Staff
We are a small, dedicated team with a shared mission: to improve the lives of autistic people. Our team members bring a range of backgrounds, experiences and expertise – some joined due to personal connections to autism, while others found their way here through their professional journey.
We are committed to building a diverse team and we’re proud of our recruitment processes, which are designed to be as inclusive as possible. While our staff team includes neurodivergent people, we respect the right to privacy and don’t ask for this to be disclosed publicly.
Tom Purser
CEO
Tom joined the charity in January 2024. He has more than 14 years’ experience in the autism sector, previously working for the National Autistic Society as Assistant Director of Support and Transformation. Tom has spearheaded high profile and impactful campaigns to drive greater public understanding of autism and launch new support services. He has extensive experience of working closely with government, employers and funders, as well as autistic people and their families, to bring about change and make a difference to people’s lives. Tom’s eldest child is autistic, giving him first-hand experience of the challenges autistic people face on a daily basis.
Dr Tracey Parsons
Programmes Director
Tracey joined the charity in May 2022. Autism has been part of her life for over 25 years in both a personal and professional capacity. Her career in clinical psychology focused on understanding the needs of adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults. It culminated in efforts to address poor standards, neglect, and abuse in inpatient settings, including via whistleblowing. Tracey also has extensive experience of engaging autistic people and their supporters in discussions on contentious topics and advocating for their views, giving her a deep commitment to driving the changes that autistic people want to see.
Nicola Graves
Director of Fundraising
Nicola joined the charity in August 2024. She began her fundraising career in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge, and has since enjoyed roles at Shine (Spina Sifida-Hydrocephalus-Information-Networking-Equality), SOS Children’s Villages UK, Somerville Heart Foundation and Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. During her 11 years as a professional fundraiser, she has secured more than £11 million for health and children’s charities, thriving on the opportunity to build relationships that achieve real and lasting change. Nicola’s youngest child is autistic. The family’s experiences fuel her to want better for autistic people everywhere.
Richie (Richmal) Maybank
Employment Lead
Richie joined the charity in July 2024. She’s worked in the autism sector since 2009, predominantly for The National Autistic Society’s employment services as well as Tower Hamlets Autism Family Support. She is also a board member for Accessibility at The O2 and an Ambassador for the Accessible Hospitality Alliance, championing neurodiversity and initiatives to enhance accessibility.
Richie’s focus is on improving employment opportunities for the autism community.
Hannah McLinden
Project Assistant
Hannah joined the charity in March 2023. While studying for her BSc in Psychology and Education and Masters in Applied Clinical Psychology Hannah volunteered for Mencap’s Supported Internship Programme. She supports the charity across a range of vital projects including Employment and Community Engagement.
Hannah has a long-standing interest in working in the autism sector and is committed to breaking down the barriers autistic people face in society.
Lucy Leet
Executive Assistant
Lucy joined the charity in September 2023. After spending ten-years working in marketing, she moved into education where she supported primary school children with special educational needs.
As a parent of an autistic child, Lucy is passionate about making a difference to the lives of autistic people and their families.
Kirstin Holsey
Autism Community Engagement Manager
Kirstin joined the charity in April 2025. Her personal interests in autism and inclusive practice led to her academic career as a developmental psychologist. Kirstin’s doctoral thesis explored the relationship between autistic traits, the self (conceptualised by self-awareness and metacognition), and help-seeking behaviour in university students. In her previous teaching positions, she was committed to providing an inclusive learning environment where all students felt valued and heard. Kirstin is passionate about reducing societal barriers and promoting the views and experiences of autistic people.
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