The Aus-InSCI Translation Project Consumer Advisory Committee Members

About the Project

Consumer Advisory Committee Members

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Johnny Bourke  

Johnny Bourke is a Sydney-based member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, bringing valuable lived experience as a person with a C4 complete spinal cord injury. Currently working at the University of Sydney, Johnny is passionate about ensuring that the voices of people living with spinal cord injury are meaningfully represented throughout the AusInSCI study and in how its findings are translated into practice. His perspective supports the project’s commitment to inclusive, person-centred research that reflects real-world experiences. Outside of his professional and advocacy work, Johnny enjoys a simple daily ritual—starting his day with a black coffee and switching to coffee with milk in the afternoon.

Antonio Vecchio   

Antonio Vecchio is a Melbourne-based member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, contributing his lived experience as a person with a C6/7 complete spinal cord injury. In his role at the Spinal Research Institute, Antonio brings a strong commitment to advancing research that leads to meaningful, long-term improvements in quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries. Through his involvement in the Committee, he is focused on helping drive real-world, sustainable change within systems so that research outcomes translate into tangible benefits. Outside of his professional and advocacy work, Antonio is a self-confessed history enthusiast who enjoys planning his travels around significant historical events and locations.

Marita Finch   

Marita Finch is a Queensland-based member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, contributing her lived experience as a person with a T8/9 spinal cord injury. Living in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, Marita brings a thoughtful and evolving perspective shaped by her more recent injury, sustained two and a half years ago following a motorcycle accident. She is passionate about offering valuable insight into the spinal cord injury community and is eager to both learn from and contribute to the research process. Through her involvement, Marita looks forward to building connections within the sector, developing her professional skills, and gaining a deeper appreciation of how large-scale projects are developed and delivered. Outside of her role, Marita is a wife and mother of two teenagers who enjoys cooking, gardening, and maintaining her fitness. She is particularly passionate about CrossFit, where she continually challenges herself and strives to get the most out of every session.

Dinesh Palipana   

Dinesh Palipana is a Queensland-based member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, contributing his lived experience as a person with a C6/C7 spinal cord injury. Working across Gold Coast University Hospital, Griffith University, Bond University, and Forward Ability Support, Dinesh brings a wealth of professional and personal insight to the Committee. He is committed to improving the experiences and outcomes of people living with spinal cord injury, ensuring that research is informed by real-world perspectives and translates into meaningful change. Alongside his clinical, academic, and advocacy work, Dinesh enjoys listening to 90s rap, has a sweet tooth for chocolate, and is a keen car enthusiast.

Katie Hammond   

Katie Hammond is a Queensland-based member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, contributing her lived experience as a person with a T12 spinal cord injury. She currently works as a Team Leader within the Peer Support Program at Spinal Life Australia, where she draws on both her professional expertise and lived experience to support others in the spinal cord injury community. Katie is passionate about contributing to healthcare enhancement initiatives that create positive, meaningful change for people living with spinal cord injury, ensuring services and supports are responsive to real-world needs. Prior to dedicating the past 15 years to mental health and counselling, Katie’s career was focused on human anatomy and fitness, working as a Personal Trainer—an experience that continues to inform her holistic understanding of health and wellbeing.

Alison Cook   

Ali Cook is a New South Wales–based member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, contributing her lived experience as a person with a T11 spinal cord injury. She brings extensive consumer advocacy experience to the Committee, currently working as a community representative for SCIA and serving as a NSW Health consumer advisor within her Local Health District over the past eight years. Ali has also contributed to the development of models of care for the Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital Redevelopment and is a member of the Health Consumers NSW consumer advisory group for the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Health and Medicine. In addition, she is involved in education initiatives supporting future health professionals, including advising on communication in healthcare for biomedical students at Westmead. Ali is passionate about seeing research translated into practical community resources that improve health outcomes, reduce hospital admissions, and empower people with spinal cord injury to confidently access care. Outside of her advocacy work, she enjoys cutting opals, creating art, playing Beat Saber in VR, and spending time with her python, Briny.

Daniel Cheong   

Dan Cheong is a Victorian-based member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, contributing his lived experience as a person with a C4/C5 complete spinal cord injury. He works as a Peer Coach with AQA/Independence Australia, bringing both professional and lived experience perspectives to supporting people with spinal cord injury to live independently and achieve meaningful life goals. Dan is passionate about ensuring that the real-world experiences of people with spinal cord injury are meaningfully embedded in research and service improvement, and he values the opportunity to deepen his understanding of research translation, collaboration, and how evidence can drive positive system and community change. Outside of his professional and advisory roles, Dan dedicates much of his free time to painting, bringing landscapes and everyday scenes to life through oil painting.

Kenneth Soward   

Kenneth Soward is a South Australian member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, contributing his lived experience as a person with a T4–T5 spinal cord injury sustained in 2005. He works as a software engineer and brings a strong blend of technical expertise and long-term lived experience to his role in the Committee. Kenneth has a deep commitment to “giving back” to the spinal cord injury community, reflected in his previous leadership roles as a board member, President, and Chair of PQSA (now estara). Through his involvement, he is passionate about supporting meaningful collaboration and ensuring that research outcomes are informed by and responsive to the needs of people with spinal cord injury. He also values the friendships and connections he has built within the community over many years.

Louise Mofflin   

Louise Mofflin is a Perth-based member of The Hopkins Centre’s Consumer Advisory Committee for the Aus InSCI Translation Project, contributing her lived experience as a person with a T7 complete spinal cord injury. With a professional background in medical research and now retired, Louise brings a strong understanding of both research environments and the lived realities of spinal cord injury. She is passionate about improving service provision for people with spinal cord injury, with a particular focus on equity of access and consistent, high-quality care across systems. Through her involvement in the Committee, Louise aims to help ensure that research translates into meaningful improvements in everyday services and outcomes for the SCI community. An active manual wheelchair user, she has also enjoyed participating in sport and takes great pride in transforming her suburban garden into a thriving patch of native bush, now home to frogs, a long-necked tortoise, and two species of black cockatoo.