Yenn Purkis – Abridged disability advocacy CV
Selected articles and posts
- Article on employment featured on Disability Employment Australia website.
- Coauthored submission to the United Nations Rapporteur to Australia on violence against women – focussed on violence against Autistic women.
- Coauthored submission to the United Nations on autism and mental health and women and girls for Yellow Ladybugs.
- Guest blog post for 2016 She Leads conference.
- Foreword for Sexuality, Relationships and the Autism Spectrum by Dr Emma Goodall.
Selected presentations
2020
- Podcast for Reframing Autism https://www.reframingautism.com.au/amplified-episode-2-yenn-purkis/
- Presentation on gender diversity and autism for Aucademy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8JZoeD1_aU&t=93s
2019
- Presentation for Autism Explained online autism summit
- Joint presentation with Professor Trevor Clark on Autistic interests and giftedness
- Asia Pacific Autism Conference, Singapore
- Keynote presentation and workshop for Pearson Autism Forum
- Presentation for Autistic UK event, The Future is Gold
- Webcast for Disability Leadership institute Call it Out on online bullying
2018
- Keynote Presentation for Aspect Autism in Education Conference
- Webinar presentation for Autistic, LGBTQIA and Proud’ for the I CAN Network
- Presentation for ACT Law Society, ‘Disability – Equal Before the Law’
- Keynote presentation for Specialisterne at Westpac Bank HQ for World Autism Day
2017
- Presentation for PriceWaterhouse Coopers for International Day of People with Disability panel event
- Presentation for Aspie Round Up symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Keynote presentation at the Autism West conference (Perth, November)
- Keynote symposium presentation on mental health and autism at the Fifth Asia Pacific Autism Conference (Sydney)
- Keynote presentation at the Autism@Work employer conference (Sydney)
- Presentation on Autism and employment for the Australian Bureau off Statistics
- Presentation for Canberra Wise Women inclusion event
- Presented alongside Enabled Employment CEO Jessica May for the Australian Government Department of Education and Training for International Women’s Day
2016
- Seminar on women and girls on the autism spectrum for Griffith University
- Presentation on intersectionality – disability and gender – at the Australian National University Gender Institute
- Keynote speaker at Victorian Autism Conference
- Keynote speaker for Aspect 2016 Autism in Education Conference (Melbourne)
2015 and earlier
- Expert panel member at She Leads conference (Canberra)
- Presentation for Irabina Autism Services with Professor Temple Grandin and Tim Sharp (Melbourne)
- Invited speaker at Asia Pacific Autism Conference (Brisbane)
- Guest speaker for 2014 Autism Cooperative Research Centre Symposium (Melbourne)
- 2008 – Speaking tour of UK to promote Finding a Different Kind of Normal (United Kingdom)
Selected media engagements
- 2019 Featured on SBS News item on disability discrimination – https://www.sbs.com.au/news/not-acceptable-calls-for-disability-act-reform-after-report-reveals-discrimination-still-rife
- 2019 Featured in article on the ACT Disability Justice Strategy in the Canberra Times – https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6317908/government-releases-life-changing-disability-justice-access-plan/
- 2019 Featured in first episode of ABC podcast The Parenting Spectrum – https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/the-parenting-spectrum/diagnosis/10874714
- 2016 and 2017 – Appeared on WIN News Canberra in relation to autism advocacy
- 2017 Featured in article on disability and employment in The Canberra Times
- 2016 Featured in ABC Online articles – one about about the Yellow Ladybugs Canberra launch and the other about advocacy work
- 2016 Featured in ABC Radio National program All in the Mind
- 2006 and 2014 Interviewed on ABC Radio National Life Matters program
- 2010 – Featured in documentary, Alone in a Crowded Room (directed by Lucy Paplinska), aired on ABC 1 Compass program
- 2006 – Interview for BBC Radio Women’s Hour programme
Selected awards
2019
- 2019 Winner Achievement in Inclusion Award, ACT Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards
2017
- Finalist in the 2017 NSW/ACCT Regional Achievement and Community Awards
- Finalist in 2016 and 2017 ACT Institute of Managers and Leaders Leadership Excellence Award – Community Leader category
- Finalist in 2017 ACT Woman of the Year awards
2016
- Nominated for an ACT Australian of the Year award
- Awarded ACT Volunteer of the Year – Community and Health and ACT Volunteer of the Year (overall – Individual category)
- Finalist, 2015 Aspect National Recognition Awards, Inspiring Individual category
- Finalist, 2014 Lifeline ACT Women of Spirit awards (Canberra)
- 2013 Secretary’s Award, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, for leadership and promoting inclusion for staff with disability
Other activities
- 2007-2020 Policy Adviser, Australian Public Service
- Member ACT Disability Justice Strategy Reference Group
- Presented at launch events for The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion at The Wheeler Centre (Melbourne) and Harry hartog Bookshop (Canberra)
- Ambassador for Reframing Autism
- Member of Community Council for Autistic Adults and other Stakeholders Engaged Together, funded through University of Augusta in the USA
- Facilitator Jeanette Purkis Women’s Group – support group for women and girls with Asperger Syndrome and their mothers
- Ambassador for: Yellow Ladybugs, Specialisterne, The Autism Cooperative Research Centre and Asperger’s Victoria
- Launched Wayne Herbert’s book Anecdotes of a Disabled Gay
