Like millions of Australian children, 14-year-old Daniel Wordsworth took part in the 40 Hour Famine.
Four decades on, he's heading the organisation behind the hugely popular charity activity, World Vision Australia.
The new CEO of Australia's largest international non-governmental organisation has for the past 12 years been CEO of Alight - formerly known as the American Refugee Committee based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The organisation provides health care, clean water, shelter, protection and economic opportunity to more than 2.5 million people in 15 countries each year.
However, it was his upbringing in the NSW regional town to Tamworth which shaped his attitude towards helping people.
"I have lived through droughts. I grew up on a farm, experienced severe water shortages and saw families around me really struggling," he said on Wednesday.
As a teenager he learned through World Vision "to give freely, not expecting anything in return".
"And that has been a great gift to me."
Now, as CEO, he saw his role as connecting Australians to "a world full of people doing good things".
Former CEO Tim Costello said Mr Wordsworth would bring vision and personal integrity to the role.
World Vision Australia board chair Shannon Adams said the not-for-profit organisation was operating in a fast-changing and increasingly challenging environment.
"Daniel is a gifted and capable leader who has the rare talent of combining extensive and authentic humanitarian experience with the ability to run a large organisation with reach across the globe," Mr Adams said.
