Speakers

Meet the Panelists at Now That’s What I Call Autism 2025 🎤♾️

Our panel discussions bring together autistic voices, advocates, and professionals to share their lived experiences, insights, and expertise. Covering topics such as identity, special interests, and thriving as an autistic person, these conversations aim to educate, empower, and inspire.

Here, you’ll find details about our panelists, their backgrounds, and the topics they’ll be discussing.

Time Topic Panellists Recording

11:30 – 12:15
Panel 1: Intersectionality: The Overlapping Identities of Autistic People

Nellie Allsop
Laura Edwards
Sam Moanella
Orillia Vail
Watch Panel
12:45 – 13:30
Panel 2: The Power of Special Interests: Passion as a Strength

Madeline Quinne​
Julia Webb
Sam Moanella
Watch Panel
14:00 – 14:45
Panel 3: Thriving as an Autistic Person: Strengths and Realities

Madeline Quinne​
Hazel Cubbage
Orillia Vail
Watch Panel

Nellie Allsop

Nellie is a self employed trainer and consultant with a background of working for one of the UK’s leading autism charities. A former high achiever in the education system, they went on to experience a mental health crisis as so many autistic people (and particularly those assigned female at birth) unfortunately do. Now, they work to improve things for autistic people, including those with learning disabilities such as their younger brother (for whom they are also a part time carer to, but a sibling to first and foremost). In their spare time, you can find Nellie crocheting, watching Smosh on YouTube and having video calls with their brother’s guinea pigs.

Laura Edwards

Laura is a late-diagnosed autistic person, with the emphasis on person.  Right up until diagnosis, Laura was a qualified teacher educating the teenagers of Norfolk about the fascinating subject of science (the teenagers were less enthralled).  Following on from their Wonderfilled Rebirth in their early-30s, Laura was surprised that more was not known about autism in the professional fields, so set about attempting to educate the adults of Norfolk what it is like to exist as an autistic human in a neurotypical world.  

Laura is currently self-employed in what could be considered an amalgamation of side hustles, from dedicated practices of autism advocacy to self-publishing creations of instructional design.  If you get the late-night munchies, you may also find Laura on your doorstep doing the delivery rounds for our fine city.  

Madeline Quinne

Diagnosed with Autism at 20 years old, Madeline Quinne spent her whole life feeling like an alien in a human’s body. Using stand up comedy as a tool, she hopes to spread awareness and light on living with autism as a woman and the effects of being a late diagnosed autistic!

Julia Webb

Julia Webb is a neurodiverse (AuDHD) writer and collage artist from a working-class background. She has three poetry collections with Nine Arches Press, with her fourth, Grey Time, releasing in July 2025.

Julia was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD in her fifties. She grew up in Thetford, left school at sixteen, and later earned a first-class honours degree and a poetry MA. She now runs poetry courses, mentors writers, and is a steering editor for Lighthouse Journal.

Hazel Cubbage

Hazel is a late-diagnosed AuDHD woman. She has had a successful career as an executive leader of a Norwich-based multi-academy trust, and is a qualified consultant and coach. Hazel is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and a member of the Association for Coaching where she participates in a special interest group for neurodivergent coaching. She has three degrees, with the most recent one being her MBA studied locally, at the University of East Anglia. Hazel has lived in Norwich for the last decade, and is the parent of an ADHD daughter.

Sam Moanella

Sam Moanella is a 26 year old drag artist living in Norwich. They have a passion for absurdity and performance , often using their work to process the world around them in its own unique way. Taking inspiration from both special interests and thier own life journey Sam has a talent for making people laugh, making people emotional all whilst making them think a little deeper about the world around them.

Orillia Vail

Orillia Vail is a care worker for elderly people who have varying degrees of Dementia. Orillia grew up in Hackney, where she was diagnosed with autism and dyslexia in primary school.

She moved to Norfolk six years ago and now lives in Norwich with her family. She is fascinated by the similarities between conditions like her own autism, or ADHD, and dementia Orillia enjoys volunteering on her day off at Bicycle Links, a social enterprise which repairs bicycles for those who need them.

She is a keen knitter, a member of Norwich Speakers’ Club and is often found walking on the local marshes with her dog Gonney.

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