John Greenwood arrived in Australia to head up the Royal Adelaide Hospital's adult burns unit armed with a modest 10-year plan.
Barely a year later, in October 2002, his schedule became irrelevant when a series of co-ordinated bombings in Bali killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, and injured scores more.
Dr Greenwood's fledgling mobile burns unit was quickly dispatched to Darwin, where dozens of victims were sent for treatment.
"That was a bit of a torrid time but it sort of threw burns injuries into the public eye and made it more important for a while," he told AAP.
"Because of the charitable donations that came in after Bali and the profile that burns injuries received ... I managed to achieve all of my goals for 10 years in about six months."
The support allowed Dr Greenwood to focus attention on a pressing dilemma - how to provide quality but affordable treatment for patients with life-threatening burns.
The English-born surgeon has been named SA's Australian of the Year nominee in recognition of his development of innovative skin substitute products.
His solution involves an expandable synthetic seal which is inserted into the wounds left when a burn is removed, acting as a platform for composite skin grown in the laboratory.
Unlike other synthetic skin products, the polyurethane material makes them relatively cheap to produce.
Dr Greenwood's technique requires only a 10cm square sample of skin to be taken from patients, unlike traditional grafts which require large strips to be taken.
"That doesn't help if you have an enormous injury because you don't have skin to graft," he said.
"Those patients used to be put in [a] quiet room and allowed to die. You have to have something that means you don't just give up on a patient."
Dr Greenwood has more recently turned his attention to growing large volumes of full-thickness synthetic skin using a custom bioreactor.
He hopes the combination of products will one day eliminate the need for traditional skin grafts.
But he says his top priority is ensuring his products are accessible to everyone.
"If you can make something that's very cheap, you can make something that's globally usable," he said.
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR.
Dr John Greenwood AM. Burns surgeon at the Royal Adelaide Hospital honoured for his development of innovative skin substitute products
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR
Monica Oliphant AO. Scientist recognised for her pioneering research into photovoltaics and renewable energy
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR.
Arman Abrahimzadeh. White Ribbon Ambassador who has worked to support victims of domestic violence after his mother Zahra was murdered by her husband.
AUSTRALIA'S LOCAL HERO
Claire Foord. Established Still Aware to raise awareness of stillbirth after her daughter Alfie was stillborn at full term.
