Courage to Care CEO and well-known Kastellorizian Michael (Mike) Zervos, has been honoured with the Order of Australia OAM.
Appointed as the first CEO of Courage to Care Victoria in August 2018, Mike was drawn to the organisation’s Upstander message and mission of educating about the dangers of prejudice, racism, and bullying.
Under his leadership, Courage to Care has made significant strides in reaching schools and the wider community, with over 160,000 students participating in its programs. The organisation has also expanded its services to provide fee-for-service education to teachers and other adults in the community.
Expressing his confidence in the importance of their work and the continued support of the community, Mr Zavros stated, “I am both humbled and honoured to receive this award. In many ways, the credit goes to my Greek migrant parents who sacrificed so much for our generation and taught us the importance of education and hard work. I feel I have an obligation to honour their memory and their investment in me. I have gained inspiration from so many dedicated volunteers whose selfless efforts are a fine example to us all.”
His extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector spans over 20 years, including leadership roles at the Make a Wish Foundation, Alannah and Madeline Foundation, and Guide Dogs Victoria before joining Courage to Care.
He played a pivotal role in the creation of Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s eSmart programs in schools. With a corporate career both in Australia and internationally, Mike is a qualified CPA.
In light of the recent increase in reports of racism and discrimination, Courage to Care Victoria is calling on the community to contribute to this year’s fundraising appeal. All donations will be matched to double the impact.
For more information or to contribute to Courage to Care’s fundraising appeal, visit couragetocare.org.au
