Speech Pathologist · Social Entrepreneur · Bionics Advocate
Pioneering hearing health and bionics innovation for over five decades — giving deaf children the gift of listening and spoken language.
"Every deaf child deserves the chance to listen, speak, and fulfil their potential."
About Dimity
Dr Dimity Dornan AO is a speech pathologist, author, social entrepreneur, bionics advocate, and researcher based in Brisbane, Queensland. With a career spanning over five decades, she has fundamentally changed the lives of thousands of deaf children and their families across Australia and beyond.
As the first speech pathology graduate from the University of Queensland and the first speech pathologist to work at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Dimity has always led from the front. She founded the Hear and Say Centre for Deaf Children in 1992, helping to initiate Australia's first newborn hearing screening program in Queensland hospitals.
Dimity is also a passionate advocate for the emerging bionics industry, founding Bionics Queensland and the Human Bionics Interface — an international network of researchers, clinicians, businesses and investors accelerating bionic solutions for previously untreatable medical conditions.
She was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2017, elected to the University of Queensland Senate, and holds the Officer of the Order of Australia.
The Numbers
From a single centre in Brisbane to a global movement, Dimity's work has created ripples that extend far beyond Australia's borders.
Established Australia's first newborn hearing screening program in Queensland, forever changing early intervention for deaf children.
Ground-breaking auditory verbal work training children's brains to utilise cochlear implants and bionic hearing technologies.
Building the Human Bionics Interface — connecting thought leaders, researchers, and investors to deliver bionic solutions worldwide.
Organisations
Founded in 1992, Hear and Say is a global hearing health education and development program with six centres across Queensland, including a telepractice for remote regions. The organisation provides early intervention services and family training in auditory-verbal therapy, helping deaf children to listen and speak using cochlear implants and hearing technologies.
Formerly Bionics Queensland (BioniQ), this organisation was established to promote the development of the human bionic industry in Queensland and across Australia. As founder and board member, Dimity champions the intersection of medical technology, research, and commercialisation to position Australia at the forefront of the global bionics sector.
An international network of bionics researchers, clinicians, businesses, start-ups and investors collaborating to accelerate the delivery of bionic solutions that will address previously untreatable medical conditions. Dimity founded this initiative to expand the opportunities for bionic innovation beyond Australia's shores.
Established by Dimity to expand hearing health opportunities for deaf children in developing countries. Also linked to the Dimity Dornan Hear and Say Master of Speech Pathology Scholarship at Griffith University, supporting second-year students with an interest in paediatric speech pathology and regional practice.
Recognition
Dimity's contributions to hearing health, bionics, and social entrepreneurship have earned recognition at the highest levels of Australian civic and professional life.
Media & Appearances
A conversation with Dr Dimity Dornan on her life's work in auditory verbal practice, cochlear implants, and the future of bionics. Available on Apple Podcasts.
Fran Kelly interviews Dimity on her founding of Hear and Say and her vision for deaf children accessing spoken language through technology.
Dimity shares powerful real-life stories of children and families whose lives have been transformed by hearing technology and auditory verbal therapy.
A visual storytelling campaign documenting the transformative impact of Hear and Say and bionic hearing technologies on Queensland children.
Dimity and Peter Dornan served as Australia Day Ambassadors, sharing their story of contribution, innovation and community service across Queensland.
University of Queensland Alumnus of the Year (2011) and inspiration behind the Dimity Dornan Hear and Say Master of Speech Pathology Scholarship at Griffith University.
Speaking & Keynotes
Dimity is a sought-after keynote speaker and panellist across healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, and social impact conferences. She brings over five decades of front-line experience to every stage — from the earliest days of newborn hearing screening to the frontier of human bionics.
Her presentations inspire action, challenge assumptions, and paint a compelling vision of a world where bionic technologies unlock human potential in ways previously thought impossible.
Book Dr Dimity Dornan AO for your next event, conference, or panel discussion. Based in Brisbane, available nationally and internationally.
Enquire Now →Get in Touch
Whether you're interested in speaking engagements, media enquiries, board or advisory opportunities, or simply want to learn more about Dimity's work — she'd love to hear from you.