Ambassadors

The revered journalist and 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.”

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. 

He said: “As a parent to a son with autism, it is heartening almost beyond words to see the brilliant work the charity Ambitious about Autism is doing to make education possible for children and young people with autism.” 
 

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.  
 

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. 

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.  
 

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.
 

Simon and Lucy have been part of the Ambitious 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 London to Manchester challenge – a gruelling 200-mile cycle ride that has raised over £1 million in support of our work.  
 

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 children with autism.

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.”
 

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.”  

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.

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.

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.