Global business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Mr Andrew N Liveris, a well-known businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist on a global scale, has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the international Greek community, including the Australian Greek community, the Kastellorizian community, and to the Australian community.
The four criteria for the award are that the nominated person must be of Kastellorizian descent; have demonstrated excellence in their field of endeavour; must have made an outstanding contribution to the Kastellorizian, Greek and/or Australian community; and be an inspirational role model for Kastellorizians.
Andrew is the co-founder and continuing Global Chairman of the Hellenic Initiative (THI), a non-profit organisation mobilising the Greek Diaspora to invest in the future of Greece, as well as to help the destitute.
Andrew is obviously a man who looks to the future, and in Australia he, and his wife Paula, contributed $13.5 million to the University of Queensland to support the establishment of the Andrew N Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership. The Andrew N. Liveris building is nearing completion and will provide the environment and programs to deliver its objectives: a pipeline of effective and creative leaders for the digital era, with the capacity to contribute to a sustainable future. Andrew and Paula have also pledged to raise many more millions of dollars to support the UQ’s philanthropic campaign.
With well over forty years of global leadership as former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Dow Chemical Company and the former Executive Chairman of DowDuPont, his career has encompassed roles in manufacturing, engineering, sales, marketing, and business general management around the world. In 2014, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to international business. He currently holds several directorships with major international companies. He has been awarded four Honorary Doctorates, counselled three US Presidents, and has received extensive honours and prestigious awards. In his willingness to advise, impart and share his philosophy, knowledge and breadth of experience, he has become an international advocate to government, business, academic and non-profit sectors in his quest to maximise economic health (material and non-material) and future prosperity.
Andrew has remained loyal to his Greek/Kastellorizian roots and his Australian roots. He has personally supported projects in Darwin, where he was born, and in Queensland where he attended University. He has contributed to infrastructure projects on Kastellorizo, and through The Hellenic Initiative champions projects to assist the Hellenic Republic.
Although he has received many awards and accolades for his achievements and private benevolence, being named Kastellorizian of the Year is close to his heart. In pre-COVID times the Liveris family regularly visited Kastellorizo to connect with their heritage. The importance Andrew places on his Kastellorizian heritage is reflected in this quote from a recent interview:
‘I’m a product of immigrants, of courageous but impoverished people. I believe where we come from is, in a sense, who we are and where we are going. I think you prepare your future by using the memories and the lessons from your past. Your history shapes you. We are, after all, creatures of our environment and the legacy we’ve been given is most definitely a large part of our environment, so we have to care about that. A big piece of that is caring about the traditions and the cultural heritage that shaped you into who you are.’
Right: 1928, in front of the family’s original house on the Esplanade, Darwin. From left: Nicholas Andreas Liveris (Andrew’s father), Nicholas’ brother Anastasis (AKA George), two cousins and Nicholas’ other brother Les.
We present some brief highlights from Andrew Liveris’ extensive profile, as they relate to the four selection criteria:
1. Must be of Kastellorizian descent:
Andrew Nicholas Liveris was born in Darwin.His father and paternal grandparents were born in Kastellorizo.He married Paula in Brisbane, and their three children were born in Sydney, Hong Kong and Thailand. He is very proud of his Kastellorizian heritage. His main place of residence is now the United States of America.
2. Demonstrated excellence in field of endeavour
• Global business leader and adviser
• An extensive list of prestigious Honours and Awards, including SCI Chemical Industry Medal; and “Distinguished Greek Personality Award” (one of only six awardees in Diaspora to be celebrated with Hellenic Postal Service producing a series of stamps and one that bears the image of Andrew N Liveris
• Counselled 3 US Presidents, and Past Chair and Member of USA Presidents’ Advisory Committees; Past Chair of the American Business Council with Elon Musk as his Deputy
• Current directorships of IBM, Dow, Worley, Saudi Aranco (world’s biggest Oil and Gas Company) amongst several others
• Richard Branson’s B Team of handpicked luminaries – Sustainability forum for world leaders.
3. Outstanding contribution to the Kastellorizian, Greek and/or Australian community
International Greek Community:
• Awarded Honorary Doctorates from 4 universities
• Aristeiro Award by American Hellenic Council – recognised as outstanding Greek Orthodox leader and for commitment to reviving manufacturing industry in America. As Chairman and CEO, overseeing transformation of Dow Chemicals during global financial crisis
• Archbishop’s award for contributions toward Orthodoxy and Hellenism and commitment to family values and ethics through Hellenic ideals of his parents and grandparents and to Greek/Kastellorizian ideologies
• Co-founder and Global Chairman of The Hellenic Initiative (THI) – an international not-for- profit organisation mobilising the Greek Diaspora to invest in the future of Greece, with the goal of encouraging job creation and investments in Greece as well as relief of the destitute.
Australian Community:
• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2014 for services to international business
• Chair of Northern Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission
• Special Adviser to the Aust Govt Industry Growth Centre Advisory Committee, advising governments on post COVID economic recovery
• Spearheaded the raising of $500,000 for his alma mater, Darwin High School and established Nicholas Liveris Walk in memory of his father and the family’s contributions to the NT
• Contributed AUD13.5 million to establish the Andrew N Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership in the University of Queensland Engineering faculty to support and develop young talent and innovation to address major challenges facing society.
• Pledged to raise an additional $26.5 million to support the University of Queensland’s ‘Not If, When’ philanthropic campaign.
Kastellorizian Community:
• Contributed to infrastructure, historical restoration projects – such as the Ottoman Hammam (bath house); recycling program; the restoration of the piazza at Pera Meria (lighting, paving, seating and play equipment) and maintenance of Mandraki slipway in Kastellorizo.
• Influenced contemporary geopolitical issues in the Eastern Mediterranean to garner support for Greece’s position on international maritime boarders by taking out advertisement in US newspaper; and worked with present and past Greek Prime Ministers.
4. Inspirational Role Model for Kastellorizians
• Inspirational role model for Generations Y and Z, Kastellorizians in particular
• Awarded the 2013 International Palladium Medal of the Societe de Chimie Industrielle – this non-profit American organisation inspires interest and knowledge sharing in the Chemical and Life Science Industries through the recognition of distinguished leaders, networking, scholarships and mentorship of students.
• Personally devotes time and patience in mentoring younger generations