Michael Zervos’s story is one of resilience—inherited and earned. The Monash Business School alumnus and current CEO of Courage to Care Victoria has taken an unconventional route from corporate boardrooms to classrooms, driven by a deep sense of justice shaped as much by personal history as by professional evolution.

“I am Greek Orthodox and the CEO of Courage to Care Victoria an education charity founded by the global Jewish service organisation B’nai B’rith,” he told Neos Kosmos.

“I find deep personal meaning in this work. Our mission to stand up against racism and discrimination resonates not only with my professional values but also with my own Greek heritage.”

That heritage is rooted in the Aegean Island of Kastellorizo.

“My grandfather, Michael Mangos—Zervos’s namesake—migrated to Australia in 1909 and like many early 20th-century immigrants, Mangos arrived with dreams of opportunity, only to be met with hostility.

“In 1915, anti-Greek riots erupted in Kalgoorlie, destroying his business, and forcing him to flee to Melbourne.

“My family’s story is not unique,” Zervos said, “it is a stark reminder that racism has deep roots in this country—and its scars are felt through generations.”

That legacy has helped fuel Zervos’s commitment to his current role at Courage to Care, where the mission is simple: equip young people to become Upstanders—active agents against bullying, prejudice, and hate.

“We show young people that their voices matter and their actions can create meaningful change,” he says. “We teach them that each and every one of us, in our own way, can make a difference.”

The organisation, backed by more than 150 volunteers, has reached nearly 200,000 Australian students through workshops that use lived experience and survivor testimony to spark empathy and action. This year alone, 20,000 Victorian students will participate.

For Zervos, this work has become even more urgent in the face of rising antisemitism and other forms of racial hatred.

“I work with many volunteers who are deeply impacted, and the fear is palpable—they have armed guards outside schools, their places of worship are being fire-bombed,” he says.

“All of us deserve decency, respect and safety.”

Zervos’s belief in education as a transformative force stem in part from his time at the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, where he spent over a decade leading initiatives that merged advocacy with pedagogy.

“If we can educate school children, we can make a long-term difference,” he says.

But he didn’t start out in the not-for-profit world. After graduating from Monash, Zervos carved out a successful corporate career as an auditor and held senior financial roles at Cadbury Schweppes and Repco. Then in 2002, a three-week project at the Make-A-Wish Foundation turned into a four-year calling.

“That was my first foray into the not-for-profit sector, and I fell in love with it—it had immediate alignment with my values,” he says.

Now 70, Zervos was honoured with an OAM in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours and received the Monash Business School Alumni Impact Award in 2024. Yet, he’s self-effacing.

“I certainly didn’t win any academic awards at Monash,” he laughs, “but I learned a lot about myself—about my strengths and abilities and the importance of self-discipline and accountability.”

He likens his life to his running habit – steady, persistent, and grounded in grit. He’s set to complete his 20th Melbourne Marathon this year.

“Just like my academic career, there are no photos of me on the podium,” he says. “But I just keep on going and never give up.”

It’s a message he’s keen to pass on to the next generation.

“Back yourself,” Zervos said. “If you have the passion and belief, then have the confidence to pursue it.”