Meet the Team

Melanie Heyworth (she/her) is an Autistic mother of three Autistic children, whom she homeschools. She has postgraduate qualifications in Autism and is currently undertaking a second PhD in Autism under the supervision of Prof Liz Pellicano. Mel is passionate about creating a better world for herself, her children, and the Autistic community.

Mel founded Reframing Autism in 2017. She has been running it ever since. Through Reframing Autism, Mel wants to bring parents of Autistic children to a more accepting, optimistic and hopeful way of parenting.

She firmly believes that social change can only occur when Autistic individuals are supported to explore and celebrate their authentic Autistic identities.

Sharon Fraser (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of Reframing Autism and has been involved in the organisation since its founding. She is also a late-identified Autistic mum of two boisterous, gorgeous kids, one of whom is also Autistic. Sharon is passionate about changing the harmful narratives about Autism in our society.

When she learned that her oldest son was Autistic, her understanding of Autism was based on outdated, harmful stereotypes. But when she found Autistic voices, she realised that she too was Autistic and was able to understand herself and change her parenting to be more neuroaffirming. She credits Reframing Autism as improving her quality of life and that of her family. While not a researcher herself, she considers herself to be a research groupie. One of her main passions is her pug dog, Pugsley, who might make an appearance at the summit.

Professionally, Sharon spent most of her career as a senior finance leader, working in multinational corporations, starts ups, and not-for-profits. She has worked and lived in multiple countries, including the US, the UK, and Australia. She has served on various boards and completed a Social Impact Fellowship in 2023.

Eliza is a 28-year-old model, actor, content creator and host of Australia’s first Autism therapy channel – Planet Jassi. Born with a developmental disability, she has spent most of her life learning everything that others do naturally.

Eliza uses social media to create her brand, ‘Planet Jassi’ (2018), embracing individualism and self-acceptance for kids living with a disability. Stepping out of the character of Jassi, Eliza has also appeared as herself in screen and print campaigns including an ABC documentary for IDPWD, (2019), and featured in the ‘Momentus’ project (2021) archived in the National Museum of Australia. Other credits include guest speaking on podcasts and Autism conferences as well as live stage performances.

Eliza uses her story to inspire others to be themselves and try everything. Despite having a disability, anything is possible.

Jessica Horner is a disability advocate, consultant, and journalist. As a disabled and Autistic/ADHD woman Jessica specialises in storytelling, content creation, policy and advising on disability-related issues. Jessica’s mission is to be a voice for those who are left without a voice, promoting hope and empowerment for the Autistic and disability communities.

In 2022, Jessica was awarded the ABC Regional Storyteller Scholarship, which she used to explore the lived experiences of Autistic adults in Australia. Her scholarship project, titled ‘A Rich New Lens,’ was nominated as a finalist for the Walkley Foundation’s Media Diversity Australia Award in 2023.

Stevie Lang (He/Him) lives in Armidale, NSW where he’s raising his eight-year-old kid in an all-Autistic family. His favourite stim is flapping to electronic dance music and his longest-lasting special interest is the life and times of Thomas Cromwell.

Stevie is a casual academic teaching sociology at the University of New England, is almost finished a PhD investigating the impacts of incarceration on mothers, and in 2023 he was elected as the NSW Assistant Secretary for the National Tertiary Education Union.  Stevie is a transgender man, a proud bisexual and has a physical disability.

Kitty Mach is a provisional psychologist with 10 years of experience in the health and disability industry. Having been diagnosed with both ADHD and ASD, Kitty believes this has greatly influenced her client-cantered and holistic approach to clinical practice. She has a particular interest in supporting neurodiverse individuals and strives to promote inclusivity and understanding in our world.

Tammy (She/Her) McGowan lives on Kaurna land in South Australia. Tammy is a proud Autistic woman navigating multiple co-occurring conditions including learning, hearing, vision, and physical disabilities. Tammy is an alumnus of the Autism CRC’s Sylvia Rodger Academy and is the Project Officer for the 2024 Sylvia Rodger Academy Governance program.

She is a disability consultant, project coordinator and trainer and has been active in advocacy for sixteen years. Tammy has presented on Autism, ADHD, trauma, and disability to various audiences in person, online and via podcasts.

She is passionate about community connection, identity, active citizenship, and dog cuddles.

Luz’s (She/Her) journey as an Autistic advocate and educator began with her personal quest for understanding neurodiversity. Luz’s insights from her lived experience as an Autistic individual and her professional background as an overseas-trained psychologist have enabled her to contribute significantly to the field of Autism education.

Now based in Sydney, she works with teenagers as a Diverse Learning Support officer in schools, applying her knowledge to help others navigate the complexities of neurodiversity.

Dani Croaker is completing her final year of the Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology at Monash University.

Dani is a late-diagnosed Autistic woman and ADHD-er. She is a fluent Spanish-speaker and has studied and travelled extensively to learn about people in other cultures, living in London and spending 12 years in Peru where she studied and worked as a Gestalt counsellor.

Dani’s passionate interest is in helping other neurodivergent people live a good life on their terms, focusing on strengths-based view of Autism and ADHD. This includes researching the impacts of Autistic and non-Autistic space on Autistic people.

As a qualified Social Worker, Jasmine (She/They) has holistic experience in therapeutic support, employment mentoring, education, and families; with a special interest and focus on the nuances of Autism!

For years, Jaz spent her career gravitating toward working with Autistic people before she subsequently had her “AHA! moment” – the reason this was a strength is that she is Autistic too! This discovery opened a new pathway for Jasmine, allowing her to ground herself in her identity and find her community.

As the co-director of Sunny Spectrum Supports, Jasmine is passionate about promoting affirmation, autonomy, and the discovery of unique solutions for unique people, to live free of fear or rejection, with power and purpose.   To love, to play, to work; Just as they are!

She has leveraged both her personal and professional experiences to better support Autistic individuals and families, particularly with the creation of the “Neuro-Me” and “Neuro-Homes” therapeutic discovery programs. These unique programs serve as an affirming base of education and exploration for those seeking to understand themselves better within the context of their neurological differences. To work with your brain rather than against it!

Shadia (They/Them) is a proudly Autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) advocate and runs their own business Autism Actually. They are currently studying a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) and recently completed a Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training. They have professional interests in Autism, animal assisted therapy, and AAC.

Chris (They/Them) is an Autistic person whose main interests include all things Autism and philosophy. They apply their autistic focus to learning from each domain and exploring the intersections between them. Committed to community building within the autistic and neurodivergent populations, Chris has collaborated both within and outside these communities on projects aimed at assessing, improving, engineering, and implementing conceptual tools that contribute to Autistic empowerment and flourishing.

Ginny Grant (She/Her) is a neurodivergent parent of neurodivergent children. She was formally identified as Autistic at the age of 39. She divides her time between book editing and advocacy. She has spoken and written about her lived experiences of Autism and mental health extensively. Previously she was Reframing Autism’s Communications Manager.

Ginny lives on the lands of the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora nation, also known as Inner West Sydney. You can find Ginny online at LinkedIn (Ginny Grant) and Instagram (@virginia_lily_grant).

Ruby (they/them) is an ardent advocate for LGBTIQA+ and Disability rights, specialising in neurodiversity and nonbinary gender and sexuality. Notably, Ruby has worked on peer research into the lived experiences of LGBTIQA+ individuals with disabilities, led and supported grassroots advocacy through Melbourne Bisexual Network and Joy Media’s Triple Bi Pass, and contributed to international human rights campaigns focusing on SOGII rights in the Pacific region as Disability Chair of ILGA Oceania.

In addition, Ruby has lent their expertise on intersectional inclusion, neurodiversity and applied lived experience to various non-governmental organizations, committees, and government working groups.

Ashton Bartz (They/Them) is the Research and Community Engagement Officer for Autism CRC, the independent national source of evidence for best practice in relation to Autism across the lifespan and the spectrum. In their role, Ashton works across the Research portfolio and the Sylvia Rodger Academy initiative, developing and delivering nationwide programs by and for Autistic adults.

Ashton is a passionate advocate, having consulted on a range of topics including Autism and disability inclusion, LGBTIQA+ inclusion, inclusive employment, and domestic, family, and sexual violence.

Prior to joining Autism CRC, Ashton worked for non-profits and local government with a focus on program development and delivery. Ashton has two qualifications in Youth Work and a Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies.

Em is a gardener, dog dad, plant enthusiast, sometimes artist and PhD graduate who lives and works on Kaurna Country. He is the author of 2 collections of poetry: ‘Lightly on the Skin’ and ‘Breathing plural’ which won the 2020 Mary Gilmore Prize.

After 9 years spent obtaining a PhD in poetry from the University of Adelaide, Em turned his other main passion into profit by starting his own gardening business which is now thriving. Em was diagnosed with Autism in March 2022 and is still in the process figuring out what that means for him.

Bianca is an experienced, award winning Victorian marriage celebrant of over 12 years.

She hosts a successful podcast with her friend Dan called “Late to the Party” – podcast for adult diagnosed (or undiagnosed) neurodivergent people.

Bianca also works part time as a Peer Support Coordinator at Different Journeys.

In her spare time, Bianca enjoys camping, yoga, bushwalking and cuddling up to her 3 dogs (and the husband and kids!).

Aviva Gunzberg has built a successful career in a male-dominated industry, despite facing significant glass ceilings as a late-diagnosed ADHD-Autistic individual.  She is a creative soul working amidst engineering types.  For Aviva, finding meaningful work meant finding meaning in the work she could find.  Drawing on her interests in art, science, and language, as well as her natural curiosity, Aviva established herself as an Architectural Lighting Designer.  She excels in solving puzzles and helping clients achieve their goals.  Additionally, Aviva is invested in her two growing kids and husband as well as improving the world for the next generation.

Leah (they/them) was diagnosed as a child in the late 90s by chance, due to an ear infection. Over the years they’ve managed to overcome many obstacles. Going to a 2-month long leadership camp away from family during high school, living away from home to attend university and even living overseas on their own. They now have recently completed a robotics degree and work two jobs, one as an electronics assembler for a farming company in Wodonga, the other as a technician at The Escape Rooms in Beechworth.

Yenn (they/them) is a passionate Autistic and non-binary advocate. Yenn is an author, presenter and community leader.

Yenn Purkis is an author, public servant and passionate advocate for Autistic people and their families. Yenn is the author of ‘Finding a Different Kind of Normal: Misadventures with Asperger Syndrome’ – an autobiography, ‘The Wonderful World of Work: A Workbook for Asperteens’- an activity book about employment for teens on the Autism spectrum. Yenn is co-author of ‘The Guide to Good Mental Health on the Autism Spectrum’ and ‘The Parents’ Practical Guide to Resilience for Children aged 2-10 on the Autism Spectrum.’ Yenn has also contributed to other books, journals, blogs and websites. Yenn has a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and atypical schizophrenia.

Yenn has been working full-time for the Australian Public Service since 2007. In between writing and paid work, Yenn frequently gives talks about living well with Autism and mental illness. Yenn gave a presentation on Autism and resilience at the TEDx Canberra conference in 2013. Yenn facilitates a support group for women on the Autism spectrum and has their own internet radio show entitled Yenn’s Autism Show. Yenn lives in Canberra, Australia.

Yenn was the 2016 ACT volunteer of the year.

Stormy Meiying Liu (She/Her) lives on the lands of the Wadawurrung and DjaDja Wurrung People and is a blind woman identifying as Autistic with ADHD.  She is a mature age Artist, exploring how her life is blending with her Autism and ND whilst integrating these aspects into her life.

Stormy feels change is not a stranger to her, and her blindness adds a unique perspective and has also impacted on her Autism to a larger extent. She does not see these parts of herself as mutually exclusive.

She has a long history of activism, especially in disability rights and feels her lived experiences inform her work with the IAC, and community.  Stormy’s greatest achievement is gaining her undergraduate degree with honors, living a full life, and taking courage from her life’s ongoing journey.

Helen Said (She/Her) is a late diagnosed Autistic with two adult neurodivergent daughters. She is from a Greek-Egyptian ethnic background and has co-authored research about CALD families with Autistic children. She convenes Victorian Labor’s Multicultural Ageing and Disability Policy Subcommittee. Helen co-founded Neurodivergent Labor which meets regularly with an advisor from Bill Shorten’s office.

Helen holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and tutors English and mathematics. She has taught several Autistic students and currently tutors a blind student in grade 1 braille. Next year, as an aged pensioner, Helen will focus on her vegetable garden and policy advocacy.

Geraldine Robertson is an Autistic advocate and a retired, award-winning educator.  Geraldine is passionate about advocating for Autistic people form a human rights perspective.  Geraldine enjoys mentoring young Autistic people as they navigate their daily lives and work towards promoting societal change so that Autistic people can live fulfilling lives.  At present, she helps diverse organisations to develop Autism appropriate resources, focussing on informing neurodiversity and trauma informed practice.  Geraldine has served on many boards including roles as a founding member, secretary, and chairperson of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (AU&NZ).  She was also chairperson of Autism Tasmania and at present is Deputy Co-Chair of the Autism Health and Mental Health Roadmap.