‘ROTOS was not built in a day.’ It was the hands and hard work of several people who built, shaped and grew the ROTOS Foundation.
Dr. Esther Steultjens (The Netherlands) was the inaurgural chair of the ROTOS standing committee which commenced in 2016. Under her leadership the charity – the ROTOS Foundation – was formed in The Netherlands. She was actively involved in ROTOS affairs until her untimely passing in 2021. She will be long remembered by her occupational therapy colleagues around the world.
Mr. Niall Turner (Ireland) was a original member of the ROTOS standing committee. He established the ROTOS ICT infrastructure including the website. He also took a lead role in the two COST Grant Applications and established contacts for ROTOS across Europe. When the ROTOS Foundation was formed in The Netherlands he undertook the role of Tresurer. Niall resigned from the Board in 2021 to concentrate on his research.
Dr. Panagiotis Siaperas (Greece) is Occupational Therapist and Psychologist. He has worked at the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, where he specialized in the diagnosis and intervention of children and adolescents with developmental disorders. In 2008, he received a doctorate from the University of Cambridge researching Autism Spectrum Disorders. He has publications in refereed journals and contributions in handbooks of Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Special Education. He has research experience from University of Cambridge, University of Athens, and University of Peloponnese and Metropolitan College in Athens.
Ms. Saša Radić (Croatia) is currently the President of the Croatian Association of the Occupational Therapist. She has worked as a practitioner and manager of occupational therapy services in the health and social sector. She has been fortunate to be one of the occupational therapists involved in the legal establishment of the profession and one of the founders of the Croatian Health Care Council in the Republic of Croatia. Her current role is in establishing occupational therapy community-based team in the capital of Croatia Zagreb, using occupational therapy in telehealth in intervention, facilitation of family-based practice and animal-assisted intervention. Her research focus is European base projects and their influence on change management of the Occupational Therapy practice and Occupational Therapy Communities of practice.
Jantina Kroese – King, OT/ MSc joined the ROTOS board as a treasurer in 2022. In 2000 she finished her bachelor at the University of applied Science in Amsterdam (Hogeschool van Amsterdam). The Master of Evidence Based Practice at the University of Amsterdam was finished 2014 becoming a clinical epidemiologist. From 2013 until 2019 a role was performed within the Dutch committee of International Relations. Besides her work as an occupational therapist at Reade Amsterdam, she is freelance (post) bachelor teacher focusing on Evidence Based Practice and applying science. She was involved with conducting the new research program for Pro Education bachelor physiotherapy, speech therapy, dietitian end occupational therapy. As an examinator she is within different Occupational Therapy Universities of applied Science, accessing final report focusing on evidence-based practice.
Professor Alison Laver Fawcett served as Chair of ROTOS Foundation until 2024. Alison is Professor in the School of Science, Technology and Health at York St John University, York, UK where she teaches undergraduate and pre-registration Masters occupational therapy students, in addition to supervising Masters and Doctoral students and delivering Continuing Professional Development for qualified occupational therapists. Alison’s research is clinically orientated, focussing on occupational therapy assessment and outcome measurement and occupational therapy for people with dementia and their carers. She has developed the Structural Observational Test of Function (SOTOF) and the Activity Card Sort – United Kingdom version (ACS-UK). She is author of the text book ‘Principles of Occupational Therapy for Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists: theory, skills and application’ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alison-Laver-Fawcett
Dr Daphne Kos joined the ROTOS Board in 2020 as Acting Vice Chair and Secretary until 2024. During her career Daphne has worked as a practitioner, lecturer and researcher. Her PhD was a study of fatigue management and assessment in people with multiple sclerosis. Daphne is coordinator of scientific research in the rehabilitation department of the National MS Center Melsbroek and professor and co-manager of the OT master program in KU Leuven. She continues to research in the area of neurological rehabilitation. Daphne is current president of the international network for best practice and research in Rehabilitation in MS (RIMS) and a board member of the Belgian Society for Neurological Rehabilitation (BSNR).
Ms. Naomi Hankinson (UK) former Vice President of COTEC was involved in ROTOS Foundation as COTEC liason and then as general board member until 2024. She is also a Trustee of the Elizabeth Casson Trust and Mental Health Matters. Her current professional roles are Consultant in health and social care and Associate Mental Health Act Manager for the Cambian Group. As an occupational therapist, she has worked as a clinician, manager, and clinical leader within mental health services. She has always had a strong focus on workforce and leadership, believing that if we value, develop and equip our staff effectively we will ensure good services for our users and communities. Naomi was Chair of the College of Occupational Therapists (COT) from 2009 to 2013 and then undertook the role of Chair of the COT Audit committee from 2013 – 2016.
