Tony Pinto is an entrepreneur, a father, and a man who moved across the world in pursuit of a cure. A quadriplegic with a 25-year career in mortgage banking and real estate in the United States, Tony refused to let his injury define the limits of his life — instead, it redefined his mission.

Tony’s journey to Australia began with a single news report. Watching Perry Cross speak about the Spinal Injury Project and its groundbreaking nerve bridge research using olfactory ensheathing cells, something clicked. Three weeks later, Tony had packed up his life and moved across the world to the Gold Coast. He wanted to be close to the world-class research happening at Griffith University — not just to follow it, but to be a part of it, and to be on the ground for the first human clinical trials in the quest to cure spinal cord injury.

Today, Tony runs his businesses entirely with his voice, an adaptive headset, and an iPad — founding Atomic AI Australia and building Care+OS, an AI-powered software platform for care providers. In September 2026, he begins at Bond University to complete a Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering. Like so many living with paralysis, Tony knows the small things matter most, and he holds onto the hope of a cure — not just for himself, but for his teenage son to witness, and for everyone waiting for the day science catches up with belief.

As an ambassador, Tony is excited to represent the Foundation and share with others the amazing work being done to find a cure. He shares Perry’s conviction that everything is possible — it’s why he’s here.