Royal College of Occupational Therapists' (RCOT) Council

Odeth Richardson is the Head of Occupational Therapy at the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals (NUTH). Odeth has been an occupational therapist for over 22 years after training at Brunel University London. Starting her career at Hillingdon Hospital, Odeth pursued her interest in social services in Harrow and Brent. After becoming the Duty Team Lead at Brent social services, Odeth joined the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals as the Head of Occupational Therapy.

Alongside her current role, Odeth is a mentor at the Elizabeth Casson Trust and a critical friend to Glasgow Caledonian University and Northumbria University looking at improving the representation and experiences of underrepresented occupational therapy students. Odeth is also the Chair of NUTH BAME Staff Network, Chair of the North East and North Cumbria ICS Race Equality Forum, Co-Chair of the Angelou Centre Trustees, a Strategic Independent Advisory Group member for the Northumbria Police and a trustee of the Great North Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Read her blog.

Cathryn completed her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. Following a year of community practice Cathryn travelled to the United Kingdom. Cathryn is a practising Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist  (Stroke and neurology) with a focus on neurological rehabilitation at a district acute NHS hospital and holds a Masters of Science in Advanced Clinical Practice (Adult Acute and Critical care).

Cathryn job shares the Greater London Health seat on the BAOT/UNISON National Occupational Therapy Panel and is keen to ensure members’ voices are heard and for the Trade Union perspective to continue to be incorporated in discussions that lead to positive and effective change which drive the profession forward. 

Dr Kee Hean LIM is Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy at St Mary's University and was previously a senior lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Brunel University London.

Prior to this, he was the Divisional Lead for Occupational Therapy and Community Nursing at Brunel University London. He was also the Brunel BSc Occupational Therapy Programme Lead and Admissions Tutor. He is also the Vice-Chair and Council Member for International Affairs for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the United Kingdom World Federation of Occupational Therapists representative.

Kee Hean has vast clinical, management, research and teaching experience and his research interests include – Promoting cultural competency in practice; Occupation and mental health recovery; the Kawa ‘River’ model; Disability sports; Loneliness and disconnection, Student mental health and wellbeing and Lived experience of those deem clinically vulnerable in relation to Covid-19.

He has presented his research both nationally and internationally and is a visiting lecturer at several universities within the UK and across Europe.

Andrea Lothian is a practice development occupational therapist for Acute Services, at NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. In this role she influences, nurtures and supports staff and teams with their own service developments and project ideas, and maintains a positive link with all the Scottish Universities to support and coordinate student placements. 

Andrea brings to this role her 29 years of being an occupational therapist. Having worked in in-patient settings, day hospital and community clinical roles, she has worked with an older population within the field of mental health and has a particular interest and passion for meaningful activity.   

She has led on projects and be involved in quality improvements throughout her seconded roles. In NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Andre and her team worked on ‘Pocket Ideas – a moment in time’, which went on to win a local and national award.

Paul graduated from Cardiff University School of Occupational Therapy in 1995 and took up his first post in a medium secure unit where he developed occupational therapy skills within forensic mental health, eventually becoming the service manager. Paul has always had an interest in health and work and completed the MSc in Vocational Rehabilitation at Sheffield Hallam University in 2008. In 2006, he became the clinical team manager of a multi-disciplinary ‘Condition Management Programme’ as part of the DWP funded Pathways to Work Service, working closely with Jobcentre+ colleagues to help people in receipt of health-related welfare benefits to manage their health and return to work.

Since 2017, Paul has been the Professional Head of Staff Health and Wellbeing at Swansea Bay University Health Board, managing Occupational Health, the Health Board’s staff wellbeing service and ‘In Work Support’, an ESF funded service supporting employees in local SME’s to manage their health and remain in work or return to work.

Paul first joined the RCOT Board, Wales in 2019 and is the current interim Chair. He is delighted to be nominated as Council member, Wales and looking forward to working with Council colleagues.

Dr Anita Atwal is an associate professor in occupational therapy at London South Bank University and the school lead of diversity and inclusion and interprofessional learning.

She has written over 60 papers and 2 books and presented at national and international conferences. And is aware of the challenges of applying for research funding and the need to create research academic posts.   

Dr Atwal delivered the Elizabeth Casson Lecture in 2021 where she challenged therapists to put equity front and centre of the profession – her current research projects do just that. The fair4reserach project on behalf of CAPHR (Council for Allied Health Research) has shown the difficulties therapists have in pursuing fair access to research careers and the need for sustainable pathways.

Dr Atwal is committed to the principles of compassionate leadership, and see that we need to be more proactive than reactive and ensure our research serves the needs of all citizens.

Samantha graduated from Glasgow School of Occupational Therapy in 1989. Samantha took up her first post in a psychiatric rehabilitation unit and has never looked back. Mental health and occupational therapy has been her passion. In the mid-1990s Samantha moved into professional leadership and established the first Community Mental Health Teams in Glasgow.

As well as obtaining further qualifications in healthcare management and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Samantha completed a Masters in Primary Care in 2016. A particular area of interest is the therapeutic use of creative activity. Samantha set up Art in the Gart and Design in the Dale and has successfully bid for over £800k over many years to fund arts and landscaping projects. These have showcased service users work and created opportunities for them to develop their skill base, educational aspirations and employment.

Samantha joined the Scottish RCOT Board as an ordinary member in 2018 and took up the chair position in 2021. Samantha is passionate about the contribution occupational therapists make to people’s lives and is delighted to be part of both the Scottish Board and the RCOT Council.