Mr Costello was chief executive of World Vision Australia for seven years and helped place the challenges of global poverty on the national agenda.

In his current role as chief advocate he continues to use his public profile to affect change, said SMSFA.

In addition Mr Costello is chair of the Community Council of Australia, and is a member of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee of the EU-Australia Leadership Forum, the Australian National Development Index, Concern Australia Advisory Group and the Campaign for Australian Aid.

He was also a founding board member and spokesperson for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, which campaigns for law reform to prevent harm from poker machine gambling.

In earlier roles, Mr Costello was National President of the Baptist Union of Australia and Mayor of St Kilda. He has been Baptist Minister at St Kilda Baptist and Collins Street Baptist in Melbourne, as well as executive director of Urban Seed. 

“In these roles he spearheaded public debate on problem gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse,” the SMSF Association said.