Kate Smith (Chair)

Kate Smith is a clinical psychologist who has been working with people with disabilities and autism since 1983. She was senior psychologist and subsequently manager of state autism services (then Mildred Creak Centre) from about 1994 to 2005, and helped establish WAADF. She believes in bringing together families and all others committed to helping in this area.

Ritu Campbell (Vice Chair)

Ritu Campbell is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice, with a wide range of clinical experience and a specific interest in ASD. She has previously worked as a Senior Psychologist with Disability Services Commission. Ritu is a recognized specialist ASD assessor. She has been a long term member of WAADF, was the group’s initial Meeting Coordinator, and has been a board member and Vice Chair since its incorporation.

Jane Klinken (Treasurer)

Jane Klinken is a Psychologist currently working with Disability Services Commission. Jane has extensive experiences working with individuals with a wide range of developmental disabilities, across all age groups. She has also worked in school based settings as an Educational Psychologist. Jane is recognized as a specialist autism assessor and has been a long time member of WAADF. She is currently in her second year as a board member.

Wendy Marshall (Secretary)

Wendy Marshall is a Western Australian trained Speech Pathologist currently working in private practice.  She has been a senior member of multidisciplinary assessment and intervention teams in rural and metropolitan communities for both the Department of Health and Disability Services Commission.  She has a special interest in working with people with autism spectrum disorders, especially in the area of communication and social interaction.  As an experienced autism assessor, she is currently studying for her Master of Health Professional Education at UWA to help progress training for other health professionals in the area of autism spectrum disorders.

Bernadette Benson (Web Manager)

Bernadette Benson is a Registered Psychologist in her home province of Alberta, Canada and her adopted home, Western Australia. She received her M.Sc. in School and Community Psychology from the University of Calgary in 1998 and is currently a PhD candidate at UWA. Before moving to Australia in 2008, Bernadette worked in private practice, consulted to schools, and was actively involved in several pediatric research studies. In addition, she was the psychologist on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Clinic before moving to the Developmental Clinic at Alberta Children’s Hospital. Bernadette received specialist training in autism assessment at both the University of Toronto Autism Research Unit and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York).

Jeremy Marriott (Ordinary Member)

Jeremy Marriott has worked in various government and non-government roles in the disability sector of Perth, WA for over 19 years. Jeremy currently works as an autism diagnostician and therapist for Perth Psychological Services and as a sessional lecturer at Curtin University. Jeremy is in his second year of a Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) at Curtin University, WA. Most recently, Jeremy has been recognised by Curtin Univesity by winning both the 2012 Australian Postgraduate Award and Curtin University Postgraduate Scholarship.

Suzanne Midford (Ordinary Member)

Suzanne Midford is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice. She has extensive experience working with a wide range of clinical populations across the paediatric, adolescent and adult age groups. Suzanne is a recognized specialist ASD assessor. She has been a long term member of WAADF and a board member and Treasurer since the group’s incorporation.

Robyn Weinstein (Ordinary Member)

Robyn Weinstein is a Speech Pathologist with a wide range of experience working in both her native South Africa and in Western Australia. She has a particular interest in ASD and is a recognized ASD specialist assessor. Robyn has been a long time member of WAADF and is currently in her second term as a board member.

Andrew Whitehouse (Ordinary Member)

Professor Andrew Whitehouse has been working at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (TICHR) since 2009, having arrived back in Western Australia from the University of Oxford. At Oxford, he was the Scott Family Junior Research Fellow at University College. Andrew currently directs a team of 12 researchers who investigate the genetic and neurodevelopmental causes of developmental disorders and who conduct clinical intervention trials. The research has a particular focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders.