Sonya Girdler

Presenter

Sonya Girdler is a Professor of Occupational Therapy and Director of the Curtin Autism Research Group at Curtin University, in Perth, Western Australia. She is a member of the Australian National Autism Co-operative Research Centre and affiliated with the Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND) in Sweden. Sonya has extensive experience in the field of autism research. She is particularly interested in enabling the participation of autistic individuals in education and employment, and the development, evaluation and translation into practice of evidence-based interventions (particularly those focussing on social skills, strengths-based approaches, peer mentoring and mental health). Sonya has published over 160 publications and supervised 18 PhD students to completion on these topics. Sonya is passionate about co-producing research with her autistic colleagues and interdisciplinary research, believing that ‘magic happens’ when neurodivergent individuals share their ideas and talents. In 2022 Sonya was the joint winner of the Western Australian Premier's Science Awards for the Chevron Science Engagement Initiative of the Year; and, in 2023 the International Gold Winner of the Access, Diversity and Inclusion Award for Empowering Neurodiverse Adolescents, Awarded by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Reimagine Education Awards.

Dr Ben Milbourne

Presenter

Dr Ben Milbourn is Associate Professor, (teaching and research) in Occupational Therapy, Curtin School of Allied Health-Curtin University. Ben trained as an occupational therapist (OT) in the United Kingdom (UK), working in New Zealand, Australia and the UK practicing occupational therapy in mental health and disability contexts. Ben is Deputy Director of Curtin Autism Research Group (CARG) and is interested in research with a strong community focus, working alongside autistic individuals to promote social inclusion, well-being and positive mental health. Ben is passionate about co-produced research and developing strengths-based programs in the community. Ben has been successful in public, industry and teaching research grants as well as presenting his research outputs at international and national conferences. Ben was part of the team to develop a strengths-based program for autistic adolescents. This program won a prestigious local (western Australia Premier Science award) national award (Business/Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) and internationally (Entrepreneurship, Engagement & Excellence in Higher Education-Triple E, QS awards) for harnessing and recognising the special talents and dedication of autistic young people. Ben is also the co-chair of Curtin Academy, a dynamic and honorary network of distinguished multi-disciplinary academic leaders dedicated to recognising, rewarding, enabling, and extending teaching excellence across the university, nationally, and internationally through the three pillars of Pedagogy, People, and Practice.

Bahareh Afsharnejad

Presenter

Dr Bahareh Afsharnejad is a neurodivergent lecturer, early-career researcher, and neurodiversity advocate in the Discipline of Psychology at the School of Population Health, Curtin University. She has been heavily involved in autism research since 2018, collaborating with both national and international scholars, the Education Department, and various service providers. Her research focuses on developing evidence-based, strength-based, and neuroaffirming programs that support autistic children and youth in navigating their everyday social world while emphasising co-production, inclusion, and empowerment. Bahareh has a strong early career track record, as evidenced by over twenty publications (H-index: 8, 160 citations), winning international awards, and success in securing Australian Category 1 (Healthway) and philanthropic funding. She has presented her research outputs at fifteen international and national conferences.