Our Story & Our Audiologists

Lisa Calligaro established a speech-language therapy practice in Alberton in 2001, initially focused on supporting children with speech, language, and literacy challenges. Over the next seven years, the practice steadily expanded to meet growing community needs.

In 2008, the practice evolved into Calligaro & King Incorporated with the addition of Leesa King—a dual-qualified speech-language therapist and audiologist—as co-director. This partnership marked the beginning of a broader scope of services, including comprehensive audiological care. These services grew to include diagnostic hearing assessments for all ages, hearing aid fittings, implantable bone conduction devices, industrial audiology, school-based hearing screenings, and continued speech-language therapy at two locations in Alberton.

In 2018, the practice expanded further by joining forces with Dr. Duane Mol, Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist, at the Ear & Eye Clinic in Meyersdal, while maintaining the original Brackenhurst location.

Over the years, we’ve built a reputation as a trusted provider of hearing and speech-language services in the Alberton community, continuously growing in expertise and commitment to patient care. In 2023, Leesa King relocated to the UK with her family, and Lisa Calligaro became the sole owner and director of the practice, continuing to lead with passion and dedication.

MEET THE TEAM

Lisa Calligaro - Owner | Director | Audiologist

Owner and Director, Speech-Language Therapist and Audiologist with over 24 years of experience. Lisa has a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Therapy from the University of the Witwatersrand (with distinction) (2000). She then went onto complete her Master’s degree in Speech Pathology from Wits (with distinction) (2001). She completed the 8- week basic paediatric Neurodevelopmental therapy/Bobath course in (2006), completed the advanced course in management of feeding, oral-sensory motor and speech production disorders in children with Cerebral Palsy in 2009 and the online refresher course in 2020. She has also completed the LSLSA certificate (2017) for working in the field of auditory verbal therapy with children with hearing loss (University of Stellenbosch).

Lisa is fascinated by the brain and how it functions to allow us to hear, listen, think, speak and communicate. This interest allows her to work in both fields of audiology and speech-language therapy. She is passionate about working with children with hearing loss and is a team member of the Johannesburg Cochlear Implant Programme (JCIP). She also provides community service assistance at Queenshaven Retirement Home.

She is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and is a member of the South African Hearing, Speech-Language Association (SASLHA), South African Audiology Association (SAAA), South African Cochlear Implant Group (SACIG), South African Neurodevelopmental Therapy Association (SANDTA) and Independent Connected Audiology Network (iCAN). Lisa has two children, plays the flute and the piano and is a passionate cook.

Nicole Rainho - Audiologist

Nicole Rainho joined the team in January 2020. She qualified with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing therapy from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2018.  In 2019, she completed her community service year at Baragwaneth Hospital in the paediatric audiology team. She is currently registered with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the Independent Connected Audiology Network (iCAN).

Nicole has expanded her knowledge and experience and enjoys working in the area of school-aged language and literacy. She also runs the hearing screening programme at the practice and loves providing a much needed service to primary and nursery schools in the area.

Along with her passion in the speech-language and audiology field she also has a passion for the art of dance. She is currently a co-owner of a dance studio and she teaches dance as a hobby. Between speech-language therapy, audiology and dance she feels she has the perfect life balance.

Ansa Jamal - Audiologist

Ansa joined the team in 2024 and brings a wealth of expertise and dedication to her role as a qualified audiologist. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Audiology and is currently completing her Master’s degree at the University of the Witwatersrand, further deepening her clinical and research knowledge in the field.

With over four years of hands-on experience, Ansa has provided a wide range of audiological services to both adult and paediatric populations in diverse clinical settings. Her compassionate approach to patient care, combined with a strong medical foundation, allows her to accurately assess, diagnose, and design tailored treatment plans that support the unique needs of each individual.

Ansa is known for her meticulous attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and practical problem-solving abilities—qualities that enable her to deliver holistic, patient- centred care aimed at improving quality of life and long-term outcomes.

She is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and is an active member of the Independent Connected Audiology Network (iCAN) as well as a member of the South African Hearing, Speech-Language Association (SASLHA), reflecting her commitment to staying at the forefront of developments in audiology and collaborative care.

Ansa’s passion for hearing health, lifelong learning, and delivering meaningful change continues to shape her work and inspire those around her.

Bhavana Singh - Audiologist

Bhavana Singh is an experienced audiologist who joined the team in March 2025. She brings over a decade of clinical and leadership experience in both public and private healthcare settings across South Africa, and Australia.

Bhavana holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communication Pathology (Audiology) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She also holds a Certificate of Competence in Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation from the University of Cape Town. To complement her clinical expertise, she earned an MBA from the University of Suffolk in the UK, focusing on healthcare management and strategic planning.

She began her career in 2012 at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and later joined Demant Interacoustics South Africa in 2016. There, she provided clinical support, training, and mentorship in areas such as auditory evoked potentials and vestibular assessments. In 2023, she moved to Australia to manage a retail audiology clinic for Amplifon in New South Wales.

Bhavana is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the Australian College of Audiology (ACAud), and the Independent Connected Audiology Network (iCAN). She is committed to delivering patient-centred care while contributing to the growth and efficiency of audiology practices.

Outside of work, she enjoys family time, dining out, painting, and theatre.

Erika Schutte - Practice Manager

Erika is a results-driven Practice & Accounts Manager with over 25 years of experience in streamlining operations, enhancing patient satisfaction, and safeguarding the financial health of healthcare practices. With extensive expertise across audiology, optometry, and ophthalmology, she blends precision-driven administrative skills with a warm, service-focused approach that earns the trust of both patients and colleagues.

She is known for her hands-on leadership, sharp problem-solving abilities, and exceptional attention to detail in areas such as medical billing, credit control, ICD-10 coding, and healthcare compliance. Erika has consistently improved internal processes, reduced outstanding accounts, and empowered front office teams to function smoothly—even under pressure. Her command of systems like Elixir, Health Suite, and AS400 supports her ability to manage the complex demands of modern practice management.

Fluent in Afrikaans and proficient in English, Erika brings integrity, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to excellence. Based at our Ear & Eye Clinic branch, she plays a key role in ensuring a seamless, professional experience for every patient who walks through our doors.

Outside of work, Erika enjoys spending time with her family on their farm in the small town of Koppies, Free State. She’s passionate about catering, event planning, farming, and hunting—always bringing the same level of care and dedication to her personal life as she does to our practice.

Sanette Elliott - Receptionist and Creditor Accounts Administrator

Meet Sanette Elliot, the newest member of our team and work at the at the Brackenhurst rooms!

Sanette brings over 30 years of experience in credit control, customer relations, and operational leadership—23 of those with Afrox Ltd in senior roles such as Customer Relationship Manager, Credit & Collection Manager, and Team Leader. She is results-driven, calm under pressure, and known for her integrity, problem-solving skills, and ability to lead with empathy. Sanette holds multiple certifications in Credit Management, Leadership, Ministry, and Communication, and is also a qualified Master Coach and part-time Pastoral Counsellor. Outside of work, she enjoys arts & crafts, reading, and supporting others through counselling and ministry. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team!

Nina Johnson - Practice Manager

Nina joined Calligaro and King in 2017 and has become a valued member of the team at our Brackenhurst rooms. She holds a Management Assistant certificate and brings a strong background in the medical field, having previously worked for a cardiologist in Johannesburg. Her experience and calm, professional manner make her well-suited to working in a clinical environment.

Nina is passionate about helping clients and is especially skilled in supporting those with hearing aids. She ensures that hearing aids are properly cleaned and maintained, assesses any needed repairs, and communicates with manufacturers to guarantee devices are returned in excellent working condition.

Outside of work, Nina loves spending time with her family and her son. She enjoys hiking, attending park runs, reading, and painting in her spare time.

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