Important Senior Leadership Changes at the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia

Long-time Registrar & CEO Kathy Corbett will leave the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) at the end of December 2022 to pursue other opportunities. The Board wants to acknowledge Ms. Corbett’s extensive contribution to the College, the sector, and our province, and we wish her the best in her next chapter.

The Board is delighted to announce that now former Board Chair, Carin Plischke, has been appointed as Interim Director of Transition and Chief Executive Officer. She will join the COTBC team starting Tuesday, October 11, 2022 and step into the role as CEO on January 1, 2023. The COTBC has a long history of ensuring that the public receives safe, ethical, and effective occupational therapy services. That will continue under the leadership of Ms. Plischke and the Board of Directors.

As the title reflects, this key senior leadership role has been adjusted in anticipation of the upcoming amalgamation of health regulatory bodies, which is expected to change the model of health profession regulation in the province.

Along with deep experience in senior leadership roles, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Lead, Special Projects at the Office of the Seniors Advocate for the Government of British Columbia, Ms. Plischke has more than six years as a Board Member at the COTBC. She brings exceptional organizational knowledge about the College, our registrants, and the sector as a whole. Along with being a Registered Occupational Therapist in good standing with the College and the former Board Chair, Ms. Plischke is an Accreditation Canada Surveyor, a Leading Practice Reviewer with the Health Standards Organization, and a Member and (former) Chair of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

The Board is grateful that Ms. Corbett has agreed to stay on as Registrar and CEO until December 31, 2022, which provides an overlap with Ms. Plischke. Given the, as yet, undefined upcoming changes, this will provide a key opportunity for knowledge transfer and planning.

In her new role, Ms. Plischke will lead a change management throughline as the amalgamation transition occurs, supporting the College and its registrants, while continuing to ensure that the public receives safe, ethical, and effective occupational therapy services.