Conference Organising Committee

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Justin Scanlan

Conference Convenor

Associate Professor Justin Scanlan is an academic staff member at the University of Sydney. His research interests are innovative programs in mental health, mental health recovery and workplace wellbeing for mental health staff. He has published close to 100 journal articles and book chapters and has presented at many conferences. Justin has been a member of every Conference Scientific Program Committee for the OTA National Conference and Exhibition since 2011 and was Chair of the Conference Scientific Program Committee in 2019.

Bridget Muir

Committee Member

Bridget Muir is an occupational therapy graduate working in the community disability space with paediatrics and adults. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy with Honours at Curtin University in 2023. She is passionate about supporting people increase their quality of life through achieving their goals. She is excited to be a part of the organising committee for the OTA National Conference Exhibition 2025.

Claire Pearce

Committee Member

Dr Claire Pearce, B App Sc (Occupational Therapy), MSc (Health Sciences), PhD, is an Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy and Discipline Lead at the University of Canberra. She lives and works on Ngunnawal country.
Claire has extensive clinical and management experience in adult acute and rehabilitation services in Australia and the UK. Claire’s research focuses on workforce innovations to support occupational participation, with a particular interest in occupational therapy in mental health services; the utilisation of the allied health assistant workforce and professional reasoning. Her teaching areas include professional reasoning, occupational justice and mental health.

Natalie Tanner-Black

Committee Member

Natalie Tanner-Black is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience in both the not-for-profit and private sectors. As an accredited coach and the founder/director of TogetherUp, she leads a supervision practice dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where growth, learning, and professional development are continuously nurtured.
Inspired by her own experience overcoming the challenges of living and working abroad, Natalie and the TogetherUp team developed a highly tailored supervision program for internationally qualified OTs working in Australia. This innovative program provides a comprehensive approach by integrating professional guidance with opportunities for practitioners to connect and network with fellow international OTs. It ensures that internationally qualified OTs not only meet their AHPRA registration and supervision requirements but also excel in their new roles. By addressing the unique challenges of transitioning to a new country, the program empowers these professionals to thrive both in their careers and in their personal lives.

Sandra Mortimer

Committee Member

Sandra Mortimer is a senior lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Flinders University. A registered occupational therapist with a clinical doctorate in Public Health, Sandra has over 25 years of clinical experience, primarily with young children and families in community settings. She has spent the past 12 years in academia, where she brings her extensive clinical wisdom and passion for innovative, reflective, client-centred, and culturally responsive practice to her teaching. Sandra is dedicated to empowering new graduates to become core members of the occupational therapy profession who work with care and compassion.

Ted Brown

Committee Member

Ted Brown is Professor of Occupational Therapy and Course Director of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) program in the Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University – Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Victoria. He was made an inaugural Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy (FOTARA) in 2017 and was inducted into the American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows (FAOTA) in 2019 in recognition of his international accomplishments in occupational therapy education and research. He has supervised 60 honours, 30 masters and 15 doctoral students to completion. He has authored 390 peer-reviewed journal articles, 40 book chapters and four edited books. Professor Brown has served as an associate editor of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy for 11 years (2010-2021) and the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal for 16 years (2005-2021). He served as the Convenor of the previous Occupational Therapy Australia 30th National Conference and Exhibition 2023 held in Cairns, Queensland. His research interests include occupational therapy services for children, evidence-based practice, paediatric occupation-based assessment, and health professional education.  

Justin Scanlan

Conference Convenor

Associate Professor Justin Scanlan is an academic staff member at the University of Sydney. His research interests are innovative programs in mental health, mental health recovery and workplace wellbeing for mental health staff. He has published close to 100 journal articles and book chapters and has presented at many conferences. Justin has been a member of every Conference Scientific Program Committee for the OTA National Conference and Exhibition since 2011 and was Chair of the Conference Scientific Program Committee in 2019.

Bridget Muir

Committee Member

Bridget Muir is an occupational therapy graduate working in the community disability space with paediatrics and adults. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Occupational Therapy with Honours at Curtin University in 2023. She is passionate about supporting people increase their quality of life through achieving their goals. Bridget is excited to be a part of the organising committee for the OTA National Conference Exhibition 2025.

Claire Pearce

Committee Member

Dr Claire Pearce, B App Sc (Occupational Therapy), MSc (Health Sciences), PhD, is an Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy and Discipline Lead at the University of Canberra. She lives and works on Ngunnawal country.

Claire has extensive clinical and management experience in adult acute and rehabilitation services in Australia and the UK. Claire’s research focuses on workforce innovations to support occupational participation, with a particular interest in occupational therapy in mental health services; the utilisation of the allied health assistant workforce and professional reasoning. Her teaching areas include professional reasoning, occupational justice and mental health.

Natalie Tanner-Black

Committee Member

Natalie Tanner-Black is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience in both the not-for-profit and private sectors. As an accredited coach and the founder/director of TogetherUp, she leads a supervision practice dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where growth, learning, and professional development are continuously nurtured.

Inspired by her own experience overcoming the challenges of living and working abroad, Natalie and the TogetherUp team developed a highly tailored supervision program for internationally qualified OTs working in Australia. This innovative program provides a comprehensive approach by integrating professional guidance with opportunities for practitioners to connect and network with fellow international OTs. It ensures that internationally qualified OTs not only meet their AHPRA registration and supervision requirements but also excel in their new roles. By addressing the unique challenges of transitioning to a new country, the program empowers these professionals to thrive both in their careers and in their personal lives.

Sandra Mortimer

Committee Member

Sandra Mortimer is a senior lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Flinders University. A registered occupational therapist with a clinical doctorate in Public Health, Sandra has over 25 years of clinical experience, primarily with young children and families in community settings. She has spent the past 12 years in academia, where she brings her extensive clinical wisdom and passion for innovative, reflective, client-centred, and culturally responsive practice to her teaching. Sandra is dedicated to empowering new graduates to become core members of the occupational therapy profession who work with care and compassion.

Ted Brown

Committee Member

Ted Brown is Professor of Occupational Therapy and Course Director of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) program in the Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University – Peninsula Campus, Frankston, Victoria. He was made an inaugural Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy (FOTARA) in 2017 and was inducted into the American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows (FAOTA) in 2019 in recognition of his international accomplishments in occupational therapy education and research. He has supervised 60 honours, 30 masters and 15 doctoral students to completion. He has authored 390 peer-reviewed journal articles, 40 book chapters and four edited books. Professor Brown has served as an associate editor of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy for 11 years (2010-2021) and the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal for 16 years (2005-2021). He served as the Convenor of the previous Occupational Therapy Australia 30th National Conference and Exhibition 2023 held in Cairns, Queensland. His research interests include occupational therapy services for children, evidence-based practice, paediatric occupation-based assessment, and health professional education.