Gearing for Success series

World Vision CEO inspires alumni to tackle global challenges

Tim Costello captured the attention of guests with his views on world poverty at the final Monash University Gearing for Success seminar for 2006.

It was a topical address, given the previous weekend’s G20 Summit and the Make Poverty History concert in Melbourne.

Tim discussed rising transnational challenges including world poverty, global climate change and the war on terror.
He emphasised the need for people to look outside their nation’s borders to solve these issues.

Impressed by the turnout at the Make Poverty History concert, Tim differentiated between Australia's youth and the nation’s leaders. He said that the young people of today truly understand the concept of a global village.

"[That] generation gets the big moral issues with the moral clarity that I don't think our leaders do," he said.

"The moral imagination that gets the connection, that sees the seamlessness between these big problems, are these young people."

Tim highlighted that governments in Britain and Europe are working hard to increase their foreign aid, as a percentage of Gross National Income (GNI), from 0.5% to 0.7%. Meanwhile, Australia's aid levels are lower today than they were 10 years ago, which Tim attributes to an attitude of “trade, not aid”.

It is no coincidence that anti-poverty campaigner Bono recently met Federal Treasurer Peter Costello to discuss Australian's role in reducing world poverty.

Tim remains optimistic. "I'm still hopeful that we'll see … some big movement on this [world poverty]."

Pictures from the breakfast

Guests
Guest speaker: Mr Tim Costello AO
Tim Costello and guests

About Tim Costello AO

Tim Costello is Chief Executive of World Vision Australia. He has also a well-known social commentator, having led debates on contentious issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse.

As Chief Executive, Tim leads World Vision to respond to natural disasters such as the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami, where his presence and media profile largely influenced a World Vision appeal that raised more than $100 million.

Tim holds other significant community roles such as Chairman of the National Australia Bank external stakeholder forum, member of the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation, and member of the National Aid Advisory Council.

He is highly regarded by the public, having been voted as one of Australia’s 100 National Living Treasures, named Victorian of the Year in 2004, and in 2005 made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). He was also made Monash University’s Distinguished Alumni Award winner in 1999/2000.

The next Gearing for Success seminar

Register your interest for the next breakfast seminar, to be held on 20 March 2007 in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Our guest speaker will be alumna Professor Susan Davis (MBBS 1980, PhD Med 1989), Professor of Women's Health, Monash University Department of Medicine, Alfred Hospital.