Keynote speakers

The stimulating program for this day-long conference will comprise of international keynote speakers, oral and poster presentations, lightning talks and a panel discussion.

We are delighted to announce our two international keynote speakers.

Dr William LevackAssociate Professor William Levack

University of Otago, New Zealand

William Levack is an Associate Professor in Rehabilitation at the University of Otago, New Zealand, where he also works as the  Associate Dean Research for the University’s Wellington campus and as Academic Head of an interprofessional group—the Rehabilitation Teaching & Research Unit. Originally training as a physiotherapist, Dr Levack completed his Masters in Health Science endorsed in Rehabilitation in 2001 and a PhD in interdisciplinary rehabilitation in 2008. His work focuses on patient experiences of rehabilitation, goal setting processes, and interventions to increase patient engagement in rehabilitation activities—particularly in the areas of neurological and respiratory rehabilitation. He served as Executive Member of the New Zealand Rehabilitation Association, spending time as Treasurer and Secretary between 2004 and 2015.  William has published 43 peer-reviewed articles, several book chapters, and, in 2015, a textbook entitled Rehabilitation Goal Setting: Theory, Practice and Evidence with colleague, Professor Richard Siegert.  In 2016, William was part of a core group of international promotors who successful established Cochrane Rehabilitation—a new specialist Field within the Cochrane—and now works on the Executive Committee of this group.

 

Dr Mary Ann McCollProfessor Mary Ann McColl PhD MTS

Queen’s University, Canada

Mary Ann McColl is a Professor of Occupational Therapy in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.  She is also Associate Director of the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, Professor in Public Health Sciences, and Academic Lead for the Canadian Disability Policy Alliance. Dr McColl is author of Spirituality and Occupational Therapy (2nd ed.), as well as the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (5th ed.), Theoretical Basis of Occupational Therapy (3rd ed.), Disability & Social Policy in Canada (2nd ed.), and Inter-professional Primary Health Care.