About the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of BAHT is a group of members elected at the AGM to lead the organisation. The Executive's responsibility is to promote the objectives and manage the resources of the BAHT.

The individuals become Directors of the organisation according to the requirements of Charity Law.

The titles of the committee members reflect their specific responsibilities to lead in their area plus reporting to the whole committee at each alternate-monthly meeting. BAHT has been very fortunate to have had many forward thinking and hardworking committees over the years.

The Current Executive Committee

Leanna Topcuoglu (Chair)

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapist.Leanne gained her degree from Canterbury Christ Church University College in 2001. She has worked within the NHS for 14 years, with over 12 years experience in treating hand conditions. Leanne currently works for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals alongside a team of orthopaedic and plastics hand surgeons as a clinical lead hand therapist. Leanne is skilled in complex hand assessment and condition management with a special interest in complex polytrauma and CRPS

Contact: baht.chair@gmail.com

Linda Cornish (Vice Chair - Director of Communications)

My interest in hand therapy began whilst working in the south of England, and in 2002 started work as a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Hands for University Hospitals Southampton. In this role I worked alongside Specialist Hand Surgeons and undertook an MSc module in Injection Therapy.  Whilst there, I helped develop the Southampton Hand Course for Therapists and Surgeons from 2005 – 2018.  I have always worked predominantly in the NHS but have also worked in the private sector alongside my NHS work.  I now work as a Clinical Specialist / Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Hands at University Hospitals Dorset. I love being on the BAHT Executive Committee and have been a committee member since 2019. I enjoy the team working and networking opportunities it brings. I enjoy teaching and disseminating knowledge from courses and conferences to our hand therapy team members and students. I am always interested in relevant current research. I enjoy our links with the BSSH and more recently with our European Hand Therapy colleagues.  I am very keen to promote the future of hand therapy and explore ways we can move our profession forwards over the next few years.

Contact: baht.vicechair@gmail.com

Miriam Parkinson (Director of Membership)

I have been a member of BAHT since 2001 and have benefitted tremendously from my membership over these years through our journal and the attendance of conferences, courses, northwest regional meetings, successful bursary application and via networking. I have always appreciated being part of a society that works hard to support and develop it's members to a high standard. It seems natural now to give something back by volunteering as director of membership on the BAHT EC committee. Indeed, I would consider it an honour.

Contact: baht.membership@gmail.com

Fiona Powell (Director of Bursaries) 

Fiona qualified as an occupational therapist in 1994. She started her hand therapy career at Selly Oak hospital, Birmingham in a busy burns and plastics unit, before joining the Hand Rehabilitation team at Bristol Royal Infirmary in 1999, where she still works with a predominantly orthopaedic caseload.

In 2004, Fiona completed an MSc in Hand therapy at the University of Derby. She has since developed her skills in medicolegal practice and is a self-employed care expert for somek and associates, providing expert opinion in personal injury cases. In 2019, Fiona achieved accreditation from the British association of Hand Therapists.

Fiona is passionate about hand therapy and is pleased to be able to help contribute to the development of new hand therapists and the profession as a whole in the UK.

Contact: baht.bursaries@gmail.com

Sophie Lalor (Secretary) + Director of Ebulletins & Secretary

Sophie has worked as a physiotherapist in the hands and plastics team at Mid Yorkshire
NHS Trust for just over 4 years following her previous rotational roles. She has a real
passion for hand therapy and has joined the executive committee as secretary to help
promote hand therapists and their work regionally and nationally. Sophie has attended
BAHT conferences in the past and is now excited to be involved in planning future
events to promote education and networking opportunities for all Hand Therapists.

 

Contact: baht.secretary@gmail.com or baht.ebulletin@gmail.com / baht.websiteandmedia@gmail.com

Janey Milligan: Consultant Hand Therapist, Belfast (Director of Journal)

Janey has worked in hand therapy for over 20 years and became an accredited hand
therapist in 2013. She was appointed as a consultant hand therapist in the Ulster
hospital, Belfast, in 2015 and works in the Northern Ireland regional plastic surgery unit.
Janey has a special interest in congenital hand / upper limb conditions. As well as
working in the NHS she has worked in private practice since 2004 with acute trauma
and post-operative hand therapy patients, professional and elite sports people and also
completing medico-legal professional reports and ergonomic OT assessments / reports
for a variety of businesses and industries across the region. She has been involved with
RCOT and BAHT for a number of years helping develop advanced clinical practice.
Janey was elected as Director of Journal for the executive committee in Nov 2022 and
has a keen interest in supporting BAHT both with the journal and forthcoming
conferences.

Contact: baht.journal@gmail.com

Susan Dargie (Director of Advertising)

Susan joined the executive committee as a co-opted member in September 2022 and
was elected to Director of Advertising in November 2022. Susan qualified as a
physiotherapist many years ago and has recently returned to practice as a Hand
Therapist in the Midlands. She has recently completed the Hand Therapy Post
Graduate Certificate at the University of Essex.
Susan has valued being a member of BAHT for many years and is looking forward to
the role of Director of Advertising as well as working with the rest of the committee to
promote Hand Therapy and the next annual BAHT conference.

Contact: baht.advertising@gmail.com

Emma Leather (Treasurer)

Emma has worked in the NHS since 2004 when she qualified as a physiotherapist and
has worked exclusively in hand therapy for the last 7 years. Emma is the hand therapy
clinical lead at Airedale General Hospital on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales having set
up this service for the area.

Emma joined the BAHT committee in May 2022 in the role of secretary and social
media director. She has now been elected as Treasurer and will work alongside Laura
to manage all BAHT financial matters.

Contact: baht.treasurer@gmail.com

Laura Cooper (Vice Treasurer)

Laura has been a member of BAHT for approx 20 years and have had a variety of jobs
within this time. She has recently been successful in an appointment to B8 Clinical Lead
OT within Mid Yorkshire hospitals NHS Trust and is now responsible for a large team of
therapists covering Plastic Surgery, Hands, Burns and Rheumatology specialities. Laura
would like the opportunity to join BAHT to help mould and shape national Hand Therapy
agendas and further promote the role of Hand Therapists.

Contact: baht.vicetreasurer@gmail.com

Cate Allen (Director of Website & Media)

Cate has been a BAHT member since 2015. She has worked in Burns and Plastics for a
number of years as a Clinical Specialist at Pinderfields hospital, before moving to
Wythenshawe hospital as an Advanced Practitioner. Cate now runs the MSc Hand
Therapy Programme at Derby University and has a keen interest in Hand Therapy
education, hand trauma, pain and the development of the Hand Therapy professional
field. This has resulted in her desire to join the BAHT executive committee, to be
involved and help in future developments and provisions for Hand Therapists. If you
have any feedback or suggestions for the BAHT website then please get in touch.

Contact: baht.websiteandmedia@gmail.com

 

About the Education Sub-Committee

The BAHT Education Sub Committee is run by qualified occupational therapists and physiotherapists who all have a special interest in hand therapy education and in promoting the BAHT education system and Accredited Hand Therapist award. They give their time voluntarily and each member takes responsibility for a different aspect of the committees' role.

Any information you may wish to submit to the committee should be received by the administrative secretary no less than 2 weeks prior to the meeting date.

The Current Education Sub-Committee

Anne Alexander - BAHT ESC Chair

Anne has over 20 years hand therapy experience, most recently as a Senior Physiotherapist in the NHS.  She works within the Oxford Hand Therapy Unit where she treats complex hand injuries (plastics and orthopaedics), and also within private practice at Tops:Health where she has a special interest in the management of thoracic outlet syndrome, and in treating musicians with hand and upper limb issues. She gained an MSc in Advanced Physiotherapy in 2007,  achieved her advanced clinical practitioner digital badge in 2024 (via the portfolio route, specific to hand therapy), and re-accredited as an AHT in 2025.  She has presented at National and International Conferences, with a combination of primary research and as an invited speaker.  

Anne became a member of the ESC in 2022, took over the role of AP network co-ordinator at the start of 2023, and became chair of the ESC at the start of 2025.

Contact: baht.escchair@gmail.com

Debbie Miles (BAHT Exams co-ordinator)

Debbie is a Physiotherapist and Accredited Hand Therapist who has been on the education committee since 2012.  She has taken on a number of committee roles including chairing it from 2022 to 2024 and has organised and taught on a variety of BAHT level I & level II courses.  Debbie's hand therapy career began in 2008 at St George’s Hospital in London, before she moved to a role setting up a new hand therapy service at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in 2015.  Since 2018 Debbie has worked in a full-time academic role at the University of Essex and in 2023 she started working towards a Professional Doctorate part-time alongside this.

Contact: baht.exams@gmail.com

Chloe Kirk (APL Co-ordinator)

Chloë graduated in 2004 and specialised in the treatment of musculoskeletal and hands since 2007. She has worked at the Pulvertaft hand centre for the last 10 years and also has specialised in addition in Rheumatology for the last 5 years. She has previously held roles as a clinical educator to the medical students in both hands and Rheumatology and has a passion for teaching, learning and education. She has taught on BAHT level 1 courses and at local universities on undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Her specialist interests are wrist conditions, hypermobility, inflammatory arthritides and tendon injuries. She completed her postgraduate MSc in 2017 and became an accredited Hand Therapist in 2018 when she joined the Education committee as BAHT level 1 co-ordinator until 2022 (due to maternity leave) and now supports marking and validation of courses.

Contact: baht.apl@gmail.com

Matthew Allen (Level 1 Co-Ordinator)

Matt has worked in the hand therapy team at the Royal Cornwall Hospital since 2012.
During his time with the team, Matt has had the opportunity to develop his hand therapy
knowledge and skills thanks to the support of colleagues and the education framework
developed by BAHT. His main clinical interests include the assessment and management of
acute hand trauma, fracture and tendon rehabilitation and hand therapy education.

Matt joined the Education Sub-Committee in 2020, taking on the role of Advanced Clinical
Practice (ACP) link for the BAHT ACP Network. More recently, he has taken over as the Level
I co-ordinator.

Contact: baht.level1@gmail.com

Nicole Glassey & Sarah Golding (Level 2 Co-ordinator)

Nicole Glassey and Sarah Golding share responsibility for the busy role of level II co-ordinators.

Nicole is a Physiotherapist and both a British and European Accredited Hand Therapist. Nicole qualified in 1991 and has spent most of her career working in Nottingham where she has recently gained the post of Consultant Physiotherapist. In addition to this Nicole is an associate lecturer and module leader for the MSc in Hand Therapy at the University of Derby. Nicole has published many research papers, book chapters and her own book. She has also validated and run her own BAHT Level II course so understands the challenges this involves. Nicole enjoys the combination of clinical and academic practice and looks forward to utilising her experience in supporting the provision of quality education to hand therapists.

Sarah is a Physiotherapist and Accredited Hand Therapist working within the NHS and higher education. Sarah trained at the University of Hertfordshire qualifying in 2002 and started her NHS career in Southend Hospital. Currently Sarah is part of a dynamic NHS team in Essex working in primary care as a first contact physiotherapist seeing hand conditions and injuries presenting at the earliest point! In addition to this, Sarah works within higher education as a postgraduate lecturer at the University of Essex, providing various masters modules and pathways for clinicians advancing their practice. Completion of her own postgraduate MSc and publication of her dissertation was a huge challenge but has been instrumental in advancing her career. Sarah enjoys supporting clinicians to utilise research evidence to inform and impact their clinical practice, her strong clinical background and continued clinical work facilitates this! Having completed various BAHT validated courses over the years which played an important part of her development, Sarah is very happy to support others through her role in the education committee.

Contact: baht.level2@gmail.com

Ella Donnison (Level III Co-ordinator)

Ella has been on the committee since 2006 and took on the Level III co-ordinator role in 2007. She is an Occupational Therapist, based at the Pulvertaft Hand Unit in Derby. Areas of interest include hand and upper limb therapy education and training and therapy within amateur and high performance sport.

Contact: baht.level3@gmail.com

Penny Harper (ESC Finance/Website Co-ordinator)

Penny is the lead for the Brighton and Sussex University Hospital Hand Service. Penny has worked extensively within the specialist area of Hand Therapy since qualifying in 1997. She has worked throughout the UK, Scotland and abroad. Clinical experience has focused on plastic surgery and orthopaedic hand surgery patients with hand and upper limb injuries, rheumatological conditions, within the specialist areas of performing arts medicine, and the neurological impaired upper limb. More recently one of Penny’s main achievements has been the setting up of one of the first Virtual Hand Fracture Clinics in the UK and is currently working with NHSi in the development of educational exercise videos which will be rolled out nationally.

Penny thoroughly enjoys the field of hand therapy, the complexity and intricate anatomy of the upper limb and the impact that this specialist area of work can have upon people’s lives. Her aim is to maximise the resources we have available, to provide first class hand therapy of all patients with hand and upper limb conditions.

Penny enjoys spending time with her partner and two young children. She likes baking cakes with her children, whilst listening to music, and loves to go for a run, especially when her daughter tags along too! 

Contact: baht.escfinance@gmail.com

Pascalle Smith - Hand Therapist (AHT Co-ordinator)

Pascalle is an accredited hand therapist and has worked as a specialist hand therapist for 19 years, following graduation as an Occupational Therapist from Southampton University. After graduation she worked at the Wessex Rehabilitation Unit at Salisbury Hospital and enjoyed focusing on long term rehabilitation in hand therapy. Where she gained specialist knowledge in assessment of chronic hand conditions and rehabilitation of the upper limb. She has also worked in the NHS at Queen Victoria Hospital East Grinstead gaining specialised experience and skills in hand trauma and plastic reconstruction. Since having family in 2009 Pascalle has worked in independent practise in private clinics in Sussex and Kent and as an Extended Scope Practitioner in a MSK service. She has taken part in clinical research to promote and develop patient care and reviewing treatment effectiveness. Pascalle is enthusiastic about education and has been fortunate to teach overseas.

Pascalle was previously Treasure for the British Association of Hand Therapists and is looking forward to returning to join the BAHT committee. She is keen to promote the specialist profession, encouraging new developments, research and ensuring best clinical treatments are available for patients.

Contact: baht.aht@gmail.com

Raelene Marx (AP Network Co-ordinator)

Raelene has been practising in the area of Hand Therapy for longer than she would care to remember and is still loving it. She has been an Accredited Hand Therapist with the British Association of Hand Therapy (BAHT) since 2015 and has also completed post graduate qualifications in Injection Therapy, Acupuncture, Leadership in Healthcare and Innovation in practice. Most recently (in 2023) Raelene was rewarded the title of Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Health Education England first cohort of Allied Health professionals' ACP e-portfolio route.

Qualified as an Occupational Therapist at the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) in 1996, she worked in private practise in South Africa, before she relocated to the UK in 2000. 

Since making London her home, she has worked at several London Teaching hospitals as a clinical specialists in hand therapy (Mount Vernon Hospital, St Mary's Hospital and St Thomas Hospital). Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (London) has been her employer since 2003 where she has been the Clinical Lead of the Hand Therapy department until 2023, whereafter she took on a part-time position as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, alongside working as a hand therapist in the private sector.

Raelene has presented on new innovative treatments in both European and British Hand Therapy conferences and her passion is to call out the gold in others, empowering both therapists and patients to reach their optimal potential. She  has had the opportunity to work with charitable organisations in developing countries Sierra Leone and rural parts of South Africa where she provided training to local therapists.

She loves the following quote by Nelson Mandela which has inspired her practice.
"It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it."

Contact: baht.apnetwork@gmail.com

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2025 Upcoming ESC Meeting Dates:

• Tuesday 22nd July 2025
• Thursday 25th September 2025
• Wednesday 19th November 2025

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How to Join the BAHT Education Sub-Committee

If you are interested in becoming involved with the BAHT Education Sub Committee, please contact us as we are often looking for:

• New members
• Supervisors for level III and APL applicants
• Assessors for level III and APL applicants
• Course external representatives

Please address any queries to Email not available without JavaScript

Catherine Rolls CEC Chair)

Physiotherapist – Bristol

Cat completed an undergraduate degree in Biological Science at Oxford University in 2003 and subsequently graduated from Kings College London in 2006 with an MSc in Physiotherapy. She has been working as a Hand Therapist since 2012. Cat has worked predominantly in the NHS and has a strong background in orthopaedic trauma, with an interest in compression neuropathies of the upper limb. Cat continues to work in a clinical capacity at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

In 2018 Cat was awarded an HEE/NIHR internship to conduct a systematic literature review into the incidence of CRPS after wrist fracture. This work has been published in Hand Therapy. Cat followed this with an Above and Beyond charity research grant to look at local CRPS pathways. She is currently undertaking an NIHR Pre-Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship (PCAF) with a focus of persistent pain after wrist fracture.

Cat joined the BAHT CEC in 2020 and is keen to support hand therapists interested in starting a career in clinical academia.

Contact: baht.cec@gmail.com

ORCID

Victoria Jansen

Physiotherapist – Derby

Victoria graduated as a physiotherapist in 1996, and initially specialised in burns, plastics and trauma working in the Burns units at Roehampton, and East Grinstead as well as abroad in Auckland, New Zealand and Singapore. Victoria has worked in the Pulvertaft Hand Centre, in Derby since 2000, and her caseload includes both acute hand trauma and chronic conditions. Victoria has a dual role as both a senior hand therapist and a researcher.

Victoria’s special interest is in the therapy management of hand OA and wrist pain, with thumb OA being the focus of her current research activity. She has presented her research at national (BAHT) and international conferences (IFSSH and EFSSH) and published her work in peer reviewed journals.

In 2014, she was awarded a HEE/NIHR ICA Programme Masters Studentship and completed a Master’s in Research Methods at the University of Nottingham.

Victoria joined the CEC in 2017 and chaired the committee from 2019-2021. Victoria is committed to continuing to support members to develop the knowledge base for the conditions we treat, and the evidence base for hand therapy practice.

ORCID

Suzanne Beale

Occupational Therapist – Birmingham

Suzanne qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1991 and has specialised in Hand Therapy since 1996. Suzanne currently works as a Clinical Specialist Hand Therapist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Hand (QEHB), starting this role in 2001.

Since 2015, Suzanne has also worked as an academic research therapist within the Hand and Peripheral Nerve Service at QEHB. Suzanne’s specialist interest is within the peripheral nerve injury service, specifically the assessment and treatment of nerve and tendon transfers. Other interests include patient education and post-graduate training of therapists within hand therapy.

Suzanne completed a Masters in Hand Therapy at Derby University in 2005. Suzanne joined the BAHT CEC in 2016 and is keen to support the further development of research in the clinical workplace.

Laura Robinson

Charlotte Critchley

Daniel Ceh (co-opted)

 

GPC COMMITTEE

Meryl Glover (GPC Chair)

Meryl is a Specialist Hand Therapist; she qualified as an Occupational Therapist in Liverpool.She has worked in the field of hand therapy in Liverpool, Nottinghamshire, Leeds, Central London and Windsor.  Since 2013 she has been working independently in her own practice `The Hand Therapy Practice` based in Berkshire but works all around the UK with the Legal aspect of her practice.

Meryl has been working globally for 25 years both in India and Africa (Malawi) the work has been treating teaching and setting up services.  She and two other therapists fundraised and set up a Limb fitting centre in Rural India.

Meryl received the BAHT Hand Therapist of the year award in 2006 in recognition for her global work. In March 2025 she was awarded a lifetime achievement award from IFSHT.  Meryl  is passionate about global working and hand therapy and as Chair of the BAHT GPC committee she wishes to make Global work accessible to all those who wish to be part of it.

Pascalle Smith (Secretary)

Pascalle is an accredited hand therapist with 24 years experience. Born in South Africa and raised across five African nations before completing occupational therapy training in 2000. In her early career she established a sustainable OT service in rural Uganda (2002) while overcoming resource limitations and cultural barriers. Her professional journey began at Salisbury District Hospital's specialised workshop facilities, followed by advancing clinical and managerial responsibilities at Queen Victoria Hospital focusing on acute trauma, burns, and plastics. Achieving Hand Therapy Diploma in 2008, subsequently joining Sussex MSK service as an Extended Scope Practitioner while simultaneously developing a private practice. Since 2019, she has been the therapy lead with British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) for the first reconstruction and burns unit in Sierra Leone, and was recently appointed Director of ReSurge Africa. Pascalle has extensive international experience in trauma, orthopedics, and plastics with a passion for applying diverse skills and knowledge to benefit patients and the global hand therapy community. 

Sarah Mee (Marketing & Media)

Accredited hand therapist with over 35 years of experience. Brought up in South Africa, taught there and volunteered in Malawi in 1994 in burns and plastics. Since 2019 has been Therapy Lead for the BSSH/BAHT LION development of a sustainable hand unit in Malawi. Worked since 2000 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London with generic hand therapists and 16 years as Consultant Hand Therapist. Runs first contact practitioner diagnostic triage clinics, interpreting imaging, booking surgery for acquired hand/wrist conditions and acute hand trauma and treating complex wrist and hand injuries and congenital conditions.  Taught in Hand Therapy since 1990, is a Partner in N.E.S Hand Therapy Training LLP, lecturing nationally and internationally at congress, Masters, post grad, accredited and local courses.

Sarah has been active in BAHT for 35 years as Chair of the Education Committee, BAHT accredited course trainer, BAHT GPC, received Hand Therapist of the Year Award 2010 and 2024 received Natalie Barr Award for substantial contributions to hand therapy.  She is passionate about hand therapy, about teaching and turning on light bulbs for as many hand therapists as possible, in returning to her African roots with working and training in Malawi and developing global partnerships and training opportunities.

Meabh McConnell 

Meabh is an OT who qualified in 2004 and has worked primarily in hand injuries throughout her career. She is based in the Ulster Hospital in Belfast, involved in the running of a therapist-led clinic there.

Meabh is a keen traveller, who has spent over 4 years travelling the world, including living and working in Australia and Nicaragua. Volunteering projects with the BAHT and BFirst have taken Meabh to Malawi and The Gambia in recent years. She is also involved with the Health Volunteers Overseas (USA) group and has delivered some remote lectures to Nepal and Ghana.  Aside from travel, Meabh enjoys outdoor swimming and playing water polo in the Irish league.

Karen Murphy (Treasurer)

Karen is an Occupational Therapist working in Hand Therapy since 2004.  She became a Certified Hand Therapist in New York in 2009, returning to establish Hand Therapy in an NHS Trust in 2009.  Since then she has transitioned to private practice, managing an allied health clinic, treating all manner of upper limb issues, and completing medical legal reports.  Karen's role in the Global Partnership committee is treasurer, and she has travelled to a project in Cambodia.

Jean Cahill (Marketing & Media)

Jean graduated from the University of Wales, College of Medicine in June 2005.  She has worked for the NHS and in private practice in London over 15 years in a variety of settings.  In March 2022 Jean relocated to Ireland and opened The Hand Therapy Clinic, a private clinic in central Dublin offering hand therapy services for the elbow, wrist and hand. 

Jean is an active committee member of the Irish Association of Hand Therapists (IAHT) and of the Global Partnerships Committee with the British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT).  Jean has a keen interest in working in developing countries and has worked in Haiti and Nepal over the last 15 years.  Jean is passionate about hand therapy and committed to developing the practice both nationally and internationally.