A plastic surgeon who achieved media prominence for her pioneering work helping victims of the Bali bombing has been named Australian of the Year.
Dr Fiona Wood, a burns specialist at Royal Perth Hospital, invented a spray-on skin for burns victims.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard, announcing the award, said Dr Wood was "an incredible person" who would make a "magnificent" ambassador for Australia.
An environmentalist, film maker and philanthropist were also honoured.
Dr Wood invented a skin engineering technique which reduced the amount of time needed to produce enough cells to cover major burns from 21 days to five.
She co-founded a business called Clinical Cell Culture after turning to cultured skin to save the life of a schoolteacher with 90% burns in 1992.
She was able to use this technique in treating 28 victims of the 2002 Bali attacks.
"Trailblazing burns treatment, mother of six children, a clearly happy and united family, wonderfully vivacious and vital woman - I think she'll be a wonderful ambassador," Mr Howard told reporters.
A Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Local Hero were also named on Tuesday.
They are 25-year-old film maker Khoa Do, senior citizen Antonio Milhinhos for his donations to charity, and Ben Kearney who led a Tasmanian community to become Australia's first plastic bag-free town.
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