Dr Sharon Zivkovic

Dr Sharon Zivkovic is a prominent figure in the field of community capacity building and social entrepreneurship, with a focus on autistic-led initiatives. She is the founder of Community Capacity Builders, which includes the Centre for Autistic Social Entrepreneurship.13 As an Adjunct Research Fellow at Torrens University Australia, Dr Zivkovic brings her expertise in systems social entrepreneurship to her academic work.

Professional Background

Dr Zivkovic has a strong presence in the social enterprise sector, particularly in initiatives supporting autistic individuals. She is actively involved in promoting and developing autistic-owned and led social enterprises.35 Her work in this area has gained recognition, with a recent article on Autistic Owned and Led Social Enterprise being published in the Social Enterprise Journal.5

Previous Experience

Prior to her current roles, Dr Zivkovic spent over eight years at Wicked Lab, an organization she founded. Wicked Lab was likely focused on addressing complex social issues, given her expertise in systems approaches to social problems.4

Research and Advocacy

Dr Zivkovic is a passionate advocate for the autistic community, often sharing content that promotes understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity. She emphasizes the diversity within the autistic community, supporting the notion that "there's no one way to be autistic".6 Her work aligns strongly with the principle of "nothing about us without us," indicating a commitment to ensuring autistic individuals are directly involved in decisions and initiatives that affect them.2

Current Focus

As of 2024, Dr Zivkovic continues to be actively engaged in research and initiatives related to autistic social entrepreneurship. Her LinkedIn posts suggest ongoing involvement in projects that support and empower autistic individuals in the business and social enterprise sectors.357