Jaz Bidgood lives in Brisbane, Queensland and was diagnosed with Autism in their late-twenties. As an Autistic member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Jaz engages in interpersonal advocacy for disabled, queer, neurodivergent, and otherwise marginalised people within their local community. While serving on the ASAN AUNZ Board, Jaz is excited to have the opportunity to participate in systemic advocacy with the Autistic community, for the Autistic community.
Jaz currently works an English as a second language (ESL) teacher at TAFE Queensland, and also teaches children’s Learn to Swim classes (babies to 10-year-olds). In their role as an ESL teacher, Jaz works with refugees and recently-settled migrants in the Australian Migrant English Program (AMEP). Jaz also teaches jobseekers and adults with low literacy skills in the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program. In their role as a Learn to Swim teacher, Jaz has had the opportunity to work with neurodivergent and disabled students, including teaching students in Auslan. These roles allowed Jaz to have the opportunity to experience how neurodivergence intersects with other marginalised identities, which has given Jaz a deeper appreciation for how intersectionality is experienced by neurodivergent people.
Envisioning a world where young people belong, live fulfilling lives, and realise their potential. Elise Muller is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading change-makers in Autism.
With lived experience of Autism and mental health, a proud First Nation Australian, and part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and elite athlete in mainstream sport, Elise’s unique, multifaceted insight is an authentic lens on inclusion, diversity, and awareness.
Elise is inspiring and enabling the world to better understand, and embrace people who think, and are different.
Elise is a well sought International Speaker and Consultant for creating inclusion, awareness, and accessibility.
Elise is the founder of Active Support, a social enterprise organisation for people with disability who are at risk.
Elise is also a dual elite athlete, and has used her platform as a player for the Western Bulldogs and more recently Essendon FC to become AFL’s First Disability Ambassador.
Alexandra is a challenger of systems and advocate for individuals and communities, working within the local government sector as a disability inclusion advisor.
Alex has lived experience of autism and has several learning disabilities. She is undertaking a Masters of Disability Inclusion at Deakin University.
When she is not navigating the NDIS for her Autistic son, she spends her spare time volunteering on a number of committees to advocate for inclusion for disabled and neurodivergent people.
With a strong background in corporate governance, planning and reporting, she uses her knowledge of the Australian disability policy and legislation framework, to harness key insights from consultations and reviews ranging from the National Disability Employment Strategy, the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, and the recent NDIS review, turning them into practice at the ground level.
Joanne is from New Zealand (originally English born) was diagnosed as Autistic in 2012. She is married with 2 children including an autistic adult son and a dog (blue heeler cross) named Muki (moo-key).
She is passionate about the UNCRPD and the NZ Disability Strategy as well as inclusive education.
She serves as the autistic representative for Autism NZ, a partner of Autism CRC. She has previously served as secretary for the Autism Spectrum Kiwis (ASK) Trust – a NZ autistic led organisation supporting autistics, and serves on the board Disabled Person’s Assembly as well as a new organisation My Life, My Voice –both disabled led organisations working for disabled people.
She is keen to see disabled people from all walks of life increase in their capacity and capability to have a good life of their choosing with the right support.
Tim is diagnosed as Autistic and has been married for nearly 20 years with several siblings who are also Autistic. Tim is eager to help create a better environment for the next generation of Autistic people!
He has worked in startups and tech companies across Australia, Europe and America. He joined ASAN to find a way to use the skills he has developed to support the autism community.
Cheryl is the ASAN AUNZ Secretary and joined ASAN after receiving her diagnosis in her 40s, following the diagnosis of her son.
Cheryl was seeking community, and in 2022 nominated and was elected to the ASAN AUNZ board. She has had diverse lived experiences and works to use these to help drive self advocacy for Autistic people in Australia and New Zealand.
Professionally, she has a Bachelor of Commerce (Management) and MBA, reported to corporate boards, risk subcommittees and has been a company secretary, among just a few of her working experiences.
Cheryl now runs her own business providing both business consulting services and advice to autistics on their surrounds.
Andrew is committed to operationalising disability justice, anti-ableist reform, and rights-based activism. Andrew is passionate about advocacy for people who are often overlooked, including those with psychosocial disabilities, fluctuating disabilities, invisible disabilities, and hidden disabilities.
Andrew has extensive management experience in the not-for-profit sector. Andrew is an Autistic member of the National Autism Strategy Oversight Council, the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee at Autism Spectrum Australia (‘Aspect’), the Disabilities Officer for the Australian Law Students Association, the Lived Experience Working Group (‘LEWG’) at the University of Sydney &, Brain & Mind Centre (‘BMC’), and NSW Health’s Peer & Consumer Workforce Steering Committee.
Andrew believes we deserve to see ourselves represented throughout leadership — led and foregrounded in intersectionality!
Become a Member
We invite those interested in Autistic self-advocacy to join us as a Full (Autistic) or Associate (Non Autistic) member of ASAN AUNZ
