I became the first Board Certified Behaviour Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) in Northern Ireland nearly 20 years ago. I am a Clinical Psychologist (HCPC registered in the UK) and a certified UK- Behaviour Analyst.
I worked in various childcare, education, and therapeutic settings in voluntary and statutory sectors in my native Germany and the UK for over 10 years, before being appointed by Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), where I am Professor of Behaviour Analysis and Education and Founding Director of the Centre for Behaviour Analysis (CBA) (www.qub.ac.uk/cba; www.facebook.com/behaviouranalysis).
I developed the online Masters course in Applied Behaviour Analysis (MScABA), that includes an ABAI Verified Sequence. I am the Course Director of the MSc in Autism Spectrum Disorders (MScASD) and developed a 40-hour online multimedia RBT course. I supervise large numbers of national and international doctoral research students in ABA (for more information; https://w>ww.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforBehaviourAnalysis/People/).
During the 30+ years since my appointment at QUB, I have published 100+ peer-reviewed research papers, 9 books, and a number of multimedia resources (e.g., www.behaviouranalysis.eu.com and www.simplestepsautism.com). I have delivered many national and international talks and training sessions in India, Europe, USA, and Australia (cf., https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/karola- dillenburger).
My research focusses on neurodivergence and inclusion; cultural competence and anti-racist practice; trauma-informed practice; companionate social models of care; quality of life; self- awareness; ethical, evidence-based, and positive supports; multi-disciplinary work; family, social, and environmental contexts across the lifespan; and the inclusion of experts by experience. For example, my research in trauma-informed theory and practice was the basis of a special edition on bereavement of the European Journal of Behaviour Analysis (EJoBA).
In my practice the focus is on consumer protection via the professional recognition and regulation of behaviour analysts across Europe and further afield (www.euroba.org; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-022-00754-0).
I have been a member of EABA since its formation and was on the EABA Board of Directors as Treasurer from 2013-2017. During this time, I chaired an election committee and was involved in organising the EABA conferences in Stockholm (Sweden) and Enna (Sicily), the EABA summer schools in Rethymno (Greece) and in Cadiz (Spain), and the 1st Student Skinner Foundation Awards.
Election statement:
Behaviour analysis in Europe is at a crossroads. We have important work to do.
There is no professional regulation for behaviour analysts in Europe and in the current climate, with powerful anti-ABA voices and international interest in cashing in on the void, we need a powerful organisation that represents European Behaviour Analysts.
My Presidential strategy and workplan is to fulfil and expand EABA’s mission and potential:
(1)To protect consumers of our services through actively supporting and ensuring professionalcertification/regulation/recognitionforbehaviouranalystsacrossEurope.
- To facilitate professional mobility through multilateral agreements. Each European jurisdiction first has to achieve national professional recognition (adhering to their own national laws and procedures). There is a key role for EABA to continue to lead and support these efforts through establishing and maintaining functional relationships between behaviour analyst organisations, ensuring collaborations and information, and facilitate resource sharing and mobility.
- To continue to provide a European and international forum through conferences and webinars and to expand this brief through journal clubs, student and stakeholder meetings, and summer schools. This will enable members to meet and learn from each other. To ensure inclusive participation of all stakeholders, these events need to be multimodal (in- person, online, and on-demand; cf., https://w>ww.qub.ac.uk/research- centres/CentreforBehaviourAnalysis/Resources/).
- To make new inroads into fostering public relations and supporting policy developments through stakeholder sub-committees and events. We will ensure full inclusion of experts by experience and service users in decision making processes.
- To listen carefully to members and stakeholders and follow-through with relevant additional initiatives and activities. This will ensure that the Association is membership-led and has service user involvement.
As Skinner said: “The world is what we make it. We have the power to create a better world.”