I have been involved in COTEC since 2000 – first as the appointed COTEC Delegate of the Finnish Association of Occupational Therapists 2000-2010 and Programme Area Coordinator of the Organizational Issues 2004-2008. I have held different positions in COTEC Executive Committee years 2008-2012 and 2013-2019 before my election as the President in October 2019.

With over 20 years of experience working as an OT in Finland, I am committed to leading the work of COTEC with the aim to make the profession better known and valued in Europe. COTEC is the voice of Occupational Therapists in Europe and provides a good network for practitioners and provides many opportunities to be involved in European projects and events relevant to the profession.  I would like to encourage our Member associations and individual OTs to actively take advantage of the information and opportunities provided.

I am a dedicated Occupational Therapist with over a decade of experience and also earned a Master’s degree in Health Assisting Engineering. Born in Germany, my diverse background includes Polish origins, but I spent most of my life in Austria, where I began my career as an Occupational Therapist in 2009. From 2012 to 2023, I actively supported the development of the profession as a board member of Ergotherapie Austria and as Austria’s WFOT Delegate.

In 2020, I relocated to Sark, a small island in the British Channel, which expanded my international perspective. I now work with Physioedia in the ReLAB- HS project, supporting international professional organisations in the implementation and accessibility of rehabilitation in health care systems. These competencies complement my role as COTEC Vice President, where I am dedicated to work in alignment with the values of Connection, Empowerment, Influence, and Inspiration.

I am an Occupational Therapist from Sanremo, Italy, with a background in neurological rehabilitation. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy and Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences in Rome, and I am currently in the final year of my PhD in Neuroscience in Genoa. My research focuses on fatigue in Parkinson’s disease, with a particular interest in self-management interventions, research methodology, outcome measurement and evidence-based practice. I strongly believe in bridging the gap between clinical practice and research to improve people’s everyday lives. Having represented the Italian Association of Occupational Therapy at the COTEC General Assembly for four terms, I have developed a strong appreciation for European collaboration and professional representation. As COTEC Vice-President Finance, I am committed to contributing my experience in research, data analysis and clinical practice to support the organisation’s work, while strengthening connections and collaboration across the European Occupational Therapy community.

I am an Occupational Therapist originally from Spain, currently living and working in Lyon, France, specialising in adult neurological rehabilitation and oncology. Since graduating from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid in 2011, I have gained extensive clinical experience across Spain, the United Kingdom and France. Alongside my clinical practice, I am actively involved in education, research and professional representation, having completed a Master’s degree in 2024 focusing on occupation-based practice in stroke rehabilitation. I have also had the opportunity to represent France within the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) and contribute to national and international professional initiatives. As COTEC Vice-President Administration, I am committed to strengthening European collaboration, ensuring that the voices of practising occupational therapists are heard, and supporting effective governance, communication and cooperation across the European Occupational Therapy community.

My journey with COTEC began in 2015 as the alternate delegate for the Occupational Therapy Association of the Netherlands and a member of the expert register, marking the start of my commitment to advancing occupational therapy. With around 20 years of experience in healthcare around Amsterdam, as an occupational therapist, researcher, team manager, board member, and consultant, I am passionate about promoting equitable, person-centred care. My background in medical anthropology provides a deep understanding of how culture, health, and wellbeing intersect, shaping my approach to practice. I am honoured to serve on the Executive Committee and look forward to contributing to COTEC’s mission of strengthening occupational therapy across Europe, advocating for the profession, supporting a more inclusive and sustainable approach to health and wellbeing, and encouraging collaboration among practitioners and associations.