Autism Across Life Pathways 2026

Join leading international researchers, educators, clinicians, policymakers, and industry leaders at the Autism Across Life Pathways 2026, a two-day seminar exploring how evidence-based practice, cross-sector collaboration and inclusive innovation can create meaningful opportunities for autistic individuals throughout their lives.

Hosted by Curtin Singapore in partnership with researchers and practitioners from MINDS, the Autism Resource Centre Singapore, the Curtin Autism Research Group and Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance (Western Australia), and the Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), this forum will showcase the latest research, practical initiatives and collaborative approaches that support autistic individuals across education, employment and community participation.

Program overview

Date: 23 and 24 November 2026

Time: 9:00am – 5:30pm

Venue: Curtin Singapore campus, 10 Science Park Road Singapore 117684

Program details will be announced soon. Lunch and refreshments will be provided for all participants during the scheduled breaks.

Day one
Day two

Day one

The program features keynote presentations from internationally recognised experts and thought leaders from Singapore, Australia and Europe. Sessions will explore evidence-based interventions, inclusive education, social participation, workplace inclusion, mentorship, and lifelong pathways for autistic individuals. Interactive panels, breakout discussions and case studies will showcase successful initiatives from schools, universities, employers and community organisations, while providing opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange.

Day two

A professional development workshop on KONTAKT, a globally recognised evidence-based social communication program for autistic young people, will provide participants with practical strategies and implementation guidance. Facilitated by experts from the Curtin Autism Research Group, the workshop is designed for educators, community practitioners and clinicians seeking to enhance support for autistic individuals across educational, community and clinical settings.

Whether you are a researcher, educator, allied health professional, policymaker, employer, student or advocate, Autism Across Life Pathways 2026 offers valuable opportunities to learn from international expertise, build new partnerships and contribute to shaping more inclusive communities across Asia.

Together, we can advance research into practice, strengthen collaboration across sectors and create lifelong pathways that empower autistic individuals to participate, belong and succeed.

Who should attend?

Researchers and academics
Teachers, school leaders and education professionals
Allied health and healthcare professionals
Government agencies and policymakers
Disability and community organisations
Employers and industry leaders
University staff and students
Parents, carers and autism advocates

Ticket information

Join us at Curtin Singapore as we work together to build a future where autistic individuals are supported to realise their strengths and achieve their full potential across every stage of life.

General admission S$500
This ticket entitles access to the two-day seminar.
Apply code [EARLYBIRD2DAY] to receive 10% early bird discount before 15 August 2026.

One day admission S$320
This ticket entitles access to the seminar on either day one or day two.

Group admission S$2,000
This package entitles five individual access to the two-day seminar.

Speakers

Professor Alex Stojcevski

Professor Alex Stojcevski is Pro Vice-Chancellor & President of Curtin Singapore and an experienced academic leader who has held senior positions across Australia, Asia and Europe, including at Swinburne University of Technology, RMIT Vietnam and Deakin University. He has also held academic appointments at Aalborg University, Denmark, and Sanjay Ghodawat University, India, and is an invited Fellow of Engineers Australia.

Professor Stojcevski holds qualifications in Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Educational Leadership and Project-Based Learning. Internationally recognised for his contributions to renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability and STEM education, he is ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in Energy and Electrical & Electronic Engineering. He has published over 450 scholarly works and supervised more than 30 PhD completions.

Professor Stojcevski is a passionate advocate for strength-based learning pathways for neurodiverse students. He is committed to creating educational opportunities that build on students’ unique strengths and interests, enabling them to access higher education, achieve formal qualifications, and realise their full potential. Through this approach, he seeks to empower neurodiverse individuals to become confident, valued, and meaningful contributors to society.

Professor Sven Bölte

Sven Bölte, Ph.D., is professor of child and adolescent psychiatric science at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet (KI), and senior clinical psychologist at the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, Sweden. He is director of the KI Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (“KIND”) and editor in chief of the Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychiatry. He is among other things founder of the Scientific Society Autism Spectrum (www.wgas.org) and international ADOS and ADI-R trainer.

Professor Bölte has been working in clinical research, education and practice for more than 30 years. For his achievements, he has received several recognitions, such as the ”Life Watch Nordiska Priset”, ”Årets Ljus” (Society Attention), Psynk award GNET” (Sweden’s Municipalities & Regions), Autism CRC (Australia) Achievement in Autism Research and ”Fellow of the International Society for Autism Research” (INSAR). Professor Bölte has published more than 500 original articles, reviews, book chapters, assessment and intervention tools in the field of autism spectrum, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental conditions, and has been cited more than 46,000 times (H-index 105).

Professor Sonya Girdler

Professor Sonya Girdler is a Professor of Occupational Therapy (Research) at Curtin University and Director of the Curtin Autism Research Group (CARG), one of Australia’s leading autism research centres. She is internationally recognised for her strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming research focused on improving participation, inclusion, wellbeing and life opportunities for autistic children, young people and adults. Over her career, she has secured more than AUD$16 million in research funding, published more than 170 peer-reviewed papers, supervised 18 PhD completions, and has been recognised among the top 0.5% of scholars worldwide by ScholarGPS.

A particular focus of Professor Girdler’s work is translating evidence-based interventions into real-world educational settings. She led the Australian adaptation and evaluation of KONTAKT™, an internationally recognised social skills group program originally developed in Germany and Sweden by Professor Sven Bölte, and subsequently spearheaded the development of SCHOOL KONTAKT™, a scalable, school-based program delivered in partnership with the Western Australian Department of Education. SCHOOL KONTAKT™ is now being implemented across Western Australian public schools, supporting autistic students’ social participation, wellbeing, belonging and inclusion through practical, evidence-based approaches that can be embedded into everyday school life.

Professor Girdler has a longstanding and highly productive collaboration with Professor Sven Bölte, Director of the Centre of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND) at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Together, they have collaborated on major international research initiatives focused on autism, functioning, participation, employment, mental health, transition to adulthood and the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning (ICF) Core Sets for autism and ADHD. Their partnership has also underpinned the international development and translation of KONTAKT™, creating a strong bridge between Scandinavian and Australian innovations in neurodiversity research and practice.

As an advocate for collaboration between researchers, educators, families and autistic people, Professor Girdler is committed to ensuring that research leads to meaningful improvements in schools and communities. Her work is guided by the belief that every autistic young person should have opportunities to participate, belong and thrive.

At this conference, Professor Girdler will share insights from the implementation of SCHOOL KONTAKT™ and other school-based initiatives in Australia, highlighting practical, strengths-based strategies that educators can use to foster inclusion, participation and wellbeing for autistic students.

Professor Tele Tan

Professor Tele Tan AM is a John Curtin Distinguished Professor in Artificial Intelligence and Mechatronics at Curtin University, Australia, and the Founder and Director of the Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance (AASQA). He is internationally recognised for his work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, computer vision, and inclusive technology, with a particular focus on improving education, employment, and healthcare outcomes for autistic and neurodivergent individuals.

Professor Tan has led numerous nationally significant initiatives that combine cutting-edge AI with community impact. Through AASQA, he has pioneered strengths-based education and employment pathways that have supported hundreds of autistic young people to develop digital skills, gain industry-recognised qualifications, and transition into meaningful employment. His recent work includes the development of inclusive Generative AI Bootcamps that empower neurodivergent students to become confident users and creators of AI technologies.

A Member of the Order of Australia (AM), Professor Tan has received numerous national and international awards recognising his contributions to engineering, education, and community engagement. He actively collaborates with universities, healthcare providers, industry, and government agencies across Australia and Asia to translate AI research into practical solutions. His vision is to create inclusive innovation ecosystems where emerging technologies enable every individual to realise their full potential.

Mirdyawati Binte Mohter

Mirdyawati is a Special Education teacher who has been teaching in MINDS schools, special education schools for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities (ASD-ID), for 9 years.

As the covering Head of Department for Physical Education (PE) and Co-Curricular Activities (CCA), she has been instrumental in educating students with moderate-to-severe ASD-ID in PE and Sports. One of the writers involved in the MINDS PE Curriculum, she has also recently co-presented on teaching Games Concepts to students with special needs at the ASEAN Council of Physical Education and Sports (ACPES) International Conference in 2025.

Gwendoline Wendy Koh

Wendy has been in education as a teacher, a Head of Department, and a Vice Principal in the Ministry of Education and Special Education schools for 41 years. She has been instrumental in designing the curriculum for Physical Education in mainstream schools and for special education schools.

Her research in using a mediated learning experience in teaching Games Concepts to students with special needs has made an impact on teaching games and sports in special education. She was the lead presenter at the 2025 ASEAN Council of Physical Education and Sports (ACPES) International Conference in the Philippines. She has also been the co-principal investigator for research done on Physical Fitness Testing for students with moderate to severe ASD-ID. A practitioner at heart and an author, she has practised strategies for and written chapters on infusing affective learning in PE and continuing professional development for PE teachers.

Dr Bahareh Afsharnejad

Dr Bahareh Afsharnejad is a neurodivergent psychology lecturer and researcher at Curtin University. Since 2020, she has collaborated with the Education Department to develop evidence based, strength based, and neuroaffirming programs that support autistic children and young people through co production, inclusion, and empowerment. She has received multiple national and international awards for diversity and inclusion in education and is a committed neurodiversity advocate.

Dr Afsharnejad leads a Neurodiversity Community of Practice with over 70 university staff across Western Australia and the eastern states, promoting university staffs’ knowledge of neurodiversity and how they can support their neurodivergent students.

Dr Carolyn Koh

Dr Carolyn Koh is Director of External Engagement and Senior Lecturer at Curtin Singapore. She holds a Doctorate in Management from the University of Wollongong, Australia, and specialises in ethics, responsible leadership, corporate governance, and sustainable development. Her teaching spans these areas and includes units such as Responsible Management in Asia, Business and Sustainable Development, and Culture and Ethics in Global Business.

An active researcher, Dr Koh’s work explores responsible leadership, employee engagement, the influence of culture and context on leadership practices, responsible AI, sustainable development, and the management of grand societal challenges. Before entering academia, she spent over 30 years in the design industry as an interior and landscape designer and later as a management consultant.

Dr Koh is also a passionate advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion. Her interest in supporting autistic youth began more than two decades ago when she taught mathematics to neurodiverse learners. She believes that every young person on the autism spectrum has unique strengths and the potential to make meaningful contributions to society when provided with the right opportunities and support. Working closely with the Curtin Autism Research Group and the Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance, she has championed initiatives that create pathways for neurodiverse youth in Singapore to develop their talents, enhance their wellbeing, and pursue meaningful educational and employment opportunities.