Daniel Willis facts for kids

Daniel Willis was born on April 8, 1954, in a town called Herberton, Australia. He is an Australian church leader who has spent most of his adult life working with the Anglican Church in Sydney.

In 2012, Mr. Willis started an organization called Leading Global Impact. This group helps important leaders develop their skills, especially those who work on national or international projects. Before that, he was the CEO of Bible Society NSW from 2001 to 2010. He also became a leader for the Lausanne Movement in the South Pacific region in 2004. Since moving to Sydney in 1972, he has had a long career in both business and church work.

Early Life and Studies

Daniel Willis first earned a degree in business. Later, he decided to study theology, which is the study of religious faith. He attended Moore Theological College and finished his studies in 1987. He also has a Master's degree in Religious Education from the University of South Australia.

Before he became a church leader, Mr. Willis worked for a well-known company called Arnott's Biscuits. He helped export their products to places like the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. After leaving Arnott's, he studied Information Technology (IT). He then worked for a company called Blue Metal Industries and later for United Data Centre before going to Moore College.

His Work in the Church

Daniel Willis became a Deacon in 1988 at St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney. Later that year, he became a Priest in Wollongong. He served in several churches, including St Phillip's Caringbah, St Albans Frenchs Forest, and the Cathedral Church of St Andrew.

In 2001, Mr. Willis became the chief executive officer (CEO) of Bible Society NSW. Under his leadership, the organization changed a lot. For example, it moved to a new location at Macquarie Park. It also changed its legal structure in 2008 to become a company. This made it easier for the organization to operate.

From 2005 to 2007, he also helped the Bible Society in Western Australia manage and improve their organization.

The Jesus. All About Life Project

In 2009, a big project called "Jesus. All About Life" took place across New South Wales and Western Australia. This project had started in 2004 and had been run in other cities before. It brought together 15 different church groups and about 1700 churches. They worked together to use different types of media, like TV and radio, to help people think about how Jesus Christ is important in everyday life.

Mr. Willis was a key person in bringing together seven separate Bible Societies across Australia. He helped them form one single, national company in September 2009. This made their work more organized and effective.

In 2010, Mr. Willis led a group from the South Pacific to a large conference in Cape Town, South Africa. This conference was about spreading the Christian message around the world. He continues to travel and teach in over 50 countries, helping to guide and develop young leaders.

In 2017, Mr. Willis was asked to help organize a major global conference called GAFCON III. This event took place in Jerusalem in 2018. Nearly 2,000 Anglican church members from over 70 countries attended. It was described as the largest meeting of Anglicans ever held. In 2020, he took on the role of Global Operations Manager for this worldwide movement.

Leadership Roles

Before joining the Bible Society, Daniel Willis worked in local churches within the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. His last role in a church was at St Andrew's Cathedral from 1997 to 2001. There, he was responsible for the church's congregation and a special program called Cross Talk, which connected with business people in the city. During this time, the Cathedral also underwent major repair work.

For over 38 years, he has worked in church ministry and with Bible organizations. He actively mentors many younger leaders around the world. With degrees in business, theology, and education, Daniel has also served as a director for several businesses and Christian groups. He was a founding director and chairman of the Australian Christian Heritage Foundation. He also served on the Advisory Council of the Australian Christian Lobby.