Business Analysis · Neurodiversity · Technology

Where analytical
precision meets
creative thinking.

I am a late-diagnosed autistic business analyst who, as well as seeking freelance/contract work, also wants to encourage other neurodivergent would-be analysts to figure out ways of using their strengths and mitigating their weaknesses in the field, and to network with other neurodivergent analysts and developers to build each other up.
I decided to name my site The Autistic Business Analyst, and wave the neurodivergence flag, because I have no desire to hide it. Let's embrace it and put it front and centre.
I'm getting back into HTML, CSS and JavaScript and will be expanding my site as I upskill myself and learn a few new technologies, such as Node & React, so please pop back anytime! This is the first site I've built in a quite a while, so I'm relearning as I go (which is rather fun).

View My Work Get in Touch

Vision

What drives me forward

Here's what I consider to be the neurodivergent advantages that I can bring to business analysis. I don't agree with the notion that autistic traits are superpowers, and I do acknowledge that some traits can be blockers that need extra work to mitigate. This is an idea I am building on now, though, and hope to develop more as I progress.

Systems Thinking

I approach every project as an interconnected system, not a collection of isolated parts. By mapping how people, processes, data and technology interact, I uncover root causes rather than treating symptoms. This holistic view helps anticipate unintended consequences of change, reduce operational risk and design solutions that actually work in the real world. I translate complex system behaviour into clear visuals and plain language, so decision-makers can confidently choose the right path forward.

Analysis

I bring structured, rigorous analysis to messy, ambiguous problems. I break down complexity into manageable pieces, validate assumptions and turn vague ideas into clear, testable requirements. My work includes precise documentation, insightful data exploration and well-founded recommendations that are easy to trace back to evidence. I am comfortable challenging gaps and inconsistencies while remaining respectful and calm. This combination of clarity, detail and critical thinking helps organisations make better decisions and avoid costly misunderstandings.

Human-Centered Delivery

I focus on how change feels and functions for the people who use it every day. Through thoughtful questioning, collaborative workshops and clear communication, I ensure that requirements reflect real user needs, not just assumptions. I champion accessibility, psychological safety and straightforward language in documentation and training materials. By involving stakeholders early and often, I reduce resistance, build trust and help teams feel ownership of the final solution, not that change has been done to them.

Portfolio

Case Studies

A selection of projects demonstrating my analytical approach and the tangible outcomes delivered for clients and stakeholders.

Digital Transformation

Using Data To Drive Strategy

A massive £100 million transformation project with thousands (>10k) of requirements, dozens of Agile teams, and multiple IT suppliers. Change request backlogs growing, requirements traceability stretched, test scripts unchecked.

Requirements Engineering

Managing Expectations & Risk Mitigation

When a genuine business need exists it can be difficult to push back to senior leaders, but sometimes funding cycles, policy and technical limitations align and we find ourselves in the position of needing to have those difficult conversations. Sometimes we cannot deliver what our stakeholders want.

Stakeholder Management

Breaking Process Silos

The tendering of vital comms services for a large government department can be quite fraught, errors could cost millions and return no value to taxpayers. And sometimes we discover that vital processes exist in silos that we need to be brave enough to break down.

APIs, Data & Collaboration

Cross Government Data Sharing

Collaboration is a vital skill for any business analyst and, sometimes, this extends beyond our own organisation. Joined up thinking can be rare i n public institutions, but that is changing now. We can work together to share data that makes the lives of citizens easier, and their interactions with government more efficient and painless.

About Me

Who I Am

Hi. My name is Michael. I have been a business analyst for 5 years, and have worked on 18 government projects. I have led on small and medium-sized, high-impact initiative, supporting Senior BAs on large-scale transformATION programmes. We worked in both Waterfall and Agile methods, often "Wagile", which I never really liked to be honest. I have led on BA work myself and also worked with cross-functional teams, feeding into planning, risk management and user experience functions. I have led workshops across multiple stakeholder groups at all levels and grades. I have a strong track record of delivering projects on time and within budget.

I began my autism diagnosis journey not long after I started my previous role. I had been the unofficial IT guy in many previous jobs, and been somewhat of a computer geek for most of my life. I had so many red flags for autism that it feels a little ridiculous that it didn't occur to me much earlier in life. I only took the AQ50 and RAADS-R tests to prove my wife wrong... only to prove her right!

I have BCS Certificates in Business Change and Requirements Engineering; Certification in Information Engineering, & Pascal Programming and Programming Methodologies; and a Diploma in COBOL programming.
I am currently undertaking several small courses, such as coding challenges, and am partway through AWS Cloud Support Associate certification.

Business Analysis Requirements Engineering Stakeholder Management Process Mapping Agile / Scrum Data Analysis User Stories Gap Analysis Neurodiversity Advocacy

Contact

Get in Touch

Have a project in mind, or just want to say hello? I'd love to hear from you. Fill in the form or reach out directly via the links below.

Send a Message

Direct Links

Email michael@theautisticbusinessanalyst.net

Facebook The Autistic BA on Facebook

LinkedIn My LinkedIn Profile

Where analyticalprecision meetscreative thinking.