Mr Myer is the grandson of Myer emporium founder Sidney Myer and son of Sidney Baillieu (Bails) Myer.

He is also chairman of Asialink, a Melbourne University centre that helps foster better understanding of Asia.

Married with three children, he is also a former director of the Myer Foundation and was among those to start the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, which gives grants to groups in small towns.

''[They are] for small amounts of money, typically up to $5000 for communities in need, to do things that they think are important,'' Mr Myer said of the grants.

Among the thousands of grants the foundation has given out in its 12-year history was, last year, $3000 for the people of Raywood (population 291) near Bendigo to help the local progress association buy a colour photocopier after their old one died. It is now used to run off a newsletter for the town.

''It is absolutely amazing how a very small amount of money can make a big difference in a small rural, regional or remote community,'' Mr Myer said.

Mr Myer was also a long-time Zoos Victoria board member and is now chairman of its foundation, which raises money for Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo. ''Zoos around the world, and here, are searching for a higher purpose than simply keeping animals for display,'' he said.

''Almost everything that the organisation does is run through a prism of, 'What are we doing for the environment, and what are we doing for conservation?'''