Andrew Liveris is a special adviser at Australia's National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Body that is tasked with advising the federal government on economic recovery and getting as many people back in jobs as possible.
Having spent 42 years at Dow Chemicals - one of the three largest chemicals producers in the world, including 14 years as the CEO, he is also using his experience to help the top end where he spent his childhood, as co-chair of Northern Territory's Post-coronavirus Economic Reconstruction Commission.
Today, well-known as a global power player, Mr Liveris' early years were steeped in poverty.
The grandson of Greek immigrants, with father from Kastellorizo and mother from Rhodes, Mr Liveris was born in 1954. The family fell into poverty long before he was born.
Soon after his grandparents migrated to Australia, his grandfather became seriously ill and died, leaving the family struggling to make ends meet.
"They were very poor. My grandmother was cleaning for the miners and my 10-year-old dad left school to start work and bring food to the table," Mr Liveris told SBS Greek.
He remembers his father always working hard as a carpenter in a factory. His mother did not speak English and cared at home for him and his sisters. She insisted that they learn to speak Greek, attend the church and keep traditions.
Andrew Liveris' father, Nicholas Liveris (left), at the family home in Darwin in 1925. Source: Supplied
Mr Liveris' lost his father when he was 14.
His mother could not stay in Darwin anymore and took the children to the nearest family they had in Brisbane. Uncle Lazarus became a fatherly figure in young Andrew's life. He saw early on that Andrew was smart and always managed to be a very good student. Uncle "Laz" was the one who pushed him hard to study and dream big.
"He told me not to compromise with little things and to set high goals. He said that I was smart and I could change the world," he reminisces.
A global power player
A random prompt from a friend led him to study Chemical Engineering. It was the decision that later proved to be the key to his high-profile career. Being top of his class at the University of Queensland, many companies offered him a job even before he graduated.
He chose Dow Chemicals, a giant multinational company in which he worked for 42 years. Starting from the bottom, he climbed up the whole ladder, right to the top where he spent his final 14 years in the company as the CEO.
Andrew Liveris on his graduation day in 1975 Source: Supplied
Throughout his professional journey that began in Australia, continued in Asia and culminated in the United States of America, Mr Liveris always had his wife Paula by his side. They first met on his first-ever trip to Sydney and got married two years later. They have three children.
"My wife is from Lebanon. We met at a wedding and we are still together. She is the love of my life and I am very lucky that she managed to embrace my Greekness and always be by my side."
Mr Liveris has been an adviser to three American presidents, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Apart from currently being a special adviser at Australia's COVID-19 Coordination Commission, he also advises the ruler of Saudi Arabia where he says his position offers him an opportunity to highlight the need for social change on the treatment of women and abuse of power.
"If you are there and being asked to give advice then rule number one is, say what's right not what's political, because if you say what's political then you are of no use. So why are you even there? I mean, there's plenty of people who do that."
Andrew and Paula Liveris with Barack Obama Source: Supplied
I always say what I think is right, instead of what is considered political. That is why I wouldn't become a politician myself.
"When you have the podium, you better use it to help the community when you can," he says.
'A Territory boy'
After having worked int he US for over four decades, Mr Liveris chose to return to his home in Darwin. He says he is proud of Australia's multiculturalism.
"Australia is a leader in this. We have done a good job of keeping us all together in a multicultural sense."
When NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced Mr Liveris' appointment as co-chair of the territory's COVID-19 economic reconstruction commission, he said while Mr Liveris has long been a global power player, he has always been a Territory boy.
Mr Liveris also has his Greek roots very close to his heart. When he saw Greece going through the financial crisis he says he could not believe that the Greeks -- such smart people, who excel abroad -- were presented internationally as failing and lazy. At the beginning of the economic crisis, he helped establish the a philanthropic international organisation aimed at Greece's economic revitalisation.
The prominent Greek Australian says he often visits his holiday home in Kastellorizo and believes many of his character traits come from his Kastellorizian spirit.
2017. Andrew Liveris with Pope Francis Source: Supplied
Andrew Liveris, however, does not hide his concern for "unstable" Turkey. He believes that Greece has the role of a "stabiliser" in the region and that in these "dangerous" times Greece needs "strong friends".
"Greece needs to have America on her side."
Listen to the full interview by clicking the play button on the top photo. The interview is in Greek and English.
