When Laura Higgins, our Group Head of Specialist Support at ivolve, reflects on her career, she doesn’t speak about titles or milestones. She speaks about people. About listening. About building environments where individuals feel safe, understood, and able to live meaningful lives.

That quiet determination has led to a significant moment. Laura has recently been appointed as the Board of Directors for the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis (UK-SBA), recognising more than two decades of leadership, advocacy, and professional excellence.

For Laura, this appointment is not simply recognition of past work. It is an opportunity to influence the future of behaviour analysis in the UK and ensure the profession continues to evolve in a way that protects and empowers the people we support.

“I remember when I first started working in this space, there wasn’t always a clear professional identity in the UK,” Laura reflected. “Being part of shaping how the field develops now feels incredibly meaningful.”

Her appointment brings the perspective of someone who has spent her career working directly alongside people, teams, and organisations, ensuring Positive Behaviour Support is not just a theory, but lived practice.

A career shaped by purpose & lifelong learning

Laura’s professional journey spans over two decades, with over 24 years of clinical practice as a Behaviour Analyst across health, social care, forensic, inpatient, and community settings.

Her career began in New York, where she worked in early intervention and residential settings, gaining experience supporting individuals with complex needs.

Since then, she has held senior clinical and strategic roles across the UK and internationally, contributing to research, presenting at conferences, and helping shape professional standards across diverse systems.

Her academic foundation includes a Master’s degree in Analysis and Intervention for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent, alongside professional certification as a Behaviour Analyst.

She has remained committed to continual learning throughout her career, including progressing towards doctoral-level research focused on improving care standards and promoting human rights.

This depth of experience gives Laura a rare perspective that bridges both frontline practice and organisational leadership. It also reflects her long-standing commitment to improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities, autism, brain injuries, and mental health needs.

“I’ve always been driven by understanding how systems can work better for people,” she said. “Not just at an individual level, but in a way that improves support more broadly.”

Leading & embedding Positive Behaviour Support

As Group Head of Specialist Support at ivolve, Laura provides strategic leadership across specialist clinical services, Positive Behaviour Support, including the creation and  development of our Strive model.

Her role focuses on ensuring support is proactive, preventative, and centred around each person’s quality of life. She works closely with clinical teams, operational leaders, and colleagues across the organisation to ensure best practice is embedded at every level.

“Positive Behaviour Support isn’t about reacting when something goes wrong,” Laura explained. “It’s about creating the right environment from the start, so people can live healthy, meaningful lives.”

Laura has played a central role in developing and embedding Strive, our tiered model of support, which ensures that specialist knowledge becomes part of everyday practice rather than something delivered only by experts. This approach empowers colleagues across the organisation to support people in ways that are consistent, sustainable, and truly person-centred.

Her leadership reflects a belief that meaningful change happens when systems, teams, and environments work together to support people to flourish.

Why this UK-SBA appointment is important

The UK-SBA plays a vital role in promoting safe, ethical, and evidence-based behaviour analysis practice across the UK. It provides professional accreditation, develops competence frameworks, and ensures practitioners meet clear standards that protect the people they support.

That’s why this is a perfect match! Because at the heart of Laura’s work is a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves to live a meaningful life. Her leadership has focused on improving quality of life, reducing inequalities, and ensuring people receive support that is personalised, respectful, and empowering.

“I’ve always believed that support should be built around the person,” Laura said. “Not imposed on them, but developed with them, their families, and the people around them.”

Her appointment as the UK-SBA Board Director strengthens her ability to advocate for the people we support, ensuring their voices are represented in shaping the future of the profession.

Laura has been actively involved with the organisation for many years, contributing to the development of credentialing systems and competence standards that have helped strengthen the profession nationally.

Her appointment to the Board brings valuable frontline insight into national leadership discussions, ensuring professional standards reflect real-world practice and the realities of delivering support in complex environments.

It also strengthens the connection between practice, research, and professional development, helping ensure behaviour analysis continues to evolve in ways that improve people’s lives.

Supporting the future of the profession

Alongside her strategic leadership, Laura has always remained deeply committed to developing the next generation of Behaviour Analysts.

At ivolve, she has helped create structured development pathways and professional supervision that support practitioners at every stage of their careers. This work helps ensure the profession continues to grow with skilled, confident practitioners we need, who are equipped to deliver high-quality support.

“The future of behaviour analysis depends on investing in people,” Laura said. “Supporting their development and creating opportunities for learning ensures the profession remains strong and continues to evolve.”

Her role on the UK-SBA Board will allow her to contribute to national initiatives that strengthen professional training, accreditation, and workforce development, helping ensure the field continues to grow in a sustainable and ethical way.

A proud moment

Laura’s appointment represents an important moment not only in her own career, but for the wider social care sector. It recognises the importance of bringing experienced practitioners into national leadership roles, ensuring professional standards are shaped by those who understand the realities of supporting people every day.

“I feel incredibly proud,” Laura said. “But more than anything, I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute, to learn, and to help strengthen the profession.”

Her leadership continues to reflect a clear and consistent purpose: improving quality of life for the people we support.

Through her work, both within ivolve and now as part of the UK-SBA Board, Laura will continue helping shape a future where support is safer and more consistent.

And ultimately, that progress means something far more important. Better support. Stronger standards. And better lives for the people who need it most.

Setting the Standard

We’re incredibly proud to have Laura helping shape the standard of specialist support at ivolve. Her leadership has been instrumental in embedding our Strive model, strengthening how we support people in ways that are proactive, person-centred, and grounded in evidence. The outcomes we’re seeing today: safer environments, stronger teams, and people living fuller, more independent lives, reflect that commitment.

But this moment represents more than progress. It represents possibility.

There is always more to learn, more to improve, and more people who deserve the right support at the right time. Laura’s appointment to the UK-SBA Board brings a powerful opportunity to help influence the future of behaviour analysis, while continuing to strengthen the support we provide every day at ivolve.

With her leadership, insight, and unwavering focus on improving quality of life, we are well placed to keep raising standards, strengthening practice, and benefiting more lives – together.