I am a strategic marketing consultant and Founder of Colouring Outside the Lines, a peer-to-peer support group for parents of autistic girls. The chronic underemployment of autistic women is a global concern, with many of the barriers being societal. For autistic females to lead fulfilling, happy lives, finding supportive peer networks, encouraging work environments and having their talents and skills recognised is key.

As a mother of an autistic girl approaching the world of work, I want to discover the innovative international solutions already benefiting autistic women, so that I can help adapt and implement solutions in Scotland to assist her and thousands of young women like her. I know that change is possible, having made exponential community impact in recent years as Founder of Colouring Outside the Lines, which now has over 6,000 members worldwide. As my daughter has grown up, my desire for societal improvement and community engagement relevant to her and her peers burns just as strongly.

Having recently received my own autism diagnosis at the age of 46, I can use my lived experience to connect with those I will be undertaking research with.