• Co-Founder & Chair, SpinalCure Australia, since 1/4/10.

• Director, Bancroft Consulting Pty Ltd.

• Convenor, CAMRA and a witness at the Senate Inquiry on Research Involving Embryos Bill 2002. In 2006 she appeared before the Legislation Review Committee and provided campaign leadership, a key factor in the successful passage of the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Bill 2006.

• Deputy Chair, NSW Premier’s Spinal Cord Injury & Conditions Fund (2003).

• Member, Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA).

• Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

• Director, Ability Technology (2002).

• Honorary Director, SpinalCure Australia, since 10/12/97.

• Co-Founder 1994: SpinalCure Australia.

Joanna grew up in the UK where she achieved a BA Hons degree and directorship of a top London public relations agency. She moved to Australia in 1988 to continue her career, study for an MBA and pursue sporting activities. In 1992 she had a skiing accident at Thredbo which broke her neck and severely damaged her spine.

Joanna continues her career and publicises the progress of the search for a cure for people with spinal cord injuries. As a director and co-founder of SpinalCure Australia, she has project managed major medical conferences; written articles and speeches; and taken part in media interviews on the topic of spinal research and the urgent need for funding for a cure.

In June 2008 Joanna was awarded the Order of Australia for service to the community through leadership roles in supporting research into the treatment of spinal cord injury and other conditions.