AOTI Award Winners - Volunteer & Advisory Group of the Year
Announcing our Winners!
Winners of New AOTI Awards
We are delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural AOTI Advisory Group of the Year Award and AOTI Volunteer of the Year Award.
These awards recognise the outstanding contribution of AOTI members who give their time, expertise and energy to support the Association, strengthen the Occupational Therapy profession and make a positive difference for members and service users.
Advisory Group of the Year 2026 Winner: Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Disorders Advisory Group (RMDAG)
For more than 20 years, RMDAG has provided professional support, learning and collaboration for Occupational Therapists working in rheumatology and related areas. Bringing together expertise from clinical practice, research and academia, the group has demonstrated the impact of sustained collaboration and advocacy at national level.
RMDAG’s achievements include national workforce mapping and data collection, the development of national prioritisation criteria, peer networking supports, educational webinars and study days and the development of Splinting Guidelines for Occupational Therapists Working with Adults with Rheumatological Conditions. RMDAG’s advocacy has also contributed to significant growth in rheumatology Occupational Therapy resources nationally.
A particular highlight has been the group’s contribution to Work-Able Solutions, an Occupational Therapy-led vocational rehabilitation initiative. The pilot supported 354 people to remain in or return to work and demonstrated significant improvements in work performance and functioning. Economic analysis estimated annual savings to the Exchequer of €3.46 million.
RMDAG is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through shared expertise, leadership and a commitment to advancing Occupational Therapy. Congratulations to everyone involved in RMDAG on winning the inaugural AOTI Advisory Group of the Year Award.
Volunteer of the Year 2026 Winner: Jessie Tierney
Jessie has made an outstanding voluntary contribution as Public Relations Lead on the AOTI Conference Committee, supporting the planning and delivery of the 2025 and 2026 AOTI Conferences.
Over the past two years, Jessie has led conference communications, including member updates, promotional campaigns and the coordination of information across conference subcommittees. She has taken an evidence-informed approach, using engagement data and member feedback from 2025 to strengthen the communications strategy for the 2026 Conference.
Jessie’s contribution has also extended well beyond her PR responsibilities. She has supported abstract processing, researched venue logistics, contributed to the AOTI newsletter and taken responsibility for liaising with keynote speakers.
Her initiative, reliability and willingness to support colleagues have strengthened the work of the Conference Committee and enhanced AOTI’s engagement with members. Congratulations to Jessie Tierney on winning the inaugural AOTI Volunteer of the Year Award.
Awards Ceremony
Heartfelt congratulations to RMDAG and Jessie on these very well-deserved awards and thank you to all AOTI members who volunteer their time and expertise to support the Association and the profession.
Both awards will be formally presented at the AOTI Conference dinner on 1st October in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, Co. Cork.
