Cath Fernando is an AuDHD Speech Pathologist and influential advocate for Neurodiversity-Affirming (NDA) practice. She authored Speech Pathology Australia’s national learning module, “Neurodiversity Affirming Practice: An Introduction,” and has collaborated with program providers to reframe programs for Autistic children through an NDA lens. With a strong track record, Cath works holistically with Autistic people, providing coaching and training for families, schools, and workplaces to cultivate psychologically safe, authentic relationships that enhance quality of life. She replaces outdated “social skills” training with approaches that support unmasking and confident navigation of the social world. Cath writes and speaks widely (podcasts, local radio) and provides extensive training and supervision for speech pathologists and other allied-health professionals. Her forthcoming Routledge book chapter, “Neurodiversity-affirming practice with respect to autism in palliative care,” extends this work into end-of-life contexts.

CaraJane is the discipline lead and Associate Professor at Victoria University Speech Pathology program. Throughout CaraJane's career she has worked in aged care, hospitals, rural and remote health, community health, government, education and now in Teritary studies. CaraJane is passionate about social justice and therefore has focussed her research on assisting the CALD community to receive the best levels of health and community care no matter where they are from or who they are.

Sarah Verdon is a Professor in Speech Pathology at Charles Sturt University. She is a neurodivergent (AuDHD) speech pathologist, early childhood researcher and mother of three. Her research across 6 continents focuses on embracing the diversity of children from different cultures, languages, geographic areas, socioeconomic backgrounds and levels of ability Sarah is director of NeuroBloom Speech Pathology, a rural speech pathology private practice. Sarah represented Australia on the World Health Organisation Development Group for Autism Spectrum Disorder and is country liaison for Australia to the Asia Pacific Society of Speech Language and Hearing.