ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON AND HUMAN-RIGHTS ADVOCATE

Age: 47 Lives: Sydney

AFTER FLEEING the tyranny of Saddam Hussein’s regime in a leaking boat, Professor Munjed Al Muderis was detained on Christmas Island, then in Curtin Detention Centre in Western Australia. He overcame extraordinary obstacles to become an orthopaedic surgeon, specialising in hip, knee and reconstructive surgery and now advocates for the human rights of others. A compassionate ambassador for multiple organisations, including the Red Cross, Munjed has taken a team to his former homeland of Iraq seven times, to help the victims of the conflict he fled, and has educated other orthopaedic surgeons in complex limb reconstruction. His surgical innovations and breakthroughs are helping people throughout the world. Munjed exemplifies the valuable and positive contribution that refugees can make, and what it truly means to be Australian.

Sixteen medical, health or science personnel have been named Australian of the Year.