Biography of Tim Costello, Chief Executive of World Vision Australia.

Tim Costello has long been the voice of social conscience for many Australians, having led debates on domestic issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse.

Tim first studied law and education at Monash University, followed by theology at the International Baptist Seminary Rueschlikon, Switzerland, and a Masters in Theology at the Melbourne College of Divinity.

After ordination as a Baptist Minister in 1984, Tim established a vibrant and socially active ministry at St Kilda Baptist Church between 1986 and 1994. In 1993 he demonstrated his commitment to serving the community by successfully running for Mayor of St Kilda.

From 1995 to 2004 Mr Costello was Minister at Collins Street Baptist Church and Executive Director of Urban Seed, a Christian not-for-profit outreach service for the urban poor. In addition, between 1999 and 2002 he was National President of the Baptist Union of Australia

In February 2004 Mr Costello accepted the role as Chief Executive of World Vision, Australia’s largest overseas aid organisation, having been drawn to the organisation’s philosophy of helping the poorest of the poor. In this current role, Tim has witnessed the worst of humanitarian disasters and seen the most inspiring human responses to suffering. After the Asian Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004, Tim travelled immediately to the disaster area, and his presence and media profile added significant weight to the World Vision appeal, which ultimately raised more than 100 million dollars.

In July 2004, Mr Costello was named 2004 Victorian of the Year in recognition of his years of public and community service. In addition in November 2005 Tim was awarded the Victorian Division winner of the Australian of the Year.

In June 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for “service to the community through contributions to social justice, health and welfare issues, international development assistance, and to the Baptist Church”.

Tim is one of Australia’s most sought after public speakers and every year addresses tens of thousands of people from the public and private sector, and the wider community. Tim has written several books including Streets of Hope: Finding God in St Kilda; Tips from a Travelling Soul Searcher and Wanna Bet? Winners and Losers in Gambling’s Luck Myth (which was co-written with Royce Millar).

Mr Costello and his wife of 25 years, Merridie, have three adult children, Claire, Elliot and Martin.

Professor Richard C Semelka - The Kodak Carestream Professor

Professor Richard Semelka M.D. is a Professor, Director of MRI Services, and Vice Chairman of Clinical Research of the Department of Radiology, at the University of North Carolina Hospitals, U.S.A. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of the journals JMRI, MRI and TMRI, and is a reviewer for many journals. He has contributed to over 200 publications in referred journals and has authored numerous review articles and textbook chapters. He has authored 7 text-books, including Abdominal-Pelvic MRI, second edition, Wiley-Liss, 2006. His main expertise lies in cross sectional abdominal imaging with an emphasis on MRI, with a particular interest of liver, pancreas, kidney and bowel diseases. He regularly conducts various teaching and categorical courses at International Radiology Conferences.

Professor Peter Choyke

Professor Peter Choyke is the Chief of the Molecular Imaging Program at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda Maryland, USA.  His research interests include the targeted imaging of cancer using optical, MR and radionuclide/PET probes.  Prior to his current position he was an attending radiologist at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda and an Associate Professor at Georgetown University.  He currently holds the rank of Professor of Radiology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland.

Associate Professor Mitchell Tublin

Associate Professor Mitchell Tublin M.D. is currently an Associate Professor and the ultrasound section chief at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine.  Associate Professor Tublin completed his residency and abdominal imaging fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in 1994 and was on staff at Albany Medical Centre until returning to Pittsburgh in 2001.  His current research interests include endocrine sonography and ultrasound contrast agents. His CV includes both basic and clinical radiology research and he is an engaging, sought after, lecturer at US national meetings.  He is most proud, however, of the life accomplishments of his wife, Dr Mary Davitt and his three rapidly growing sons, Daniel, Joshua and Andrew.

Dr David J. Breen

Dr David Breen is Consultant Abdominal Radiologist at Southampton University Hospitals in the UK with a long-standing interest in abdominal imaging and non-vascular intervention. His published interests include abdominal trauma, liver perfusion, pancreatic disease and image-guided ablation in the liver and kidney etc. He is closely involved with radiologic education as Chair of the British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (BSGAR) and with ESGAR and CIRSE in Europe. His delightful-but long-suffering wife!-Caroline will be with him and he is pleased to accept the kind invitation of the RANZCR.

Professor Bill Lees

Professor William R Lees became Professor Medical Imaging in 1994 at University College London and has been a consultant GI and abdominal radiologist to the Middlesex Hospital since 1981. Professor Lees was a board member of the National Radiological Protection Board for many years. In 1993 Professor Lees was the Rohan Williams travelling Professor in Australia and New Zealand and in 1995 gave the Annual Oration in Diagnostic Radiology at the RSNA. Professor Lees has published over 200 papers and made over 30 contributions to books and lectured in over 30 countries.

Professor Andy Adam

Professor Andy Adam, MB, BS (Hons), FRCP, FRCS, FRCR, is Professor of Interventional Radiology at the University of London. His work focuses on biliary and gastrointestinal intervention. He has served as Editor of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology and has been president of several national and international organizations. He is currently president of the European Society of Radiology. In September 2007 he will become President of the Royal College of Radiologists. His numerous awards include the Gold Medal of CIRSE, the President’s Medal of the Royal College of Radiologists and the Medal of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.

Professor Walter Curran

Professor Walter J. Curran, Jr., MD is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He is also Group Chairman of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and member of the ASCO Cancer Research Committee. His areas of clinical and translational research involve testing innovative multi-modality therapies for patients with thoracic malignancies and intracranial tumours. Dr. Curran serves as Secretary and Treasurer of the Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups committed to increasing awareness and participation in cancer clinical trials.

Professor John Yarnold

Professor John Yarnold is Professor of Clinical Oncology at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK. He is chief investigator of several national ( UK) randomised trials testing improvements in breast radiotherapy, including hypofractionation, partial breast radiotherapy and intensity modulation. The trials incorporate protocols investigating cell and molecular mechanisms responsible for late adverse effects. Other translational research initiatives aim to shed light on the molecular basis of fractionation sensitivity. Professor Yarnold is past chair of the UK National Cancer Research Institute Breast Clinical Studies Group.  

Professor Theodore S. Lawrence
ASTRO Speaker, USA

Professor Theodore S. Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D., is the Isadore Lampe Professor and Chair of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan. He has served in many professional societies, particularly as President (2004) and Chairman of the Board (2005) of ASTRO, and on the Board of Directors of ASCO (2000-2003). Professor Lawrence is currently the Chair of the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Councilors. He is an editor of The Cancer Journal: Journal of the Principles & Practice of Oncology, and the associate editor for Seminars in Radiation Oncology. His research interests in the laboratory are focused on chemotherapeutic and molecularly targeted radiosensitizers. His clinical research combines these laboratory studies with highly conformal radiation therapy guided by functional imaging in the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal and central nervous system malignancies.