Meet the training team

After a varied career spanning 15 years within further education, Clare moved to Ambitious about Autism and has developed a range of programmes and services including Treehouse School sixth form careers development; Learner and Family Engagement; Youth Participation; Autism Exchange and now oversees the development and implementation of the national Employ Autism programme.  

Clare is an experienced leader, speaker and trainer as well as a passionate advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion everywhere. 

Find out more about Clare by reading her one page profile.

Felicity is a Programme Manager for Employ Autism. She manages a team to deliver information advice and guidance to autistic young people applying for a work experience placement. Felicity provides information and advice to employers to design their work experience placements, adapt their recruitment process and support employers throughout internships.

Felicity has wide-ranging expertise in project management, customer service and delivering presentations and training.

Find out more about Felicity by reading her one page profile.

Michelle is responsible for the development, creation and delivery of training products and consultancy services at Ambitious about Autism. She has over 12 years’ experience working as a senior leader, trainer and researcher in residential and education settings which specialise in supporting children, young people, and adults with Autism.

Michelle’s autism research background, both managing and conducting research projects and her Masters degree in Autism Studies from the Tizard Centre, supports the integrity and development of training materials and resources utilised by Ambitious About Autism. She has a wealth of experience designing and implementing quality assurance processes and procedures, to measure the impact and outcomes of services delivered. She ensures the organisation's practice and policy is delivered to the highest possible standard, in the best interest of the individual/s and their families being supported, improving quality of life outcomes.

Find out more about Michelle by reading her one page profile.

Sophie’s background is in research and education, with a particular interest in increasing pupil and staff well-being in schools. Sophie has worked closely with autistic pupils in primary schools, helping to individualise education plans to cater to each learner, using her own experience as an autistic person to guide her practice. Prior to becoming a teacher, Sophie worked in research and analysis in both the academic and private sector. 

Sophie is responsible for the delivery of training products and consultancy services at Ambitious about Autism. She is passionate about raising the understanding of autism, particularly in education and work settings, in order to promote the strengths of autistic people of all ages. Sophie’s experience as a teacher of both neurodiverse and neurotypical children drives her to create a more inclusive world for all.  

Sophie spends her spare time volunteering as a rock-climbing coach to young people, walking in the mountains, visiting miniature and model railways or building her own. She also enjoys meditating, cooking and reading. 

Find out more about Sophie by reading her one page profile.

Gil has worked for many years in HR and has got a special interest and experience in learning, training, and skills development.

He successfully designed and delivered the Face-to-Face Befriending training service at Scope UK, aimed at parents of disabled children in five East London boroughs who accessed the service for emotional support in coming to terms with their child's diagnosis. He also implemented Positive Action programmes at some London local authorities, bringing a diversity of approach in the recruitment and promotion of talents in some London local authorities as well as in the Fire Service.

Find out more about Gil by reading his one page profile.

Cath’s background is in engineering and technical roles, and they have also worked on gender equality projects for women in science, engineering and technology.

Cath is an experienced autism and employment consultant and trainer and has worked with employers and employees nationwide as a specialist optimising autistic people’s strengths at work since 2014. Cath also speaks at conferences and events, and regularly contributes to articles and interviews to promote the recruitment, retention and progression of autistic people in the workplace. Cath was diagnosed autistic in 2015 and has an adult autistic child.

In their spare time, Cath enjoys advocacy and building peer support networks for adults to bring together autistic autism professionals, parents, jobseekers, creatives, artists and other professionals to address some of the shortfalls in the support available around diagnosis, accessing healthcare and services and generally living well as an autistic person. Cath is a passionate about her work, bringing communities together and bridging the gaps between parents, autistic adults and support professionals.

Find out more about Cath by reading their one page profile.