26 Facts About Tim Costello

Timothy Ewen Costello was born on 4 March 1955 and is an Australian Baptist minister who was the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Advocate of World Vision Australia.

Tim Costello has authored a number of books on faith and life.

Tim Costello is a descendant of Irish immigrant Patrick Costello, who was expelled from the Parliament of Victoria in the 1860s for electoral fraud.

Tim Costello studied at Monash University, graduating with a Bachelor of Jurisprudence degree in 1976, a Bachelor of Laws in 1978 and a Diploma of Education in 1979.

Tim Costello is the brother of Peter Tim Costello, the former treasurer of Australia and Federal Member for Higgins.

Tim Costello practised as a solicitor in family and criminal law, both in established firms and in his own practice.

In 1981, Tim Costello travelled to Switzerland with his wife, Merridie, where they both studied theology at the International Baptist Seminary Ruschlikon near Zurich, before graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity and returning to Australia to become the minister of St Kilda Baptist Church.

Tim Costello received a Master of Theology from Whitley College, a theological college of the Melbourne College of Divinity.

Tim Costello taught urban ministry at Whitley College, a college of the University of Melbourne.

From 1995 to 2003, Tim Costello was a minister of the Collins Street Baptist Church and the executive director of Urban Seed, a Christian not-for-profit organisation created in response to concern about homelessness, drug abuse and the marginalisation of the city's street people.

Tim Costello served as the president of the Baptist Union of Australia from 1999 to 2002.

Tim Costello has 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.

Tim Costello was elected Mayor of St Kilda Council in 1993 and became well known for championing the cause of local democracy and for his clashes with the Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett.

Kennett attacked Tim Costello as being un-Victorian for speaking out against the gaming-led recovery of the state and often referred to him as "that leftist cleric".

Tim Costello was an elected delegate at the Australian Constitutional Convention in Canberra in February 1998.

Tim Costello has spoken out in favour of stronger gun control in Australia, acting at times as the co-chairman or spokesman of the National Coalition for Gun Control.

Tim Costello was appointed as CEO of World Vision Australia on 24 November 2003.

Tim Costello led fundraising efforts, and World Vision Australia raised over $118 million for relief and rehabilitation programs.

Tim Costello remained as Chief Advocate for a further two years before resigning on 7 June 2019, citing the physical and emotional toll of the role over many years.

Tim Costello has since become the Director of Ethical Voice, Executive Director of Micah Australia and a Senior Fellow at Centre for Public Christianity.

Tim Costello is Chair of the Community Council of Australia and an Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

Tim Costello received the Victorian of the Year award in July 2004 in recognition of his public and community service.

Tim Costello was made an officer of the Order of Australia in June 2005 and was the Victorian nominee for the Australian of the Year award in 2006.

Tim Costello is the 2008 winner of the Australian Peace Prize awarded by the Peace Organisation of Australia.

Tim Costello is listed by the National Trust as a "National Living Treasure".

In 2008, Tim Costello received an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University in recognition of "his contributions to religious life and social justice".