Tim Costello

Timothy Ewen "Tim" Costello AO (1955 - ) is an Australian Baptist minister and CEO of World Vision Australia since 2004. He studied at Monash University, with degrees in law and education. He worked as a solicitor in family and criminal law. After attaining a Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology, as a minister, he initiated a drop-in centre, legal office, and Urban Seed, which worked with homelessness, drug abuse and the treatment of the city's street people. Costello was the president of the Baptist Union of Australia from 1999 to 2002. He has also been patron of Baptist World Aid Australia, a member of the Australian Earth Charter Committee, a council member of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, a spokesperson for the Interchurch Gambling Taskforce, a member of the National Advisory Body on Gambling and a member of the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation. He was the 2008 winner of the Australian Peace Prize award. He was elected Mayor of St Kilda Council in 1993 and became well known for championing the cause of local democracy. His leadership is marked by advocating and enacting strong values in the real world, clarity of purpose, and grace.

I have always felt that the great lottery of life is unfair. The fact is that I was thrown up on the stage of life called Australia. You don't choose where you are thrown on to this stage. So universal health, universal education, of course plenty of food and clean water.