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Our team

Our team of world-class researchers and exceptional clinicians work in collaboration to provide children access to the very best evidence-based interventions.

Our exceptional team of researchers work in collaboration with our clinicians to give the community access to the best evidence-based therapies in the world.

The CliniKids clinical team has a wealth of experience in working with children in the early years – particularly autistic children. This team is made up of qualified allied health professionals including Speech Pathologists, Clinical Psychologists and Occupational Therapists.

Our clinical team is supported by a Clinical Services Manager, Operations Manager and a Client Support Team to help families navigate funding pathways and provide information to assist them while using our service.

The clinical team works alongside internationally-renowned researchers at CliniKids to collaborate on research projects and translate supports into clinical practice.

The CliniKids clinical team recently won the Excellence in Allied Health category at the 2023 National Disability Awards, an initiative of the National Disability Services.

Leadership

CliniKids Director

Professor Andrew Whitehouse

Professor Andrew Whitehouse

CliniKids Director

Andrew Whitehouse is the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research and the Director of CliniKids at The Kids Research Institute Australia. He is also the Research Strategy Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) and the past president of the Australasian Society for Autism Research. Prior to coming to The Kids Research Institute Australia, Andrew was a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. 

At The Kids, he leads a network of clinical centres (called CliniKids) for children with neurodevelopmental differences that embeds clinical trials within everyday community practice. Andrew has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles and attracted over $80 million in competitive research grants. He currently presents an internationally syndicated video series called “60 Second Science”, which has had over 2 million views. He is an advisor to State and Commonwealth Governments on policies relating to autistic children. He chaired the committee that generated Australia’s first national guideline for autism diagnosis, and co-chaired the committee that developed Australia’s first national guideline for early therapies and supports for autistic children.

Andrew has published one edited book with his twin-brother (Ben), and a popular science book that examined the science behind some of the myths of pregnancy and child development (Will Mozart Make My Baby Smart?). He has also been awarded a Eureka Prize for his research, and is the youngest person ever elected to Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. In 2023, he was a Western Australian of the Year award winner and in 2024, he was inducted as a Fellow to the International Society for Autism Research.  

Read more about Andrew Whitehouse
Guiding force

Leadership Team

Gemma Upson

BSc MClinAud MBA

General Manager, CliniKids & Inklings

Theresa Pastor

BA Speech and Hearing Therapy (Hons)

Clinical Services Manager

Sarah Pillar

BSpchPath(Hons)

Manager, Research Development; PhD Candidate

Leah Meehan

Leah Meehan

Operations Manager

Carla Hall

Carla Hall

Administration and Events Manager

Rebecca Langford

Rebecca Langford

Senior Manager, Inklings

Pip Comiskey

Pip Comiskey

Operations Manager

Aarti Saiganesh

BSc (Hons), PhD

Research Program Manager

Amanda Lewis

Amanda Lewis

Communications Specialist

Lauren McLellan

Lauren McLellan

Operations Manager, Inklings

Kate Bingemann

Kate Bingemann

Business Development Manager

Our specialists

Clinical Team

Clinical Lead, Occupational Therapy

Clinical Lead, Speech Pathology

Clinical Lead, Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychologist

Senior Speech Pathologist

Senior Speech Pathologist

Inklings Practitioner

Therapy Assistant and JASPER Practitioner

Speech Pathologist

Speech Pathologist

Speech Pathologist

Occupational Therapist

Registrar Clinical Psychologist

Knowledge leaders

Research Team

Senior Research Fellow

David Trembath

BaAppSc, MAppSc, PhD

Honorary Research Fellow

Dr Kandice Varcin

M.Psych (Clinical), PhD

Honorary Research Associate

Jess Reynolds

Jess Reynolds

Project Manager

Amy Deverell

Amy Deverell

Development Specialist

Justina Sparks

Justina Sparks

Project Manager

Felicity Rose

Felicity Rose

Project Manager

Debbie Eamer

Debbie Eamer

Project Officer

Alena Clark

Alena Clark

Project Manager

Michelle Renton

Michelle Renton

Senior Research Therapist

Lindy Henry

Lindy Henry

Senior Clinical Research Therapist

Georgina Earl

Georgina Earl

Clinical Research Assessor

Claire Perrozzi

Claire Perrozzi

Clinical Research Assessor

Kathi Roiger

Kathi Roiger

Clinical Research Assessor

Noor Chehayber

Noor Chehayber

Project Administration Officer

Rebecca Kuzminski

Rebecca Kuzminski

Project Coordinator

Fleur van Dooren

Fleur van Dooren

Project Coordinator

Jenny Palmer

Jenny Palmer

Operations Coordinator, Inklings

Laura Bloxham

Laura Bloxham

Project Coordinator, Inklings

Amelia Barnard

Amelia Barnard

Management Accountant

Margot Abrahams

Margot Abrahams

Administration Officer, Inklings

Bella Scaturro

Bella Scaturro

Communications Specialist, Inklings

Behind the scenes

Professional Services

Emma Moon

Emma Moon

Administration and Events Coordinator

Nicki Williams

Nicki Williams

Client Support Officer

Amy Eaton

Amy Eaton

Client Support Officer

Celine Bollinger

Celine Bollinger

Senior Administration Officer

Christina Then

Christina Then

Client Support Officer

Danae Day

Danae Day

Client Support Officer

Vera Beese

Vera Beese

Clients Support Officer