Barb Cook is the founding director of NeurodiversityHub and Spectrum Women Magazine. Formally diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and dyslexia, at the age of 40, Barb is a registered developmental educator, and autism and neurodiversity Consultant. She holds a Masters of Autism in Education, and is a published academic researcher, international speaker, and author.

Dr. Amy Marschall earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford in Connecticut, in 2015. She is currently the Clinical Director of A Change for Better, an organization promoting affordable and accessible mental health care and resources. Author of several books, Dr. Marschall is also a contributing writer on many websites, including Psychology Today. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, making jewelry, and spending time with her cats.

Kai Pretto is a nonbinary, Autistic/ADHD school-based speech-language pathologist, researcher, and poet. They work in a rural elementary school in the United States, where they also co-facilitate an adolescent LGBTQIA+ support and social group. Kai is also a member of a recently-formed research organization called “Community-Led Autism Research, Engagement, and Service” (C.A.R.E.S.), a cohort of Autistic investigators and community organizers currently focused on participatory research related to the arts and lived experiences of stimming.

Donna Bedford is a global SEO Strategy and Operations Lead with over two decades of experience in digital marketing, AI adoption, and international content strategy. A recognized thought leader in the intersection of SEO, technology, and accessibility, she is the author of Feeling Seen by a Machine a pioneering book that explores how machine learning intersects with human identity particularly for neurodivergent individuals.

Nadia Faragaab creates art that lives between worlds, Through mixed media, installations, and performance, she explores the threads that link past and present, weaving stories of identity, resilience, and transformation. Inspired by a sense of belonging to a heritage from which she was once uprooted, Nadia's work invites others to reflect on their own connections to place, culture, and change. A DJ and theatre maker, Nadia believes art should be accessible to all, and her projects often bring creative expression into everyday life. She collaborates with schools, community groups, and women's organisations in Melbourne (Naarm) to ensure that young people and women, especially those on the fringes, can explore art, culture, and the joy of creative self-expression.
 

Labbo Tarre' is a man on a mission to help heal the world from the damages of patriarchynow that he's finally clued in to how devastating it is. Today, he's standing in for full-time Somali women like Nadia Faragaab, who juggle full-time jobs, at least three side hustles, and a shitload of kids they single-handedly (and lovingly) raise into hopefully decent humans. By stepping up, Tarré is giving these incredible womein a tiny bit of relief—one less thing on their overflowing plates.

Dr. Sean Inderbitzen is an autistic psychotherapist and researcher through Mayo Clinic Health System, author of Autism in Polyvagal Terms: New Possibilities and Interventions, and regularly trains healthcare professionals to be more confident when working with people on the spectrum. As a psychotherapist, researcher, and author, Dr. Inderbitzen is dedicated to advancing autism therapy through innovative, evidence-based approaches. His work focuses on integrating Polyvagal Theory and trauma-informed care to help individuals on the autism spectrum achieve emotional regulation and build meaningful connections.

Kyriakos Gold is a polymath dedicated to driving positive social change through real-world research and shared value ecosystems. They are the founder of Just Gold, a leading Australian social enterprise behind the global Autistic Pride Day campaign. Their work spans multicultural communications for the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, major public events, and a longstanding international media career. Kyriakos currently serves on the boards of Inclusive Rainbow Voices and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. They have been formally commended by the New South Wales Parliament and inducted into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll.

Chenai Mupotsa-Russell is an art therapist, advocate, and PhD candidate in Community Psychology. Founder of Rainbow Muse Collective, her practice centres neurodivergent joy, intersectionality, and radical belonging. With lived and professional experience, Chenai supports autistic children, families, and communities through creativity, relational safety, and sensory attunement. Her research challenges pathologisation and reframes mental health through decolonial, community-driven practice. A passionate speaker, Chenai explores how systems can either fracture or nurture us—and how love, difference, and cultural humility can reimagine care.

Sofie works for Turning Point, a social enterprise in the fields of substance use, mental health, learning disability, and sexual health. Her mission is to help those who are 'untypical' find professional belonging. Through dialogue and collaboration, and drawing on her personal experience battling eating disorders, as well as 25+ years as an autistic professional, she educates those in positions of power, about the importance of inclusion and the value of colleagues with divergent perspectives. Sofie volunteers extensively including as an EMCC accredited coach offering free coaching to neurodivergent colleagues and their managers.

Melissa Crockett-Joyoue is a community creator and connector, founder of Weave ND (an online membership community supporting neurodivergent unschooling families), and the co-founder of The Unschooling Summit & Sunday Sessions. As a late-diagnosed AuDHD Māori and Pākehā māmā, Melissa and her wife unschool two AuDHD children in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Her work is fueled by autistic hyperfocus, ADHD passion, and a deep drive for neurodivergent wellness and liberation. She is committed to valuing indigenous knowledge and fostering community connectedness.

Liam Spicer is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Psychologist, EMDR Trainer & Consultant, and Accredited ISST Schema Therapist with lived experience of being neurodivergent as an Autistic ADHDer. Liam has presented at both International and National conferences, delivered guest webinars and trainings for the EMDR Association of Australia, AAPi, Headspace, APS, and other organisations. Liam has been a contributor to the Routledge International Handbook of Child and Adolescent Grief, has published in academic journals in the areas of EMDR, Schema Therapy and Neurodivergence, and is a regular podcast guest.

As a Psychologist he has a special interest in working with trauma, dissociation, grief, depression, phobias, and anxiety and predominantly works with neurodivergent individuals.

Akii is a first-generation Aussie, who lives with multiple complex chronic illnesses, debilitating chronic pain, and various disabilities. They are a community leader and international multi-award-winning disability, victim-survivor, gender equity advocate and activist, who advocates passionately on several advisory committees, councils and working groups Australia-wide within the health, violence-prevention, LGBTQIA+ and human rights sectors.

An experienced subject matter expert (SME) consultant, trainer, educator, and presenter, Akii undertook the inaugural, exciting and mammoth role of Accessibility (Diversity & Inclusion) Manager at Sydney WordPride 2023 & Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. They are also an internationally published model and creative—working to challenge perception and create positive change within the media, fashion and beauty.

Patrick Saunders is helping reshape Autism education.

Just 16, Patrick is a nonspeaking Autistic advocate who has ADHD Scoliosis, Apraxia and Developmental Coordination Disorder which affects his motor planning and how he moves. In 2024, he became the first nonspeaking individual to address South Australia’s Parliament via letterboard, proposing an Autism and Neurodiversity Academy of Excellence to revolutionise teacher training through lived experience. His ideas have earned him a $10,000 scholarship, influenced the National Autism Strategy, and led to meetings with key political leaders. Patricks spells to communicate in webinars, radio interviews, podcasts, and international conferences, and he recently launched The Story Speller platform. His work equips educators with neuro-affirming strategies and supports inclusive environments for Autistic students.

Silke Ena is a 25 year-old Danish autistic woman who works as a peer support worker at the Center for School Refusal Behavior, a specialised unit for kids with complex school refusal difficulties in Denmark, many of whom are autistic. Her personal experience with school refusal in her youth allows her to help students in a unique way compared to other professionals in the center. Silke spends a lot of her free time writing about autism on her website and on social media. She’s also engaged in Danish political discussions about autism and fights for better rights for autistic people in Denmark.

Annelil is a neuroqueer clinical psychologist and sexologist, and board approved supervisor. Annelil uses her lived personal experiences, along with neuro-affirming practice to work with Autistic and ADHD individuals, couples, polycules, and partnerships of all orientations. They are passionate about advocating for and understanding neurodivergence, sexual health, relationships, and intimacy, and enjoys spending time with her cats Subu and Eos.

James spent all of his primary school years in special needs units, only learning to read and write at the age of 13, and further exploring his own neurodivergence later in life. This personal lived experience led him to become a passionate advocate and educator in person-centred support delivery. He is now a leader in the disability field with twenty year's experience working in both direct support roles and Business Development.

Sandhya Menon is an AuDHD Developmental Psychologist and Author of beloved books, The Brain Forest, The Rainbow Brain and her new upcoming book, My Body's Power Pack. Her work centers in guiding children and families into early positive self-identity and a deep appreciation of their neurotype through assessment and educational services. Her work is characterized by a blend of clinical knowledge and lived experience, making complex information accessible and engaging.

Annie is a former social worker specializing in mental health and body connection. After becoming a late diagnosed neurodivergent woman in 2022, Annie re-imagined her business to reflect her true rhythm, energy, and way of being—no longer trying to mold herself to systems that didn’t feel right. She is now an ICF accredited (neurodiversity) coach and certified Human Design professional working mostly with autistic/ADHD women in business, solo-entrepreneurs, and anyone who questions themselves and wants to navigate their journey more embodied.

Christina Schmidt is a Black African-American-Australian, multicultural and multidialectal AuDHD woman who proudly embraces her identity across all facets of her work and advocacy. As the founder of Free to Be Me Speech Therapy, she provides neuro-affirming support to paediatric and adult clients in ways that honour each person’s unique communication needs, strengths and ways of being. Whether she’s guiding fellow speech pathologists, connecting meaningfully in client sessions, or presenting to captivated audiences around the world, she weaves together her personal and professional experience to create a resonant, lasting impact.

Laetitia Andrac is an autistic parent and the Sydney-based co-founder of Understanding Zoe, a certified social enterprise using AI to support families raising neurodivergent children. A former GM at Telstra and strategy consultant, she now advocates for neuroinclusion through tech, storytelling and policy reform.

Axelle Ahanhanzo is an award-winning social impact entrepreneur and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) changemaker, celebrated for blending lived experience with deep subject-matter expertise. Since launching LAUDACE in May 2023, she has partnered with global organizations like Google, WeTransfer, Coalition PLUS, and The Lancet to drive DEI transformation across STEM sectors.

Under her leadership, LAUDACE earned the European Supplier Diversity Certification (ESDP) and launched initiatives like the Courageous Conversations Series to tackle systemic barriers through impactful dialogue and Flip The Neuro-tive, an advocacy campaign reshaping the stories around neurodivergence by elevating underrepresented voices.

Having lived in eight countries and speaking six languages, Axelle brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to creating more inclusive workplaces.

Tarassa Qinthara is a speech therapist from Indonesia who works at Rainbow Castle in Jakarta. Since becoming a speech therapist in 2017, the majority of her clients have been Autistic children (both speaking and non-speaking). In 2024, she received her own Autism diagnosis and now, Autism has become her special interest. In her work, Tara enjoys using the child-led approach by Hanen to interact with children and helps their parents by coaching them. Earlier this year, she had her first child and is now a new mother herself.

Fiona is the co-creator and project lead of My Sensory Space — purpose-designed, responsive spaces at events for people who thrive in a different kind of sensory environment. She’s a core part of the Ethical Interactions team, where she leads sensory space projects and creates neurodiversity-affirming and LGBTQIA+ professional learning content for education professionals.

Fiona is an AuDHD and disabled educator, consultant and single parent of two neurodivergent children and has a background in inquiry-based learning in Australia, Italy and the UK. Her work draws on both her professional expertise and lived experience, with a strong focus on access and inclusion.

Yael is an Educational & Developmental Psychologist specializing in OCD and Anxiety in Autistic/ADHD individuals. Her first career was as a teacher, after which she became a psychologist and ran her own successful practice for 20 years, working mainly with children and their parents. She consults on neurodiversity-affirming practices, trains health professionals, and serves on the AAPi Neurodiversity Interest Group.

As a late identified AuDHDer and mother to neurodivergent children, her work blends professionalism, humour, and lived experience. Yael founded LOAPAC, the League of Autistic Psychologists and Affirming Colleagues in 2024. LOAPAC supports the careers of Autistic psychologists and provides a register for the public to search for neurodiversity affirming psychologists.

Paul Micallef is an autistic life coach, speaker, facilitator, and trainer, with a passion for neurodiversity and emotional intelligence. Leveraging his own lived experience, as well as insights gained from many years working with the autistic community, Paul seeks to promote emotional and psychological safety by bridging the empathy gap between mainstream and neurodivergent culture.

Since discovering his own autism at the age of 30, Paul has worked in a variety of mentoring and educational roles helping parents, students, and teachers, to understand the ‘human side’ of autism. Paul is now an ICF-accredited life-coach and (soon to be published) author of Unlocking Your Emotional Brain.

Shannan Lea grew up on the Mornington Peninsula and attended Toorak College in Mount Eliza. She holds a BA from the Australian National University in English Literature, Psychology, and Sociology. After 15 years of corporate training, procedural writing, and process analyst employment in Sydney, Shannan was inspired to work with Paul Micallef to establish Autism From The Inside after her son was diagnosed with autism just before his third birthday.

She is a full-time parent, carer, student, and advocate, focusing on collaborating, engaging with, and celebrating intersectionality and ability within the autistic community. Shannan has been formally assessed as autistic in December 2023, and is proudly neurodivergent.