Toward a Cure: The SpinalCure Story

Brett has over over 15 years of experience in Private Equity, strategy, payments and Finance.

Brett is responsible for the overarching and commercial strategy, as well as the corporate growth function in the business, along with being very
instrumental in product and sales development and implementation.

Brett’s vision of making Octet the primary platform for business finance and payments, is the foundation that has spawned proprietary developments,
including Octet’s Digital Wallet for Business – a powerful tool enabling businesses with a range of funding capability to centralise their payments and
finance.

Brett works closely with all business functions to drive growth and market share, namely:

– Creating and driving product opportunities for the business (IE: build new products to monetise customer/market opportunities)

– Driving the salesforce through each layer of sales funnel to achieve market penetration

– Building organic and inorganic opportunities to grow Octet

Due to his expertise, Brett has been instrumental in the recent LBO of the Bank of Queensland’s Business Finance portfolio, managing the valuation and
diligence process entirely.

Kathryn is passionate about securing funding for, and developing, quality, cutting-edge research. Under her stewardship, SpinalCure has raised over $30 million towards spinal cord injury research so far.

Kathryn became personally compelled to dedicate herself to the cause after being exposed to the daily realities and impact of living with a spinal cord injury through a close friendship.

She has extensive experience bringing complex projects to fruition and brings a wealth of experience from her previous legal career. Prior to joining SpinalCure, she was a post-GFC disputes lawyer and represented banking and financial services clients in litigation and regulatory investigations. She also worked for government regulators advising Commissioners and Ministers in Australia and in the United Kingdom. She has an undergraduate degree majoring in Anthropology, a Master of Law and Legal Practice, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

At SpinalCure, Kathryn drives the vision and strategy of the organisation, working closely with stakeholders, including government, philanthropists, SpinalCure’s Patron and Ambassadors, business and researchers. She feels very connected to SpinalCure’s community and thoroughly enjoys each day working alongside a team of dedicated individuals.

Kathryn is honoured to be working in such an innovative space that will change people’s lives. Importantly, her focus is on ensuring research translates into treatments that are readily accessible and cost-effective for the spinal injured community and looks forward to seeing the roll out of the first treatments in Australia.

In her down time, Kathryn loves the outdoors, fitness and community building projects.  Most days she can be found either at her local gym or taking her paddle board out on the harbour. She can also be found curling up with a good book or cooking up a feast for friends and family.

Grant is a company director and business advisor with 35 years extensive senior executive experience in strategic business, marketing, communications and customer experience. His executive management and board roles span a wide range of business sectors both internationally and locally including FMCG, healthcare, fashion, entertainment, finance, tourism, digital technology, media, Federal and State Government, e-commerce, startups, joint ventures, and a range of charity and social marketing agendas. He is currently Managing Director of Osmosys Pty Ltd.

Grant first had insight into life with a spinal injury after meeting Sam and Cameron Bloom. Sam’s story of becoming paralysed after an accident in Thailand – and the unlikely arrival of an injured magpie aiding her recovery – is now world famous through books and a movie. Grant lent his support and experience to Sam and Cam in the early days, both personally and commercially, following Sam’s return home from hospital, and has strongly felt the importance of shattering stigma, shifting attitudes by offering his services for positive impact in this space.

He is passionate about SpinalCure’s focus on emerging research and is driven to take the ‘un’ out of ‘unbelieveable’ when it comes to finding a cure. He enjoys applying his entrepreneurial spirit to these endeavours and strives to make major connections that will drive this agenda forward.

In his downtime, Grant can be found catching a wave on the northern beaches of Sydney and spending time with his beautiful family.

Carol joined SpinalCure in 2019. She has over two decades experience in office management and providing high-level executive support. Originally from the UK, she moved to Australia in 2006 to live on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. After working in the corporate world and having children, Carol made the switch to the non-profit sector where she has enjoyed using her skills to make a difference. Becoming a mum changed her perspective on life and what she wanted from it, motivating her to contribute through her work.

Carol enjoys the variety of her role and being exposed to so many incredible people and opportunities. No single day is the same and can include speaking to donors, working with community ambassadors, coordinating fundraising events or planning content for social media. She also really enjoys recognising a spark in people and nurturing their involvement in the cause.

Prior to working at SpinalCure, Carol had little insight into what life is like living with paralysis and feels she has benefited greatly from her involvement with the organisation and the SpinalCure community. She is particularly proud of establishing the community ambassador program, encouraging young people with spinal cord injury to share their stories and advance the research cause.

When away from keeping the engines running smoothly at SpinalCure, Carol can be found running around after her three children, on the sidelines of a soccer field, or walking her much loved dog Millie.

Bringing diverse experience in the not-for-profit industry, Pauline is driven by the impact created when visionary goals and investment intersect. She loves to build rewarding partnerships, bringing members of our community together to achieve true transformative change and believes strongly in the process of collective giving. Unlocking that inevitable treatment for spinal cord injury is a major hope shared by so many Australians and one which Pauline is excited to share with philanthropists to provide them the opportunity to be involved on the journey to get there.

She has worked in the US and Australia, and also designs handmade knitwear which she sells in boutiques nationally and online.

Her career has allowed her to work on a variety of campaigns helping to fund reforestation work in Indonesia, climate change advocacy, recovery programs for Australia’s most endangered species, and helping to address food insecurity in New York City. She has had the privilege to work on events for the Royals, Jane Goodall and US Ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy.

“I encourage anyone who wants to make a true and meaningful impact to invest in and support this worthy cause.”

Sandra Sully is one of Australia’s most widely recognised and trusted news presenters.

Sandra has been a passionate supporter of SpinalCure for over 20 years, and has served as our patron since 2009. In recognition of her incredible contributions to media, charity and the community, she was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2024. Sandra recently took on the Banker in Deal or No Deal Australia, raising $100,000 for SpinalCure.

Anybody who has been in that position of watching a person they love almost disintegrate, not being able to push a button, work a remote, feed themselves, dress themselves, knows that it’s 24/7 care.

Kerri-Anne’s deep personal experience of watching the love of her life struggle with the loss of his movement has made her passionate about the work of SpinalCure, prompting her to become an official ambassador.

She wants to make spinal cord injury a national health priority and tirelessly advocates for SCI research.

Sam is a bestselling author, global keynote speaker, 4 x World ParaSurfing champion and inspiration behind global hit movie, Penguin Bloom.

“To be in the twenty-first century and not have found a cure for spinal cord injury is painfully astonishing.”

To Sam, the future is the cure — and she’s committed to being a driving force behind it, so that others won’t have to endure what she and her family have.

Rodger Corser is a prominent Australian actor, well-known for his roles in popular TV series like Doctor Doctor, Underbelly, and Rush, and for hosting game shows such as The Traitors and The Floor

“I became an ambassador for SpinalCure after co-hosting their Oscars Luncheon fundraisers. My connection to the organisation is also a personal one — I’m a longtime friend of board director Gary Allsop, who has his own lived experience with spinal cord injury.”

Fifth generation thoroughbred trainer.

Having witnessed the life-changing effects a spinal cord injury can have on a person, Edward gladly accepted the invitation to be an ambassador for SpinalCure.

“Anyone of any age can experience a spinal cord injury, but the risks involved with spinal injuries and horse racing, due to the speed the rider is travelling at and the height from which they fall, are unlike any other sport.”

If I had to have my accident for a reason, I hope that I inspire just one person. That would make it all worth it.

Lauren Parker is a Paralympian gold medallist and was named the 2024 Australian Paralympian of the Year.

“Every day, I push through pain that most people will never experience. But I refuse to let my injury define me. I want to show others that life after a spinal cord injury is still full of possibilities—and that we must never stop fighting for progress.”

With over two decades dedicated to racing, fashion and charitable efforts, Angela-Belle’s enduring connection to horseracing, spanning three generations of her family’s involvement in both the sport and philanthropy, propels her dedication to supporting SpinalCure.

“Horse racing, recognised as one of the most dangerous sports worldwide, has shown me firsthand the importance of supporting SpinalCure. I’m honoured to unite with this remarkable organisation.”

“With the right funding, research in Australia right now means it is very possible for there to be some sort of cure within my lifetime.”

In October 2019, whilst studying for his Year 12 exams, Alex, was pursuing his passion for mountain bike riding, when a devastating accident changed his life instantly, resulting in him sustaining a quadriplegic spinal cord injury.

Resilient and with a fierce determination, Alex has since regained some movement in his shoulders, elbows and wrists. His major goal is to regain some of his arm function, and he recently participated in SpinalCure’s Get a Grip clinical trial in an effort to achieve this.

Alex has made some remarkable accomplishments in his personal and professional life since his accident, including completing a Bachelor of Human Sciences at Macquarie University, whilst working as a university ambassador and a Project Officer at Sargood on Collaroy and starting his own speaking business.

Following Alex’s injury, the Ride with Richter fundraising campaign was established to raise funds for SpinalCure to enable future clinical trials to progress research towards a cure for spinal cord injury.

“Having a quadriplegic spinal cord injury makes every day tasks pretty difficult, even just using my phone or picking up a water bottle took months of rehab for me, and many can’t even do that.”

“That’s why funding this research is so important – even just a small bit of functional improvement can make a world of difference, and I believe this will be possible within my lifetime.”

“It’s my belief that at some point, humans will be able to cure spinal cord injuries. There is absolute uncertainty as to how long it will take to find the cure, but I’m certain that with more awareness and greater funding, that cure will come sooner.”

After completing his undergraduate degree in 2011, Dean bought a one-way ticket to Europe to live the life of a backpacker starting with a snow season in France. Three months into the season, he had an accident in the Tignes terrain park that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and four breaks in his back, rendering him an incomplete paraplegic.

“My life was turned upside down that day. I was always a pretty active guy. Surfing, snowboarding, skating, hiking, exploring in general… It felt like I had lost everything.”

“Fortunately, I’m rational and objective enough to understand that what was done was done. I couldn’t go back and change it, so my best option was to make the most of each day going forward,” he reflects.
Following his discharge from hospital, Dean balanced full-time work and rehabilitation while simultaneously completing a Master of Business Administration and a Diploma of Financial Planning. Upon graduating, he launched a successful career in the financial services industry—while also co-founding Headlands Distilling Co., a microdistillery in Wollongong, with his childhood friends.
A dedicated follower of SCI research from around the world, Dean sees his role as a community ambassador as a valuable platform to champion SpinalCure’s mission.

“I’d love nothing more than to see a world with empty wheelchairs and see my mates from rehab, Greg, Ben and Simon get back to farming, horse cart racing and climbing phone towers!”

Emma’s personal experience with spinal cord injury began in January 2020 while hiking with friends in New Zealand. A falling tree branch struck her, resulting in over 20 broken bones — including her skull, jaw, clavicle, humerus, six ribs, wrist, hand, and ankle — along with three fractured vertebrae.
Tragically, one of the vertebrae had completely burst, with fragments impacting her spinal cord. The days following the accident were a whirlwind of emergency surgeries, ketamine-induced hallucinations, and — in a surprising moment of joy — a beautiful ICU proposal (she said yes!).
Two weeks later, Emma was stable enough to be flown back to Melbourne, where she spent time at the Austin Hospital Spinal Unit before beginning three months of intensive rehabilitation at the Royal Talbot Spinal Rehab Centre.
Before her injury, Emma worked as a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria. Today, she’s a full-time athlete on the Australian Paracycling Team, with her sights firmly set on the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Outside of training, Emma is passionate about giving back. She regularly speaks to school students about the value of sport, health, and resilience, and has been a powerhouse fundraiser for SpinalCure.

“I believe we are on the brink of something great and that we will see rapid developments in rehabilitation therapies for people with a spinal cord injury.”

Before his accident in 2015, Tom was a professional dancer in Europe, deeply connected to his body and movement. But everything changed in an instant on a beach in Portugal. While diving under a wave, he struck his head on a hidden sandbank, suffering a C5 spinal cord injury.
Not one to be held back, Tom’s life has taken a new direction. Today, he describes himself as somewhere between a doctor, a comedian and a full-time dog dad.
Actively involved in spinal cord injury (SCI) research, Tom believes he’s uniquely positioned to combine scientific knowledge with lived experience to advocate for others with SCI. He’s also a passionate campaigner for SCI funding. In 2017, he organised The Dancers’ Directive—a dance gala that raised over $20,000 for people with spinal cord injuries. In January 2021, he completed a half marathon, raising another $10,000 for SpinalCure.