board of directors

As a non-profit society registered in Alberta, SAOT is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

board of directors

As a non-profit society registered in Alberta, SAOT is governed by a volunteer board of directors.

LAUREN LEVEILLE

President; Director

Lauren works as a front line Occupational Therapist with adults in Addictions and Mental Health. She has always appreciated the flexibility that the profession offers and throughout that time she has also gained experience in a variety of other practice settings (i.e. Home Care, Acute Mental Health, etc). She also works as a private contractor for Veteran’s Affairs in her spare time and is on the Acupuncture Roster. Lauren started volunteering with SAOT’s Professional Advisory Committee in 2017 and is truly enjoys the opportunity to give back to the OT community. She loves talking students and her special interest areas are addiction, cognition, and chronic pain.

TAYLOR GUY

Chair, Education Committee; Director

Taylor works in long term care in Calgary and has previous experience in vocational rehabilitation. She is passionate about advancing the OT profession through SAOT and promoting the growth of Occupational Therapists in Alberta and beyond. She is honored to be a board member of SAOT and will serve as Chair for the Education Committee.

Diana van der Stoel

Special Interest Group Liaison; Director

Diana is a practicing Occupational Therapist with experience in a variety of clinical areas. She currently works as a health educator and is particularly interested in enhancing the quality-of-life, and enabling the capabilities, of those diagnosed with dementia. Diana is passionate about enhancing and promoting the role of Occupational Therapy and being a part of the work that SAOT does.

Allison Hunder

University of Alberta Student Representative; Director

Allison is an Occupational Therapy Student at the University of Alberta. Allison is passionate about improving individuals’ quality of life through occupational therapy and is excited to be a part of the work that SAOT does as the Student Representative. In her free time, Allison enjoys spending time in the mountains whether that be skiing, camping or hiking.

GAYLA GRINDE

University of Alberta Representative

Gayla is registered occupational therapist and an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University Alberta’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Occupational Therapy. In her prior role practicing as an occupational therapist, Gayla’s experience included service delivery for families where children and adolescents experienced early developmental trauma and disruption to attachment. Pervasive and recurring trauma in the early years has complicated implications on development and requires careful and reflective examination when working in this practice context. Her decision to become an educator was to support educational opportunities for students to explore the complex and systemic forces that occupational therapists often have to navigate in clinical practice.

KATELYN MCNEIL

Chair, Professional Affairs Committee; Director

Katelyn is passionate about her work as an Occupational therapist in child and adolescent mental health in Calgary. She also has previously worked in adult mental health and in a return to work setting. Katelyn has been a member of the Professional Affairs committee and serves as the co-chair to support Occupational Therapy advocacy in the province.

KAITLIN BALLA

Chair, Awards; Director

Kaitlin works in private practice, specializing in medical legal assessments and mental health treatment. Previously, Kaitlin has worked as a front-line occupational therapist in community addictions and mental health in Edmonton. She has a growing interest in cognitive rehabilitation, a passion for continued professional development, and a strong belief in advocacy for the profession. She is honored to be a member of the board and is delighted to serve at the Chair of the Awards Committee.

ROBIN TELASKY

Executive Director

Robin has a communications background and has worked in a management capacity for non-profit organizations for more than 30 years. She has worked with SAOT since 2008 and is passionate about growing SAOT and the profession to its true potential.