Carolyn Pinto is the Secretary of the Hemispherectomy Foundation Australia, a peer-led disabled person’s organisation that provides peer support, connection and advocacy to families impacted by hemispherectomy brain surgery. Carolyn brings lived experience of hemispherectomy as the parent of a daughter who acquired chronic focal encephalitis at age six requiring hemispherectomy surgery at age 11.

Carolyn is also a Research Associate at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute where she is involved in research projects focused on topics relevant to children and young people who experience disability following an acquired brain injury. Prior to joining MCRI, Carolyn had an extensive career in the Victorian government, specialising in health and human services policy, program design, implementation and management.