Program Committee
We acknowledge the members of the Program Committee for their valued contribution to the OT Exchange 2022.
OTA events team
Rebecca Meyer
Head of National Conferences, CPD Events and Business Development
Alison Armstead
Conference Events Manager
Jenny Lanigan
Conference Events Manager
Brigitte Kelly
Conference Events Manager
Program Committee Members
Learn more about the committee members.
Olivia Jackson
Occupational Therapist
Olivia has over 30 years experience working in the community with children 0-18 years with a wide range of needs, and using a variety of models of service delivery. She has owned and operated her private practice since 2004 and employs a team of 9 therapists and Allied Health Assistants. She has a particular interest in supporting children and their families with complex needs. Olivia is contracted by Occupational Therapy Australia as a CPD paediatric presenter and is a PhD candidate at The University of Sydney, with her research topic focused on mentorship and its role in paediatric practice in Australia.
Aisling Ryan
Occupational Therapist
Aisling is a paediatric Occupational Therapist and PHD candidate at the University of Queensland. Aisling has worked with children and families over the past 12 years in Australia, the UK and Belgium. Her clinical experience has been broad, and includes practicing in community settings, brain injury rehabilitation, mainstream schooling, special education, and private practice. Aisling is interested in bridging the gap between research and clinical practice for children's occupational therapy.
Brianna Cattanach
Occupational Therapist
Brianna represents the practice of occupational rehabilitation and has held a variety of roles across the sector. She commenced her career working as a Key Worker in disability services, supporting individuals to engage in meaningful activities including work and activity groups. She then moved into a consultancy role in the occupational rehabilitation sector where she began her specialisation in occupational health and wellbeing. Brianna’s role as a workplace consultant provided her with exposure to a wide range of industries and employers and the vast array of challenges workplaces face in proactively supporting, managing and engaging their teams in occupational health and wellbeing. From here her passion and work grew in the space of health maintenance and injury prevention through workplace intervention and education. Now as the head of Gallagher’s national education and training services and as a Senior Occupational Therapist in the organisation, Brianna and her team partner with a vast array of businesses to develop and facilitate a range of bespoke workforce projects and education packages that support workplace health, wellbeing and safety. In addition to her work with Gallagher, Brianna routinely presents as an expert speaker on occupational health and wellbeing at a range of industry and corporate events. She is a guest lecturer in the field of Occupational Therapy at Swinburne University and previously sat on the Academic Advisory Committee for La Trobe University’s Masters of Occupational Therapy degree.
Bridie Reid
Occupational Therapist
Bridie loves working with children and their families, and supporting them to reach their full potential. Bridie values the importance of having a shared vision between parents, teachers, and children so that we can create goals that are achievable and important. Bridie has a passion for family centred therapy and is dedicated to enduring sessions are fun and engaging, while challenging young people to meet their goals. Bridie has a special interest in helping children and young people manage their sensory issues and the expectations in different environments. Bridie is currently studying the Masters of Occupational Therapy through Charles Darwin University.
Caila Ihle
Occupational Therapist
Caila graduated from Curtin University with a BSc (Occupational Therapy) in 2009 and is registered with AHPRA. She is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia, with whom she served on several committees such as the Home Modifications and Environmental taskforce and the Aged Care committee and remains part of their mentorship program. Caila was also formerly the treasurer then secretary of the OT Services in the Home interest group with the WA OT association, and has provided education to OTs across several settings.
Caila began her career in mental health then aged care before working in the public health system for nearly ten and a half years, first at Rockingham General Hospital across the emergency department, inpatient wards and the hand clinic before pioneering and evolving the home visiting service at Fiona Stanley Hospital, providing the interface and means for those with a wide variety of acute and complex health conditions and disabilities to re-enter the community. Caila’s foray since then into the community world has allowed a rapid introduction to the NDIS and DVA systems, taking on a specialist assistive technology and environmental modifications role.
Caila is passionate about access and design and is completing a Diploma of Access Consulting. Caila enjoys problem solving and finding creative ways to help her clients live life without barriers and be empowered to live the best lives of their choosing.
Kelsey Philpott-Robinson
Occupational Therapist
Kelsey is a registered occupational therapist and PhD candidate at The University of Newcastle, Australia. Since graduating in 2014 Kelsey has worked across multiple public and private organisations in paediatrics, with her current scope of practice focused on embedding mental health initiatives into school-based services. Kelsey’s research interests include infant development, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing, self-regulation, and school-based service provision. As part of her PhD, Kelsey is undertaking an advanced career pathway program to develop skills in teaching in higher education. Kelsey is committed to bridging the gap between what we know and what we do as occupational therapists, and providing undergraduate students with relevant, evidence-based educational content to enable them to become competent new graduates.
Kendal Shearer
Occupational Therapist
Kendall is an experienced Occupational Therapist having worked for over 30 years in aged care, rehabilitation, return to work and now disability care. She was the Occupational Therapy Manager of Calvary Rehabilitation Hospital for 18 years working in adult rehabilitation, treating a variety of diagnostic groups, including neurological patients. Kendall is also a driver trained Occupational Therapist. She is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives and helping them to attain their goals. Kendall is currently working as the Allied Health Lead at Praktis Allied Health in Community Occupational Therapy in Adelaide.
Christina Wyatt
Occupational Therapist
Christina is an experienced clinician having practiced for nearly 20 years across Australia and the United Kingdom in adult rehabilitation, disability and aged care. Committed to further building her management, leadership and project skills, Christina completed a Master of Public Health in 2013, participated in an NHMRC funded research trial with Monash University and is now working in a professional practice advisory role with Occupational Therapy Australia.
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