Abstract

Coming Soon

Biography

Bob Buckley is an experienced Australian autism advocate, known for his contributions to the autism community through leadership, policy development, systemic and individual advocacy. With support from his partner and as Co-convenor of Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4) since 2003, he spearheads national efforts to represent and support individuals across the whole autistic spectrum and their families.

Bob's advocacy began in 1997, inspired by his personal experiences as a father to a severely autistic son (who still lives at home). His commitment to improving autistic lives led him to serve as the ACT representative and Director of the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders. He also held the position of vice-president of Autism Asperger ACT Inc. and longtime Chair of Speaking Out for Autism Spectrum Disorder in the ACT. He wrote an Annex on advocating for your child in the Australian Autism Handbook.

In 2014, Bob was recognized as a state finalist for ACT Senior Australian of the Year, highlighting his significant impact on the autism community.

Professionally, Bob worked in and taught computing/ICT, computer science, and software engineering. He enjoyed a full and diverse career that included consulting, algorithm design, computer systems engineering, a data analyst (in many fields), academic curriculum design, automation, bioinformatics and was an owner and the technical director of INFuse Pty Ltd, a top ten consultancy for the Defence Department in the 1990s. He also consulted in industrial relations, workforce planning, intellectual capital, and change management. He retired early in 2021 from John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian National University from his position as a Computational Genomic Specialist.

Bob is also a semi-professional musician, playing bass, fiddle, guitar, flute & whistle, vocals, etc. … most recently playing and calling bush dances with Paverty Bush Band, Canberra’s oldest bush band, and other groups in the region.

Bob's own neurodivergence enhanced his diverse life experience.

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Duration: 1hr 15 min

ABAA PDUs: 1.5