Emma qualified in 1994 with a BSc. (Hons) in Occupational Therapy. She has also completed an MSc. in Health Ergonomics, alongside post graduate qualifications in both teaching and management.

Her first 10 years were working in housing and adaptations, eventually progressing to managing an older persons’ service. She then moved into higher education as a senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, teaching on the BSc and MSc pre- registration occupational therapy courses. Emma was also the programme lead for the MSc vocational rehabilitation course for approximately 10 years. During her time at Sheffield Hallam University she was awarded an Inspirational Teaching Award and an Outstanding Student Support Award, both nominated by her students. As well as teaching students, she contributed to a significant amount of external training with outside partners, including the DWP.

Having moved to part time working following the birth of her two children, Emma dipped her toe into the world of private occupational therapy and found that the two roles of theory and practice complemented each other well. She has developed a speciality in housing/adaptations and vocational rehabilitation/occupational health to a point where, in 2018 she left Sheffield Hallam University after 13 years and now works full time as an independent occupational therapist.

She is passionate about good ergonomic design to maximise usability and engagement. Her masters research looked at what users think of the appearance of assistive technology (and concluded that people want it to look less “disabled”) thus she continues to strive for inclusive and beautiful designs when working with clients who require adaptations and equipment.

Emma continues to teach on the vocational rehabilitation course at Sheffield Hallam University and provides external training courses on workplace wellbeing. She also supervises a number of occupational therapists in the private sector.