Professor Fiona Wood has dedicated more than 35 years to advancing burns surgery and research, earning global recognition as one of the world’s leading pioneers in the field. She is Director of the Burns Service of Western Australia, a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Fiona Stanley Hospital and Perth Children’s Hospital, Winthrop Professor in the School of Surgery at The University of Western Australia, and co-founder of the Fiona Wood Foundation (formerly The McComb Foundation). She also co-founded Western Australia’s first skin cell laboratory, driving new approaches to clinical innovation and care.
Her most significant contribution is the co-invention, with scientist Marie Stoner, of the revolutionary “spray-on skin” cell technology (ReCell). This innovation, now used worldwide, has transformed outcomes for burn patients by reducing scarring and accelerating healing. Fiona came to international prominence in 2002, when she led the medical response at Royal Perth Hospital to treat the largest cohort of survivors from the Bali bombings, saving many lives and shaping the future of trauma care.
Over the course of her career, Fiona has received numerous awards and honours for her clinical excellence, humanitarian work, and leadership in medical science, including Australian of the Year (2005), the ATSE Clunies Ross Award for Medical Science (2005), and induction into the WA Science Hall of Fame (2024). She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003 and received an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2024.
Fiona’s legacy extends beyond her medical and research achievements: her commitment to improving the quality of life for burns survivors continues to inspire innovation and collaboration across health and science.
