Iva is an experienced allied health professional and academic with a diverse background spanning clinical practice, healthcare management, teaching, and research.

She earned her BSc in Occupational Therapy (2009) and MSc in Physiotherapy (2018) in Croatia, before broadening her expertise with a BA in Applied Management from Henley Business School, University of Reading (2022). In 2024, Iva completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert HE) and was awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), recognising her commitment to excellence in teaching and learning in higher education.

Iva brings extensive experience from both public and private healthcare sectors, where she held senior clinical and managerial roles. Throughout her career, she supported a wide range of students in clinical education, enhancing her expertise in student mentorship and interdisciplinary learning environments.

Research has been a consistent theme throughout Iva’s academic and professional life. This passion led her to enrol in a Ph.D. programme in Disability Studies at the  Education and Rehabilitation University in Zagreb, Croatia, where she continues to explore key themes in disability, inclusion, and health equity.

Her contributions to the field have been recognised nationally, receiving the 'Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist of the Year' award in 2019 and 'The Most Inspiring and Innovative Allied Health Professional' award in 2020.