World Vision Australia

Our work > Christian Engagement > Speakers

Speakers

To request one of the speakers below to come to your church or event please email church@worldvision.com.au with your details and the details of your event.

New South Wales

John Lamerton

I'd just returned to Australia after three years of ministry abroad and had been praying God would increase my knowledge and understanding of his handywork globally - I actually asked him to "increase my vision". The next week I saw a role with World Vision that fit my strengths and gift-set and I just went for it. Thankfully I got the role and have had an extensive education ever since, in particular I have loved seeing the amazing reach and impact that World Vision is having around the world. A lot of our best work goes unnoticed and I like that humble approach.
My interests: Good food and good conversation are high on the list, usually with my lovely wife. I love discussing mission and leadership when I'm in a serious mood and sport, wine and comedy when I'm feeling a bit more relaxed. I'm pretty active in my down-time and enjoy my sports and photography. Reading in coffee shops is another hobby, funnily, I only started drinking coffee after joining World Vision. Fairtrade of course!

Western Australia

Jackie Knight

Jackie is the Church Partnership Manager for World Vision in Western Australia. She joined us after volunteering for six years. Jackie simply loved the work at World Vision and when the position for Church Partnership Manager came up, she decided to put her name on it. Jackie simply loved to work with local pastors/leaders/community heads, always incredibly interesting and challenging. Aside from work, Jackie spends the majority of her time with her husband Peter. They have two children and six grand children. She enjoys keeping fit, dancing, long walks at the beach, singing and meeting with her four favourite girlfriends four time a year.

Jarrod McKenna

Peace preaching eco-evangelist, larrikin activist & one day want-a-be permaculturalist, Jarrod McKenna, has been described by Tim Costello as “one of Australia’s most important young Christian voices” and by Shane Claiborne as “a prophet of imagination”. More realistic assessments are found amongst his loving little family and Peace Tree Community with which he lives, prays, gardens & serves in one of the poorest areas of Perth, Australia. He is a National Advisor for World Vision Australia, regular commentator on the ABC, a peace award recipient for his activist training work with groups like Rising Tide, Greenpeace and for founding “EPYC”, which last year ran nonviolence training with over 8,000 students. Internationally, (in an amazing diversity of settings from "mega-churches" to remote communities), Jarrod is invited to empower people to re-imgaine what living God’s love means practically to our world’s most pressing problems.

Colin Battersby

Colin is the State Manager for World Vision in Western Australia and is passionate about communicating God's heart for worship and social justice. As a singer/songwriter, professional educator and Christian leader, Colin has ministered in churches and at conferences throughout Australia and overseas, speaking and leading worship for organisations such as Youth Alive, Planet Shakers and Willow Creek International. Currently, Colin enjoys life close to Perth’s northern beaches with his wife Andrea and their 3 young children, Matthew, Jake and Lucy.

South Australia

Matt Anderson

Currently working as World Vision’s Church Partnership Manager for South Australia & the Northern Territory, Matt has ministered as a local pastor in a number of large churches, as well as an organisational leader and itinerant preacher, for over 15 years.Matt has ministered cross denominationally with the Heads of Christian Churches in South Australia, as well as the Billy Graham Association and Youth Alive. He is a sought after speaker in a broad variety of settings including churches, rallies, camps & community events.He and his beautiful wife are the proud parents of three very energetic & adorable daughters, who have their father well & truly wrapped around their little fingers!

Queensland

Andrew Johnson

Andrew is one of our Church Partnership Managers in Queensland. With his background in Law and have worked in the justice ministry of the Uniting Church, he have long engaged with World Vision’s work, been impressed by its commitment to long term poverty alleviation and advocacy for the poor. Andrew is passionate about seeing the Australian church raise awareness about the issues associated with extreme poverty, advocate for change and act to contribute to overcome poverty and injustice. He is interested in seeing the church take seriously its missional calling to participate in the ministry of Jesus Christ in overcoming poverty and injustice.

Victoria

Steven Cooke

Steve is a Melbourne-based advocate for global justice and joined World Vision in 2007. His has a focus on faith, politics and development and works to develop our advocacy with and for Christian audiences. Steve’s background is in international development studies which he uses to help Australian Christians better understand the issues facing developing nations - exploring the links between faith and activism in bringing about change for the poor and vulnerable. He loves to travelling to new countries and seeing how the teachings of Jesus span beyond culture and lead to justice and freedom for all people.

Leigh Cameron

After 10 years of youth ministry, in both Adelaide and Melbourne, Leigh's ministry focus took a new direction. Hosting a short-term mission trip to Nepal was the catalyst for a relentless and growing desire to be involved in Christian mission. This led to his appointment as the General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in SA/NT. Working with Churches and Christians to get them excited and involved in cross-cultural Christian mission, A desire to focus on Christian development work meant a return to full time study after 7 years in this role, to add a Masters of International Development to his Bachelor or Ministry (Australian College of Theology). While studying, he began work with World Vision, first in the Church team, then as the State Manager for WA & SA/NT. In 2009 Leigh was appointed as the Head of Church Engagement for World Vision Australia, developing and overseeing World Vision’s strategy for engaging with the Christian community in Australia. In October 2011, Leigh joined WVA’s executive team and took up the role of General Manager, Advocacy & Church, a role which combines his many years of experience working for and with churches, his experience and gifts as a strategic thinker and senior manager.

Rev. David Waters

Rev David Waters is currently the World Vision Australia Pastoral Care Manager. Ordained in 1988, David led churches in NSW and Victoria for over 20 years before joining World Vision. He has travelled to many World Vision projects and is an experienced and gifted speaker who relates well to those on the fringe of the church, with men’s groups and with young people.

Rev. Bob Mitchell

Bob joined World Vision Australia in February 2009. He has been a solicitor for over 20 years, and was a Tax Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers for 14 years. He has been a board member of several non-for-profit organisations including BlueCare, The Timor Children’s Foundation, World Relief, and The PwC Foundation.

Rev. Tim Costello

Rev Tim Costello is a preeminent Australian who has devoted his life to health, welfare and social justice in Australia and globally. He is an authoritative national voice of social conscience, and has led public policy debates on urban poverty, homelessness, gambling addiction, reconciliation with Indigenous Australia, and the elimination of global poverty. In 1984, he established a socially active ministry at St Kilda Baptist Church and in 1994 became Minister at Collins Street Baptist Church where he established Urban Seed, a not-for-profit outreach service for the urban poor. In 2005, Tim was made an Officer of the Order of Australia and in 2006 was Australian of the Year for Victoria. Tim was appointed Chief Executive Officer of World Vision Australia in 2004. He is also co-chair of Make Poverty History, a coalition of 60 Australian aid agencies working together to raise awareness on issues surrounding global poverty.

© 2012 World Vision Australia. World Vision Australia ABN 28 004 778 081 is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

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