Brunel University London’s Priscilla Harries is taking a leading role at the national body for occupational therapists.
Prof Harries, who heads the university’s Department of Clinical Sciences is The College of Occupational Therapists' (COT) newly elected chair for research and development.
For the next three years Prof Harries will help make key decisions driving the body representing the UK’s 31,355 occupational therapists.
The COT sets the professional standards for occupational therapists, promotes the profession and looks after occupational therapists’ workplace needs.
“I am delighted and honoured to be elected research and development chair and look forward to leading on our profession’s strategic research,” she said.
Alongside helping lead research and development, her role makes Prof Harries a Director of British Association of Occupational Therapists and Trustee of College of Occupational Therapy.
“I am committed to developing our clinical academic workforce and research-led education,” she added. “Our profession is rapidly developing its research capacity and we need to proactively seek opportunities to develop our evidence base, demonstrate our research impact and strategically position our research leaders.”
Priscilla is the former Chair of the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Occupational Therapists and an elected Fellow of the College of Occupational Therapists. She plays a key part in steering national research and advises government on disability issues.