Gerard Atkinson (he/him) is an adult-diagnosed Autistic professional with experience consulting on strategy, marketing and analytics for governments, businesses and non-profit organisations in Australia, North America and Europe. He has also worked as an opera singer and actor for a number of Australian arts companies.
Since being identified as Autistic Gerard has sought to put his experience in advocacy and fundraising to use in advancing the case for neurodiversity in society, especially in workplaces. As a program and policy evaluator, he is also committed to the development and testing of evidence-based approaches to supporting the needs of Autistic people and their families. He believes that the best approaches are those that ensure positive outcomes in wellbeing and personal development across all life stages.
Prior to joining the board of Reframing Autism, Gerard was Secretary of the Board of the Pacific Opera, and was the founding Secretary of the Board of the Canberra Opera (now the National Opera), leading their process of establishment as an incorporated not-for-profit entity. He holds an MBA and an MA in Arts Management from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and a BSc(Honours) in Physics from the Australian National University in Canberra. He is also a Qualified Professional Researcher of the Research Society.