Category Archives: Captains & Legends 传奇

Captains & Legends 传奇

From Success to Significance 从成功到真谛

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Simon J. Costa

Humanitarian, AO

人道主义者, AO

Nelson Mandela once said, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice.” In this perspective, Simon J. Costa is the judge, jury and executive power. 

The 52-year-old Australian has been recognised for his services to the disadvantaged within Australia and internationally with the Pride of Australia Medal, appointed a Senior Officer of the Order of Australia and awarded a Global Humanitarian Award by the United Nations. 

Costa describes his life journey as being separated into two distinct halves. “During the first half I was driven by a relentless pursuit of success. In my second half, I still have the same determination, but I am now pursuing significance.” 

“Everywhere I went, the priority was studying the problem – not solving the problem. There was severe malnutrition in regions where tonnes of food was being produced and never consumed; the result of inefficient agricultural and supply chain practices.”

Never a person to settle for mediocrity, Costa is always pushing boundaries. At age 37, he became the head of one of Australia’s largest private organisations, controlling multiple companies and employing over 13,000 people. He had wealth, power and influence. At age 44 Costa began reflecting on his purpose in life and the legacy he wanted to leave behind. “I did not feel a meaningful legacy would be represented by the amount of money I had in my bank account or the number of properties I leave to my children. I began exploring ways in which I could use the gifts I had been blessed with to benefit others.” 

In 2011, Costa made the life-changing decision to step away from all corporate responsibilities and tackle two of the world’s most significant problems – starvation and poverty in developing countries. Costa joined the United Nations as a volunteer, focusing on improving the lives of people in sub-Saharan Africa whose existence revolved around agriculture. “I never expected the work would become such a passion for me, nor did I anticipate I would stay involved for over seven years.”

“I did not feel a meaningful legacy would be represented by the amount of money I had in my bank account or the number of properties I leave to my children. I  began exploring ways in which I could use the gifts I had been blessed with to benefit others.” 

The compassionate businessman was initially shocked to discover the scale of the food loss in the region and the lack of urgency to address the causal issues. Working with the UN World Food Program, Costa and his team launched a pilot program involving 2000 farms in East and West Africa. The success of the project attracted strong donor support and expanded to involve over 100,000 farming families over the following years. 

A study conducted by MIT University (Boston) revealed the education and technologies introduced by Costa’s team resulted in a staggering 98% reduction in food loss and provided a pathway towards global food security, greatly reducing poverty and starvation.

Since returning to Australia at the end of 2018, Costa has remained highly active. His new company, Inspiring-Leader, supports CEOs and executives in becoming more effective business leaders. Not surprisingly, Costa gives 100% of his fees to charity. 

前南非总统 Nelson Mandela 曾经说过:“战胜贫困不是慈善的任务，而是正义的行动。”从这个角度解析，Simon J. Costa同时集法官、陪审团和行政力量于一身。

这名52岁的澳大利亚人最近因在澳大利亚国内和国际上为弱势群体所做的贡献而获得“澳大利亚荣誉勋章”，任命为澳大利亚勋章高级官员(AO)，同时被联合国授予全球人道主义奖。

Costa将他的人生旅程分为两个截然不同的部分。“在我的上半生，对于成功的不懈追求成为我的驱动力。在后半生，仍然具备同样的动力，但我现在着重于生命意义。”

“我觉得有意义的遗产并非银行账户里有多少钱，或者要留给孩子多少资产，而是开始思索如何利用我所被赐予的一切来造福他人。”

他从来不是一个甘于平庸的人，总是在挑战极限。37岁时，身为澳大利亚最大的私人组织之一的负责人，掌管着多家公司，手下拥有超过1.3万名员工，可谓是财富、权力和影响力兼具。 而44岁时, Costa开始反思他的人生目标和名下的财产。“我觉得有意义的遗产并非银行账户里有多少钱，或者要留给孩子多少资产，而是开始思索如何利用我所被赐予的一切来造福他人。”

2011年，Costa毅然做出改变人生的决定，放弃和解除了所有的企业管理职，积极投入解决世界上两项最严重的课题——发展中国家的饥饿和贫困问题。他作为一名志愿者加入了联合国，致力于改善撒哈拉以南非洲地区以农业为中心的人们生活。“这份工作出乎意料之外的点燃我的激情，从没想过会在这里工作超过7年。”

“我的所到之处，优先考虑的似乎都是学习，并非解决问题。由于供应链效率低下、农业和贸易问题，在那些生产数吨粮食却从未消费的地区，造成了严重的营养不良。”

这位极富恻隐之心的商人最初为粮食损耗问题的严重性感到震惊，并且意识到解决因果问题的紧迫性。他与团队携手联合国世界粮食计划署展开合作，启动了一个涉及非洲2000个农场的试点项目计划。该项目得到了捐助者的大力支持，并扩大到1.6万个农业家庭，第二年持续延伸至4.2万个农场。

一份来自波士顿麻省理工大学的详细报告显示，Costa团队引进的教育和技术从中减少了98%的粮食损耗度，从而为全球粮食安全开辟了一条有效通道，很大程度舒缓了贫困和饥饿。

自2018年底回到澳大利亚以来，Costa一直保持活跃状态。他新成立的公司Inspiring Leader，提供支持和咨询予企业的首席执行官和高管们，让他们成为更高效的领导者。当然，毫无疑问，所有相关收益100%捐献慈善机构。

By Billie Ooi-Ng Lean Gaik

Captains & Legends 传奇

The Thor of Real Estate 房地产之雷神

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Toni El-Helou
Director & Senior Auctioneer of Biggin & Scott Boroondara
Biggin & Scott Boroondara董事、高级拍卖商

Acclaimed pianist and composer Vladimir Samoylovich once said, 

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is practice.” Learning to manage an auction is no different. 

As powerful as Thor with his hammer, award-winning auctioneer Toni El-Helou knows that better than anyone else as he pushes himself with endless drills and practice. “Motivation gets you started, habits keep you going.”

‘Sold!’ is a word he uses regularly, closing deals with ease for buyers and sellers alike. As director of Biggin&Scott Boroondara, El-Helou is a respected name in the real estate industry. Skilled in negotiation, sales, real estate and business development, he is a strong real estate professional with a master’s degree in architecture, finance and real estate from BHS. Co-founder of a successful mortgage brokerage business with his wife Kris, his professional background includes a wealth of knowledge in finance, properties, commercial and residential developments. “We believe in creating relationships not transactions.”

His lean and slim built come from a love for sports. El-Helou enjoys tennis competitions and is an active member of the Royal Melbourne Tennis Club. His wife and four kids ensure he strikes a balance between work, pleasure and family life.  This state of happiness and equilibrium makes him more connected to his clients.  He can understand, consider and listen to their needs more effectively and appreciates that everyone has different goals and ambitions.

Motivation gets you started, habits keep you going. Believe and you will achieve.

A local resident of Boroondara for the last 20 years, Tony lives and breathes the local lifestyle of fantastic restaurants, cafes, reputable schools and sporting facilities. He brings passion and an exceptional understanding of what clients want in the Boroondara precinct and surrounding areas. Delivering results and a personalised service, he is known in the industry as an excellent communicator and has a reputation for ‘not leaving any stone unturned’. As a community-minded individual and family man, El-Helou has been described as ‘a dedicated breath of fresh air to the real estate industry’. 

We believe in creating relationships not transactions.

闻名的钢琴兼作曲家Vladimir Samoylovich曾说过:“平凡与非凡的区别在于实践”。至于拍卖的管理学问也出自同样原理。

手执与雷神一样强大力量的锤子，屡获殊荣的拍卖师Toni El-Helou会比任何人都清楚这一点，因为他以不间断的努力和实践来推动自己。“动力让你开始，习惯让你前进。”

我们相信建立关系，而不仅是交易。

“卖出!”他的这句常用词撮合了众多买卖双方轻松达成交易。而作为Biggin & Scott Boroondara 的董事，Toni El-Helou 在房地产领域还是一个备受尊崇的名字。他擅长谈判与销售，房产和商业开发，身为颇具实力的房产专业人士，拥有BHS的建筑、金融和房地产硕士学位。他妻子Kris共同创立了一家成功的抵押贷款经纪公司，而他丰富的学识背景运用在金融、房地产、商业和住宅开发方面更是得心应手。“我们相信建立关系，而不仅是交易。”

动力让你开始，习惯让你前进。相信，就会有收获。

Toni El-Helou的标准身材源于对运动的坚持不懈。他热爱网球比赛，是墨尔本皇家网球俱乐部的活跃成员。而妻子和4名孩子也是他确保在工作、娱乐和家庭生活之间取得平衡的重心。这种幸福平衡的状态使他与客户的联系更加紧密。他能更有效与深刻的理解、考虑和倾听客户们的需求，并清晰知道每个人都有不同的目标和抱负。

20年以来安居于Boroondara，他享受着当地写意舒适的生活方式，无论是一流的餐厅、咖啡馆或者是著名的学校和体育设施。他对Boroondara区域和周边地区的客户需求推动有着极大的热情和更深层的了解。至于效率和个性化服务方面，他在业内以出色的沟通者著称，处事态度讲究全力以赴。作为同时具备社区意识的个人和居家男性，ToniEl-Helou 被誉为“房地产业界的一股清流”。

Text by Billie Ooi-Ng Lean Gaik      

Captains & Legends 传奇

A World Where Economies And Nature Will Prosper Together 经济与自然共繁盛的大同世界

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Rich Gilmore
Country Director of The Nature Conservancy
自然保护协会 (The Nature Conservancy) 全国总监

One day, not far into the distant future, sustainability and economy will thrive hand-in-hand if practiced cohesively by all parties. This would indeed help to drive economic growth and create jobs for the people. 

The issue of climate change cannot be ignored and it has become a worldwide concern as activists are engaged in heated contention with economically driven entities. But it is possible for profit-centred businesses and nature conservation to work together to improve all facets towards global progression and harmony. 

Working towards this goal is The Nature Conservancy (TNC), with a mission to help businesses and society understand and practice sustainable development where people and nature can thrive. 

It was founded in the United States in 1951 and has grown to become one of the most successful and impactful environmental organisations in the world. 

It is powered by more than a million members together with more than 400 scientists who are dedicated to their conservation efforts. They are so far making an impact in 72 countries across six continents. 

It’s also because of their innovative and modern approach to conservation that has the whole world talking, and in this part of the globe, TNC is making people pay attention for good reasons. 

Eating endangered species to conserve 

their environment

The Nature Conservancy Australia’s country director, Rich Gilmore gives an example of the TNC’s project to restore the shellfish reefs and ecosystems by indulging in one of its endangered species.

“Our idea could seem controversial but in this case, eating the native oyster works to preserve habitats. It’s a rare delicacy and was over fished almost to extinction in the 19th century but now in the 21st century, we’re encouraging people to eat this endangered species. 

“This creates demand for the oysters, thus creating a demand for their habitat. As a result, gives better opportunities for our shellfish reef restoration work because oysters are excellent and natural water filters – improving water quality through filtering algae, nutrients and suspended matter from the sea water,” explains Rich.

In a nutshell, or rather, seashell, the TNC works with nature to help re-establish oyster and mussel reefs across Australia, working with local businesses, communities and researchers so that nature and people can once again enjoy the many benefits that the shellfish reefs can bring.

Protecting nature while driving profits

Ultimately, Rich said that the conservatory wants to demonstrate that it can protect important places while facilitating sustainable developments. 

Another example was a project the organisation undertook to protect a 16,000 hectare wetland in Australia, an area that’s home to 200 plant species and over 130 bird species. 

“We were funded to create sustainable developments and movements that created jobs for local people through sustainable agriculture in livestock grazing and cattle production.”

“These jobs will be created in partnership with conservation, rather than in competition with conservation. The contributions that enabled this major project are called impact investments which deliver social, environmental and financial return,” explained Rich.  

At the end of the day, we’re very much clouded by our busy urban lives, many of us forget that nature is the fundamental support system that we all depend on. 

“The fact is that economic prosperity of the world relies on nature. Everything that is linked to prosperity like clean air and clean water are provided for free by nature. 

But the real people really care about nature is because of the joy it brings to them and their families – spending time in nature, learning about it and appreciating what it offers. 

“We need to do a better job to remind people that these are the reasons nature really matters. We spend too much time indoors and not enough time outside in nature and we’ve becoming disconnected to it.” 

He understands the rush of corporate life as he comes from a financial background, but after going on a volunteer conservation expedition in Africa, he became a “convert”. 

“I’m relatively new to the conservation area as I was previously in the corporate markets sector. 15 years ago, I was inspired to become an environmentalist by immersing myself in nature where I was part of a project on mangrove conservation in the Swahili Coast,” he recalled.

It was then that Rich decided to leave his corporate life and returned to pursue his studies in a Master of Environmental Management from the University of New South Wales, and the rest is history. 

如果各方保持凝聚力，在不远的将来，大自然的可持续性将与全球经济携手并进，这确实有助于推动经济增长，为人们创造就业机会。

地球气候变化问题不容忽视，随着运动人士与经济驱动实体之间的激烈博弈，这个课题已经成为全球关注的焦点。但其实以逐利为中心的企业和自然保护组织可以尝试联手促进各方面的改善与和谐。

自然保护协会 (The Nature Conservancy -TNC) 致力于实现这一目标，其使命是协助企业和社会深入理解和实践环境的可持续发展，使人类和自然能够共同繁盛。

该组织于1951年在美国成立，现已成为世界上成功兼最具影响力的环保组织之一。协会由逾百万名会员和400多名致力于保护工作的科学家注入动力。至今，他们已经在六大洲共72个国家缔造有效成果。

而他们所提倡的创新和现代方法引起全球热议，可说是让人们有充分的理由关注TNC。

食用濒危物种以保护环境
自然保护协会澳大利亚区总监Rich Gilmore也举例说明TNC修复濒临灭绝的贻贝珊瑚礁与平衡生态系统的项目。

“我们的想法可能会引起争议，但在这种情况下，食用本地牡蛎可以保护栖息地。这是一种罕见的美味，在19世纪被过度捕捞几乎灭绝，但现在21世纪，我们鼓励人们吃这种濒危物种。“

“这将从中创造人们对牡蛎的需求，也会促使重新打造它们的栖息地。因此，这为我们的贻贝珊瑚礁修复工作展现更好的机会，因为牡蛎是优质的天然滤水器 – 过滤藻类、营养物质和海水中的悬浮物来改善水质。”他解释。

一句概括：更确切地说是贝类、TNC与大自然密切配合，推动澳大利亚各地重建牡蛎和贻贝珊瑚礁，而当地企业、社区和研究人员也加入其中，让大自然和人们再次享受到贻贝珊瑚礁带来的诸多好处。

逐利同时捍卫自然
Rich Gilmore 认为，协会最终想要证明，促进可持续发展的同时能够捍卫关键大自然。

另外，作为实例，该组织所承担的保护澳大利亚1.6万公顷湿地的一个项目，该地区作为200种植物和130多种鸟类的家园。

“我们获得资金推行可持续的发展和动力，透过放牧和牲畜永续农业为当地民众创造就业机会。这些将与环境保护相铺相成，并非背道而驰的竞争关系。促成这一重大项目的贡献被称为影响投资，为社会、环境和财务带来丰厚回报。”

结束忙碌一天，我们被喧嚣的城市生活所笼罩，很多人忘记了大自然是我们赖以生存的基础系统。事实上，世界经济的繁荣仰赖于自然。

一切与繁荣有关的东西，如干净的空气和水，都是自然界免费供应的。

但是，真正关心自然界的人们是因为大自然赐予他们和家人快乐泉源—花时间感受、了解和感激大自然的奉献。

“我们需要做得更多以提醒人们，为什么大自然是那么的重要。我们在室内呆了太久，却没有太多时间享受大自然熏陶，我们已经与之断开了联系。”

他曾经从事金融财务工作，非常了解企业生活的匆忙，但在参加了非洲的志愿者保护远征队之后，他成为了“皈依者”。

“我之前埋头企业市场业务工作，对于自然保护领域还是相当陌生。15年前，我因本身融入自然而受到启发，继而成为一名环保主义者，在那里我参与了斯瓦希里海岸(Swahili Coast)红树林保护项目。”

那时，Rich决定抽离企业继续深造，重返新南威尔士大学攻读环境管理硕士学位，然后走到了今天。

Text By Karina Foo