Our Judging Committee for 2023, made up of leading international figures, experts in their field, is what makes GIWA unique and reputable, along with our credible process.
Judges will be looking for pioneers with innovative thinking in their sector. They will be looking for evidence of their efforts which will have brought transformation and significant growth to the business and/or their respective sector, including examples of brave initiatives and calculated risk-taking with proven Return on Investment.
Arts and Culture
This category is for individuals who have a vision, who have made a significant impact in arts and culture. It includes, among others, performing arts, visual arts, fine arts, music, literature, poetry etc.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ KOSTIS GEORGIOU
Kostis Georgiou was born in Thessaloniki. He lives and works in Athens.
1982: Painting and sculpture at the University of fine Arts in Athens.
1985-86: Royal College of Fine Arts (RCA) in London under Professor Peter de Francia.
1982-1988: Worked as stage designer in theater and for the Greek television (ERT).
1988-1991: He was professor in painting and stage design at the L. Stavracos international school of cinema in Athens.
His paintings have been collected by very important museums, foundations, banks, in Greece and abroad, and he has gained many awards and distinctions all over the world (JAPAN-ITALY-BELGIUM etc.)
He creates monumental sculptures, which have been installed in public spaces, squares, banks, museums etc. (sculpture “GALILEO” in the entrance of St. Elizabeth Hospital in Brussels, “RHAPSODY OF THE PRESENT” an installation of three big sculptures in the square in front of VANKE MALL in China, “ANATASIS” in central square of Voula –Athens,” HEDGEHOG” in Peyrassol Park of Sculptures in France, “EQUUS” in Greek Riviera in Vouliagmeni – Athens south, “METEORON” in Thessaloniki etc.
He has presented his works in more than 80 solo exhibitions in very important galleries and museums (BENAKI MUSEUM-ATHENS-,TELLOGLION -THESSALONIKI, SISMANOGLIO-KONSTANTINOPOLIS, MUSEE ABBEYE DE NEUMUNSTER- LUXEMBOURG, MUSEE ANGLET-FRANCE, HILTON ASMUS GALLERY -CHICAGO, FEIZI GALLERY-SHANGHAI-CHINA, SUZHOU MUSEUM-SHANGHAI-CHINA, SHAANXI MUSEUM-XIAN-CHINA, VALERIE BACH GALLERY-BRUSSELS, 45 DIMITRIA 2010-THESSALONIKI, 1st BIENNALE OF THESSALONIKI – STATE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART -THESSALONIKI, KOUROS GALLERY-N.YORK, ΝIEDERHAUSER GALLERY- LAUSANNE, ALLA ROGERS GALLERY – WASHINGTON, CARTEL GALLERY GRANADA- MALAGA, COVALENCO GALLERY – HOLLAND , ARCO 97- MADRID , BARBARA VON STECHOW GALLERY-FRANKFURT, “Κ” GALLERY- ΛΟΝΔΙΝΟ, CATRIN ALTING GALLERY- AMVERSE, ΤΙΤΑΝΙUM GALLERY – ATHENS, EIRMOS GALLERY-THESSALONIKI, ΤΟΚΥΟ ART EXPO 92, ΓΚΑΛΕΡΙ CIEL GALLERY- TOKYO etc.) He has participated in more than 300 group exhibitions all over the world ( GOULANDRI MUSEUM-ANDROS, MACEDONIAN MUSEUM-THESSALONIKI, HYOGO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART-JAPAN, ABSOLUTE AMERICANA MUSEUM- FLORIDA- USA, PIERRIDES MUSEUM-ATHENS, MUSEUM OF MODERN ART OF SKOPIA -STATE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART-THESSALONIKI- XX PREMIO DI SULMONA- ITALY (1Ο PRIZE), OSAKA TRENNALE 1990 AND I993-JAPAN, MUSEUM OF MODERN ART- DUBROVNIC, VORRES MUSEUM, SCULPTURE BIENNALE,SKIRONIO MUSEUM-ATHENS,, GLASS GARAGE GALLERY -LOS ANGELES – ART TEXAS 2001, ART ESSENTIALS- KALGARI-CANADA etc.)
His works have been auctioned in BONHAM’S- SOTHEBY’S in London.
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+ IRIS KRITIKOU
Iris Kritikou is an independent art curator based in Athens, Greece.
She is President of the Museum of Greek Children’s Art.
Her main curatorial interests include contemporary painting, photography and sculpture, as well as jewelry, ceramic, fabric and further domains of applied art. Since 2004, she has been working as independent curator in collaboration with museums, cultural institutions, foundations, numerous independent artists and art galleries both in Greece and abroad including the Academy of Athens; Τhe National Archeological Museum, The National Historical Museum, The Numismatic Museum, The Benaki Museum & The Gennadius Library, Athens; The Hellenic-American Educational Foundation, The Hellenic-American Union, The Heracleidon Museum & The Angelos & Leto Katakouzenos Foundation, Technopolis Cultural Space & Melina Cultural Center of the Municipality of Athens; Thessaloniki State Museum & Center of Contemporary Art; The Municipal Gallery of Chania, Balkan Art Gallery of Kontia, Lemnos; Bellonio Foundation, Santorini; Ex Convento San Cosma e Damiano, Venice; Greek National Tourism Organization – Hellenic House Beijing; Museum of Contemporary Art of Shanghai (MOCA); Hellenic Culture Center, Berlin, Sismanogleion Megaron (Cultural Center of the Greek Consulate of Istanbul) -Istanbul, The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York; also The Bank of Greece Collection, the Hadjioannou Collection, the Kollialis Collection etc.
For more than 20 years she has been lecturing and contributing art essays and critical texts.
Since 1994 she was employed in Greece, in the fields of art and education, first as director of the Campus Praxis Cultural Program (1994-1998) and later as co-director of the IOFIL Cultural Foundation (1998-2004). She studied Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Crete and pursued postgraduate studies on Byzantine and contemporary art at the Institute for Byzantine Studies of the University of Vienna on a scholarship from the Austrian Embassy and at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London on a scholarship from The Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. She also completed the postgraduate curriculum of the BOWIE State University, Maryland System (Master of Education/M.Ed.) and the postgraduate program ΑΝΙΜΑ Athens on cultural education.
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+ SOTIRIS TSAFOULIAS
Born in Piraeus on October 20th 1975, son of Sea Captain, he started his professional career in Shipping and was the Founder of TERMOIL LTD, a Worldwide Bunker Trading company.
But his heart always belonged in the Film Industry, and since 2013 he has dedicated a lot of his time and focus to different kinds of performing arts, with huge success as a Producer, Director and Screen Writer for numerous Films, TV series and Theater plays.
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Business and Entrepreneurship
This category is for game changers who made business a success, against specific Key Performance Indicators. Candidates should be able to demonstrate their vision, impact into society as well as their innovative thinking.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ VASSILI APOSTOLOPOULOS
Dr. Apostolopoulos is the CEO of Athens Medical Group, the leading health care services group in Greece and Southeastern Europe. The Group is listed at the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE). Dr. Apostolopoulos is also the CEO of G. Apostolopoulos Holdings SA.
He is, moreover, the President of the Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association (E.EN.E), a member of the Advisory board of the Hellenic Observatory at the London School of Economics (LSE), President of Hellenic Alumni Association of LSE (HAALSE) and member of the Board of Directors of “Athens Club”, the most historic club in Greece.
In 2020 he was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” of the British Council, given for the first time to a Greek, and in March 2022, he received the Innovative “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award by EY.
He is married to Roy Danalis and is the father of four children.
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+ LITSA PANAYOTOPOULOS
Litsa Panayotopoulos is co-founder and President of EVIA Intelligent Performance Ltd, A committed advocate of innovation, she creates opportunities for entrepreneurship in various roles:
Vice-President of Intale A.E. Retail Solutions and Papapostolou S.A. Medical Technologies Treasurer of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce
President of its Innovation, Education and Entrepreneurship Committee.
Secretary General of the Non Executive Directors’ Club.
She regularly participates in international events as a judge, moderator and key-note speaker. She is active in the organizational development of innovative companies alongside CEOs and boards of directors in order to turn their business endeavors into strategic action and profit.
In addition to her business activities, she is on the Business Advisory Council of the Athens University International MBA, a Board Member of the Greek-Serbian Business Council and Citizens Movement (Kinisi Politon).
Her extensive career has been built in major international systems and projects in the USA, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Africa in large multinational companies, Control Data et.al. She developed and managed: Geranos SA (a subsidiary of Commercial Bank of Greece being responsible for the 20 affiliates of the bank); Oracle S.E. Europe, Greece and Cyprus (establishing and managing subsidiaries of Oracle corporation in the region), and OTE Academy, the largest professional training organization in Greece, amongst others.
Litsa is a Founding Member and Honorary President of SEN/Junior Achievement Greece, presiding over its leadership in various capacities for 15 years. She has served on boards of major professional associations such as the Hellenic Management Association (EEDE) where she is an Honorary President and founder of its Hellenic Institute of Information (EIP). Former BoD member of IOBE (Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research), f. President and Board Member of ALBA Business University. Honorary Member of CEO Clubs Greece.
She holds a BSc and MSc in Computer Science and Management from London University.
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+ PANOS PAPAZOGLOU
Panos Papazoglou is the Managing Partner of EY in Greece since July 2010. Effective January 2011 he became the CSE South Cluster Leader and effective January 2015 the CSE Markets Leader as well. Following the CESA integration, effective July 2018, he holds the role of the CESA Accounts Leader.
He has served as Head of Assurance in Ernst & Young Romania for two years and focused on the energy and technology sectors. He has also served as CMP and Head of Assurance in Bulgaria for three years.
Panos Papazoglou joined Ernst & Young in 1988 and is based in the Athens office. Panos is a Qualified Accountant in Greece and Romana.
He has extensive exposure to the international environment. Managed cross – cultural teams, in a number of sizeable assurance and advisory projects.
He has sound management experience and supervisory skills gained over the 28 years of being involved in the accounting and audit profession .
His technical experience is a combination of engagements across a wide range of services including financial audits, privatizations, initial public offerings and offerings of shares. He has participated in numerous engagements involving / leading multicultural teams as well.
He is a member of the BoD of American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, member of the BoD of the Institute of Economic and Industrial Research and also member at the CEO Clubs and Endeavor.
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Design
This category refers to entrants within the design arts sector who have challenged perceptions and conventional way of thinking. It includes, among others, architects, illustrators, interior designers, light designers, graphic designers, UX designers, product designers, industrial designers etc.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ ELEFTHERIA DEKO
Eleftheria Deko has designed the lighting for more than 450 performances, since 1990, for theater, music, dance, opera, for public events, multimedia shows, exhibitions as well as art installations in Greece and abroad for which she has got great reviews and has been awarded prizes and honors for her work. She has been teaching Stage lighting design at New York University (1990-1992) and at the Theater dpt. of the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from 2005-2019, where she was the first to introduce in Greece the art of Stage Lighting Design in the academic era. In 2000 she founded the Eleftheria Deko & Associates Lighting Studio for architectural lighting. Since then, the firm has created numerous lighting studies for a big variety of public and private venues, such as office buildings, shopping malls, residences, restaurants-cafes, art spaces, monuments, hotels, media façades, etc., nationally and internationally. The EDA Lighting Studio has been awarded numerous international awards and nominations in architectural lighting, including among others, the 1st prize at Darc Awards 2018, the best of the best Darc award in 2020 for the Acropolis new Lighting as well as the LIT award for the best 2021 lighting design internationally also for the Acropolis new lighting and its 17 monuments. Another significant moment of her career has been her collaboration at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as a lighting designer and lighting director, for which she was awarded the International EMMY Award for Outstanding Lighting direction at the 57th ceremony of EMMY awards. (Sept. 2005).
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Education & Psychology
This category recognises the individuals who have championed excellence and forward-thinking in the field of humanities such as education, sociology and psychology. The category aims to award state of the art methodologies in the field of social sciences.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ SEVASTI-SOFIA ANTHOPOULOU
She is an education expert, experienced in policy making, management, educational design, curriculum development, evaluation, teaching, training, mentoring and counseling. She has taught in primary, secondary and tertiary education. She has served as an education expert for the EC and the UN, an advisor to the Greek government and a member in the BoD of national organizations concerned with policy. She has worked with the most prominent Greek Universities, Charitable Foundations and with think tanks. She has inspired, designed and supervised impactful nationwide projects on women empowerment, citizenship, volunteering, innovation etc. Some of her published work is being taught at the Greek Open University graduate training program and in schools. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Policy with a focus on Educational Administration and Supervision (cum laude) from Georgia State University. Her work over the last 7 years has reached directly more than 200.000 beneficiaries. She speaks Greek, English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. She is the CEO of the Lambrakis Foundation.
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+ ANDRIA ZAFIRAKOU
Andria was born in north-west London to Greek-Cypriot parents and was state-educated in Camden and Westminster. She went to the Institute of Education in London where she undertook a PGCE post graduate certification in Secondary Art and Design Education. Andria is an art and textiles teacher in Brent on the outskirts of London, one of the world’s most ethnically diverse places. She is passionate about education and changing the lives of young people and underserved communities through creativity. She has worked her entire teaching career of 15 years at Alperton Community School and was promoted to Deputy Head of Art within a year of her arrival. She is now an Associate Deputy Headteacher and member of the school Leadership team. In 2018, Andria was awarded the Global Teacher Prize a prestigious award given to one teacher every year. Using the prize money awarded by the Global Teacher prize, Andria founded a charity called Artists in Residence (AiR) with an aim to improve arts education in schools. In 2019 she was awarded with an MBE by the palace for her outstanding contribution to education. Andria has also been named in the top ten of The Evening Standard’s 1000 Londoners List, a list of the most influential people in London. She is a Culture Leader for the World Economic Forum as well as a member of their Global Future Leaders Council. When she is not teaching she is a keynote speaker and consultant of the Arts in Education for national and international audiences ranging from Ministries of Education, Cultural and Educational institutions. She has recently become a certified Transformational Coach. Andria sits on the Advisory boards for the Cultural Leaders Alliance and for Becoming X. She is also a trustee for Metroland charity and Art UK.
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Environment and Sustainability
This category is focusing on environmental sustainability that aims at conserving natural resources and protecting global ecosystems. Candidates that are excelling either on an individual level or within their organisation and raise awareness about the protection of the environment are welcome to join this category.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ THEO ANAGNOSTOPOULOS
Theo is a science engager, a social entrepreneur and a National Geographic Explorer. He is the Co-Founder and General Manager of SciCo, an international social enterprise aiming to make science simple and to promote science education. Under his leaderships, SciCo has run more than 200 high-impact national and international outreach activities and programs including the “Athens Science Festival, “Mind the Lab”, “Generation Next” and “Celebrity Science” amongst others. Collectively they have reached more than 400.000 people. Moreover, he is the Founder of Theta Communications, a company specializing in corporate innovation. Theo holds a PhD in Medical Genetics from Kings College London and his Post-Doctoral Research work was in hereditary cancer. He is an Ashoka Fellow and he has received the British Council UK Alumni Social Impact Award (2017), the Newcastle University Alumni Impact Award (2019) and the Ecsite Marianno Gago Award (2019). In 2022 he was selected in the Explorer’s Club “50 people changing the world” list. Theo has travelled in 93 countries, in 6 continents.
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+ HELENA ATHOUSSAKI
Helena is the head of ESG, Sustainability and Climate Change at Motor Oil Group. She is presented by many years of experience in the Energy and Transportation sectors focusing on Decarbonization. During her carrier, Helena established and grew ESG related LoS and consultancy companies. She held Sustainability leadership positions globally and served in several executive roles at International corporations. Helena worked closely with many Industries and the Public Sector undertaking strategic assignments related to Sustainable Strategies, Sustainable Finance and ESG integration. She has completed a full time MBA at ALBA, MA at Middlesex and Executive programmes at Oxford Said Business School and London Business School.
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+ ANGELIKI KOSMOPOULOU
Angeliki is the Executive Director of the A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation. She holds a PhD in Classical Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College (USA) and an MBA from Leicester University (UK). Following a career in archaeology and cultural management she worked in communications, as a consultant and content specialist for multinational companies, small businesses, public and private organizations, politicians, artists and scholars. She has also served as advisor and speechwriter for several politicians, on the national and local level.
She is Vice President of the Greek National Tourism Organization and has been appointed National Coordinator for Greece’s transition towards the ban of single-use plastics. She mentors women in public life and entrepreneurship, and sits on the Board of Directors of The People’s Trust and the Advisory Board of DIANEOSIS. A published scholar in classics and archaeology, she is a regular contributor to Greek media.
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CATEGORY SPONSOR
Fashion
The category is open to fashion professionals who are devoted to the industry of making and/or selling clothes, jewellery and accessories. The category also encompasses the design, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, retailing, advertising, and promotion of all types of apparel.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ MARIA KASTANI
Maria Kastani is a highly acclaimed fashion entrepreneur based in London. Over the course of her 18-year career, Maria has been responsible for the launch of the globally recognisable brand Issa as a partner. From 2001-2009 Maria launched Havaianas in the UK and Ireland as their distributor. Following these successes, Maria founded her third company Kastani Ltd, a fashion incubator supporting and mentoring young designers. Kastani helps nurture and develop brands into becoming commercially sustainable and gain global fame within all sectors of the fashion and design industry. Maria holds ambassadorial roles for several luxury fashion and beauty brands and has been featured in numerous international publications. This includes, Vogue (UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece and Vogue.com) Elle, Marie Claire, The Times, FT, In Style and Harper’s Bazaar amongst others. A keen advocate for all things kind and sustainable, Maria spearheaded Fashion Moving Forward during COVID-19. It is a platform to support and advise on the much-needed change in the fashion industry. Maria Kastani is on the advisory board of Wardrobe Icons and holds the title of Strategic Advisor for Women for Women International, a charity she has been supporting since 2016. She is a certified Pilates and Yoga teacher and has been practicing daily mediation the past 9 years.
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+ MARY KATRANTZOU
Mary Katrantzou is a Greek born Designer based in London. She has been dubbed “The Queen of Print” by press, a moniker that recognises the enormous influence of her work in the medium. As an image maker focusing on strong narrative, Katrantzou’s work changed the face of twenty-first-century fashion, inspiring high fashion and high street designers alike. In her designs, Katrantzou challenges perspective by creating an interplay between craftsmanship and innovation and filtering the beauty found in design. She has received numerous prestigious awards and her work has been exhibited around the world, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Victoria & Albert Museum. Amongst many collaborations, she has designed the costumes for the NYC Ballet, the Opera de Paris and the Greek National Opera. Her first Couture show took place in 2019, at The Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, which also marked the start of her collaboration with BVLGARI. In 2021, BVLGARI: Serpenti Through The Eyes of Mary Katrantzou, an exclusive capsule collection of handbags launched which consisted of 3 new styles, shortly followed by the fragrance OMNIA by Mary Katrantzou. The brands’ world is feminine, bold, artistic and timeless.
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+ NIKOS KOULIS
Nikos Koulis is a Greek designer with worldwide recognition and success. Coming from an established family business in jewelry, he initially studied Literature and Philosophy and then pursued Gemology and Glyptography in the Gemological Institute of America. In 2006, he created his own brand, Nikos Koulis Jewels, showcasing his elaborate technique along with a deep knowledge in quality jewelry making.
His atelier and workshops are in Athens and has two boutiques in Athens and Mykonos, reflecting the distinct aesthetic of his work. The brand takes part in prominent fairs and has 27 selected stockists around the world.
He received the GEM Award 2020 in Jewelry Design, considered the most prestigious award in the international Jewelry Industry. Among other accolades in the field, he has won the Couture Design Award four times, and the Town & Country Jewelry Award twice.
His jewelry has an architectural character, from statement one-of-a-kind pieces to meticulous essential styles that radiate an effortless nowness. His designs are featured in prominent international titles, while iconic women choose to wear his creations in their important moments.
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Finance
This category is for professionals spanning across both traditional financial services and financial technology. It is necessary to demonstrate an impact on the industry, including financial solutions, product innovation and fintech start-ups.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ JIMMY ATHANASOPOULOS
As Greece Representative of Libra Group’s Social Responsibility, Jimmy Athanasopoulos is responsible for the Libra Social programs in Greece.
Jimmy is also responsible for the public relations and liaison with partners, trustees and beneficiaries of Libra’s social responsibility activities.
Following an MBA from Northeastern Illinois University, Jimmy began his career in Chicago as a provider of financial and investment services across various asset classes. He later undertook a variety of management roles at multinational corporations including DNV, Tyco Healthcare, and TetraPak before entering ship management as Chief Financial Controller with FreeSeas Inc. preparing statutory reports towards the SEC. He later joined G. Bros Maritime S.A. where he was responsible for financial reporting to the Board of Directors.
Jimmy joined the Libra Group, in 2012, as Director of the Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award (now Envolve Entrepreneurship), an award program for Greek start-up businesses funded and operated by the Libra Group. In 2015, he joined Libra’s Executive Team as Head of Social Responsibility, providing strategic oversight of the group’s global responsibility and education programs.
In 2016, Jimmy completed the Executive Education Program for Corporate Social Responsibility at Harvard Business School.
In 2019, he served as Interim Chief Financial Officer of EuroEnergy, Libra Group’s energy company in Europe. At EuroEnergy, Jimmy managed the company’s economic strategy and was responsible for financial reporting to partners.
Additionally, he is Chairman of Envolve Entrepreneurship and sits on the Advisory Council of The American Community School in Athens.
He remains a member of the legal Board of Directors of the HOME Project since its inception. HP is an initiative founded in Greece by the Libra Group to provide a safe haven for refugees, with a special focus on unaccompanied children.
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+ SOPHIA BANTANIDIS
Sophia Bantanidis is an Analyst in the Future of Finance team within Citi Global Insights covering digital assets and FinTech and how they will shape the future of financial services. She joined Citi in 2016 as the Head of Regulatory Strategy and Policy for Innovation and has held various positions at 2 financial services regulators in the UK and France (the FCA and La Commission Bancaire in Paris), numerous banks and an asset management firm.
In April 2021 she was awarded Greek International Woman of the Year in Finance and is on the Women in FinTech Powerlist for 5 consecutive years. She enjoys mentoring start-ups and is on the advisory board of P.S. Online Styling a female led start up in fashion technology.
She speaks 5 languages, has a degree in Law and German Law from University College London and the University of Cologne and a Master’s degree in European Business from ESCP Europe.
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Hospitality
This category seeks to reward individuals who work in the tourism industry in various segments. It is important to show a customer- centric approach, serving both the client and the organisation as well as being a pioneer in their field of work.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ DINA NIKOLAOU
Dina’s gastronomical quest begun at a very young age and despite the fact that she started studying Finance & Marketing in Paris, her passion soon took over and pushed her into studying the culinary art. To make her lifetime dream come true, she studied in famous French culinary institutes such as «Le Cordon Bleu», «Ritz Escoffier», «Alain Ducasse formation» and «Lenotre». In Paris, Dina & her sister Maria created Evi Evane (www.evievane.com), a restaurant that would communicate their passion on gastronomy, Greek cuisine, Greek local products and their love for their home country. They soon created two delicatessen stores Evi Evane Traiteur & Evi Evane mézès where one can find more than 150 different products coming from Greek local producers and order strictly Greek food. Dina has always believed that in order to succeed you must gain valuable knowledge and she wanted to share her knowledge, passion and experience through teaching in the culinary schools of Greece & France (Chef d’ Oeuvre, Le Monde, Le Cordon Bleu).
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Law and Political Sciences
This category is seeking for individuals who excel in the field of Law and Political Sciences. The aim is to award individuals who work in these fields and can share achievements outside of political bias.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ ELPIDA KOKOTA
Elpida Kokkota is the Founder and CEO of MEXOXO, a Non Profit Organization that empowers women in entrepreneurship. Her personal story and the prompting of her mentor Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus gave her the power to start empowering women all over the world. In 2015, at the Clinton Global Initiative 2015 Meeting, Elpida committed to Empower 5,000 women to showcase their strengths and grow socially and economically. Today Elpida has empowered more than 4,200 women in ten countries around the world.
Nine years ago, she graduated with an MBA from Hult International School and worked for the Hult Prize as Global Brand Identity and Events Director. She has 15 years of international experience in event planning, marketing and strategy in Europe, USA and Mexico.
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Media & Marketing Communications
Individuals who work in the Media and Marketing industry as well as those who have leveraged communication as a tool within a business environment, are invited to join this category. It is focusing on achievements that cross the messages to any sort of audience and in any discipline.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ KATERINA GAGAKI
Mrs. Katerina Gagaki was born in Athens and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the American College of Greece. As a merit scholar, she graduated from the London School of Economics and Political science with a Master’s in Social and Organizational Psychology and Social Psychology and Perception Management.
As a founding member of “The PR Team” she started working as a Public Relations Account Manager in Athens for foreign and domestic clients. In the following years she steadily ascended in the corporate world. She has worked as the Corporate Communications Director of “Vodafone Greece”playing a pivotal role in the company’s relaunch as well as its steady increase in market-share in Greece. Afterwards, she took on the role of Group Corporate Communications and Public Relations Director at “Antenna Group”, one of the biggest media groups in Northern East Europe. Her broad areas of responsibilities included the coordination of media teams and the strategic implementation of an across-branches communication strategy.
At the same time, she devoted herself to socially impactful work as a Corporate Affairs Director in “Apostoli”, the Non-Governmental Organization of the Archdiocese of Athens. Through her role she fostered contemporary approaches to the work of “Apostoli” as well as implemented a communications plan for the organization.
More than 15 years in communication and corporate affairs led her to found “Kappa Gamma Perception Management Services.” Her consultancy focuses on creating tailor made communications plans for people and institutions and she has worked with clients both at home and abroad. Mrs. Gakaki has also presented and produced TV and radio shows both in Greece and Cyprus. She speaks English and German.
In the 2019 local elections she was elected as a city councilor in Athens. She has consecutively served as the President of “Technopolis” Athens, Vice-Mayor for Openness and Civil Society and currently serves as the Vice-Mayor for Social Solidarity and Civil Society. As part of her purview she is responsible for rejuvenating social services in Athens and fostering partnerships with civil society organizations in the city. Her work has focused on issues of social solidarity and forming a cohesive strategy for inclusion and openness.
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Science and Technology
Scientists and Engineers from STEM, natural sciences, engineering, technology, computer science and medical sciences are invited to join this category. It is necessary to be able to demonstrate innovation and innovative thinking in your achievements.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ LENA VALAVANI
Dr. Valavani holds a B.S.in Physics, Barnard College and an M.S., M. Phil., and Ph. D. in Engineering and Applied Science from Yale University. After postdoctoral positions at Yale and MIT (LIDS), she joined MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics where she was Boeing Associate Professor. She was also Senior Scientist, Systems Engineering, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center; founder and President of Hellenic Space Systems, S.A.to July 2012; Visiting Faculty, National Technical University of Athens and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. In spring of 2010, she was Distinguished Visiting Faculty, Lund University. She is currently Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff, Draper Laboratory.
Her research interests include nonlinear, robust and adaptive control and optimization, stochastic estimation & system identification. Her current focus is in Autonomy, Machine Learning, Command and Control & Robust Navigation (GPS denied, A2/AD). She has over 100 publications, 3,000 citations and delivered over 50 invited lectures. She has supervised 27 Ph. D students and over 50 Master’s students.
Dr. Valavani served as Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions of Automatic Control, Automatica, AIAA Journal of Guidance Navigation and Control, and of the Int’l Journal on Robust & Nonlinear Control for a number of years. She also served on the Review Boards of AFOSR, ONR, NSF & NRC, National Academy of Sciences. Was elected to Board of Directors, AIAA, N. E., as General Secretary. Consulted for Draper, Lincoln Lab & Bell Helicopter. Served on the (AGARD) Systems Concepts Integration Panel (SCI /RTO) for over 10 years and is Associate Fellow, AIAA.
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CATEGORY SPONSOR
Shipping
This category is aiming at professionals in the shipping sector. This includes owners, managers, consultants, traders, brokers, insurance officers, seafarers etc. Candidates are expected to demonstrate outstanding contributions to the shipping industry.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ DANAE BEZANTAKOU
Danae Bezantakou is Managing Director of Navigator Shipping Consultants LTD. , shareholder of KEFI S.A. (Travel Agency) and MATILDA HOTEL in Zakynthos Island. She is also President of iforU-Greek Mentoring Network, which empowers women’s entrepreneurship through mentoring, a founding partner of the business think tank THE CANVAS and President of the 1st Hellenic U.S. Alumni of State Department. The 1st Young Executives Shipping (YES) Forum was organized under her initiative during International Shipping Exhibition Posidonia 2016. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of Blue Growth. Danae represented Greece in International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) “Women in Leadership” organized by Hilary Clinton (March 2011), has been selected to be one of the European Young Leaders (2014) and her name was included in the “Purpose Economy Europe 100 List 2014”, as well as in the 40under40 list of Fortune Greece. She was also appointed as Young Global Leader from World Economic Forum for the years 2015-2020. She has an 8 year old daughter.
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Sports
This category is aimed at seeking out the best talent in sports and athletes. Entries are open to individuals who produce, facilitate, promote, and organise sports-related activities, experiences and business enterprises.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ SPYROS CAPRALOS
Born in Athens in 1955. He studied Economics at the University of Athens, and holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from INSEAD University in France. He speaks fluent English, French and Italian.
He is President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee since 2009. In 2021 he was elected President of the European Olympic Committees and in 2019 member of the International Olympic Committee.
As an athlete he participated with the National Water Polo Team in the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984, while he was Greek and Balkan champion in swimming from 1969 to 1975.
He was Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the European Games in Baku (2015) and Minsk (2019), member of the General Assembly of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (1992-1996) and Head of the Greek Delegation to the Atlanta Olympic Games. In addition, he was Member of the Board and Executive Director of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games “Athens 2004”. In March 2004, he was appointed by the Prime Minister as General Secretary of State and City Manager of the Olympic Games Athens 2004.
In addition, he is President of the Shipping Company Star Bulk Carriers, Chairman of the Board of Euroclinic and member of the Board of Directors of GEK TERNA.
He has been President of the Athens Stock Exchange and Managing Director of the subsidiaries of Hellenic Exchanges Group, President of the Federation of European Stock Exchanges, Deputy Governor of the National Bank, Vice President of the Bankers Trust Company, President of ETEVA and Astir Insurance Company, CEO of OceanBulk Containers, EPIRUS SA, and of the Bank of Athens.
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+ MARINA–LYDA COUTARELLI
Dr.Marina-Lyda Coutarelli holds a bachelor’s degree magna cum lade from Brown University and a D.Phil from Oxford University. In 2007, she created the boutique crisis, media & communication agency Communication Lab. Also in 2011 she founded Spetses mini Marathon, the largest multi sports event in Greece which in 2019 attracted more than 18.000 visitors and participants to the picturesque island of Spetses. She has been honored many times, being the recipient of the European Business Awards for Entrepreneurship twice and her company has won over 27 Greek & International Awards on Marketing, Social Media & PR.
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+ GRIGORIS POLYCHRONIDIS
My name is Grigoris Polychronidis. I am 40 years old and I am married to Katerina Polychronidi Patroni, with who we compete in sport together.
I am a Greek Boccia athlete and I have won 6 Paralympic Medals (Gold in “London 2012”, Silver & Bronze in “Tokyo 2020”,Silver & Bronze in “Rio 2016”, Silver in “Beijing 2008”), as well as 38 medals in official international Boccia competitions and 19 Greek Championships.
I have been № 1 in the World Ranking List of individuals BC3 in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and № 1 in the World Ranking List of Pairs BC3 in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
I have a BSc in Accounting & Finance of the Athens University of Economics and Business. I am currently an ambassador of the International Olympic Truce Center.
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Young Star Award
This category celebrates emerging and outstanding talent between 18-25 years old at the beginning of their career. The focus is to demonstrate unique potential in their respective field.
CATEGORY JUDGES
+ MARIA NEFELI CHATZIIOANNIDOU
Maria Nefeli Chatziioannidou is a social entrepreneur. She graduated from Bocconi University, Italy with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Economics, Finance and Management and a Master’s Degree in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In 2013 she co-founded her first social enterprise “Code it Like a Girl” (CLG), aiming to solve the problem of gender inequality in STEM fields in Greece. In 2019, Maria Nefeli created her second social venture called “Great Women” (Yperoxes Gynaikes), a social enterprise with a mission to educate, empower and motivate whoever identifies as a woman to participate, create and develop projects and ventures that have a positive impact in the society. Additionally, Great Women provide services to organizations and corporations that want to invest in Corporate Social Responsibility and increase their positive impact to society. After 3 years of operation, Great Women is currently a community of more than 167.000 women.
Maria-Nefeli collaborates and provide consulting services on social innovation and entrepreneurship to several organizations and start-ups in Greece, and she is a mentor in several programs, workshops and seminars internationally. She has participated in various conferences with proposals for the refugee crisis and she participated in “WOMEN INNOVATORS in SOCIAL ENTERPRISES” (WISE) Program, a program of the European Commission where she was awarded as one of the five Top Women Innovators of the Program. In March 2020 she became a member of Women Mediterranean Fund and in October she became one of the twenty female social entrepreneurs of Women Act Europe through its program Empow Her. In December 2021 she was included in the European list of EuClid Network (EN) of the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprises 2021. She was the winner of the GIWA 2021 in Social Responsibility and the winner of UK Alumni Awards 2022 in Social Action. She is 30 years old and has two daughters.
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+ ELPIDA KOKOTA
Elpida Kokkota is the Founder and CEO of MEXOXO, a Non Profit Organization that empowers women in entrepreneurship. Her personal story and the prompting of her mentor Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus gave her the power to start empowering women all over the world. In 2015, at the Clinton Global Initiative 2015 Meeting, Elpida committed to Empower 5,000 women to showcase their strengths and grow socially and economically. Today Elpida has empowered more than 4,200 women in ten countries around the world.
Nine years ago, she graduated with an MBA from Hult International School and worked for the Hult Prize as Global Brand Identity and Events Director. She has 15 years of international experience in event planning, marketing and strategy in Europe, USA and Mexico.
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+ DIANA VOUTYRAKOU
Dialekti Athina Voutyrakou holds a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from National and Technical University of Athens. She also carries several awards in national and international robotics competitions. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at Educational robotics and author of a book with educational Robotics scenarios. She is also working as a software developer for medical devices in Germany. She is also founder and CEO at Unique Minds an NGO that aims to fill the gap between school and university. She had been awarded with the Greek International Women Award, the Educational Leaders Award and she has been included in the Forbes 30 U 30 Greek list.
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CATEGORY SPONSOR
Life Time Achievement
The organizing committee is dedicating this award to a distinguished woman with international influence and experience that can inspire other women to achieve their goals. This category is not open for entries. The award will not follow the official procedure foreseen in terms and conditions.
The Judges
Kostis Georgiou
Arts and Culture
Iris Kritikou
Arts and Culture
Sotiris Tsafoulias
Arts and Culture
Vassili Apostolopoulos
Business & Entrepreneurship
Panos Papazoglou
Business & Entrepreneurship
Litsa Panayotopoulos
Business & Entrepreneurship
Eleftheria Deko
Design
Sevasti-Sofia Anthopoulou
Education & Psychology
Andria Zafirakou
Education & Psychology
Theo Anagnostopoulos
Environment & Sustainability
Helena Athoussaki
Environment & Sustainability
Angeliki Kosmopoulou
Environment & Sustainability
Maria Kastani
Fashion
Mary Katrantzou
Fashion
Nikos Koulis
Fashion
Jimmy Athanasopoulos
Finance
Sophia Bantanidis
Finance
Dina Nikolaou
Hospitality
Katerina Gagaki
Media & Marketing Communications
Lena Valavani
Science & Technology
Danae Bezantakou
Shipping
Elias Galinos
Social Responsibility
Spyros Capralos
Sports
Marina-Lyda Coutarelli
Sports
Grigoris Polychronidis
Sports
Maria Nefeli Chatziioannidou
Young Star Award
Elpida Kokota
Young Star Award
Diana Voutyrakou
Young Star Award
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Social Responsibility
This category is looking for individuals who act for the benefit of society through their efforts. This includes promoting behaviors and actions that champion diversity and inclusion as well as anything that improves people’s lives through charity, fundraisers, evidenced volunteering, social entrepreneurship, profit or not-for-profit activities.
CATEGORY JUDGES