Kathrine Peereboom: Celebrated as the world’s most innovative woman of the year
- Written by Tess Sanders Lazarus
The vision and the heart behind Spectrum Support, Kathrine Peereboom, has been recognised for her entrepreneurial work, receiving four Stevie Awards for Women in Business; Gold Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Asia, Australia or New Zealand, World Female Innovator of the Year (Government or Non-Profit), and World Most Innovative Woman of the Year (Government or Non-Profit), as well as the Silver Stevie Award for World Woman of the Year (Government or Non-Profit).
Kathrine Peereboom is the mother of three autistic boys and founder of Spectrum Support. She works with government, corporates, entrepreneurs and schools to positively bring an understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) into the life of every Australian and to support those that are directly touched by it.
For 17 years, the Stevie Awards has been one of the primary metrics used by many entrepreneurial professionals and companies to generate public recognition for their achievements and positive contributions to the world. The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honour women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run – worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world’s premier business awards.
Spectrum Support is an Australian charity dedicated to those living with or caring for a loved one with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since opening the doors in 2017, the organisation has evolved substantially as a community-based charity for all ages.
As the founder and CEO of Spectrum Support, Peereboom has been recognised as a leader in the not-for-profit space. Her Gold Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Asia, Australia or New Zealand, Female Innovator of the Year (Government or Non-Profit), and Most Innovative Woman of the Year (Government or Non-Profit), as well as the Silver Stevie Award for Woman of the Year (Government or Non-Profit), are a credit to her innovations she has developed, particularly those over the last 24 months.
“I founded Spectrum Support because there was, and still is, a serious and great need in the community for more awareness and understanding,” Peereboom said.
“With three non-verbal autistic boys, my husband and I have experienced years of heartbreak and frustration, just trying to help our children.
“We, along with many other families living with autism, face challenges ensuring that service providers including front line workers such as law enforcement, are equipped to understand and properly respond to the needs of those with autism.
“I knew I couldn’t sit by and not make a difference. With statistics now showing 1 in 70 Australians are being diagnosed with autism, awareness and support is needed more than ever. Spectrum Support is changing lives, providing much needed training to law enforcement, giving people a voice, and providing what has been missing in the ASD community for so long.
“Spectrum Support was created to empower the Autism community though positive works based on its’ four main pillars – safety, health, education and inclusion. We have multiple projects currently under delivery to the ASD community and general Australian public. Our aim is to provide life-changing work and to become a primary resource in Australia and overseas.”
This year, Spectrum Support was acknowledged for its innovative work by NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, winning the Commissioner’s award for law enforcement autism training. Spectrum Support has now partnered with NSW Police to roll out law enforcement autism training to all of the organisation’s frontline officers.
“Another highlight is our work with the soon to be globally-recognised emergency response symbol for autism, the ASD Talisman, under Project Eleos. This will see the production and distribution of the ASD Talisman jewellery to all those diagnosed with autism,” Peereboom added.
“Spectrum Support may be an Australian Charity but we have a global outlook for the future. Our ASD Talisman project, Project Eleos, is now in its second year of progress and growth. Developed with some of the most experienced and respected names in the world of ASD management, Project Eleos is a safety initiative like no other. With the roll out of the ASD Talisman, we aim for the ASD Talisman to be the instantly recognised symbol for autism throughout the globe.
“Being awarded the Gold Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Asia, Australia or New Zealand, Female Innovator of the Year, and Most Innovative Woman of the Year, as well as the Silver Stevie Award for Woman of the Year, is an honour and I am really pleased that our work at Spectrum Support has been recognised in this field.”
Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organisations in more than 70 nations. Honouring organisations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevie’s recognise outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.
