Our people
Autism Awareness Australia has built a wonderful community of passionate and smart people, working tirelessly to raise awareness and drive meaningful change for Australia's autism community
Our Board
Nicole Rogerson is one of the nation’s leading spokespersons for the awareness and understanding of autism. She is the founding director of Autism Awareness Australia and is an experienced director, government advisor and senior executive.
For more than 18 years, she has been advising on public policy, providing early intervention services and advocating for the inclusion, acceptance and understanding of individuals with autism.A passionate disability advocate and social policy campaigner, she is a frequent public speaker on these issues and is regularly advocating for families with children on the spectrum. She is deeply committed to improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Nicole has two sons, the eldest of whom is on the autism spectrum.To learn about Nicole's family, see their Australian Story here.
Andrew Whitehouse is the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research, the Director of CliniKids at The Kids Research Institute, Professor of Autism Research at The University of Western Australia, Research Strategy Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) and a past president of the Australasian Society for Autism Research.
At The Kids Research Institute he leads a large team that seeks to find new and innovative ways to help children on the autism spectrum reach their full potential. With over 300 published peer-reviewed journal articles and over $60 million in competitive research grants, he currently presents an internationally syndicated video series called ’60 Second Science”, and is an advisor to State and Commonwealth Governments on policies relating to children with Autism Spectrum Conditions.
Along with a Eureka Prize for his research, Andrew was a Western Australian of the Year award winner in 2023. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, and in 2024 was appointed to the National School Resourcing Board.
John is a successful Australian CEO, Chair/ Director with over 25 years of extensive board and business management experience across several publicly listed and private companies including Wesfarmers Ltd, Ruralco Holdings Ltd and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.
He is a strong advocate for raising the awareness, knowledge and acceptance of autism particularly in regional & remote communities and has been awarded Sydney University’s Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award for his contribution to this cause.John was previously on the board of Autism Awareness Australia from 2008-2015 and currently serves as Chair/Director of a number of Australian public and private businesses.
He is married with three children and is both humbled and excited about rejoining the board of AAA to help contribute to the fantastic work the team undertakes in supporting families affected by autism.
Charlie is an experienced investment and financial services professional, and is the Managing Director of Pitcher Partners Sydney Wealth Management Pty Ltd (PPSWM). PPSWM manages over $3bil of client moneys and Charlie, while running the business is personally responsible for c.$2bil.
Father of two, Charlie is passionate about helping families like his that have a child with autism. He is very excited to be on the board of AAA as a means of ensuring families are offered the best possible support and access to information when they need it most.
Tabitha is a seasoned executive, with experience across a number of industries, including banking, legal, retail and hospitality.Tabitha is currently the Chief People Officer at Michael Hill Jeweller. She is an advocate for change and inclusion and is passionate about providing opportunities for those less able or fortunate.
As a mother of 2 boys, Tabitha and her husband are striving to raise amazing men, who are not afraid to speak out for others who cannot do so for themselves. Her youngest son is on the spectrum and she understands the daily challenge that families face, and the need for a supportive community of professionals, friends and family to achieve the best results.
Tabitha is very excited to be part of Autism Awareness Australia, so she can further support families and those on the Autism Spectrum through their journey.
Rachelle is an experienced product and service design leader with a breadth of experience in the disability sector.
She is currently an innovation lead at the Summer Foundation, where she leads the design and demonstration of innovative housing and service delivery models for people with disability. She previously founded Kite Therapy, a startup on a mission to deliver more affordable and accessible therapy for autistic children through empowering caregivers to implement play based therapy at home.
Rachelle's career spans strategic consulting and disability services innovation. She previously led a social impact venture at Hireup, and was a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group, and worked as Service Designer at the NDIA.
She is passionate about using technology and human centred design to deliver more person centred support to families with autistic children.
Heather is a seasoned governance, risk, and compliance advisor with a proven track record as a change leader and strategist. She expertly links corporate behaviour with organizational culture and capability, helping businesses navigate evolving consumer, regulatory, and political demands.
Drawing on deep international experience, she has built and led high-performing Compliance and Financial Crimes teams, steered complex investigations, and forged strong working relationships with governments and regulators. Her executive career includes senior leadership roles at Deutsche Bank London, Barclays Bank Pan-Africa, and ING Group. Prior to her non-executive appointments, she was a Partner at Deloitte Asia Pacific, leading work in Governance, Regulation, and Conduct.
As a mother of three adult children with close friends who have raised children with autism, she is passionate about advocating for people with developmental disabilities and championing for relevant support for their families.
Our Executive team
Nicole Rogerson is one of the nation’s leading spokespersons for the awareness and understanding of autism. She is the founding director of Autism Awareness Australia and is an experienced director, government advisor and senior executive.
For more than 18 years, she has been advising on public policy, providing early intervention services and advocating for the inclusion, acceptance and understanding of individuals with autism.A passionate disability advocate and social policy campaigner, she is a frequent public speaker on these issues and is regularly advocating for families with children on the spectrum. She is deeply committed to improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Nicole has two sons, the eldest of whom is on the autism spectrum.To learn about Nicole's family, see their Australian Story here.
Elizabeth is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in business management, marketing, project and event management.
For more than 10 years, she has been a key leader at Autism Awareness Australia (AAA), driving significant improvements in the organisation’s reach and impact. Her diverse career includes roles in early childhood education, business tourism, corporate events, and the disability sector. This broad experience allows her to bring creative solutions and a hands-on approach to her work at AAA.
Elizabeth transitioned from a successful corporate career to the non-profit sector in 2010, motivated by a desire to make a meaningful impact in the community. She is a strong advocate for education and inclusion, working to ensure that autistic individuals and their families have access to the resources and opportunities they need to lead fulfilling and independent lives. Her dedication, extensive knowledge, and strategic approach make her a driving force in her role.
Nicole Hurley is a customer-obsessed manager with over 25 years of experience in Australia and overseas. She has a rich background working across leading technology, products, platforms, people, and culture. Nicole's extensive experience has equipped her with the skills and insights to drive successful partnerships and manage complex projects.
Beyond her professional achievements, Nicole is a dedicated parent to two sons, one on the autism spectrum. Her experiences have fueled her passion for advocating for families and individuals with autism. Nicole is passionate about autism awareness and inclusivity, striving to create environments where everyone can thrive.
With a unique blend of professional expertise and personal dedication, Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and drive to her Head of Partnerships and Projects role.
Liz is an established marketing, brand, and communications leader with more than 20 years’ experience across Australia, the UK, Europe, and North America. Her career spans senior roles in top-tier agencies, consultancies, and in-house for some of the world’s most recognised brands in media and entertainment, teleco, fintech, SaaS, higher education, and professional services.
With a proven record in scaling and transforming organisations, Liz embeds consumer insight and data-driven practices to spark creativity and growth. She has a personal tie to the autism community and as Chief Marketing Officer, leads our marketing, and communications initiatives.
Guided by truth, loyalty, and empathy, Liz challenges teams to aim higher and deliver measurable outcomes. She is a former sitting member of the Australian Advertising Standards Board and remains committed to ethical, inclusive, audience-first communication.
Our work is made possible by the extraordinary collaboration between autistic people, their families and some of Australia's leading clinicians and researchers working in the field.
Our Advisory Committees
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Autism Awareness Australia. Our Advisory Committees bring together autistic people, parents, carers, and experts from across Australia to directly shape our programs, initiatives, and advocacy work. These groups aren't just about input — they're about ensuring every voice is heard, every perspective matters, and every decision we make truly reflects the diverse experiences of our community. Because when we work together, we create change that works for everyone.
Our parent/carer advisors
Brianna is the mum of two autistic teenagers. She has spent 15 years advocating for their rights to have equal access to meaningful education, health, work and community. She is passionate about building a world that is more inclusive of neurodivergent people and their families. Briana is also a journalist and an award-winning communications specialist. Outside of work and advocacy, Briana is a self-confessed “terrible cook” who is “unreasonably proud” of being able to play two Wiggles songs on the guitar. She hopes to one day see the northern lights from a glass igloo in Finland.
Ryan is a technology specialist with over 20 years’ experience designing IT, audio visual, broadcast and space management solutions. Ryan is uniquely positioned as a workplace technology consultant catering to the finance, corporate, government and professional services sectors and has delivered some of the most innovative and secure projects within Australia. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys getting outdoors and being active when he can and playing and creating music. Ryan’s family includes his wife Shirani, a paediatric speech pathologist, his eldest daughter Kyra who is 13 and his youngest daughter Amieka who is 9 and has level 3 autism and has bilateral cochlear implants.
Melinda is a policy researcher whose work focuses on equity and access in education. She is the proud parent of a Deaf and autistic teenager, whose experiences have shaped her commitment to disability advocacy.
Porscia is a corporate lawyer and a mum of two. Her eldest child was diagnosed with autism at age two, leading Porscia to take an extended career break to navigate his early intervention. She recounted this experience in her memoir, The Unlocking: An Autism Story, and is proud to champion the life changing potential of person-centred early intervention, and to contribute to greater understanding around PDA, ARFID and sibling wellbeing.
Kathrine is a nationally recognised disability advocate and founder of Spectrum Support, a program training first responders to better support autistic and disabled individuals. As a mother to three profoundly autistic sons, she brings powerful lived experience to her work, championing inclusion, education, and empowerment. Through public speaking, outreach, and tech innovation, Kathrine is reshaping how the disability community connects with emergency services. She is also President of Therapy and Dance, an inclusive school using movement to uplift children with disabilities. Her mission: a safer, more inclusive Australia for all.
Tommy is an award-winning social entrepreneur and disability educator. He is also the Founder of WeFlex, Inclusive-AF, disbranded. and serves as an advisor to numerous social enterprises and charities all over the world.
Our Scientific Advisory Committee
Dawn (she/her) is the Olga Tennison Endowed Chair of Autism Research at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) at La Trobe University. This follows on from a nine-year term at Griffith University’s Autism Centre of Excellence. As well as being an academic, she is also a Clinical Psychologist and identifies as neurodivergent. She has published over 100 research articles on anxiety, mental health and wellbeing in autistic individuals, with a particular focus on the school setting.
Alison is the Director of the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre. Professor Lane is an occupational therapist and internationally recognised for her scholarship regarding sensory processing challenges in autistic children. She leads projects relating to sensory differences in young children and the effectiveness of therapies addressing self-regulation and eating challenges. Professor Lane’s work is grounded in extensive experience in clinical practice and health service management. She has held clinical and academic leadership positions in Australia and the United States.
David is a speech pathologist by background with over 24 years of experience in clinical, clinical education, and clinical-research academic roles across not-for-profit, government, education, and university services and providers. He is a research leader within CliniKids, and his human rights based research is focused on optimising the learning, participation, and wellbeing of children with neurodevelopmental conditions through the delivery of safe, effective, and desirable services and supports.
Kandice is a Senior Research Fellow at CliniKids, The Kids Research Institute Australia. Kandice is a psychologist whose work spans clinical trials through to policy-relevant applied research that focuses on access to evidence-based supports for children and families. Kandice contributed to the development of Australia’s ‘National Guideline for supporting the learning, participation and wellbeing of autistic children and their families’ as well as the updated ‘National Guideline for the assessment and diagnosis of autism’.
Andrew is the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research and Deputy Director (Research) at The Kids Research Institute Australia, where he leads CliniKids, a national network embedding clinical trials into everyday practice. A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, he has authored over 300 research papers, advised governments on autism policy, and co-chaired the development of Australia’s national guidelines for autism diagnosis and early supports.
Our autistic advisors
Charles is an award winning international change-maker and artist, creating sparkles of inspiration via creativity. He is also late diagnosed AuDHD level 2 with lived experience of the reality of being autistic in a neurotypical world.
Barb M.Aut.(Edu), Dip.HSc.(Nut), is a neurodivergent advocate, Registered Developmental Educator, Integrative Nutritionist, and Australian Athletics Coach, formally diagnosed in 2009 with Autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. As founder of Neurodiversity Hub and Spectrum Women, she supports neurodivergent adults—particularly women in midlife—through a holistic, strength-based approach grounded in her clinical expertise and research.
Ellie was diagnosed at the age of nine and now identifies as autistic. She is passionate about improving accessibility to employment for others like herself and believes that employers and recruiters need to recognise that not all autistic people are IT experts. Ellie loves musical theatre, reading, and is currently co-writing a series of novellas.
Ronan is passionate about promoting inclusiveness, advocating for people living with autism and spreading positivity. He is a proud Ambassador for both the Autism Community Network and Bus Stop Films. Ronan loves to experience new things and has many interests and hobbies and appeared on the Netflix show ‘Love on the Spectrum’.
Teo is a 27-year-old Romanian/American/Australian who has lived experience with Autism, Crohn's Disease, and other mental health and medical issues. Her compassion for others drives her to be a passionate advocate for Autism Awareness and inclusivity, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, and Romanian orphans throughout the world.
Our community advisors
Vanessa Gauci is the Chief Executive Officer of Autism Community Network, where she leads efforts to support individuals with autism and their families. With a passion for advocacy and inclusion, Vanessa drives initiatives that promote awareness, provide resources, and create opportunities for the autism community.
Bob is the neurodivergent father of his severely autistic son (34 years old) and long-time convenor of Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (known as A4). He also has strong background in IT, academia, consultancy, and entertainment.
Shannon is the CEO of Autism Partnership Australia and has over 20 years’ experience supporting autistic children and their families. Motivated by personal experience and a passion for improving outcomes, she leads with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, individualised support that empowers families and transforms lives.
Helen is a passionate autism advocate, co-founder of Chill for Autism, and an autism parent. She is the driving force behind programs that empower neurodivergent young adults to live socially independent and fulfilling lives.
Mel is the co-founder and CEO of Different Journeys, an autistic-led organisation supporting meaningful connections for Autistic individuals and their families. A proud Autistic parent of three autistic teenagers, Mel draws on 18 years in the Victoria Police Force and her lived experience to advocate for a more inclusive world.