Dr. David Amaral, is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at the Centre for Neuroscience at the University of California, Davis. He is also Research Director and Beneto Foundation Chair of the Mind Institute (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders), University of California, and has been charged with guiding the overall research mission of the Institute.

As Research Director of the M.I.N.D. Institute, Professor Amaral is responsible for the Autism Phenome Project, a comprehensive and multidisciplinary analysis of children with autism, researching the biomedical characteristics of different types of autism. This work will lead to more effective hypothesis-driven research on the causes of each type of autism, and ultimately to more effective treatments.

Professor Amaral has received two prestigious MERIT awards from the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States. He has also received research awards from the McKnight Foundation, the Sloan Foundation and more recently from the Macarthur and McDonnell Foundations. Professor Amaral has successfully launched a peer-reviewed journal, Hippocampus and has been Editor-in-Chief of the International Brain Research Organization’s journal, Neuroscience. He has co-edited an authoritative book on the hippocampal formation aptly called, The Hippocampus book.

In May of 2009, Professor Amaral was elected President of the International Society of Autism Research which holds the annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) and publishes the journal, Autism Research. Later in the same year, Professor Amaral was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Professor Catherine Lord is Director of the Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC) and Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Paediatrics at the University of Michigan.

Professor Lord is a clinical psychologist who has worked in Canada, the United Kingdom, and at various universities in the United States, including the TEACCH program. She was involved in developing standardized diagnostic instruments for Autism Spectrum Disorder [the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, ADOS, an observational scale; and the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised, ADI-R, a parent interview], considered the gold standard for research and diagnoses. She has also held the Chair of the Committee on Effectiveness of Early Intervention in Autism for the National Research Council.

As Director of UMACC, Professor Lord provides clinical evaluations and consultations in addition to training university students and professionals in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Current projects include the development of a toddler module for the ADOS and its use in longitudinal follow-up of very young children with possible Autism Spectrum Disorder; the organization of the Simons Simplex Collection (a repository of cell lines and phenotypic data for families with a child with autism and a typical child); the development of a measure of spontaneous, functional language in children with ASD; several studies of different interventions with very young children; and a longitudinal study of children followed from age 2 who are now in their teens.

Patricia Howlin is Professor of Clinical Child Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London. She is a chartered clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. in Psychology and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Although her principal research interests focus on autism she has also been involved in research on other neurodevelopmental disorders such as Williams syndrome, developmental language disorders and Fragile X and more recently other syndromes such as Cornelia de Lange, Angelman and Cri du Chat. She has conducted evaluations of a variety of different intervention programmes, including comparative studies of home and school based treatments; control trials of communication training programmes, and longer term studies of the impact of early interventions.

Patricia is past Chair of the UK Association of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and was previously Chair of the Society for the Study of Behavioural Phenotypes. She is a Specialist Councillor for the National Autistic Society, a member of the NAS Ethics Committee and Trustee of the affiliated Inge Wakehurst Trust. Other advisory roles include: Chair of scientific committee, “Research Autism” Trust; DVLA Advisory Panel on Driving and Psychiatric Disorders (Advisor on Learning Disability); Professional Advisory Panel, Williams Syndrome Foundation. She is on the editorial board of a number scientific journals and has published widely in the field of autism and other genetic and developmental disorders.

Professor Gary Mesibov served as the Director of Division TEACCH for 18 years (from 1992 – 2010) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the United States of America. This internationally recognized statewide program is one of a kind in its pioneering approaches to service, treatment, training, research and the education of individuals with autism.

Professor Mesibov has received degrees from Stanford University (A.B.), The University of Michigan (M.A.), Brandeis University (Ph.D.), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Postdoctoral Fellow). Professor Mesibov is a licensed Psychologist in the state of North Carolina. He has served on the Executive Board of the Orange County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities and since 1979 has been on the Executive Board of the North Carolina Society for Children and Adults with Autism.

Professor Mesibov has written numerous books, journal publications, book reviews, editorials, chapters and research papers dealing with all aspects of autism and developmental disabilities. His current editorial appointments and memberships include the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology and the Journal of Pediatric Psychology. Professor Mesibov is also the former Editor of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, a position which he has served in for 10 years.

An international specialist in the field of Autism, Belgian's leading Autism authority, Theo Peeters, founded the Centre for Autism Training in Antwerp. Theo Peeters background is in Neurolinguistics and the Science of Human Communications. He has published several books on Autism, including Autism: From Theoretical Understanding to Educational Intervention and Autism: Medical and Educational Aspects (in collaboration with Professor Christopher Gillberg).

Theo Peeters and his team have been responsible for teaching and training in the field of Autism in many European and other countries. He has also worked at TEACCH at the University of North Carolina in the United States. He has led many Autism projects including one commissioned by the Flemish Ministry of Education to train teachers and other professionals; Other work includes collaborative governmental projects undertaken with Russia, South Africa, Hungary and Poland. He is also Associate Editor of “Good Autism Practice” Edited by Glenys Jones and Hugh Morgan in partnership with the University of Birmingham.

Tony is a clinical psychologist who has specialised in autism spectrum disorders since he qualified as a clinical psychologist in England in 1975. He works in private practice in Brisbane, but is also adjunct professor at Griffith University, Queensland. His book Asperger’s Syndrome – A Guide for Parents and Professionals has sold over 400,000 copies and has been translated into over twenty languages. He has worked with over 6,000 individuals of all ages with Asperger's syndrome.

Tony presents workshops and runs training courses for parents, professionals and individuals with Asperger's syndrome all over the world and is a prolific author of scientific papers and books on the subject. His new book The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome was published in October 2006.

Hilde De Clercq is a lecturer, trainer, linguist and author of several books on Autism which have been translated into many languages. She is also the parent of a son with Autism and Director of the Centre for Training in Autism in Antwerp, Belgium. Hilde has developed many workshops on subjects such as communication, the cognitive style of people with autism, high functioning Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and parent-professional collaboration. Hilde is a member of the International Associate Editors of "Good Autism Practice". Edited by Glenys Jones and Hugh Morgan in partnership with the University of Birmingham.

Dr. Samira Al-Saad a mother of a daughter with Autism, is the Founder & Director of Jeddah Center for Autism and Kuwait Center for Autism. She is also Founder and Head of the Gulf Autism Union and the Kuwait Autism Society. She has a Masters Degree in Special Needs from the United States and a Ph.D. from Leicester University in the United Kingdom. She is active in research and is an accomplished writer and translator of books on Autism into Arabic. She is Founder and Editor of the first specialized periodical in Autism and Special Needs – "Silent Scream" newsletter distributed throughout the Middle East.

In 2007, she received Kuwait's first Corporate Responsibility award for her enduring efforts for Kuwait’s Autism society. In 2008, she received the Jan Amos Comenius Medal from UNESCO for her work as educator making significant contribution to the development of education in field of Autism.

Professor Falkmer is currently Adjunct Professor and Senior Research Fellow, School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University in Western Australia. Initially trained in Occupational Therapy, Professor Falkmer received a Doctoral degree (PhD) in medicine at Linköping Medical Faculty, Linköping University, Sweden in 2001. He has held the position of Professor of Therapy at Jonkoping University and in 2007 was appointed as Adjunct Professor at La Trobe University in Melbourne. Professor Falkmer has authored/co-authored more than 100 research publications.

In 2008, Falkmer was appointed as Adjunct Professor at Curtin University. In 2009 he received a 5 year competitive and prestigious Research Fellowship at Curtin University, School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work on a research program entitled Visual perceptual abilities in Asperger syndrome.

Professor Margot Prior is a leading researcher and clinical practitioner in the field of Autism in Australia for more than 30 years and was honoured for her work in autism with an Order of Australia. She has a large range of publications covering cognitive, social, emotional, physiological, and applied domains of Autism Spectrum Disorders; and has also published chapters in books, several reviews, and a book on Asperger Syndrome. She has also worked extensively in child mental health and was Professor/Director of Psychology at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne for 8 years.

In recent years, working with Dr. Jacqueline Roberts she has completed a review of early intervention treatments for Autism, commissioned by the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing, and produced the Guidelines for Early Intervention in Autism which are now being used across Australia. In 2008 she was a member of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Expert Advisory Committee to advise the Australian Government on the implementation of early intervention programs across Australia. Professor Prior is currently engaged in a longitudinal project focused on language and social development from 8 months to 7 years in a population sample.

Dr. Mariam Aljunied is the Lead Specialist in Educational Psychology at the Ministry of Education in Singapore. She received her training as an Educational Psychologist in London, in the United Kingdom. She is a Chartered Educational Psychologist and is currently the Lead Specialist in Educational Psychology at the Ministry of Education (Singapore).

She has made significant contributions to raising the quality of education on a national level for students with special needs. Her diverse research work encompasses the development of tools and strategies for the identification of students with learning differences, including students with Autism and dyslexia. She is also involved in the development and evaluation of alternative models of inclusive educational practices for children with Autism.

With over 15 years of experience working with schools in Singapore, Dr. Aljunied has been instrumental in providing diagnosis and advice as well as implementing professional development for practitioners and teachers in the area of special needs. She has also contributed to several international publications and conferences on the subject of learning differences and Autism.

Dr. Lawrence Bartak is a leading academic and consultant in the field of Autism and is a Senior Psychologist in the Developmental Disabilities Clinic at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne. He has worked with Professor Sir Michael Rutter for 10 years at the University of London, Institute of Psychiatry; and as Director of the Monash Institute of Child and Adolescent Studies, Monash University. Dr. Bartak has been a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Education, University of Kyushu, Japan and is currently an Associate of the Faculty of Education, Monash University.

Dr. Bartak has spent time as an Honorary Senior Research Fellow with Professor Patricia Howlin at St George's Hospital Medical School, London; and as a Senior Consultant Psychologist with Dr. Lorna Wing and Dr. Judith Gould at Elliot House, in the United Kingdom. He is a Past President of the Autism Council of Australia and Chairperson of its Professional Advisory Committee, as well as President of Autism Victoria. Dr. Bartak has published and contributed to many publications and is currently collaborating on a book on forensic aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Dr. Roberts is an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra, Faculty of Education, and the team leader responsible for content in the Australian Autism Education and Training Consortium (AAETC). The Consortium is providing professional development for teachers and school leaders and for parents and carers of children with autism across Australia as part of the Australian Government's Helping Children with Autism package.

Dr. Roberts teaches graduate courses in autism at the University of Canberra and supervises postgraduate students. She has presented numerous workshops on autism across Australian and New Zealand. She has honorary positions at Macquarie University and The University of Sydney where she is involved with several research projects. Dr. Roberts completed (with Professor Margot Prior) a review of interventions for children with autism and their families for the Australian Government Department of Health and Aging.

Dr. Kenneth Poon is Assistant Professor of Early Childhood and Special Education at the National Institute of Education, Singapore. He received his training as a clinical psychologist at the University of Queensland and obtained a Ph.D. in education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a focus on Autism. He has over ten years of experience practicing and consulting in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder and has trained internationally in Singapore, Australia, and the USA. Dr. Poon is committed to research that makes an impact on the lives of individuals with ASD and he recently completed a study exploring issues pertaining to adolescents and adults with ASD in Singapore. He has also conducted or supervised investigations in a range of areas including the early developmental trajectory, social perception, neuropsychology, psychopathology, in relation to individuals with ASD.

Dr. John Wray is a Western Australian trained paediatrician who undertook a Fellowship in Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the United States of America. John is the Senior Clinical Advisor for the Western Australian Child Development Service. John sees a wide range of children with developmental concerns and his main research interest is in the biological basis and treatment of children with autism. He is particularly interested in the controlled investigation of complementary and alternative therapies, and in longitudinal studies of the biology of the Autism Spectrum disorders. Other professional interests for John include developmental disorder prevention and enhancement programs. He is active in a number of community and professional organisations.

Dr. Annette Joosten is a lecturer in the School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work at Curtin University in Western Australia. Dr. Joosten has many years experience as an occupational therapist working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and children with other developmental disabilities. Dr. Joosten’s research and publications focus on developing evidence based practice to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder of all levels of ability. This research has a particular focus on understanding stereotypic and repetitive behaviour in children with Autism who have limited communication. Her current research projects include the role of adults in facilitating joint attention skills in young children; and the evaluation of an autism specific program in a community childcare setting.

Dr. Brett qualified in medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London and completed his training in psychiatry in Perth, Western Australia. Dr. Brett went on to specialize in Forensic Psychiatry and was the inaugural Clinical Director of the Community Forensic Mental Health Service in Western Australia. It was here that he developed an ongoing interest in Autism, risk assessment, and management. Having worked as an expert witness for the courts, he has been involved in a number of cases with defendants who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Brett has a particular interest in structured professional judgment tools and their relevance in assessment of people with Autism. Currently Dr. Brett is Head of Community Mental Health Services in Perth and works on a sessional basis for the Autism Association of Western Australia.

Dr Trevor Clark is a special educator with a comprehensive experience and knowledge of educational programs and service provision for students with autism spectrum disorders as a result of over 25 years in the field in New Zealand, England and Australia. His experience at Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) comprises that of teacher, school principal & Director, Education & Research. He completed his doctorate in autism in 2001 at University of NSW, which involved a curriculum designed to make functional use of savant and splinter skills in children with autism. He is currently responsible for the Aspect schools and research programs.

Dr Andrew Whitehouse is a Senior Research Fellow at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. He recently returned to Western Australia following his doctoral studies at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom, where he was promoted to the Scott Family Junior Research Fellow for Studies in Autism (University College, Oxford). Dr. Whitehouse started out his career in training as a Speech Pathologist (Curtin University) before completing his PhD in Psychology at the University of Western Australia.

Dr. Whitehouse returned to Perth to take up his current position where he leads a team of 12 hard-working researchers, who investigate the genetic and neurodevelopmental causes of autism and specific language impairment; and conduct clinical intervention trials into these conditions. He is also currently the Director of the Western Australian Collaboration for Autism Research and Education (WACARE) and Head of the behavioural, cognition and mental health team within the Raine Study.

Tasha Alach completed a Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) in 1996 and completed her Masters of Learning and Co-ordination Disabilities at Sydney University in 2003.  Tasha has had extensive experience running educational programs and services for children with autism and their families. As an Executive Manager of Early Childhood Services at the Autism Association of Western Australia, Tasha is responsible for a comprehensive trans-disciplinary program providing intervention services to over 400 children with Autism each year including an early intervention service and an Autism Specific Early Learning Program providing day long care to children aged 0-6 years. Tasha has developed a number of publications for parents and professionals and regularly presents at workshops on Autism, early intervention and inclusion.

Merry Barua is an activist, a special educator, and a parent to Neeraj, her son with Autism. Merry started the Autism movement in India when lack of information and misconceptions about the condition abounded. She started the first specialist school, initiated a teacher training course, started the journal Autism Network, facilitated the start of services across South Asia, and brought about legislative changes that include autism. Merry writes, teaches, lobbies, trains, sensitizes, counsels, and advocates for the rights of persons with autism as equal citizens of the country.