Tim Costello

Recent Speaker

CEO World Vision

August 26, 2009

Australian aid in the economic crisis – Is it working and what do Australian's think

World Vision CEO Tim Costello will launch World Vision’s flagship publication  Island Nation or Global Citizen? at the National Press Club on 26 August.

The report will review Australia’s contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and new approaches to development in the region since the election of the Rudd Government. Mr Costello will rate Australia's performance against international benchmarks and make recommendations for further action.

This review will have a particular focus on the impact of the global financial crisis on developing countries and on conditions for children in our region.

Island Nation or Global Citizen? will also look at Australians’ attitudes to supporting aid in these tougher economic times through an analysis of giving and specially commissioned opinion research across Australia.

Tim Costello is recognised as one of Australia’s leading voices on social justice issues, having spearheaded public debates on gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse.

And since February 2004, as Chief Executive of World Vision Australia, Tim has also been instrumental in ensuring that the issues surrounding global poverty are placed on the national agenda.

Tim has also played a prominent role in the Make Poverty History campaign. And in April 2008, he chaired the Strengthening Communities, Supporting Families and Social Inclusion Committee of the Australian Government’s 2020 Summit in Canberra.

Prior to joining World Vision Australia, Tim served as Minister at the Collins Street Baptist Church in Melbourne, and as Executive Director of Urban Seed, a Christian not-for-profit outreach service for the urban poor. Between 1999 and 2002, he was also National President of the Baptist Union of Australia.

Tim studied law and education at Monash University, followed by theology at the International Baptist Seminary in Rueschlikon, Switzerland. He also received a Masters Degree in Theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity.

In 2004, Tim was named Victorian of the Year; in June 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO); and in 2006 was named Victorian Australian of the Year.

He has written several books, including Streets of Hope: Finding God in St Kilda; Tips from a Travelling Soul Searcher and Wanna Bet? Winners and Losers in Gambling’s Luck Myth (co-written with Royce Millar).

Tim and his wife Merridie have three adult children, Claire, Elliot and Martin.