Jon Spiers

Jon is Chief Executive of the Royal Free Charity. Previously, he was Chief Executive of Autistica, the UK’s national autism research charity. Under his leadership, Autistica vastly expanded its research programme focused entirely on the priorities of the autism community. Jon’s policy work around early mortality in autism and community priorities has given the charity an international platform. His signature issues are ending preventable deaths and reducing mental health burdens in autism, as well as raising autism research up in the agendas of policymakers, funders, pharma and service providers. Jon was Rising CEO of the Year 2017 in the Third Sector Awards, INSAR Global Autism Advocate 2018 and Charity Director of the Year 2019 at the Institute of Directors Awards.