Meet the Team

Dr Elizabeth Guest

Director and Cognitive Diversity Specialist

Throughout my life, I’ve been told that what I want to achieve is impossible. Many of those people have then been astounded when I achieve the supposedly impossible.

I’m autistic, and while I’ve been able to achieve things many might consider extraordinary—like graduating with a First Class Honours degree in Maths and completing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence that was state of the art for at least 20 years — there are everyday tasks, like travelling by bus or going shopping, that remain challenging for me. In fact, I find solving complex problems easy compared to coping with normal everyday life.

As a senior researcher, I’ve worked on complex projects, including designing technology to detect concealed weapons. More recently, I have developed the Integrative Cognitive Profiling Framework by undertaking a complex analysis of theory and first hand account of autism. This framework has transformed the lives of many children and adults by describing their unique cognitive makeup and how the various elements interact to create strengths and weaknesses. This makes it much easier to devised tailored interventions and reasonable adjustments.

My passion now is to use this knowledge and expertise to make the world a better place. First by creating the Minds in Depth membership platform so that my knowledge and expertise can be shared with parents and carers to help them better understand their autistic child thus enabling individual interventions to be implemented and reducing family stress. Second by sharing this knowledge with teams in the workplace, helping them to appreciate just how different they are from each other and thus improving communication, team working and efficiency. I believe that understanding cognitive diversity is the key to solving many of the challenges we face and helping individuals thrive.

James Lovatt

Business Development Consultant

As the first point of contact at Minds in Depth, I’m here to help parents and carers navigate our membership platform and community and resources to better understand their child’s cognitive profile.

My journey into this world began through a chance encounter, which opened my eyes to the unique challenges that many people, including those with autism and ADHD, face every day. Through my work with Dr. Elizabeth Guest, I’ve gained invaluable insight into how understanding and supporting cognitive differences can lead to real, positive change.

I’m passionate about helping parents learn how to support their children by understanding their strengths and challenges. At Minds in Depth, we believe that with the right knowledge, you can make a meaningful difference in your child’s life.

I am equally passionate about rolling out this knowledge to the workplace so that everyone realises how an understanding of cognitive diversity can improve team working and efficiency - and make including those with diagnosed conditions much simpler and more natural.

I’m also exploring my own ADHD diagnosis, which gives me a personal connection to the work we do here. I believe that by improving our understanding of cognitive diversity, we can create a more supportive world for everyone.

Marie Penman

Project Manager

As a parent of cognitively diverse children, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to understand and support your child’s specific needs. My journey took a transformative turn when my daughter had a life-changing profile with Dr. Elizabeth Guest. The insights we gained helped us better understand her strengths and challenges, and it ignited my passion to learn more and support others going through similar experiences.

That’s what led me to Minds in Depth—to share the knowledge that helped my family with other parents. I’m committed to helping you better understand your child’s cognitive profile so you can create a supportive environment that allows them to thrive.

In my free time, I love crafting and enjoy supporting others on their journey. I’m here to help you feel confident as you navigate your own path.