Iles
Creative Director
Fred Iles is a writer and director, working in Bristol, UK. With 10+ years’ experience in the filmmaking industry, he has specialised in social impact storytelling. He has worked with the NHS, countless charities, local authorities, community organisations, and even an inclusive theatre company to craft visually engaging films and animations that help to make people's lives that little bit better