2026 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture

Online

Wed 29 April 2026 18:30pm - 20:00pm

Open for all to attend

#RCOTCasson

About the event

Join us online for the 2026 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture on Wednesday 29 April, from 6:30-8pm.

This year’s lecture will be delivered by Sue Parkinson, retired occupational therapist and proud MOHO geek, presenting: 'Simplicity and occupational therapy: managing complexity and promoting sustainability.'

We are often reminded that occupational therapy is a complex intervention. How often do we celebrate the way in which occupational therapists simplify things for the people they work with?

Occupational therapists have an incredible ability to simplify tasks, activities and occupational participation – helping people to manage the complex situations they are facing and to sustain their occupations.

Sue encourages you to apply these same skills to your own practice by identifying ways to manage the complexity of the OT process and to sustain best practice. She will be sharing her own experiences of creating resources to support effective assessment/evaluation, planning and intervention, and she will be introducing you to her latest handbook.

Book now

Meet our speaker

We’re delighted to welcome Sue Parkinson, Retired Occupational Therapist and self-professed MOHO geek as the speaker for our 2026 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture.

Photo of Sue Parkinson, RCOT 2026 Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecturer

Sue is an occupational therapist, educator and author recognised internationally for her contributions to the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and the development of occupation‑focused practice. She’s best known for creating the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST) which has been translated into 18 languages and for authoring the widely used textbook ‘A Guide to the Formulation of Plans and Goals in Occupational Therapy’, including her practical TICKS framework for writing measurable occupational goals.

She trained at the College of Ripon and York St John and built her early career in mental health services in Scarborough and Chesterfield. Sue later became the Practice Development Adviser for occupational therapists at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust where she supported practitioners to strengthen their occupation‑centred, evidence‑based approach.

Since 2003 Sue has worked extensively as a freelance trainer delivering workshops, keynote talks and teaching sessions across the UK and Ireland, as well as in Australia, Finland, South America, Uganda and the USA.

Sue developed the ‘Recovery through Activity’ intervention programme – now in its second edition and translated into German, Italian and French alongside its companion handbook ‘Discovery through Activity’.

She has delivered numerous workshops for RCOT, published articles in OTnews and the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, and contributed to the profession through roles such as BJOT reviewer, HCPC Fitness to Practice panel member, AOTMH representative, and RCOT Conference Committee member.

Although Sue’s retired from full‑time training she continues to play an active role in the profession. And is currently developing a new programme ‘Maintaining Our Health through Occupation’ to be published in 2026. Designed for clinical practice and education it explores key MOHO concepts and supports individuals and groups to reflect on how occupation underpins health and wellbeing.

About the lecture

The lecture is a memorial to Elizabeth Casson (1881–1954) in honour of her contributions to the profession of occupational therapy. The first woman to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Bristol in 1929, Elizabeth Casson specialised in psychiatry and introduced occupational therapy to England, setting up the first school of occupational therapy, Dorset House, in Bristol.

We award the lectureship to an RCOT member whose peers consider them to have made and be making a significant contribution to the profession’s development.

It is open to members and non-members and we encourage you to invite colleagues, friends and those interested in occupational therapy.

FAQs

Is the Casson Lecture free to attend?

Will the lecture be recorded?

Why was Sue Parkinson chosen?

Sue was nominated by Laura Di Bona, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Sheffield Hallam University and chosen by our Council. On making their choice, they said:

‘Council were very impressed with the outstanding field of nominations – as only eminent members of the profession are put forward for our Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture. We really value the perspectives and expertise of all the nominees, however, only one person can be selected each year.’

What's the agenda for the event?

6.30pm: Welcome
Gary Waltham, Chief Executive, RCOT

6.35pm: Introduction to Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecturer, Sue Parkinson
Laura Di Bona, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Sheffield Hallam University

6.40pm: Simplicity and occupational therapy: managing complexity and promoting sustainability
Sue Parkinson, Retired Occupational Therapist / MOHO geek

7.35pm: Q&A with Sue Parkinson
Odeth Richardson, Chair of Council, RCOT

7.50pm: Closing remarks
Odeth Richardson, Chair of Council, RCOT

This agenda may be subject to change.

How do I record this as part of my CPD?

Good news for RCOT members

If you’re an RCOT member attending live – and you signed up using the same email address as your RCOT membership – you’ll see a CPD diary entry in your  CPD portfolio shortly after the lecture has finished.

You’ll be able to complete the diary entry by adding your personal learning and reflections from this lecture whenever suits you best.

If you didn't attend live – within your CPD portfolio you can add a reflection to capture the insights gained from Sue Parkinson's lecture. Just choose your preferred reflective model within the reflection section, and the text fields will auto-populate ready for you to complete.

Already a member?

Log into your CPD portfolio (a member benefit) to view and complete your automated CPD diary entry, or to add a reflection after watching the lecture back.

Not yet a member of RCOT?

Join us today and enjoy access to your very own CPD portfolio and all our other benefits.

Any questions about the CPD portfolio?

Please email [email protected]

On the day FAQs

Where can I watch the lecture?

The lecture is being streamed via  https://rcotcassonlecture2026.streameventlive.com/ and you'll need to register as a 'New user'. We recommend doing this a few days before the event.

When you use the link on the night of the lecture, you’ll need to go to the registration page and in the 'Existing user?' form enter the email address and password you originally used to register. 

If you have any issues please contact [email protected] 

The lecture starts at 6.30pm  –  we recommend logging in early and doing a system test.  Click on the 'System test' menu at the top of the page and click on the <Play> icon.

If you can see and hear the video, you should have no problems viewing the stream. 

I can't log in – who should I talk to?

I haven't registered yet. Can I attend?

You can register to join at any time.

Go to: https://rcotcassonlecture2026.streameventlive.com/

You will need to complete your details, including your email, and set a new password in the 'New user? Please register to view' section.

The event will start promptly at  6.30pm. If you miss any we'll share a recording shortly after.

I haven't had my confirmation email

As the confirmation emails don't come from us it might be in your spam/junk folder.

If you haven't received it, it's not a problem. You can access the lecture by going to the registration page https://rcotcassonlecture2026.streameventlive.com/

In the 'Existing user?' form, enter the email address and password you originally used to register.

I've forgotten my password

Select 'I’ve forgotten my password' on the 'Existing user' form and you will be sent a reset password email. Follow the instructions in the email to reset your password.

If you haven’t received any instructions, please email  [email protected] letting them know you haven’t received your password reset email.

Is there a preferred browser?

I have no sound or video

It may be worth switching to the Google Chrome browser but you can also click on the 'System test' menu at the top of the page to view a full list of supported browsers.

Email [email protected] if you can't resolve the problem. The recording will be available after the lecture if there's anything you miss.