Isabel Margot-Cattin
Chair
University of applied sciences and arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO)
Switzerland
Short Bio
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland. Her expertise includes community mobility, older adults and dementia. She is the main author of the ACT-OUT tool.
Patrícia Santos
Vice-Chair
Instituto Politecnico De Beja
Portugal
Short Bio
Guest Adjunct Professor at the Department of Health at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja in Portugal. She graduated in Occupational Therapy, Master in Neuropsychology and is currently a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses primarily on biomechanics, motion analysis, biosignals, mobility community, and neurological dysfunction in adults and the elderly.
Derek Christie
Grand Holder Scientific Representative
University of applied sciences and arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO)
Switzerland
Short Bio
Prof. DPTH Christie MPH PhD at the School of Health Sciences Fribourg of the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO) is the Grant Holder Scientific Representative of BOPALiM. His expertise is in daily walking and he has wider interests in the health-environment-transportation interfaces.
Priscilla Harries
Grant Awarding Coordinator
Kingston University
United Kingdom
Short Bio
Professor Priscilla Harries, Dip.COT, MSc, Ph.D., FHEA, FCOT is the Grant awarding Co-ordinator of BOPALiM, as well as a Professor of Occupational Therapy and a Fellow of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. She is the Head of the Graduate Research School and Researcher Development at Kingston University London and Chair of the Kingston University Research Ethics Committee. Her research is focused on decision-making, studying clinical decision-making as well as other fields where we are keen to learn from experts, including those assessing fitness to drive.
Belgium
Turkiye
FranceAnn-Helen Patomella
WG1 Co-Leader
Karolinska Institutet
Sweden
Short Bio
Associate Professor at the Karolinska Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy in Stockholm, Sweden. Head of the Division of Occupational Therapy and ENGAGE Research Group Leader, also holding a joint Senior Lecturer position at the Region of Stockholm primary health care academic centre. Her research has focused on developing and testing an on-road test for driving ability assessment following stroke and cognitive disability.
Isabelle Gélinas
WG1 Co-Leader
McGill University
Canada
Short Bio
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Physical & Occupational Therapy at McGill University in Canada. Her research program focuses primarely on issues related to different forms of transportation mobility, including driving, to enable community participation for adults with disability and older adults.
Tadhg Stapleton
WG2 Leader
Trinity College
Ireland
Short Bio
Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. His research spans clinically applied research across various areas of occupational therapy practice, principally with older people, people with stroke, and clinically facing research on driving and community mobility.
Brenda Vrkljan
WG2 Co-Leader
McMaster University
Canada
Short Bio
Professor of Occupational Therapy and Director of the BHSc Integrated Rehabiliation and Humanities undergraduate program at McMaster University, where she leads and co-leads projects focused on mobility, healthy aging, and out of home participation.
Moon Choi
WG2 Co-Leader
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
South Korea
Short Bio
Associate Professor at the KAIST Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy and founder/director of the KAIST Aging & Technology Policy Lab (https://aging.kaist.ac.kr). Her areas of expertise include alternative transportation for older adults, AI empowerment for older adults and individuals with disabilities, community mobility, and technology policy.
Selina Egger
WG3 Leader
Zurich University of Applied Science
Switzerland
Short Bio
Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HETSL | HES-SO) and research associate at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on the mobility and participation of persons with disabilities.
Slaven Gasparovic
WG3 Co-Leader
University of Zagreb
Croatia
Short Bio
Associate Professor at the Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. His general expertise includes transport geography and urban planning, with a particular focus on transport disadvantage, transport based social exclusion and issues of mobility and accessibility for different social groups.
Sophia Vardaki
WG3 Co-Leader
National Technical University of Athens
Greece
Short Bio
Teaching and Research Associate at National Technical University of Athens. Her expertise includes assessment of driving behaviour and performance of older adults (on-road and in simulation), human factors in road design and operations and education of professionals. She is a Road Safety Auditor.
Lana Van Niekerk
WG4 Co-Leader and Training School Coordinator
University of Stellenbosch
South Africa
Short Bio
Associate Professor in Division Occupational Therapy of Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Through her research she explores and aims to facilitate equity for persons with disability in the world of work.
Nikolas Thomopoulos
WG4 Leader
University of Surrey
United Kingdom
Short Bio
Associate Professor in Transport and Institute for Sustainability Programme Co-Leader about Sustainable Transport and Mobility at the University of Surrey. His past research projects include the socio-economic evaluation of new mobility services and fitness to drive.
Sophie Nadia Gaber
WG5 Leader
Uppsala University
Sweden
Short Bio
Associate Senior Lecturer and Assistant Professor in the CIRCLE – Complex Intervention Research in Health and Care group, at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University (UU), Uppsala, Sweden. She is a registered occupational therapist, teacher, and researcher. Her research focuses on community participation among older adults living with and without dementia, and intersectionality, using participatory approaches and instrument development.
Teodora Popović
WG5 Co-Leader
Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro
Montenegro
Short Bio
Graduate Civil Engineer and Teaching Associate in the Department of Roads, at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Montenegro in Podgorica, Montenegro. She is a civil engineer, teacher, and researcher. Her research focuses on the spatial and urban dimensions of mobility, particularly the built environment as a key factor that enables or constrains mobility. Her work aims to enhance existing mobility models and develop more appropriate solutions for a humane urban environment by improving traffic safety, efficiency, and overall mobility, ultimately contributing to a higher quality of urban life.