Gary Siew Leong Koo was born on 1968 and is an Australian Anglican bishop who, since 20 December 2019, has served as an assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, becoming the third Bishop of the Western Region.
10 Facts About Gary Koo
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Gary Koo was educated at James Ruse Agricultural High School and then studied medicine at the University of Sydney.
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Gary Koo was brought up as an atheist, but the death of his mother while he was training as a doctor at University caused him to reassess his views and he converted to Christianity.
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Gary Koo then decided to study theology at Moore Theological College.
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Gary Koo served as a pastor and church planter for the Chinese Christian Church Sydney.
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Gary Koo later was appointed as a minister within the Anglican Diocese of Sydney at St Paul's Carlingford and North Rocks, where he was eventually made rector, a position which he held for seven years prior to his appointment to the episcopate.
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Gary Koo served as acting rector at Berala from 2013 to 2015.
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In November 2019, Gary Koo was appointed as Bishop of the Western Region in the Sydney Diocese, a role which involves overseeing congregations in the Blue Mountains, Hills District, Hawkesbury, and Parramatta areas.
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Gary Koo replaced Bishop Ivan Lee, who was the first Anglican bishop in Australia to have a Chinese ethnic background and who moved at that time into a new episcopal role strengthening church growth.
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Gary Koo was consecrated bishop in St John's Cathedral, Parramatta by Archbishop Glenn Davies on 20 December 2019.