It wasn't until recently she learnt the cause of her obsession and how it may help her in her role as a workplace design expert.

In January, Dr Elford was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder that she characterised as linked with obsessions, repetitive behaviours, difficulty reading people and, in some cases, sensory differences.

Her oddities, as she called them, suddenly made sense.

"It's searching for facts and it's also not understanding why things that should work haven't worked," Dr Elford said.

"I knew that I wasn't good as a manager, that I didn't have the people skills to be a manager, so I worked that one out in my 30s.

"People say you can't read body language and whatever, and that doesn't mean anything either unless you've actually got a pattern behind it.

"That's what happened. I got a pattern behind it."

Dr Elford is passionate about using her autism experience to create better workplaces for everyone, with improvements ranging from organisational design to office layout.

"For people with autism that's particularly important because of these sensitivities that people have to light and sound and to open plan offices," she said.

"I'm really passionate about work that's designed for people's uniqueness and to make sure they can do their very best - it's not just people with autism, it's everyone.

"That's a new impact that I can have. I've always tried to help with that but now I know with a deeper sense of urgency what that is."

Sunday marks Autism Awareness Day. An estimated one in 100 people have autism.

Marymead's Autism Centre will host a discussion panel for Autism Awareness Day at 255 Goyder Street, Narrabundah, from 2.30 to 4pm on Sunday.

The panel, chaired by Jeanette Purkis, will feature autism spectrum disorder experts including psychologist Rhonda Penney, psychiatrist Alex Lim and occupational therapist Sheila Norman.