Chair of Trustees

Lead the board of the Elizabeth Casson Trust and support the development of occupational therapists and the profession in the UK and internationally.

Applications close Monday 17th February.

Location: Remote (with occasional travel for meetings and events)

Who we are

The Elizabeth Casson Trust was established in 1948 to further the profession of occupational therapy and support the development of occupational therapists within the UK and beyond. We have developed as an organisation through the years but have always worked to stay true to the pioneering spirit of Dr Elizabeth Casson.

The Trust supports the development of occupational therapists through a variety of funding opportunities that focus on clinical and leadership skills, research and its translation into practice.

We achieve this through a wide variety of funding to support continued education, mentoring and leadership development, research and specific projects through our innovation awards to respond to current and emerging needs.

We stay connected to our profession, professionals and, through them, to people who use occupational therapy to ensure the relevance and sustainability of the Trust.

We provide support and development in the most accessible way and ensure equality and diversity from the Board through funding awards to our future focus.

As we continue to deliver our current strategic plan for 2020-2025 and have welcomed a new Executive Officer, we look to the future in anticipation of creating our next strategy.

Our current Chair, Dee Christie, will come to the end of her term in October 2025, and we are looking to appoint a new Chair who can join the organisation and experience a period of occasional shadowing of our current Chair. We hope that this approach will support a smooth transition before the new Chair takes up their role in October 2025.

About the role

The board has 12 trustees, including 9 occupational therapists, one of which is our Chair. The Chair isn’t just another governance role – it’s an opportunity to champion a profession that supports people to get on with life in the way that they choose.

As Chair, you will be working with a diverse, forward-thinking board that embraces fresh perspectives and bold ideas. You’ll be leading the Board of a charity that is committed to pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers. We’re looking for someone who can:

• Drive strategic vision: Contribute to shaping the future of occupational therapy by steering our new five-year strategy from 2025. Your insights will help transform how we support and develop the OT profession.
• Build meaningful connections: Foster partnerships with key stakeholders and be an ambassador for both the Trust and the OT profession.
• Champion inclusive leadership: Lead a board that celebrates diversity of thought and experience. We’re serious about creating an environment where every voice matters and contributes to our success.

Our new Chair will bring a mix of professional expertise and personal qualities that align with our values. As a qualified Occupational Therapist, you’ll bring authentic understanding to the role, but it’s not just about qualifications. We’re looking for someone who has proven leadership experience, has either trustee, non-executive or board member experience and strategic insight, and shows natural diplomatic flair and emotional intelligence whilst understanding the legal responsibilities that come with charity leadership.

You’ll thrive here if you:

• Get excited about nurturing talent and bringing out the best in people
• Love building bridges between ideas, people, and organisations
• Believe in the power of good governance to drive positive change
• Embody the values of the Trust and can lead by example

You will lead our governance while keeping things dynamic and engaging. You will create an environment where innovative ideas flourish and, together with the board, ensure our investment decisions align with our values and ambitions.

We are committed to ensuring the diversity of our board, so we expressly encourage applications from a wide range of applicants, including individuals who will approach discussions through a different lens and bring a range of life experiences. This includes the characteristics protected by UK law (age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation), as well as socio-economic background and ways of thinking.

Time commitment

The Board meets four times a year, twice online (January and July) and twice in person in London (April and October), with our April meeting combining our Away Day and our October meeting our AGM.

The time commitment is the equivalent of 2 – 3 days a month, which includes meeting preparation, ad hoc conversations with the trustees, 1:1s with our Executive Officer, and representation at external events. Our Chair also attends our Finance Advisory Group usually once a quarter for 30 minutes online.

This is more than a traditional Chair role — it’s an opportunity to be part of a movement shaping occupational therapy. If you’re ready to combine your leadership skills with purpose-driven impact, we want to hear from you!

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close Monday 17th February.