Yenn Purkis is an Autistic and ADHD, non-binary, Asexual advocate and author. They also have a diagnosis of atypical schizophrenia and anxiety. Yenn has been a disability advocate since 2005 when their first book, the autobiography Finding a Different kind of Normal, was accepted for publication. Yenn worked in the Australian Public Service for over 17 years. They were the Deputy CEO External Relations at the Disability leadership Institute in 2025 and left that role to take up PhD study at the University of Wollongong where they received a full scholarship.

Yenn has had a life filled with challenges and overcoming adversity. Between 1994 and 2000 they were involved in drugs and crime. In 2001 as a long-term unemployed, recent ex-prisoner and someone who was living in crisis accommodation they decided they wanted to be ‘ordinary’ – meaning to have a mortgage, a suit, an education and a professional job. Eight years later they had all those things – a Masters degree, a permanent job in the Australian Public Service and an apartment in Canberra! Yenn was described by one of their mental health workers as ‘an anomaly’ – and describes themselves as ‘unlikely’. Yenn is a living testament to the power of motivation, determination and the value of services being supportive and not judging or assuming incompetence. 

Yenn is passionate about promoting acceptance, understanding and respect for neurodivergent folks and Queer folks. Advocacy is their passion and what drives their work.

Yenn is a prolific author, having written or co-authored 18 published books. Yenn also has a blog site and contributes to this regularly.  Some of Yenn’s books are bestsellers, including The Guide to Good Mental Health on the Autism Spectrum, The Autism and Neurodiversity Self-Advocacy Handbook and The Awesome Autistic Go to Guide. Yenn writes for many audiences and age groups including adults, kids, tweens and teens and is delighted to know that some of their fans are autistic kids!

Yenn has been giving presentations on a large range of topics for over 20 years. They love taking to the stage and have spoken for TEDx Canberra twice – once in 2013 and once in 2023. Yenn has given presentations all over the world. Yenn can speak to audiences of any size and has facilitated a number of workshops and given presentations, panel talks and even took part in a great debate on disability employment once!

Yenn has a large social media following across several platforms. Yenn has a number of media appearances including as one of four autistic adults featured in the ABC TV documentary Alone in a Crowded Room, on ABC, BBC and Radio New Zealand radio programs, SBS television, WIN Television and online platforms such as ABC online, the Guardian and News.com

Yenn has received accolades for their work over the years, including the 2016 ACT Volunteer of the Year, receiving the 2019 ACT Chief Minister’s Inclusion Award, being a finalist in the 2017 ACT Woman of the Year as well as the NSW and ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards in 2017 and 2019, a finalist in the Institute of Managers and Leaders Excellence in Leadership award in 2016 and 2017 and being nominated for Australian of the Year in 2017.

In their personal life, Yenn lives in an apartment in Canberra – known to its friends as Yennski HQ. They like ‘nice things’, especially style, fashion, art and shiny things. They are a very out loud and proud Autistic and Queer person and love being part of the Queer community and the autistic and broader neurodivergent community too. Yenn has a Master’s degree in fine art from RMIT University. Yenn is also a massive fan of cats and lives with their little furry feline friend, Sunflower.

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