Inspirational Leader Series: Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, Basil Zempilas

Basil Zempilas was elected Lord Mayor of the City of Perth in October 2020, the 18th Lord Mayor of Perth and the first following a three year period without elected leadership.

Basil began his television career at Channel 7 in Perth in 1994 and since 2001 has been the station’s Senior Sports Presenter. He also hosts the Triple M Breakfast show on Perth radio.

Basil has been a host and commentator at nine Olympics Games for the Seven Network.  For over 10 years he was a commentator and host of Seven’s Australia Open tennis coverage and for five years he was Master of Ceremonies at the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Between 2012-2019 Zempilas was a host and commentator on the Seven Network’s AFL coverage.

He spent two years commuting from Perth to Sydney from 2018 to co-host Seven’s Weekend Sunrise and in 2019 he anchored and moderated the first Leader’s Debate between Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten.

Since 2010 Basil has been host of Seven Perth’s world renowned 26-hour live television charity fundraiser, Telethon. Since its inception, Telethon has raised almost $400 million for sick children and medical research and in 2021 raised a record $62.1 million dollars.

In his role as Lord Mayor, Basil was twice asked to activate the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund, first for the Wooroloo and Hills bushfire and then for the victims of Tropical Cyclone Seroja. The two appeals raised almost $25 million.

Basil is Perth born and bred, a huge contributor to the community and fiercely proud of his Greek heritage, His family hails from the tiny island of Kastellorizo, Greece which has had official Sister City status with the City of Perth since 1984.  

Join us for breakfast at AIM WA in Floreat as the Lord Mayor shares his story.

To book a table for 8 guests ($704), please click on the enquire button at the top of the page.