DONATE
DONATE

ISWP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ISWP Board of Directors comprises of 15 members, who will represent the interests of the members and the broader community. 

The functions of the ISWP board of directors include: Policy Development, Strategic Planning, Financial Stewardship and Advocacy.

Amira Tawashy

View Bio

Amira Tawashy

I am a clinician and recognized leader in wheelchair service provision education, with a passion for ‘working on the ground’ and building wheelchair provision capacity in under resourced settings. Though I have taught in Eastern Africa, South East Asia, and the Caribbean, I would like to highlight my current role building wheelchair provision capacity in Ukraine.

As a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) Ukraine, I have fostered a new, on-going collaboration between the ISWP and WHO Ukraine to facilitate rehabilitation capacity.  To that end, I am leading the ‘scaling up’ of appropriate wheelchair provision in Ukraine by:

  • Facilitating six weeks of ISWP “basic wheelchair provision” education for health care providers throughout Ukraine
  • Tailoring the design of the first Ukrainian ISWP “intermediate wheelchair provision” education series
  • Leading the first Ukrainian ISWP “trainer of trainers” program to facilitate on-going local clinical capacity
  • Providing quality assurance for wheelchair procurement for Ukrainian health facilities

I am uniquely situated to provide the ISWP board with a clinician’s voice.  Though I live and work in Canada, I routinely use my international work to advocate for the ISWP, through amplifying its profile in Europe and less-resourced settings. I have been able to facilitate fruitful collaborations (similar to my going work in Ukraine) via my burgeoning global networks. I am an authentic leader and an efficient communicator, and I thoroughly believe serving on the ISWP board would provide the organization with a much needed connection to the current global landscape of wheelchair educators.

Arne Compernolle

View Bio

Arne Compernolle

Arne Compernolle is an occupational therapist with a technical background and certification in business administration. The first 15 professional years he engaged as certified assistive technology professional in clinical practice and providing seated mobility. In this role he focused on increasing knowledge and skill sets to facilitate evidence-based practice, understood the importance of user-centric practice to drive user outcomes and gained thorough insights in products, services and technologies. His key activities focused on providing manual and powered mobility to users diagnosed with SCI, MS, ALS, CP and different types of muscular dystrophies.

In 2015 he joined the Swedish based manufacturer Permobil and has been in different positions since. In these roles he continued to expand his evidence-based insights and broadened his scope to learning strategies and methodologies. To improve retention levels and scaling capabilities he designed and implemented a blended learning strategy, with respect to local accreditation and continuous education requirements with the different countries across the EMEA region.

In 2024 he became the VP Scientific and Medical Affairs. The key responsibilities of this team are to set user requirements for product development, define and execute user verification and validation throughout the development process and to engage with internal and external stakeholders for pre-clinical and clinical testing and research.

The value to bring to the ISWP board is a unique combination of the industry perspective and representation, clinical practice and research, and the thorough experience in designing and delivering on education strategies with online and offline methodologies.

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arne-compernolle-03610a69/

Bob Appleyard

View Bio

Bob Appleyard

I am no stranger to ISWP, having participated in meetings more so in the recent past, but also historically since its inauguration. The concept and purpose of ISWP is particularly attractive as it harmonises with a period of my career when I worked with the UK Overseas Development Administration as a Technical Cooperation Officer over a three year period in East Africa, mainly Kenya with a short period in Tanzania. Working with people in countries of less resourced settings and the need to find and adopt sustainable solutions in challenging circumstances, combine with a personal commitment to maximising the welfare and social inclusion of people with disabilities.

In more recent years and based on a background of mechanical engineering within the automotive industry, I have developed a particular skill set in the safety of drivers and passengers travelling in range of road vehicles, and to a lesser extent travelling in passenger air transport. Occupant injury mechanisms in crash scenarios and injury control has extended to medical devices, in particular for drivers and passengers seated in their wheelchairs and seating systems, when travelling in various vehicle types.

Part of the commitment to the welfare of wheelchair seated passengers includes representing the UK via BSI, in ISO TC173/SC1/WG6 on the creation and maintenance of ISO standards that relate to transport for people with mobility impairment, but also includes other International Standards, particularly within the ISO 7176 and ISO 16840 suite that apply to wheelchair and seating design and their performance.

Currently, I’m more frequently engaged with the provision of independent advice on wheelchair seated passenger transport when traveling in road vehicles, transport risk management for individuals with complex disabilities and the provision of a range of mobility and medical device test services.

It is natural for me to extend my interest and commitment to the welfare of people with disability to an international basis. Should my experience and commitment be of interest to the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals, I am most willing to participate.

Christopher J Stanfill

View Bio

Christopher J Stanfill

Christopher J. Stanfill, Ph.D. is an international development and social impact professional with over a decade of leadership experience in various sectors around the globe. He  joined Mobility Worldwide as the Executive Director in December 2023 and serves as an Advisor for The Asia Foundation. Previously, he was the Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives at Pencils of Promise in New York City, where he and his team were responsible for using data to drive decision making and tell compelling stories that attract new supporters from around the globe to advance the organization’s work in Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos. Dr. Stanfill’s roles prior to Pencils of Promise established him as a thought leader in the field of international development through various positions as an evaluator and project manager. He has evaluated public-private partnerships in Liberia, assessed community education interventions in Tanzania, and implemented various tech solutions around the globe as a means to improve access to health and education services for vulnerable populations. Dr. Stanfill was a Henry Luce Scholar in 2011-2012, received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, and received his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, where he published his dissertation on wheelchair access and user experience in rural areas of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

David Constantine

View Bio

David Constantine

David Constantine MBE DL
BSc Hons MDes RCA FRSA
Freedom through Design

A trained product designer with direct experience of taking a design from a student project into the real world, creating an internationally recognised and respected non-profit/social enterprise organisation and developing a range of products that have been used in over 130 countries. Motivation, the nonprofit social enterprise he co-founded has worked closely in partnership with some of the major development and humanitarian response organisations worldwide, including the WHO and the International Committee of the Red Cross. David has experience of turning an innovative idea into something that is relevant, appropriate, scalable and sustainable while developing an organisation from a turnover of £38,000 to £5 million over 25 years.

He has experience of judging and mentoring design challenges, sitting on both sides of the table of non-profit boards and been an assessor and adviser to a public body on applications for appeals hosted by that body.

With 40 years lived experience of disability and 30 years experience with low income countries, he has a good understanding of the relevance of appropriate design innovation and provision in the right context. He has worked closely with organisations both ‘of’ and ‘for’ people with disabilities.

Well networked in the international sector, he has played his part in leading Motivation to become the internationally recognised ‘go to’ organisation for advice and training on wheelchair design and provision for low income countries. He has worked closely with the WHO serving on the Development Committee to develop and publish the ‘WHO Guidelines on the Provision of Manual Wheelchairs in less resourced settings’.

A regular public speaker on subjects such as; lived experience of disability, Motivation’s work, also focussing on design, innovation, assistive technology and rehabilitation. In approaching any subject in this field, he brings a focus on the ‘practical’ to ensure real solutions.

David has recently stepped down from 31 years at Motivation to start a new venture ‘Freedom through Design’. He has continued his role in the sector on various WHO advisory panels and consulting and mentoring.

He is the current Transitional Chair of the Founding Board of the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals and President of the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Eric Wunderlich

Treasurer

View Bio

Eric Wunderlich

Consultant Manager, Healthcare and Disability Programs, Humanitarian Services, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

  • Eight years of experience as a program officer supporting Humanitarian Services’ wheelchair, maternal newborn care and vision care programs
  • Twelve years (from 2010 to 2021) as the Humanitarian Services’ wheelchair program manager
    • Managed global team supporting wheelchair provision in collaboration with local organizations in approximately 70 countries providing an average of 40,000 wheelchairs and 12,000 walking aids per year and providing over 50 training courses per year (there was a significant reduction in products donated and training provided in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID)
    • Managed global supply chain / logistics
    • Oversaw development of seven new wheelchair models including production startup, ongoing quality control and product improvements
  • Beginning in 2022, I have been transitioning to a consulting role as program operations are transitioned to our regional offices
  • Participated in global wheelchair stakeholder meetings and WHO wheelchair management, training of trainers and wheelchair guidelines development
  • Served on initial ISWP advisory board and on several ISWP working groups
  • Currently serve on the ISWP founding board

I would bring value to the ISWP board of directors from my experience as a global program manager for a non-profit organization implementing wheelchair programs in low- and middle-income countries and current and past involvement with the ISWP board and working groups.

Justin Jesudas

View Bio

Justin Jesudas

Justin Jesudas serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, focusing on designing and developing assistive technologies. Additionally, as a co-founder of Thryv Mobility, Justin contributes to innovations that enhance mobility and accessibility, demonstrating a commitment to creating a more inclusive society. He has also co-created the National Center for Assistive Health Technologies, leading AT upskilling, open innovation, and venture-building programs.


Despite paralysis below the neck, Justin is an accomplished athlete, representing India internationally, at the Para-Asian Games and World Championships. He is also a national rifle shooting champion, certified SCUBA diver, and enjoys beach surfing. Justin is a father to twins.

He has participated in the US Department of State's Global Sports Mentoring Program and is active in promoting disability sports in India. Transitioning from a two-decade career in research and analytics, he now focuses on disability and social innovation, aiming to advance social inclusion and equity.

Karma Phuentsho

View Bio

Karma Phuentsho

PT, MBA, (PhD candidate)

I present a wealth of experience in physiotherapy, disability and rehabilitation, and healthcare management working for the Ministry of Health and Royal Government of Bhutan. I have a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree from the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR University, India, Master of Business Administration from the University of Canberra, Australia, and a current PhD candidate with the University of South Australia. I have had opportunities to acquire many skills, knowledge and their applications over 17 years of my professional journey. Getting trained in wheelchair service provision was one of them. I am the first ISWP certified trainer of trainers in the country. I have trained many rehabilitation professionals as wheelchair service providers in addition to training students.

In my capacity as clinician, educator and manager, I made significant contributions, including spearheading the establishment of various physiotherapy units including the Assistive Technology and Wheelchair Service Centre, enhancing community rehabilitation services, and advocating for disability rights and policies. One of my key achievements was lobbying for appropriate wheelchair service and procurement of appropriate wheelchairs – range of appropriate wheelchairs were made accessible through hospitals since then. Integrating basic wheelchair training curriculum into the Diploma of physiotherapy program at the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences was another big achievement. Bhutan is situated in South Asian region where more than two billion people live. We have a large responsibility and are looking forward to collaborating with our regional and international partners for improved accessibility of appropriate wheelchair services. This can be achieved through sharing of knowledge, information and undertaking collaborative research.

Marie Abou Saab

View Bio

Marie Abou Saab

Marie is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of expertise in the field of posture, seating, and mobility. She attained her Doctorate in Physiotherapy in 2016 (Saint Joseph University-Beirut, USJ) and recently completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Posture, Seating, and Wheelchair Mobility (University of Limerick-Ireland).

Currently serving as the Head of the Technical Aids Unit at SESOBEL, Marie oversees a workshop dedicated to crafting custom-made products for individuals with disabilities, according to WHO standards. She is a lecturer at USJ and provides basic wheelchair courses for PT and OT students.

She is a WHO-certified trainer for the Wheelchair Service Training Package (WSTP), basic and intermediate levels. She offers clinical consultations and audits to wheelchair users, clinicians, and professionals across Lebanon and Arab countries (Syria, Dubai, Jordan).

Throughout her career, Marie has developed training courses and workshops focusing on seating and 24-hour postural management. She collaborates with professionals representing local and international associations (ICRC, WRF, HI), serving Syrian refugees and Lebanese individuals with lower incomes. 

Marie is a member of the ISWP. She has contributed to the development of the Wheelchair Educator Package (WEP) and the Wheelchair Provision Guidelines in collaboration with WHO. Marie is widely recognized as a skilled and experienced clinician and presenter. She has presented at numerous conferences domestically and internationally.

In Lebanon, Marie plays a crucial role in raising awareness on the importance of assistive technology, advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities and contributing to the development of a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Mary Goldberg

View Bio

Mary Goldberg

Mary Goldberg, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Technology and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences' Associate Dean of Interprofessional Studies at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt).  Dr. Goldberg was a co-founding director of ISWP and currently co-directs a center to accelerate the transfer of assistive technologies to market. She is the director of Pitt's Master of Rehabilitation Technology program and previously led training programs in the fields of assistive technology and innovation for undergraduate and graduate students and providers. Dr. Goldberg served as an external reviewer for the World Health Organization Wheelchair Service Standards and a member of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). She serves on the editorial board of two assistive technology journals, and has published over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts in the areas of assistive technology training, development, and evaluation. Dr. Goldberg is recognized as a leader and innovator in assistive technology training and program evaluation, a strong communicator and team player, and a resource mobilizer.

Paula Rushton

Vice-Chair

View Bio

Paula Ruston

Paula Rushton is an Associate Professor and Director in the School of Occupational Therapy at Dalhousie University. She completed her Master of Clinical Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Western Ontario (1999), PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia (2010) and postdoctoral training at the Université de Montréal in Biomedical Sciences (2014). Her research is focused on measurement, intervention, knowledge translation, and education related to improving the wheeled mobility of children, adults, and older adults through an improved wheelchair service provision process. From the measurement, intervention and knowledge translation perspective, Rushton’s interest lies in the domains of wheelchair skills and wheelchair confidence. From the education perspective, Rushton has been working with the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals to enhance wheelchair content in health care professional university curricula globally.

Rosie Gowran

View Bio

Rosie Gowran

Dr Rosemary (Rosie) Joan Gowran (PhD, MSc OT, BSc (Hons) OT), Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health, University of Limerick; Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for People with Disability with the Health Service Executive in Ireland; Honorary Professor with the Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London.  

Rosie is a creative, innovative, and natural leader with over 30 years’ experience in the health and social care sector as a grassroots service provider within hospital, rehabilitation, residential, and community service settings, focused on improving the lives of wheelchair users. Rosie has diverse and dynamic skills as an occupational therapist, implementation scientist, program director, capacity builder and human rights activist. Pursuing healthy lives and promoting sustainable wheelchair provision and wellbeing for all is the premise from which Rosie leads and is her personal and professional purpose.

Rosie has been a member of ISWP since 2015, actively contributing to its mission as member of the standards board, affiliate coordinator in less-resourced settings (Romania, Philippines) consultant and volunteer in advocacy, education and training, research, and strategy development.

Rosie leads the BeWheelWell Centre of Education and Research for Wheelchair User Wellbeing and designed the first  Postgraduate Certificate in Posture Seating and Wheelchair Mobility Across the Life Course in Ireland.

Rosie facilitates context-specific stakeholder-centred action research, identifying priority areas, drafting roadmaps and sustainability indicators, producing operational plans to ensure best practice and improve health and wellbeing for people accessing wheelchair and other assistive technology and support services. Rosie is a WHO External Reviewer for the Global Wheelchair Provision Guidelines 2023 and with the Global Disability Innovation Hub Rosie is working on Local Systems Strengthening Project in Nepal, with a focus on Sustainable Wheelchair Provision.

Samantha Shann

View Bio

Samantha Shann

MSc, PGCert, Dip COT (UK), FRCOT

I graduated as an occupational therapist in 1992 and have worked clinically and in education internationally. My main experience with wheelchair provision is in low-resourced settings where I have helped design and implement services and training programmes. I have been involved with ISWP since its inception, initially through the Integration Subcommittee and since January 2022 as a member of the Founding Board.

I have over 20 years of experience working at a global political level, advocating for and implementing changes in rehabilitation education and service provision including a long history of volunteering with not-for-profit associations and international non-government organisations (NGOs). I am the current President of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and a member of the Steering Committee for the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Rehabilitation Alliance, as co-chair of the workforce workstream advocating for investment in rehabilitation.

I have highly effective leadership and managerial skills concerning implementing new organisational structures and leading on governance issues. I have experience and knowledge of member-based organisations and how to engage a wide range of members. My leadership style is one of encouragement, mentoring and open communication; I am authentic, with a strong sense of professional and personal integrity.

In summary, I would be delighted to serve on the ISWP Board as a director representing not-for-profit associations or social enterprises. I bring to this position knowledge of member-based NGOs, experience working with and in collaboration with WHO and other international NGOs and expert leadership skills in strategic development and advocacy.

Shona Mcdonald

View Bio

Shona Mcdonald

Shona is the founding Director of ShonaquipSE Africa’s only ISO 13485 certified wheelchair manufacturer and South Africa’s first Hybrid Social Enterprise.

She is the executive Director of Shonaquip PTY LTD,  sits on the Boards of Uhambo Foundation NPO/PBO and Champions of Change Trust NPO/ PBO.   Shona represents the private sector constituency  on The  Board ATScale.  ShonaquipSE is a technical advisor to CHAI. 

As a disability activist focused on system change since 1982 Shona was part of the team that initiated the first WHO Wheelchair Guidelines in 2006 and her team have worked together with WHO on the development of recently published Wheelchair Provision Guidelines 2023, and consults on the  WHO Wheelchair Standards  and the Technical Advisory Group of USAID and UNICEF’s Advancing Nutrition program.

Her life’s work, and company’s origin was inspired by her daughter, Shelly, who was born with cerebral palsy. Her family experienced first-hand how difficult it was to find appropriate assistive devices and support services.  When Shona, together with a Biomedical Engineering technician at UCT built her first pediatric posture support wheelchair in 1984 she quickly realised that wheelchairs were about more than transport and more than ensuring that children did not develop secondary health complications; wheelchairs were about independence, dignity, access to choice, school, social inclusion, justice and human rights. 

She holds Schwab, Ashoka, Paul Harris, CASMI and RESNA Fellowships

Silvana Contepomi

Chair

View Bio

Silvana Contepomi

Silvana Contepomi, PT, WSP

Magister Assistive Technology Engineering.

I have been working in neuro-rehabilitation for 40 years. My actual role is Director of @Asistiva (www.asistiva.com.ar) as an Assistive Technology Consultant and Educator in Posture and Mobility. Senior Trainer of the WSTP (Wheelchair Service Training package B- I). Provided Service training in South and Central America (Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina) and Asia (Bhutan). Director of @Asistiva (www.asistiva.com.ar). I was a member of the Guidelines development Group for the 2023 WHO Wheelchair Provision Guidelines.  I was the speaker for the last 15 years at the International Seating Symposium, European SS, and Latin American SS, as well as many other international Congresses. Although my best experience and skills are related to wheelchair provision, I am the author and co-author of 10 articles related to AT and the provision in less-resourced settings.  I was an ISWP founding board member from 2021-2023. I am President of the Argentinian Assistive Technology Association (www.aata-inclusion.org.ar), and we are founding members of GAATO (www.gaato.com). We organize in Argentina the Latin American Seating Symposium to provide the best standards of practice in our region. My passion is to bring in, through advocacy and education, more AT Services to provide access to the appropriate technology to compensate for the functional limitations of people in need.

STAFF

Alex Kamadu

Executive Director

Beth Sheehan

Programme Manager

Scroll to Top