You are invited to the Yellow Ladybugs 2025 conference, supporting autistic girls and gender diverse students at school and beyond. This conference is a heartfelt initiative by an autistic-led charity, driven by the passion to uplift and empower autistic girls and gender-diverse students—our ladybugs. We are proud to bring together over 50 diverse perspectives from around the world, blending lived and professional expertise in a way that is trauma-informed, neuro-affirming, and deeply rooted in understanding.
Join us for three transformative days in an immersive online experience, designed to feel like a live event, with interactive spaces including a virtual stage, sensory room, and resource booth. For those who prefer an in-person connection, the hybrid ticket offers the option to join us in Melbourne for Day 3. Whether you’re a parent, educator, allied health professional, or a ladybug yourself, this conference offers the tools, insights, and support to make a real difference. This isn’t just a conference—it’s an accessible, affordable, and life-changing experience that dives deeply into the unique and often-overlooked hidden needs of our community.
Katie (she/her) is our conference host and the passionate creator and CEO of Yellow Ladybugs – an autistic led charity dedicated to supporting autistic girls, women, and gender diverse individuals. Being part of a neurodivergent family, and accessing a range of mental health services, Katie will share both her lived experience and represent the wider community, in order to deliver much needed change in this space.
Katie has presented at many conferences, been nominated for Australian of the Year for her advocacy and worked hard to create systemic change with the state and federal government to better support neurodivergent individuals. Her career has been a windy road of discovery, like many fellow ADHDers can relate to, including professional roles as accountant and tax advisor, marketing and events manager, HR and recruitment advisor and even a university teacher!
But her favourite role has been working alongside her neurodivergent team and helping YLB grow to make as big of an impact in the community and for her community as possible. She is also passionately obsessed with cat and kittens, anything that sparkles and Golden Girls.
Em (she/her) is an Autistic and ADHDer speech pathologist, and Mum to three neurodivergent kiddos. She is also an artist and illustrator and shares much loved content over at the highly successful Instagram and Facebook accounts @NeuroWild.
Em loves creating educational illustration sets that explain various topics relating to neurodiversity and shining a brighter light onto all things Autism.
Sandhya Menon (she/her) is an AuDHD Developmental Psychologist and Author of beloved books The Brain Forest, The Rainbow Brain and her new upcoming book, My Body's Power Pack. She helps guide children and families into early positive self-identity and a deep appreciation of their neurotype through assessment and educational services. Hailing from Singapore from a multi-cultural family, she reflects deeply on intersectional issues, insists on nuance and embraces the diverse aspects that form self-identity. Sandhya balances passion for social justice issues with deep rest, and enjoys reading in solitude, whale watching and happy stimming at the small things in life.
Dr Alberto (he/him) is a specialist Child and Family Psychiatrist and General Paediatrician. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and the Royal Australian College of Physicians.
He is passionate about Child and Family Mental Health with a particular focus on understanding and assisting the emotional development of children and adolescents.
He has specialist training in the assessment of mental health disorder including Mood disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Psychosis, Substance Abuse Disorders, PTSD, Eating Disorders, ADHD and also supports many neurodivergent and autistic clients and their families.
Dr Alberto is passionate about using connection-based strategies, driven by the attitude of Playfulness Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy to support and promote good mental health.
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Kelly Mahler (she/her) is an Occupational Therapist, Educator, Research Enthusiast, Trying-her-Best Mom and Interoception Groupie! She teaches professionals, caregivers, and self-helpers how to use evidence-based supports that facilitate discovery and validation of each person’s unique interoception experience, which in turn empowers people with self-understanding, self-regulation, health, well-being, andsocial connection.
Kelly Mahler OTD, OTR/L, earned a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. She has been an occupational therapist for 20 years, serving school-aged children and adults. Kelly is winner of multiple awards, including the 2020 American Occupational Therapy Association Emerging and Innovative Practice Award & a Mom’s Choice Gold Medal. She is an adjunct faculty member at Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA as well as at Misericordia University, Dallas, PA.Kelly is a co-principal investigator in several research projects pertaining to topics such as interoception, self-regulation, trauma & autism.
Khadija Gbla (she/they) is a multi hyphenate high profile, passionate and inspiring African Australian woman. She is a single mum, carer, black, non-binary, queer, neurodivergent and disable award-winning human rights activist, model, inspirational speaker, writer and mentor. She has displayed great courage and determination in achieving her aspirations of giving women, youth and minority groups a voice at a local, state and international level.
Khadija utilises her powerful and inspired voice to advocate for structural change and everyday simple everyday actions we can all take to achieve true equality and inclusion for all people.
Khadija provides advocacy, training, coaching, mentoring speaking on domestic and family violence, sexual health, racism, FGM, human rights, gender equality, intersectionality, inclusion and diversity, bias, mental health, disability, ndis, migrants and refugees and cultural diversity and so much more through her cultural consultancy, khadija Gbla Cultural Consultancy.
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