Adam Spencer

Broadcaster, Host, MC & Keynote Speaker

Laugh and learn with one of Australia’s most dynamic and engaging minds, Adam Spencer is the iconic star of radio and television and now a leading conference MC and keynote speaker. Adam has hosted award-winning breakfast radio shows in Australia’s toughest markets and live current affairs TV. He shared the 2013 TED stage in California with Elon Musk, Ben Affleck, and Bono. He has won improvised theatre competitions and once interviewed John Travolta in front of 75,000 people. With 25 years’ experience in television, radio and events, Adam loves curating challenging and thought-provoking conversations and keynote presentations.

Em Rusciano
Comedian, Author, Broadcaster, Advocate

Em Rusciano is an Australian comedian, singer‑songwriter, author and broadcaster whose candid, high‑energy voice has made her a beloved figure across entertainment, media and public speaking. Rising to national prominence as a finalist on Australian Idol, Em went on to co‑host national breakfast radio shows, sell out comedy tours, and build a highly engaged social media community. A passionate and empowering advocate for neurodiversity, Em has spoken openly about her own ADHD and autism journey and her experiences. Em has delivered keynote addresses at high-profile forums, most notably at the National Press Club of Australia on ADHD and autism, where her personal insights were widely praised for helping reduce stigma and spark meaningful conversation. Her authenticity, humour and advocacy continue to resonate across social media, live events and corporate engagements, where she is also in demand as an MC and keynote speaker, bringing insight, empathy and joy to audiences of all kinds.

Andrew Radford
Journalist

Andrew is a proud man with an Intellectual Disability and is an advocate for people with disability. He has presented at Autism Asia Pacific Conference APAC in Singapore in 2019 and has presented at the annual VALID Having a Say Conference in Geelong. He has also been an Ambassador for Special Olympics Australia, where he was selected to meet the Royal Family in 2014, and Spectrum Space in Perth WA 2023. Andrew has been with The Disability Trust for more than 20 years as a participant, and he has also been supported to find his job at Batemans Bay Library where he has worked for 24 years. He also has his own car wash business, cleaning TDT fleet cars at our Batemans Bay office. He is passionate about advocating for accessibility, making sure the voices of people with disability are heard, and challenging public perceptions about Intellectual Disability. Andrew was selected to be part of the ABC TV documentary series, The Assembly, where he was mentored by one of Australia’s most renowned journalists, Leigh Sales, where he learnt how to interview well known Australian personalities including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. He likes to say “Our time to shine and nothing about us without us”.

Dan Graham
Theater Director & Disability Advocate

Dan Graham is a theatre director and disability advocate with a particular interest in access support for neuro-diverse performing artists. Dan has engaged with companies across Australia such as Bell Shakespeare, Belvoir, Sydney Festival, Sydney Fringe, Melbourne Theatre Company, Antipode Theatre Company, and Opera Australia. He's had collaborations in the US including the Atlantic Theatre Company and Pasadena Playhouse and in the UK the Globe Theatre.

Recently Dan was Awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate Access & Opportunities for Professionals in The Preforming Arts Who Are Neurodivergent. Late last year he had a book published based on Interviews with Australian Professionals in The Performing Arts Who Are Neurodivergent. This Project supported by Creative Australia He has been a fellow for ISPA as well as for of the Creative Australia's Future Leaders Program, and received both a Ian Potter Foundation Scholarship and a Create NSW fellowship recipient. Dan is on a number of boards championing for accessible and inclusive arts across the sector.

Further information can be found om Dan's Personal Work Website dangraham.com.au

Michael Theo
Actor, Podcast Host, Advocate

Michael Theo is an Autistic actor, podcast host, and advocate best known for his breakout role on Love on the Spectrum, where his authenticity and warmth captured hearts around the world. Michael's recent lead performance in the comedy-drama Austin earned widespread acclaim, adding to his growing list of creative achievements. Today, he works at Aspect as an Autistic Consultant, drawing on lived experience to support inclusion and awareness. Diagnosed as a young adult, Michael describes the moment as life-changing, giving him clarity and pride in his identity: “Being Autistic is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s who I am.” Passionate about storytelling, Michael is committed to advancing authentic representation of Autistic people on screen and behind the scenes.

Sam Worrad
Musician, Club Weld

Sam Worrad is a musician from Penrith, NSW. For the past decade Sam has worked at the Club Weld studio for neurodiverse musicians - co-writing, recording and performing new music in collaboration with artists including Jerrah Patston, Nina Gotsis, Anthony Talarico and Adoni.

He is passionate about neurodiverse musicians having a presence in Sydney's arts and culture.

Sam has also worked with The Holy Soul, Lo Carmen, Kim Salmon, Robyn Hitchcock, The Vacant Lot, Damo Suzuki, David Thomas, Jed Kurzel and Neil Hamburger.

Anita Connell

Founder & Registered Music Therapist, Tuned In Music Therapy

Dr Anita Connell is a Registered Music Therapist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behavior and Development, Western Sydney University. Her research explores the role of music in health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Anita is the founder of Tuned In Connections, a practice committed to delivering music therapy in the care plans of children with disabilities as well as offering professional development to embed attuned, relationship-centred practice within schools, aged care, and disability services. Anita's work bridges the space between clinical practice and research, advocating for connection-first approaches that support individuals, families, and the teams around them.

Anna Brady
Principal, Aspect's Vern Barnett School

Anna Brady is the Principal of Aspect Vern Barnett School in Forestville, NSW, and has experience as a school leader in Australia and England. She currently leads a multidisciplinary team supporting Autistic students through evidence‑informed, strengths‑based practice, with a strong focus on wellbeing, consistency and building inclusive learning environments and strong partnerships with families to ensure students feel safe, connected and ready to learn.

Jerrah Patston

Beloved in his local Blue Mountains, Jerrah Patston writes songs possessed of a beautiful naivety, boiling down each subject to his own inimitable view. Jerrah has an ear for a catchy melody and the unusual ability to communicate the universal through the very specific. Writing in detail about daily life, Jerrah’s songs find the listener relating to thoughts about dodgem cars, Wings, construction sites and ten-pin bowling they did not realise they shared. A legendarily spontaneous live performer, each moment on stage with Jerrah has no future or past, drawing audiences right into the moment.

Jerrah is noted for his whimsical style and beautiful harmonies from previous albums Going Places and Sounds Like Rain. He has recorded at the Opera House, played live at festivals, performed for Governor-General Sam Mostyn and provided music for the “one take romcom” Head Over Wheels and children’s program Fizzy & Suds. Jerrah works at the Club Weld studio for neurodiverse artists in Parramatta, NSW.

Shahar Burla - Head of Philanthropy & Relationships

Email: sburla@aspect.org.au
Phone: 0406 765 477

Nadine Eulgem - Philanthropy, Relationships & Gift in Wills Manager

Email: neulgem@aspect.org.au
Phone: 0434 505 930