Now, he’s a PhD student at the Australian Maritime College, flying to Japan for an international energy conference.

Mr Baalisampang and his family left their remote village in Bhutan in 1992.

“Because of civil war and the ethnic cleansing policy brought by the Bhutanese government, we Nepalese-speaking people are forced to leave the country, for our safety,” he said.

“My life begins in refugee camp, under the plastic roof, bamboo walls – hot, no electricity, no proper or adequate drinking water, no clothing according to the climate or weather conditions, and limited food supplies.”

There was one saving grace: Mr Baalisampang continued studying through a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees school. 

“I studied up to grade 10 freely in refugee camp ... so my brothers, sisters, parents, supported me, inspired me to study further, though there wasn’t any support from other agencies,” he said.

Mr Baalisampang was the only one of his siblings to continue his education through to a bachelor of science.

“I am the only person who got that opportunity.”

Determined to give back, Mr Baalisampang worked as a volunteer teacher for years before his family successfully applied for a new life in Australia, arriving in 2010. 

Mr Baalisampang was equally determined to take every opportunity offered, beginning with a TAFE English course and then enrolling in a bachelor of marine and offshore engineering at the Australian Maritime College.

As an undergraduate student, he had a paper published in the International Journal of Maritime Engineering – a feat that marked him out as a PhD candidate.

His PhD research now focuses on the risks involved on Floating Liquefied Natural Gas facilities (FLNGs).

The facilities are a new method of collecting liquid gas at sea: huge vessels that are still being developed.

Mr Baalisampang’s research has caught the eye of the international gas and oil industry, with his video application winning one of just 150 passes to the Young Gastech event in Tokyo next week.

There, Mr Baalisampang will meet leading minds from Shell and other major energy corporations, learning from them and discussing his research.

When his PhD is complete, he wants to work in Australia, to give back to the country that welcomed him to a new life.

“I always tell the young generations … to try to continue with study and schooling, because in Australia if they want to do anything, there is no limitations.”