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Ambassadors

Our team of Ambassadors come from all walks of life, but all share an interest in autism and a passion to raise awareness and understanding.

Jon Show Ambitious about Autism ambassador

Jon Snow 

Journalist and presenter

The revered journalist and former Channel 4 News presenter is a long-standing supporter of our work.

He said: “Autism touches so many lives – those with it, and those whose families who care for them. Ambitious about Autism is precisely what its name says, and is relentlessly ambitious for these young people – working tirelessly to ensure they have an equal chance at achieving a meaningful education, access to employment and a brighter future. That’s precisely why I am proud to support them.”

Sam Holness

Triathlete

Sam is an Ironman triathlete who has competed all over the world. He is also autistic and describes autism as his ‘super power’ because it gives him his incredible focus and drive to finish everything he starts. Sam, who is from London, is also a brown belt in Judo. He completed a BSc degree in Sports Science at St Mary’s University.

Sam says: “I want to become the first professional Ironman triathlete with autism. If I can achieve these goals it will hopefully change the world’s perception about people with autism.”  

David Mitchell Ambitious about Autism ambassador

David Mitchell 

Author

David is the New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Clocks and Cloud Atlas.

He and his wife Keiko Yoshida translated the books The Reason I Jump and Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8 – written by Japanese author Naoki Higashida who is autistic and non-verbal. 

In 2017, David visited TreeHouse School to celebrate the publication of Fall Down 8, Get Up 7, describing TreeHouse School as a 'slice of utopia'. David’s son is autistic and was diagnosed aged three.

Kathy Lette Ambitious about Autism ambassador

Kathy Lette 

Author, screenwriter and journalist

Kathy is a best-selling author, screenwriter and journalist. Her novels have been translated into seventeen languages around the world and many have been adapted for stage and screen.

Kathy is also a tireless autism advocate and supporter of our work. Her son Jules was a member of Ambitious about Autism’s Youth Council.  
 

Hayley Ronson Ambitious about Autism ambassador

Hayley Ronson 

Teacher and therapist

Hayley is a qualified teacher and therapist who has been involved in teaching for over 20 years.  She is a long-standing supporter of our work and has lobbied government extensively for the rights of autistic children.

Hayley said: “I’m ambitious about autism because having worked with the amazing children at TreeHouse School, I know how much more they, and the thousands of children like them, deserve.”
 

Simon and Lucy Mottram Ambitious about Autism ambassador

Simon and Lucy Mottram

Parents

Simon and Lucy have been part of the Ambitious about Autism family for many years. Their son Oscar attended TreeHouse and Ambitious College.

Simon is the founder of global cycling brand Rapha and set up the annual Manchester to London challenge – a gruelling 220-mile cycle ride that has raised over £1.5 million in support of our work.  
 

Travis

Travis George

Actor and singer

Travis George is an autistic singer and actor who is is best known for his success on the 2023 series of the hit TV talent show, Britain’s Got Talent. Before this, he starred in the popular BBC drama, The A Word, which followed the lives of an autistic boy and his family.

Travis became our ambassador after giving an inspiring talk to members of our Ambitious Youth Network in which he discussed his career highlights and how he got into the arts, as well as offering advice to other autistic young performers.

Travis said: “Ambitious about Autism shares my belief that all autistic young people should have the chance to achieve their ambitions – whatever those might be – and be accepted for themselves. I’m very proud to support this charity!”

Jules Robertson Ambitious about Autism ambassador

Jules Robertson 

Actor

Jules is an actor best known for playing autistic character, Jason Haynes, in the BBC medical drama, Holby City.

Jules is autistic and was a member of Ambitious about Autism’s Youth Council where he helped raise awareness of autism and advocate for his peers at a national level. 

Luke Treadaway Ambitious about Autism ambassador

Luke Treadaway 

Actor

Actor Luke Treadaway won a Best Actor Olivier Award for his portrayal of Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

During preparation for the role he visited TreeHouse School and spent time with one of our Youth Patrons. Luke also arranged a theatrical fundraising event in the West End to raise money for our work.  
 

Niamh Cusack 

Actor

Distinguished stage and screen actor Niamh Cusack starred as Siobhan in the Olivier Award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Alongside her co-star Luke Treadaway, she visited TreeHouse School while researching her role and met with staff and autistic young people.
 

sam ahern

Sam Ahern

Youth Ambassador

Sam is a visual artist who works with illustration, book works, film, photography and sound. She is a graduate of Wimbledon School of Art. Sam was the Co-Chair of the Ambitious about Autism Youth Council, and Autism Education Trust’s Youth Advisory Panel from 2015-2018. In 2018, she co-presented the Channel 4 documentary 'Are You Autistic?'

Sam is currently a member of the Neurocultures Collective, collaborating with Steven Eastwood and research project Autism through Cinema, on the co-creation of a feature length film and multiscreen artwork.

Jonathan Andrews

Jonathan Andrews

Solicitor

Jonathan has supported Ambitious about Autism’s work for several years, as a former Youth Patron, Chair of the Youth Council, and Trustee.

A solicitor working in Entertainment and Media law at city law firm Reed Smith who was open about being autistic since before he began applying for legal roles, Jonathan has been recognised nationally and internationally for his work to improve employment opportunities for autistic people. He has been a long-term champion of our Employ Autism programme.  

Jonathan is also an elected councillor in Bromley and chairs the borough’s All-Age Autism Board. He is currently serving as Deputy Mayor of Bromley for 2024-25. 

jack welch

Jack Welch

Youth Ambassador

Jack served on the Ambitious about Autism Youth Council from 2015-19 and during that time he became a Vice-Chair of the group. Whilst he was on Youth Council, he became a co-author of the ‘Know Your Normal’ research, which was co-produced by the Centre for Research in Autism and Education and has won multiple awards since then.

Currently, he serves as the Chair of the Voices Council at Royal Mencap Society and advises NHS England on their Learning Disability and/or Autism advisory group.

jazz bigden

Jaz Bigden

Youth Ambassador

From campaigning to podcasting, Jaz has long been a part of the Ambitious about Autism family. Since their first involvement in 2015, Jaz has been involved with many of Ambitious' youth led projects, such as Autism in the Workplace through to Know Your Normal. Recently involved as a consultant for the award-winning film 'The Reason I Jump', they are deeply invested into media representation of autism, and accessibility within media facilities.