Think Autism – Sydney Conference 2025

Saturday 31 May 2025
10:00am – 5:30pm
Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, UTS Business School
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Unapologetically Autistic – Empowerment | Visibility | Justice

The Think Autism – Sydney Conference is a one-day, in-person event created by and for Autistic people. This national gathering brings together Autistic leaders, professionals, creators, researchers, and advocates to centre unapologetic identity, economic self-determination, Autistic entrepreneurship, neuroaffirming design, and community-led change.

This flagship event forms part of the Think Autism program, with all panels filmed and photographed for digital release on Autistic Pride Day – 18 June 2025.

What to Expect

High-impact keynote panels and expert-led discussions
Practical workshops designed with Autistic participants in mind
Authentic conversations grounded in lived and professional experience
Low-pressure networking and community connection
A fully accessible, sensory-considerate venue

Conference Program

10:00 AM – OPENING KEYNOTE PANEL

Unapologetically Autistic: Leadership, Visibility and Voice
Hosted by: Kyriakos Gold
Speakers: Dr Sharon Zivkovic, Rebecca McCash, Christina Chun

Autistic leaders speak candidly about visibility and representation
Showing up without apology in spaces not built for us
What will the National Autism Strategy change?
How will Autistic people hold it to account?

10:45 AM – BREAK (15 mins)

11:00 AM – FEATURE PANEL

Autistic Entrepreneurship: Disrupting the System
Hosted by: Kyriakos Gold
Speakers:Dr Sharon Zivkovic, Rebecca McCash, Christina Chun, Zoe Attenbury

How Autistic-led businesses are redefining leadership and accessibility
Disrupting traditional ways of working across sectors

11:45 AM – FEATURE PANEL

Neurodivergent Health Practitioners: Rethinking Care, Reclaiming Practice
Hosted by: Dr Naomi Malone
Speakers: Georgia Zentrich, Mishma Kumar-Jonson and more

Neurodivergent health professionals share how they’re designing care differently
Lived experience at the centre of health and wellbeing models

12:30 PM – COMMUNITY LUNCH + QUIET ROOM ACTIVATION

Choose to connect, recharge or explore creative activations
Structured, low-pressure spaces
Sensory-friendly environment

WORKSHOPS (run at the same time as Panels – choose your session)

1:15 PM – WORKSHOP A

Thriving Without Apology
Presented by: Rebecca McCash

Peer-led mental health session
Boundaries, burnout and building a life without masking

2:15 PM – WORKSHOP B

Intentional Sharing of Lived and Living Experience
Presented by: Natasha Siryj

Professional development for sharing your story
Safe and intentional approaches to lived experience storytelling

1:30 PM – PANEL (run at the same time as Workshops – choose your session)

Neuroaffirming Systems: Designed by Us, for Us
Hosted by: Anita Aherne
Speakers: Holly Fowler, Natasha Siryj and more

Autistic professionals showcase innovation in:
- Education
- Tech
- Governance
- Service design

2:15 PM – BREAK (15 mins)

2:30 PM – PANEL

Telling Our Stories: Autism in the Media
Hosted by: Kyriakos Gold
Speakers: Heather Ridge and more

Who controls Autistic narratives?
Media power, storytelling ethics and Autistic creators

3:15 PM – BREAK (15 mins)

3:30 PM – PANEL

Community Is the Cure: Belonging Beyond the System
Hosted by: Anita Aherne
Speakers: Dwayne Fernandez, Aisling Smith, Georgia Zentrich and more

Peer support, grassroots organising, and community care
How Autistic people support one another when formal systems fail

4:15 PM – FILMED Q&A

Think Autism: The Future We Choose
Hosted by: Kyriakos Gold
Open to all speakers and participants

Live and interactive
You can ask questions, share reflections or simply observe
Camera-optional seating available

5:00 PM – CLOSING REMARKS

6:00 PM – COMMUNITY DRINKS (VENUE TBA)

Wind down with music, mocktails and informal connection
A soft landing to end the day

Access and Inclusion

We are committed to making this Conference as accessible and comfortable as possible.

Quiet rooms and sensory maps throughout the venue
Camera-optional seating in all sessions
Low-scent policy and physically accessible venue
Neuroaffirming facilitators and program design

Presented by

Just Gold
The Aurum Foundation

In Partnership With

City of Sydney
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

In Collaboration With

Australian Institute of Diversity in Mental Health
Centre for Autistic Entrepreneurship
Community Capacity Builders
Invictus Health
FutureTech
Living on the Spectrum
Myriad Global

Digital Release

All sessions will be filmed and professionally photographed. Edited recordings will be distributed online for Autistic Pride Day – 18 June 2025, extending the reach of the Conference nationwide and globally.