Innovations in Hearing Care from NAL, in partnership with the National Acoustic Laboratories

Nicky Chong-White
PhD

Nicky Chong-White is a Senior Research Engineer at the National Acoustic Laboratories and has PhD in Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering.  She began her career developing novel speech signal processing algorithms to improve speech intelligibility at AT&T Labs, USA and also at a US-headquartered technology start-up company. Since joining NAL in 2004, Nicky has applied her background in speech and audio signal processing, acoustics, machine learning and software development to investigate hearing.  She uses design thinking methodologies to discover unmet user needs, and rapidly prototype and test innovative solutions.  Nicky is currently focused on developing digital solutions to improve accessibility to hearing care, provide additional tools to enable and promote hearing self-management, and increase the reliability and capability of connected hearing health.

Matt Croteau
MS

Matt Croteau is a research audiologist with a science and technical background who has worked in the areas of hearing assessment, diagnosis, and rehabilitation for adult, paediatric, and complex clients. Much of the research he undertakes at NAL is in understanding individual impacts of hearing loss and the evaluation and development of new solutions and technologies.

Catherine Kwok

Catherine Kwok joined NAL as a research audiologist in 2022. She previously worked as a clinical audiologist in government, private and hospital clinics with experience in establishing, and providing direction for clinical procedures and protocols. While studying, Catherine undertook research in the Philippines for a project on objective measures of hearing aids used in a hearing aid donation programme.

At NAL, Catherine has contributed to research in perceived hearing loss, validation of hearing technology claims, enhancing vocal emotion cues for hearing impaired listeners, and clinical trials. She has an interest in the association of hearing loss, social isolation and dementia, and in community involvement in providing optimal hearing care models.

Xiaoyin Shang

Xiaoyin Shang is a strategic innovation and commercialisation leader with a proven ability to translate research into impactful solutions across the Australian hearing and healthcare sectors. As Head of Strategic Innovation and Engagement at the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), she oversees the organisation’s innovation product portfolio and leads the end-to-end product pipeline, while also directing NAL’s brand and communications to drive sector influence, research translation, and innovation adoption.

With foundational experience as a clinician and clinical manager overseeing three centres and sixteen metropolitan and rural visiting sites, Xiaoyin brings deep operational insight to her strategic leadership. Her career spans governance, entrepreneurship and systems innovation, including serving as a Board Director of Audiology Australia, Campus Director of HULT, and founder of two ventures—one commercialising nanoparticle research into consumer products and another disrupting supply chains, which won the 2020 HULT Prize regional competition.

A PhD candidate researching strategic commercialisation in public research organisations—and a graduate of the Melbourne Business School MBA and the Australian Institute of Company Directors—Xiaoyin is recognised for driving evidence-based strategy, accelerating innovation adoption, and shaping capability across complex healthcare ecosystems. She is widely regarded for her leadership in innovation, research translation, and women’s leadership.

Bettina Turnbull

Bettina Turnbull is Senior Innovation Audiologist at National Acoustic Laboratories. She brings extensive experience of driving commercial success in a large hearing healthcare retail organisation, where she led initiatives to enhance clinical outcomes for clients. More recently, she has driven innovation in education for healthcare professionals, developing cutting-edge learning programs that bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. Her experience in developing markets has seen her successfully navigate complex business landscapes, identifying opportunities for expansion and sustainable growth. Bettina is passionate about translation of research into practical, market-ready innovations, ensuring that new developments are not just theoretical but create real impact.