RCOMH Steering Group Member - Hilary Williams
My name is
Hilary Williams and I am the current Chair of the Research Centre
of Occupation in Mental Health (RCOMH). It is a privilege to
hold this post at such an important time of RCOMH’s
development.
With regards to my career journey to date, I
gained my Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy from
La Trobe University, Australia in 1993. I have practiced
clinically in a variety of mental health settings over the course
of my career, initially in Australia and for the past 13 years in
the UK. In 2001 I completed a Masters of Science in Mental
Health Studies from Kings College, London. I work for South
London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and there are 2 aspects to
my ‘day job’ – I am the Lead Occupational Therapist for Research
and Development and the Deputy Professional Head of Occupational
Therapy. Most recently, I have been awarded a secondment to
the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London as a Research
Fellow to develop a proposal for study into the field of
boredom.
Additionally, I have been a member of the College
of Occupational Therapists’ Research and Development Board
(2006-2009), sit on the Editorial Board of the COT Specialist
Section – Mental Health magazine and also Chair the Pan London
Mental Health Occupational Therapy Research & Development
Group.
I feel really excited at the Centre’s
potential and am fully committed to its mission of develop
and lead co-ordinated programmes of research in occupation and
mental health and well being to influence best practice.