On September 27th 2025, the Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries (COTEC) held its 13th General Assembly in Berlin, Germany. The meeting, chaired by Yara Peterko, and supported by Director of Operations Shawn Abela Tabone, was officially opened by COTEC President Anu Söderström. The General Assembly gathered representatives from 26 Member Associations, along with four proxies, reaffirming the strong commitment of COTEC Member Associations to collaboration and good membership.
The General Assembly began by revisiting developments since the 12th Assembly in Krakow Poland. Updates on membership matters and the introduction of new initiatives—such as the informal “Coffee with COTEC” online meetings—illustrated the importance of open dialogue and engagement across countries.
The General Assembly discussed and unanimously approved the COTEC Action Plan and Budget for 2026. This comprehensive plan outlines ambitious advocacy goals, increased visibility for the profession, and further engagement with underrepresented regions.
A highlight of the meeting was the awarding of two new COTEC Fellowships, recognising outstanding contributions to occupational therapy in Europe. The COTEC Fellows, Petra Schwab and Tina McGrath, were unanimously approved.
The Assembly also held elections for a new Member of the Executive Committee. After a brief presentation by all three nominees—Charlotte Andersen, Pierluca Giliberti, and Tiska Ikking—the members elected Tiska Ikking to the Executive Committee for the term 2025–2029.
The Electoral Committee and Auditors for 2026 were also appointed, reaffirming the Assembly’s dedication to good governance and accountability.
Under Any Other Business, members discussed the upcoming External Evaluation process, aimed at strengthening COTEC’s governance and strategic direction.
Finally, the much-anticipated announcement was made:
The 14th COTEC General Assembly will take place in Bucharest Romania, in autumn 2026.
After the General Assembly, members also took a moment to bid a warm farewell to Sarah Kufner, who had to conclude her term with the Executive Committee. Although the farewell was held online, heartfelt words of appreciation were shared for her dedication and valuable contributions to the organisation.
