About Us
Our board of directors at the NRAA is made up of a diverse group of people, including those who are autistic, parents of autistic children, and professionals with expertise in business, research, and finance. Everyone on the board is dedicated to following the values and goals of the NRAA.
We believe in working together to make a positive impact on the lives of autistic people and their families in our community.
Mr. Micheal Lynch (Founder & Chair)
Micheal is a proud Autistic and First Nations (Gadigal) man from the Eora Nation, shaped by a lifetime in the Northern Rivers Region. His work is driven by a deep passion for creating stronger, more inclusive communities. He actively collaborates with local Chambers of Commerce, Disability Employment Services, Health Care organisations, and Educational Institutions to open new pathways for autistic people in education and employment.
In his role as Chair, Micheal leads with purpose and cultural strength. He oversees governance, supports strategic planning, and represents the charity in advocacy and community engagement. His leadership focuses on building trust, fostering positive relationships, and ensuring the organisation continues to grow in alignment with its mission.
Alongside his community work, Micheal is studying a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at the University of Southern Queensland. He hopes to continue into a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and contribute to the field as a future Clinical Psychologist.
Dr. Jessica Bayes (Deputy Chair & Research Officer)
Jessica is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Southern Cross University (SCU) and completed her PhD (Public Health) in the field of nutritional psychiatry (the effect that foods, dietary patterns, and nutrients have on mental health).
She is an autistic researcher exploring the health and well-being of autistic adults with the aim of improving both physical and mental health outcomes. As the (NRAA) Deputy Chair, she provides leadership, oversees governance, and contributes to strategic planning to ensure the (NRAA) aligns with its mission.
Jessica is also the (NRAA) Research Officer, she runs regular Community Forums, where she collects feedback directly from our community, regarding community priorities, needs and concerns. She creates our evidence-based educational resources to keep our community up to date with the latest research developments and runs classes and workshops for our region on a range of topics. She is also the content creator for our monthly e-newsletters.
Mrs. Shelley Oldham (Board Secretary & Acting Treasurer)
Shelley has been a senior Government and Corporate
leader, providing advice to Governments globally for 30 plus
years. The dedication, long hours, and hurly-burly of corporate life brought her to a new point. A point where she was forced to live inwardly, to heal from extreme bullying and to understand her own journey. Dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has become a life mission, one of enquiry, loss, opportunity and learning. Some of the roles Shelley has performed include Chief Knowledge Director, KPMG; CEO of an International Olympic Committee company working on Athens, Turin and Beijing Olympic Games; Senior Vice President of Government solutions for the French headquartered advisory firm, Capgemini and General Manager of Lismore City Council. Shelley established the NRAA with Micheal Lynch, fulfilling the ACNC requirements.
Shelley is a member of the World Forum for Mental Health,
workplace committee of the United Nations. Mrs Oldham holds a Bachelor of Teaching TAFE, a Master of Business Administration in International Management and a Masters of Mental Health.