The Occupational Therapy Show 2026 Exhibitor List

Andrea works as an occupational therapist and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner with children and adults. She specialises in neurodivergence, sensory integration, and acquired brain injury (ABI). She has worked in healthcare since 2000 and undertook a variety of roles before qualifying as an occupational therapist, including managing a rehabilitation service for people with ABI, assistant psychologist, clinical auditor and support worker. She has a BSc in Psychology. She set up her independent occupational therapy company in February 2014 and co-founded Creative Physiotherapy Ltd in 2021. She leads a team of specialist occupationa therapists across the Midlands and North of England. She supports the development of colleagues and supervises therapists within her own teams as well as therapists and support workers from other services. She has delivered training to many organisations, including the English Institute of Sport and the NHS. She works as a consultant for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire on their Sensory Friendly Environments project, working with Lived Experience Partners.

Carole is a nurse by profession and specialised in intensive care nursing. She has international experience in case management in private health and travel insurance. She has been involved with case management in the UK since the late '90s. She was a founding member of the Case Management Society UK and served as Chair from 2007-2011. As a member of the International Underwriting Association Rehabilitation Working Party she participated in the review of the Rehabilitation Code and chaired the committee for its review. Carole has experience working in claimant and defendant law firms, spending 5 years as the clinical director at a defendant law firm. She has a master's degree in case management. She has been involved in the development of The Institute of Case Managers (IRCM) since its inception and is the current chair.

Jackie qualified as an occupational therapist in 1978 and has worked most of her working life with people who have neurological or traumatic conditions. Jackie has worked exclusively in private consultancy since 1985 and since 1992 predominantly with people suffering from traumatic and acquired brain injury. Between 1992 – 1997 she worked as a part time consultant in the establishment and development of the Transitional Rehabilitation Unit (TRU Ltd) in the North West of England. Whilst providing consultancy services as an occupational therapist to this organisation she became interested in the concept and model of case management, and took her first case management clients in 1994. Since this time, she has expanded her role as a brain injury case manager and in her leadership role within N-Able Services has widened the client group to include a wider spectrum of individuals with complex needs, and of varying ages. Jackie has been an active member of the British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management since inception, and has supported many of the working groups within the membership body, and acted as Chairperson between 2010-2013. She is an Honorary Fellow of BABICM. Jackie has been an integral part of the management and development of IRCM and is now joining the board of The Institute of Registered Case Managers (IRCM)

Jess graduated from the University of Derby in 2022 and began her career within a drug and alcohol charity in Coventry called Change Grow Live. During this time, Jess took on the challenge of integrating and building the foundations for occupational therapy to support people in their recovery from drugs and alcohol. 2025 has brought a career change for Jess as she embarks on her new role as a senior occupational therapist at Priory Hospital, where she will continue supporting service users in recovery from drugs and alcohol, but within an inpatient mental health rehabilitation setting.

An independent practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in mental health, Keir is dedicated to improving the lives of people who tend to be diagnosed with 'personality disorder'. He holds a master’s degree in that diagnosis and serves on the Executive Committee for the British and Irish Group for the Study of Personality Disorder as well as being part of the Royal College of Psychiatry Expert Reference Group on 'Personality Disorder'. He was the 2023 Casson Memorial Lecturer. He co-hosts ‘The Wrong Kind of Mad’ podcast and blogs at beamconsultancy.co.uk/the-blog.

Rachel is an occupational therapist with 30 years of experience using built environments to improve health and well-being. After serving as Principal Occupational Therapist at Calderdale Adult Health and Social Care, she joined Foundations, where she developed the Triage Tool and authored the Behaviours of Concern Best Practice Guide. She co-created the Necessary and Appropriate Framework and hosts professional networks, including the OT Network. With a PhD and MSc in Accessibility and Inclusive Design, Rachel contributes to research through the School of Social Care Research steering group and co-authored "Adaptations Without Delay" for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Louise Newson is a physician, women’s hormone specialist and member of the UK Government’s Menopause Taskforce. She is also an award-winning doctor, educator, and author, committed to increasing awareness and knowledge of perimenopause and menopause. Described as the “medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution”, she has empowered a generation of women to have a greater understanding, choice and control over their treatment, bodies and mind.

Samantha is the President of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, a Board Member for the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals and a member of the Steering Committee for the World Health Organisation’s World Rehabilitation Alliance. She has an excellent global overview of the occupational therapy profession and rehabilitation needs. Samantha graduated as an occupational therapist in 1992 and has worked internationally in a wide range of practice and education settings in low, middle and high-resourced settings. With over 20 years of experience working to effect change at government, institutional and service levels, Samantha has extensive expertise in organisational management, including workforce development and service/education design and delivery.

Ali qualified as an occupational therapist in the '90s which led to a rotational post at the Royal Free Hospital in London. After moving to the Sussex coast, Ali was able to combine NHS and private work. She took time out of practice to focus on family and later worked in the leisure industry. The calling to be back in the greens was strong and couldn’t be ignored. Ali completed a Return to Practice in Neuro Rehabilitation and Orthopaedics in 2018 and subsequently transitioned to Community Mental Health. Alongside another occupational therapy colleague, Ali created the Recovery Through Being Active programme, specifically for Community Mental Health. This setting highlighted her desire to specialise in incorporating breathwork and movement into her occupational therapy practice. After over 5 years in Adult Mental Health services, Ali had a change of direction and started working in a school, where she began to develop a specialised OT PE programme for the students. She now incorporates both yoga and Tai Chi across NHS and private practice settings.

Simon is an HCPC registered clinical scientist and chartered engineer with 35 years' experience in the field of assistive technologies including 20 years in the NHS. He is the co-founder and technical director of Rahana Life. Prior to this, Simon directed the Health Design & Technology Institute in Coventry University, and managed the Rehabilitation Engineering Services across the West Midlands.

Esther is a Specialist Occupational Therapist working in adult eating disorder services. She completed her PhD in 2024 and is passionate about improving care within eating disorder services.

Dr. O’Dea is one of Ireland’s most renowned occupational therapists and is passionate about supporting research-led clinical practice and CPD in the OT community. The first OT in Ireland to win a scholarship on the prestigious SPHeRE programme, where she gained her Doctorate in Population Health& Health Services Research, she also holds postgrads in Clinical Supervision and Executive Coaching, making her adept in consulting across health, business, and educational sectors, where she excels in promoting evidence-based neuro-inclusive practices. Dr. O’Dea is also one of only two certified Occupational Performance Coaching trainers in the UK &Ireland.

Mikaela graduated with an MSc in Occupational Therapy from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2023. Prior to her studies, she held positions in retail management and operated as an independent holistic therapist. She commenced her career with NHS Ayrshire and Arran in Addiction Services and currently serves within the Community Rehabilitation Team. Mikaela is dedicated to enhancing patient care and the quality of services in community settings. She has a strong interest in applying quality improvement methodologies and utilising research to promote excellence in care.

Lizanne is a dynamic and passionate case manager and occupational therapist with over thirty years’ experience in both private and statutory services, working in the areas of brain injury, amputation, complex orthopaedics and spinal injury. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the medico legal sector, both in clinical and operational posts and in 2019, she created Integrated Case Management. She continues to work as the managing director and supports the case managers in providing the highest quality of care and rehabilitation, enabling their clients to achieve their maximum level of function and independence. Lizanne is passionate about the continuing professional development of case managers, ensuring that they receive regular support and supervision and have the necessary skills to treat and meet the needs of their clients.

Jacqueline Emkes is a highly experienced Global ambassador supporting Bladder Health UK. With over 25 years in working in advocacy, she now works closely with healthcare professionals to raise awareness of bladder conditions and improve the lives of those affected. Jacq is passionate about bringing bladder health into everyday conversations—especially in underrepresented areas like occupational therapy. Through training, resource development, and frontline support, she helps bridge the gap between continence care and holistic, person-centred practice.