World Vision Australia regularly receives requests from students who wish to obtain more information about Tim. Here are some of the questions and their responses.

What are your main responsibilities?
Who pays for your travel?
Where do you stay when you travel?
You seem to be a very busy man. How do you balance your World Vision commitments with other activities?
What made you want to be a part of World Vision Australia, and what process did you go through to get the position of CEO?
Tim, do you think that being the CEO of an organisation like World Vision Australia is a job that young citizens of Australia should consider as a job for themselves?
Tim, you have a leading voice on issues such as urban poverty, homelessness, gambling, reconciliation and substance abuse, how did you get the knowledge on them all?
Tim, how do you find time to do a job that asks so much of you?
Working for World Vision, what sort of people do you meet?
How do you combine the roles of being a minister of a church and CEO of World Vision Australia?
Does World Vision minister to all, irrespective of creed, race, etc?
What are your views on multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious Australia?

What are your main responsibilities?

As the Chief Executive, I’m in charge of the day-to-day running of World Vision Australia. I represent the national office on international level strategic planning for the organisation.

I also maintain an extensive schedule of speaking engagements, addressing government bodies, non-government organisations, churches, corporations and educational institutions.

Who pays for your travel?

World Vision Australia is responsible for my travel expenses, including all flights local and overseas. I fly Economy Class. Some of my flights are paid for by the organisations who have booked me for their speaking events.

Where do you stay when you travel?

Always at local hotels.

You seem to be a very busy man. How do you balance your World Vision commitments with other activities?

I try to organise my time to my various commitments. I have excellent support from a small team of people to help me juggle the many duties required of me.

What made you want to be a part of World Vision Australia, and what process did you go through to get the position of CEO?

I came to World Vision after I was approached to consider the position of CEO. It was not something I had ever given thought to until the approach came my way.

At the time I was feeling the need for a change and I could see that there were opportunities for me with World Vision to contribute internationally and to the area of world poverty, which is something that had been at the back of my mind for some time. So I talked to my wife, close advisers and thought about it for a few weeks. I felt confirmation in many ways that it was something worthwhile and personally in keeping with my vocation.

Tim, do you think that being the CEO of an organisation like World Vision Australia is a job that young citizens of Australia should consider as a job for themselves?

I think it is definitely important for young Australians to aspire to making a difference in the world in whatever vocation they choose to pursue. I am always inspired by the enthusiasm and leadership I see being displayed by many young Australians and am deeply confident that this generation will be compassionate and visionary leaders in the years to come. The number of young Australians that support World Vision through events such as the 40 Hour Famine and through our Vision Generation is great proof of this.

Tim, you have a leading voice on issues such as urban poverty, homelessness, gambling, reconciliation and substance abuse, how did you get the knowledge on them all?

I was trained as a teacher, lawyer and minister, all of which have seen me involved with a variety of people from a wide range of social backgrounds. In addition to helping to understand the difficult circumstances many of our fellow Australians face, be it as a result of poverty or unemployment, these varying roles have also been helpful in preparing me for the speaking, leading, strategic thinking and visioning work that I have tried to do in all my work and that I now do for World Vision. I have also had experience in local government as Mayor of St. Kilda and on many boards.

More importantly, my family has given me a committed Christian background, which has taught me the value of tolerance and mutual understanding, and above all the importance of giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. My many experiences have helped me to see the world as a global village and that we cannot live as if we are isolated from or unrelated to all the challenges facing our world.

Tim, how do you find time to do a job that asks so much of you?

I have an extremely supportive wife and a family who understand and encourage my passion for my work. I see this not only as my job, but as my responsibility as a member of the global community to do what I can to help lift our fellow humans in need from the shadow of poverty.

Working for World Vision, what sort of people do you meet?

In my role as CEO of World Vision Australia, I travel throughout Australia and across the globe, speaking to people on issues of poverty and visiting our World Vision projects worldwide. This gives me the opportunity to meet many people, from different races and creeds, from world leaders through to the poorest of the poor.

Many of our staff working around the world are local nationals who have an intimate knowledge of the communities and cultures in which we operate. They make my visits to the projects educational and inspiring.

How do you combine the roles of being a minister of a church and CEO of World Vision Australia?

The Christian response is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and respond to human needs - this too is the mission of World Vision. The common goal of both the Christian faith and the mission of World Vision has made it extremely easy to reconcile my roles as both minister and CEO of this organisation.

Does World Vision minister to all, irrespective of creed, race, etc?

Yes. World Vision serves the world’s poor; and poverty is not determined by creed or race. We have offices and projects in places such as Indonesia, Burma, Afghanistan and Iran, where the Christian presence is very small. Most of our employees in these places are local nationals and many are not Christians.

What are your views on multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious Australia?

I love Australia and the great melting pot of cultures, ethnic groups and religious expressions that we encompass. I am a strong advocate of tolerance and mutual understanding. I see the world as a global village and that we cannot live as if we are isolated from or unrelated to all the challenges facing our world.