2020 Mitchell Symposium: “The Collective, our Collectivity, and Collective Occupation.”

The 2020 Mitchell Symposium featured Sarah Kantartzis, DipCOT, MSC, PhD, “The Collective, our Collectivity and Collective Occupation.” Kantartzis is a senior lecturer in occupational therapy at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK.

Kantarzis has worked as an occupational therapist for 40 years, working in the UK and Greece, with experience in mental health and pediatric services, but primarily working in education. Interested in the development of the profession, Kantarzis became active in national and international professional organizations; she was Greek delegate to the WFOT, Secretary to the Hellenic Board, and (Vice) president of ENOTHE. These experiences, together with being part of a bi-cultural/lingual family, deepened my interest in diversity, cultural relativity and power across all areas of our occupational lives, leading to doctoral studies re-conceptualising occupation in the Greek context. Recently, ideas around family and collective occupation, as well as processes of participatory citizenship, social inclusion and social transformation have guided her work, including coordination of the ELSITO European Learning Partnership and membership of the ENOTHE citizenship project group. Until recently, she was chairperson of the OSEurope network and am co-founder of the International Social Transformation through Occupation Network. View previous Mitchell Symposium scholars.