In 1989 Professor Griggs invented a surgical instrument and a procedure, now called the “Griggs technique”, to perform percutaneous tracheotomy and make an artificial airway for the critically ill and injured. This technique is used worldwide and was used to help Pope John Paul II in February 2005.
Completed many hundreds of aeromedical retrievals and was Clinical Director of Retrieval Coordination for MedStar – South Australia’s state wide retrieval service.
Professor Griggs is the founder of the Roads2Survival™ community road safety program.
He is a member of the RAAF Specialist Reserve and his list of service is truly amazing.
Recently retired from the following posts
- Director, Trauma Service, Royal Adelaide Hospital
- Clinical Director, MedStar Emergency Medical Retrieval
- State Controller (Health and Medical), SA Health
- Director, Air Force Health Reserves, SA/WA
- Deployed to the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005
- 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami
- 2007 crash of Garuda 737 GA200 in Yogyakarta,
- 2009 Ashmore Reef SIEV36 explosion/fire,
- Lead the SA AusMat medical team the 2009 Samoan tsunami disaster, the Gulf War 1991, Bougainville 1994 and 1998, and East Timor 1999 and 2007
He also has an MBA and speaks on Risk Management Practices as they relate to business.
Major Awards:
2003 – Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
2006 – South Australian Recipient for the “Australian of the Year” Award.
2006 – “Keys to the City”, City of Adelaide.
2009 – Ambulance Service Medal (ASM).
2009 – “South Australian of the Year”.
2010 – Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Adelaide.
Keynote Topics:
- Leadership
- Team Management
- Change Management
- Crisis Management
