In conversation with Gary
Meet Gary Waltham, our new Chief Executive
Gary Waltham has joined with a clear commitment: to listen, learn and work with members to shape the future of occupational therapy across health, education and social care.
With more than two decades’ experience in the professional health sector including strengthening member-focused organisations, Gary brings deep experience in collaboration and leadership.
I’m here to listen and learn and to work with you to make your professional body the best it can be for our members and the communities we all serve.’
Gary believes organisations thrive when people work together. His leadership style is rooted in collaboration, openness and shared purpose. He wants us to be bold, innovative and brave – and that starts with your ideas.
The ideas you share in the first few months will be used to inform the topics for his deep dive reflections in April.
What do you think Gary needs to know?
Gary’s first priority is listening to you. He wants to hear:
- what’s working well
- where RCOT is making the biggest difference
- how we can do even better.
Share your ideas on making membership more valuable and connected to your professional life and help shape our future strategic priorities. Your insights will guide the future of occupational therapy – so come along and be part of the conversation.
Here's how you can connect
Join a meeting
Sign up for our ‘Meet Gary’ online sessions. Come along with your thoughts and ideas to share and discuss.
Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. But if sessions fill up and there is the demand, we’ll look at adding more dates.
Join the conversation on RCOT Communities
Each month, Gary will host discussions on RCOT Communities. The first conversation will start on Monday 26 January 2026 and run until Friday 30 January 2026. It’s your chance to share ideas, ask questions and help paint the future together.
Join a roundtable
Starting in April, Gary will host small group sessions – both online and in person – to dive into key topics. The themes will come from the ideas shared in the initial conversations. We’ll post details here closer to the time.
If you’re interested in joining one of these sessions, let us know. We’ll confirm the theme and share registration details closer to the time.
Listening visits
Gary will also be out and about meeting members in person across all four nations. We’ll share snapshots and stories from these visits – so everyone can see the brilliant work happening and the impact you’re making.
To see these stories, follow Gary on LinkedIn
About Gary
Gary has been the Chief Executive of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Health (CoSRH) since November 2021. During that time, he launched a new three-year strategy focusing on how the CoSRH enables its members to deliver high quality patient care; oversaw a comprehensive governance review; developed the organisations remit outside of the UK and delivered a digital transformation programme.
He led the organisation from being a faculty, into a college status, securing the visibility and influence this brings.
Prior to this, he was the Executive Director at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) for six years, where he established a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline development centre. Gary holds a BSc in Sociology and an MSc in Human Resources.
Vision for the future
Gary’s vision will take shape with your input. His goal? To make RCOT the best it can be for members and to champion occupational therapy’s vital role in society. He sees strong alignment between our workforce priorities and health strategies across all four nations and wants to ensure RCOT is bold and influential in shaping the future.
Occupations that matter
When it comes to the occupations that matter most to him, Gary says running is a need – it keeps him fit and clears his head. Travelling is what he wants to do more of; he’s seen a lot of Europe already, but there’s still more he wants to explore. And cooking is what he truly loves – chopping vegetables is his way to unwind after a busy day.
