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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+ ANGELIKI PAPOULIA
Angeliki Papoulia was born in Athens Greece. She graduated from the National University of Athens (Department of Theatre Studies) and the Empros Theatre Drama School.
In cinema she participated in Yorgos Lanthimos’s Dogtooth which won the Un Certain Regard Prize at Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards (Oscars). For her role in Dogtooth she was awarded with the Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress at the Sarajevo Film Festival. She participated in Lanthimos’s Alps which won the Osella for Best Screenplay at Venice Film Festival and in The Lobster which won the Jury Prize at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. She has played in A Blast and in The miracle of the Sargasso Sea by Syllas Tzoumerkas, for which she won the Best Actress Award at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards. She has also played in Human Flowers of Flesh by Helena Wittmann, A little Love Package by Gaston Solnicki and other feature films.
She has been a jury member at the Locarno Film Festival at the Sarajevo Film Festival at the Istanbul Film Festival at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival and at the Thessaloniki Film Festival Jury.
In 2004 she co-founded the blitz theatre group. She has written, directed and acted in all the group’s performances. The group has presented its performances in various Festivals and Theatres in Europe (Festival d’Avignon, Theatre de la Ville, La Comedie de Reims, Schaubuhne Theatre, Thalia Theatre, Barbican Centre) and Greece.
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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. Τhis includes women in leadership positions, employees in international companies and/or entrepreneurs.
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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CATEGORY SPONSOR
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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+ NATASSA LIANOU
Natassa Lianou is an award-winning RIBA and ARB chartered architect and the co-founder of LIANOU CHALVATZIS ARCHITECTS ( LC Architects). Natassa is focused on developing innovative, sustainable and future-proof signature architecture and design, that engages and transforms cities, while providing inspiring urban spaces.
Natassa received her Masters in Architecture and Urbanism from the Architectural Association (AA) School, Design Research Laboratory (DRL) in London on 2011, with project distinction.
Together with Ermis Chalvatzis, they have developed their signature design architectural language and through their international practice LC Architects, they design and deliver high-end landmark projects. The firm’s portfolio spans across 3 continents and has received numerous prestigious awards, and some of their work includes prize winning projects such as The Orbit, the Cosmote TV Headquarters & Studios and The BEAT.
Prior establishing her creative firm, she worked at Zaha Hadid Architects as Senior Architect in the core design team of numerous prestigious world-class projects.
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+ COSTAS VAROTSOS
Costas Varotsos was born in Athens in 1955. He lives and works in Greece. He studied in the school of fine arts in Rome and in the architectural school of Pescara in Italy. In 1991 he got a scholarship from the Fulbright foundation and in 1999 he was elected as a Professor in the Architectural School of the Polytechnic University of Thessaloniki. He is a member of the Engelberg Academy in Switzerland. His Art pieces are in public spaces in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Egypt and in the USA. His main wish is that his art pieces are in direct connection with the natural environment in which they are displayed seeking always a way of osmosis with the space. He has fulfilled numerous personal and team exhibitions in Greece and abroad. More specifically, he has participated three times and the Biennale of Venice (1993, 1995, 1999), of São Paulo (1997) and at the Documenta Kassel (2017). In 2014 he was honored by the President of the Italian Republic with the award of the Cavaliere de la Republica Italiana for his giving in the Italian arts. In 2017 he was honored with the Medal of Commander of the Order of Merit received by the President of the Greek Republic.
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CATEGORY SPONSOR
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. She has been trained on Non-Profit Management at Harvard University and on Executive Coaching at UC Berkeley. 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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+ ELENI DOUKA
Eleni (Neni) Douka, after her bachelor’s studies in Athens, received a master’s degree in Educational Psychology and Comparative Education at London University. She is a PhD candidate of the University of Athens and the mother of Dimitri, Yianni & Chrysanthy.
As a member of Doukas School Board of Directors, she participates in the formation and enrichment of the school’s educational philosophy, with emphasis on innovative programs focusing on Knowledge, Skills, and Values.
As General Director of Education, she coordinates the educational work of the K-12 educational institution.
In 2016 she was awarded the Knight of the Order of Academic Phoenix by the French Government for promoting the French culture.
In 2020 she became Honorary Member of Special Olympics Hellas for her many years of contribution to the Organization.
In 2021 she became a member of the Microsoft Showcase Schools Advisory Board as well as a Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).
She is an active member of the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer “ELPIDA”, the Panhellenic Women’s Athletic Association “KALLIPATEIRA” and the Association “Filoi tou Pediou” & “Mazi gia to Paidi”.
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+ ELENA PAPADOPOULOU
Ms. Papadopoulou has been OTE Group Chief Human Resources Officer since December 2011. She joined COSMOTE in September 2005, as Human Resources Director, and in 2008 she undertook the position of COSMOTE Group Human Resources General Director.
Prior to joining COSMOTE, Ms. Papadopoulou worked in the Financial Division of SHELL HELLAS S.A., from where she moved to KRAFT FOODS INTERNATIONAL as Human Resources Manager. For the next ten years she held the position of Human Resources Director and was a member of the Management Board of MERCEDES BENZ HELLAS, PN GEROLYMATOS and PRAKTIKER HELLAS of the METRO Group.
Ms. Papadopoulou is a member of the Board in GERMANOS, COSMOTE E-Value, COSMOTE TV and holds the position of Vice Chairman in OTE Academy and COSMOTE Technical Services.
Ms. Papadopoulou holds a degree in Business Administration and Finance from Deree College.
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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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+ GEORGIA STAMATELOU
Georgia has 20 years of tax advisory experience with KPMG. Georgia has several years of experience in providing consulting and compliance services to multinational companies
including many corporations listed in the ASE. She has specialized in tax compliance and tax advisory services in the areas of income tax, M&A Tax and issues pertaining to the application of double tax treaties. She has served as a Partner Head of Tax and Legal in KPMG’s practice for 10 consecutive years. She has been actively involved in a number of professional bodies (Hellenic Industries Association, AmCham, IFA) and has been cooperating with the Greek Tax Administration for the introduction and drafting of guidance on the Greek Tax legislation.
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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
+ ALEXANDROS ANGELOPOULOS
Alexandros Angelopoulos, was born in Athens in 1972. He studied Business Management (Boston University 1995) and successfully completed his post-graduate studies in International management at Boston College (1998). He is Graduate of the PDP program of New York Cornell University (2008).
He is the Managing Director of Aldemar Resorts, a leading resorts chain company in Greece. He has been active in the family business since 1995, working hard towards ideas and policies that open up new horizons in the Greek hotel business and place Tourism at the core of Greek economic activity.
Alexandros Angelopoulos, has been following with great interest the developments in the Business Ecosystem in Greece and the developments in Europe while he is very active as he participates in various organizations and committees representing the Hospitality sector and the entrepreneurship in Greece.
Up until 2017, he was holding the position of Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Environmental Policy Committee of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels while in 2018 he was elected as the Ambassador of all 5 star hotels located in Crete and Secretary General to the newly formed Chamber of Hotels in Heraklion. In 2021, he was elected as the Ambassador of all 5, 4 & 3 star hotels in the Peloponnese. He is currently also holding the position of the Vice President II of the Board of Directors of Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association. Up until 2019, Vice President of the Greek Eurasian Business Council. He is Honorary Consulate of Ukraine for Peloponnese.
In 2020, Mr. Angelopoulos was assigned by the Ministry of Tourism to be an active member of two special committees to oversee the national tourism strategy for Gastronomy and Sustainability in Tourism. Since 2020, he has taken the role of guest lecturer at the University of Piraeus teaching Sustainability in Tourism of the post-graduate studies “Biochemistry, Circular Economy and Sustainable Development” at the University of Piraeus.
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+ 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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+ CHRYSANTHOS PANAS
Chrysanthos Panas is a businessman, art collector, author and philanthropist from Athens. He is in the hospitality industry and co-owner, with his brother Spyros, of several well-known clubs and restaurants in Greece, such as Island, Athénée and Salon de Bricolage. He is a member of the Advisory Committee concerning Artistic Issues of Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. Being an expert in destination management, he is one of the first to use the term “Athens Riviera”.
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CATEGORY SPONSOR
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
+ GEORGE M. CHALOS
George M. Chalos is the principal and founding member of Chalos & Co, P.C. Mr. Chalos has been engaged in the practice of maritime, admiralty and insurance law for over twenty-five (25) years, and is experienced in all facets of civil and criminal maritime matters, casualty and pollution response, Marpol, Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA ’90”), Clean Water Act (“CWA”), environmental matters, insurance coverage, defense, and handling of primary, excess, and reinsurance claims, contract disputes, and complex civil litigation. Mr. Chalos has been counsel of record in over two thousand (2000) civil and criminal maritime matters around the United States. He also has extensive experience arbitrating matters before tribunals of the Society of Maritime Arbitrators (“SMA”) in New York, has conducted numerous court-ordered and private mediations, and has assisted in presenting claims before the London High Court of Justice.
Additionally, Mr. Chalos has a known specialty and expertise in OPA ’90, CERCLA, CWA, Marpol, Ports & Waterways Safety Act and other pollution related matters, including the defense of criminal allegations and complex civil first-party and third-party litigation.. Mr. Chalos has been a published author with respect to the presentation of claims to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and the United States’ vessel initiative program wherein the government has targeted suspected Marpol violators for criminal prosecution. Mr. Chalos hasdefended numerous individuals and organizational defendants and has successfully recovered over $100million from the NPFC-OSLTF for various clients and/or their insurers. Mr. Chalos obtained landmark determinations in the M/T ATHOS I oil spill matter with respect to the Owner’s affirmative demonstration of its entitlement to limit liability and obtain an award of nearly $100 million dollars, as well as has obtained several complete acquittals of both individual and organizational ship owning and operating clients in various criminal Marpol prosecutions.
Mr. Chalos is a Proctor in Admiralty, which is the highest distinction and honor bestowed upon U.S. maritime lawyers by the Maritime Law Association, and is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States; all trial and appellate courts sitting within the states of New York, Texas, Utah, as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern & Northern Districts of New York; the District of Connecticut, the Southern and Eastern District of Texas, the Central District of Utah, the Central District of Illinois, the Northern District of Florida, the District of Columbia, and the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeals.
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+ EIRINI NIKOLAIDI
Ms. Eirini Nikolaidi is the General Counsel and Chief Officer for Legal & Regulatory Affairs of OTE Group and joined the Group in 1996.
Ms. Nikolaidi is a member of the Management Boards of OTE and COSMOTE, member of the Board of Directors of GERMANOS and Telekom Romania Mobile Communications, and member of the Supervisory Board and the Audit Committee of the Deutsche Telekom AG subsidiary in Croatia, Hrvatski Telekom d.d.
She holds a law degree from the University of Athens, as well as a master’s degree (LLM) in International Business Law from the University of London (UCL), where she specialized, among others, in international finance and international trade law.
She is a telecommunications expert and member of the Athens Bar Association.
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+ ELISSAVET VOZEMBERG-VRIONIDI
Ms Vozemberg has been a Member of the European Parliament since July 2014 and she belongs to the European People’s Party (EPP). She is a Member of the Committees on Legal and Home Affairs (LIBE), Transport and Tourism (TRAN) and Gender Equality and Women’s Rights (FEMM), where she has been Vice – Chair since July 2019.
Elisa Vozemberg is responsible for women’s rights on behalf of the EPP Greek delegation in the European Parliament and she worked intensively as rapporteur for the European Parliament on the subject of under-representation of women in the fields of science, education and technology as well as in STEM professions in general.
Moreover, Ms Vozemberg has been the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the legislative report on gender-based violence and cyber violence Ms Vozemberg urging the Commission to make gender-based cyber violence a criminal offence throughout Europe.
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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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+ ALEXANDRA PASCALIDOU
Alexandra is a Multiple Award-Winning Media Personality and Human Rights Champion.
Over the years Alexandra has worked as a journalist, TV- and radio presenter, producer, author, speaker, moderator playwright, actress and goodwill ambassador, advocating for democracy, diversity and equality. Alexandra is an acclaimed lecturer and motivational speaker within culture, politics, media, global trends and inspiration. She is passionate and her visionary presentations inspires people to act. She has a unique ability to pass on her message and simultaneously move the listener.
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+ DEPPIE TZIMEA
Deppie Tzimea is the OTE Group Corporate Communications & Sustainability Executive Director. She has been a member of the OTE Group’s executive committee since 2001, when she joined the company as Director of Corporate Communications of the Group, reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO. Ms Tzimea oversaw the transformation of OTE’s image into an extrovert and innovative customer-centric company, both internally and externally. She has thorough knowledge in all areas of communications including marketing communications, advertising and change management. Since she joined the company, she has been the head of Crisis Communications for the whole Group.
Initially responsible for the organization’s Corporate Responsibility strategy and implementation, she further evolved it to its Sustainability strategy, contributing significantly to its integration to the Group’s Business strategy. As a result, OTE has nowadays become one of the leading companies in the field of sustainable development, contributing to the economy, society and the environment. She was responsible for all OTE Group communications during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Before joining OTE, she held various senior executive positions in Marketing and Corporate Communications in the telecommunications industry (1995-2001). Prior to that she was a Group Account Director at Adel Saatchi & Saatchi handling 18 national and international accounts.
Ms Tzimea, member of Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), holds a postgraduate degree in Communications and Public Relations from Stirling University and is a Political Sciences & Public Law graduate from the University of Athens Law School. She has completed her training on “High Impact Leadership” in Columbia Business School and on “Exponentially growing technologies” in Singularity University.
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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
+ LAZAROS KARAGIANNIDIS
Mr Lazaros Karagiannidis is a passionate and dynamic obstetrician and gynecologist practicing at his home city of Athens. He has graduated from the Medical School of the University of Crete, a modern teaching and research center committed to excellence in education and training. He has received extensive training in all aspects of his specialty and worked in reputed centers around the world, specifically he gained expertise at state of the art gynecological endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA and extensive hands-on experience in clinical obstetrics and minimal access gynecological surgery at the Queen Mothers Hospital, Glasgow, UK and the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK.
He has followed postgraduate studies at higher level and continuing medical education programs at gynecological endocrinology and assisted reproduction. His PhD focused on the role of the mechanisms of stress on the initiation of the human parturition. This research on the role of stress molecules in the female reproductive function has received widespread attention from the scientific community.
He is a Medical Professional specialized in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery with a commitment to serving others through best evidence-based practices and superior primary, secondary and tertiary personalized health care. With his personal characteristics of compassion, discretion and genuine understanding, he plans and implements appropriate powerful patient care plans and he tailors medical solutions to the individual needs of women through a clear and honest approach, leading to optimal health and wellness.
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+ CHARALABOS (HARRY) POTHOULAKIS
Dr. Pothoulakis graduated from the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki Medical School in Greece where he also completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine as well as his M.D. honors dissertation. He joined the Division of Gastroenterology at Boston University Medical Center as a Research Fellow in Gastroenterology in 1982. After completion of his fellowship, he became a faculty member at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr Pothoulakis joined the Division of Gastroenterology at Beth Israel Medical Center, Harvard Medical School in 1996 as an Assistant Professor and became full Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in 2005, when he also received an honorary degree from Harvard University. In 2003, he established a Gastrointestinal Neuropeptide Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and became the Director of a NIH Program Project grant that examined the barrier function of the GI Tract in health and disease at the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2007 Dr. Pothoulakis was recruited by the Division of Digestive Diseases and the Department of Medicine at UCLA as the Eli and Edythe Broad Professor of Medicine and created an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Research and Clinical Center. His research program has been primarily focused on the role of neuropeptides and hormones in several disease states, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Clostridium difficile infection, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Dr. Pothoulakis is an author of over 220 original articles and numerous reviews, book chapters, and Editorials, and served in the Editorial Board of several biomedical journals. He served as the Chair of the Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology Section of the American Gastroenterological Association and received the Mentorship Award from this section in 2017. In 2005, Dr. Pothoulakis was also the recipient of the Janssen Award in Basic Research in Gastrointestinal Motility by the American Gastroenterological Association and his research projects have been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, among others Dr. Pothoulakis served as a research mentor and career advisor to numerous trainees and junior faculty, including a large number of trainees of Greek and Greek American descent. For these contributions, he received the Hygeia Award from the New England Hellenic Medical and Dental Society in 2007 and the Distinguished Physician Award from the New York Hellenic Medical Society in 2010 in “recognition of most valuable contributions to Medicine, Hellenism and the Society”. In 2016 he became an Honorary Professor at the University of Thessaloniki Medical School, the 3rd Honorary Professorship awarded since the foundation of the Thessaloniki Medical School in 1942.
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+ 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 holds the positions of CEO of Navigator Shipping Consultants and shareholder of KEFI S.A. & MATILDA HOTEL in Zakynthos Island. One of her biggest accomplishments is the organization of NAVIGATOR – THE SHIPPING DECISION MAKERS FORUM https://navigatorltd.gr/forums/ which is the oldest Greek Shipping Forum, enhancing the open dialogue among the stakeholders of the Greek and International Maritime Clusters annually since 2001.
She is the Concept Founder of Young Executives Shipping (YES) FORUM – the platform of open dialogue among principals, executives and university students, recent graduates and young executives in Shipping and Sea Tourism Sectors. She also serves as Secretary General of International Propeller Club (Port of Piraeus) and President of iforU-Greek Mentoring Network, which empowers small and medium women entrepreneurs through mentoring & networking & chairs the education committee of ICC Women in Greece.
Danae was appointed as European Young Leader in 2013 and as Young Global Leader at World Economic Forum in 2015.
Danae represented Greece twice in International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of State Dpt. in 2011 and in 2017. She is founding member and President of the Hellenic U.S. Alumni Association of State Department Programs. Her dedication to the growth of Entrepreneurship made her to be named as a Role Model in the campaign #Makingithappen organized by the U.S. Embassy to Greece. Recently she was chosen among 225,000 alumni of State Dept. as one of the 80 #FacesofExchange initiative highlighting 80 years of the IVLP and the impact of her work on the global community.
She regularly participates as a speaker, judge or mentor in startup competitions, Shipping fora, school and university lectures and events related to entrepreneurship.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Surrey. She has a 13 year old daughter.
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+ MARINA PAPAIOANNOU
![](https://greekinternationalwomenawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PHOTO_MP-resized.jpg")
Graduate of the University of Patras, Department of Geology holding a PhD in Geophysics and has participated in various scientific projects related to archaeological geophysics.
In 2000, jointed the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association – HELMEPA.
In 2008 she jointed Germanischer Lloyd where she established GL Academy Hellas. Currently, she is the DNV Regional Maritime Academies Manager for the Region Southeast Europe, Middle East and Africa. Has been active with scientific papers, articles in various shipping magazines and portals and with a significant presence in national and international conferences as a speaker/panelist, with numerous publications.
She is a Mentor for the students of the MSc in Shipping Management of the University of Piraeus.
Served as Secretary General of WISTA Hellas (April 2014 – March 2016) and was awarded with the GIWA for shipping in April 2021.
Listed No. 3 among the 100 Top Women in the Shipping Industry for 2022 (www.allaboutshipping.co.uk).
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+ ELPI PETRAKI
![](https://greekinternationalwomenawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Elpi-Petraki-pic-resized.jpg"")
Elpi Petraki has been working for ENEA Management Inc. for the last 24 years, a Greek shipping company that manages a fleet of small sized, clean and specialised tankers. During this time, she has been involved in various parts of the business, with a primary focus on both operations and chartering of its fleet as well as business development.
Elpi is currently the President of the Women in Shipping and Trade Association (WISTA) Hellas. Her goal is to encourage diversity and inclusiveness in the maritime sector, as well as to support women in furthering their careers, and eliminate gender-based inequality.
Serving as the 2nd Vice President of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association (HSSA), Elpi is involved in the promotion and the overall development of short sea shipping within National and European borders. Additionally, Elpi is a member of the board of directors for the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and is an active member of Intertanko. Most recently, Elpi was invited to be an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, the highest honour to be bestowed by the institute in recognition of an individual’s contribution to commercial shipping.
Elpi is also a member of the board of the Hellenic Maritime Museum, assisting in the preservation of maritime history and the development of a culture whereby younger generations are exposed to and come to appreciate maritime and naval traditions.
She is a well-known personality in shipping, both in Greece and internationally, and an active member of the shipping community. Elpi regularly speaks at industry conferences and events on a wide range of topics, from diversity in maritime and attracting the next generation of talent, to decarbonisation, new technologies and how to address the challenges facing the industry.
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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 18-27 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 & CEO of Mexoxo, a global non-profit organization that supports the economic empowerment of women in more than 16 countries through the use of technology.
Elpida as a social innovator, with 17 years of international experience in social impact strategies, has created a circle of impact with more than 250 global stakeholders from Corporations, Academia, Government, and local NGOs who are part of her mission to empower 5 million women by 2030.
Expert in driving measurable growth through human-centric strategies that support communities’ socio-economic growth at large has achieved to economically empower 27,300+ women directly and 109,200+ indirectly.
She holds an MBA degree from Hult International Business School in Boston, a bachelor’s in International Organizations and Relations from the University of Aegean, and an Executive Certification from MIT.
Elpida was nominated by Greece for the UNESCO World Prize “Prize for Girls’ & Women’s Education and has received the Greek International Women Awards.
In 2015 she pledged a commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative and she was honored to be an official speaker at the celebration event of the 70 years United Nations in San Diego, California, along with Theodore Roosevelt.
She counts years of volunteer work in several organizations, is an ally to LGBTQI + communities, speaks 4 languages, loves traveling and her dogs, and has lived in the United States, Mexico, and Greece.
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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
Angeliki Papoulia
Arts and Culture
Vassili Apostolopoulos
Business & Entrepreneurship
Panos Papazoglou
Business & Entrepreneurship
Litsa Panayotopoulos
Business & Entrepreneurship
Eleftheria Deko
Design
Natassa Lianou
Design
Sevasti-Sofia Anthopoulou
Education & Psychology
Eleni Douka
Education & Psychology
Elena Papadopoulou
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
Georgia Stamatelou
Finance
Alexandros Angelopoulos
Hospitality
Chrysanthos Panas
Hospitality
George M. Chalos
Law & Political Sciences
Eirini Nikolaidi
Law & Political Sciences
Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi
Law & Political Sciences
Katerina Gagaki
Media & Marketing Communications
Deppie Tzimea
Media & Marketing Communications
Lazaros Karagiannidis
Science & Technology
Charalabos (Harry) Pothoulakis
Science & Technology
Lena Valavani
Science & Technology
Danae Bezantakou
Shipping
Marina Papaioannou
Shipping
Elpi Petraki
Shipping
Elias Galinos
Social Responsibility
Sophia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou
Social Responsibility
Constantinos Machairas
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