On Sunday, 16 March 2025, a sold-out crowd of 200 people gathered at The Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands for ‘Hellenic Horizons: Greek Women Leading the Path to Progress’, hosted by the Greek Festival of Sydney in collaboration with The Greek Herald.
The International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration brought together men and women from diverse backgrounds to honour the strength, resilience, and achievements of Hellenic women in Australia and beyond.
As guests arrived, they were greeted with a live violin performance by Lily Innis, an elegant selection of canapés, and the powerful imagery of Effy Alexakis’ exclusive portrait exhibition, setting the tone for an evening of reflection, inspiration, and celebration.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Chrysa Prokopaki, Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia; Harry Danalis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW; Nia Karteris, Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney; Bayside City Councillors Fiona Douskou and Vicki Poulos, and Randwick City Councillor Alexandra Luxford; as well as many media representatives and Presidents for local Greek community organisations.
Speeches were given by Ms Prokopaki and Mr Danalis, whilst the event was emceed by Marika Kontellis.
A panel of trailblazing women
The highlight of the afternoon was a captivating panel discussion, moderated by Andriana Simos, Digital Editor of The Greek Herald. The discussion, themed “March Forward,” focused on rights, equality, and empowerment, with three outstanding women sharing their journeys:
- Lieutenant Commander Pelagia Markogiannakis – A leader in the Australian Defence Force and private sector, breaking barriers in engineering, infrastructure, and project management.
- Mary Konstantopoulos – A lawyer, writer, and women’s sports advocate, best known as the founder of ‘Ladies Who League,’ a platform promoting female participation in sports and advocating for equality in the industry.
- Michaela Loukas – A 17-year-old STEM innovator and community leader, recognised for her groundbreaking robotic melanoma screening prototype and AI-driven breast cancer diagnosis model.
Originally, the panel was set to include anti-bullying lawyer Stefanie Costi, but due to a last-minute medical emergency, Michaela graciously stepped in, earning admiration from the audience for her poise and insight.
Each panellist spoke about the challenges they faced in their fields, the impact of Greek heritage on their careers, and the power of mentorship and advocacy.
Lieutenant Commander Markogiannakis discussed the barriers she overcame as a woman in a male-dominated field, reflecting on her journey from a Greek Australian upbringing in Melbourne to leading major defence infrastructure projects.
“I grew up in a traditional Greek household, where my father was a strong egalitarian and always told me, ‘You need to be the best at whatever you choose to do.’ That lesson stayed with me when I joined the navy at 15, despite my mother’s protests,” Lieutenant Commander Markogiannakis said.
She went on to describe the challenges of working in high-risk environments, including moments when she was the only woman in leadership positions.
“I had to work twice as hard to prove myself. At sea, there were no doors on toilets, no separate spaces for women—it wasn’t easy. But I refused to let that stop me. Resilience is something I learned through my Greek upbringing, and I carried that through my career in the navy and later in the private sector,” she said.
Ms Konstantopoulos shared how her passion for sports and advocacy led her to challenge gender biases in sports media and administration.
“I started ‘Ladies Who League’ as a simple blog, a way to highlight the lack of representation for women in rugby league. At first, I thought, ‘Who is going to listen to me?’ But I quickly realised there were so many women in sport who felt the same way—who deserved a platform to be seen and heard,” Ms Konstantopoulos explained.
She spoke about the barriers women in sport continue to face, from pay disparity to visibility in leadership roles.
“We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. Women in sport are still paid significantly less than men, and we still have to fight for equal coverage. But we are making progress, and we have to keep pushing forward,” she urged.
Michaela, who was born in Greece and moved to Australia at age five, spoke about her journey into STEM and how she has worked to develop life-changing medical technology.
“I was always fascinated by science. When I was little, I had this book about the human body, and I would make my mum read it to me every night. That curiosity never left me,” she said.
Michaela then shared a particularly personal reason behind her passion for medical research: “I’m an IVF baby—science created me, and I feel an obligation to give back to science. My dad has had a history of recurring cancers, and seeing his experiences firsthand made me realise how much innovation in healthcare can change lives.”
Despite excelling in STEM, Michaela noted the barriers young women face in entering the field.
“STEM is still a male-dominated industry, and there are so few women in leadership roles. But that’s why I do what I do—because I want to change that narrative. I want to show young girls that they belong in STEM, that they can make groundbreaking discoveries, and that they don’t have to wait for permission to succeed,” she said passionately.
The panel was followed by a Q&A session, where audience members engaged in insightful discussions with the panellists. One particularly poignant question asked the women which figure from Ancient Greece they admired most. Each panellist chose not a historical figure, but instead paid tribute to the enduring strength and influence of their Greek yiayia – grandmothers who have shaped families, preserved traditions, and imparted resilience to future generations.
Effy Alexakis’ exclusive exhibition: A visual tribute to Hellenic women
Adding to the depth of the event, attendees were treated to a moving photographic exhibition by Ms Alexakis, showcasing portraits of inspirational Greek and Cypriot Australian women.
The collection included images of Chanel Contos, the fearless activist behind the ‘Teach Us Consent’ movement, and Matina Mottee, a passionate advocate for migrant women. Another striking piece was Alexakis’ ‘work in progress’ series on a shared wedding dress, tracing the history of six Greek women who wore the same gown after migrating to Australia.
Alexakis expressed her motivation behind the exhibition: “I chose women who I have not photographed before, who I consider inspirational and who have made a difference within their community.”
The powerful imagery resonated deeply with attendees, sparking conversations about heritage, perseverance, and the strength of Hellenic women across generations.
The Greek Herald Woman of the Year Awards 2025
The event culminated in the prestigious Greek Herald Woman of the Year Awards, presented by the inaugural winner of ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Award 2024 Anais Menounos, and Dimitra Skalkos, Publisher & Managing Director of The Greek Herald.
Ms Menounos delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting on the impact of the award and the responsibility it carries. Drawing from her experience over the past year, she spoke about how receiving the honour amplified her voice and deepened her commitment to advocating for women in leadership. She also provided an update on the St Nicholas Mission Academy (St Nic’s)—a school she co-founded in Ghana, providing free education to 250 students.
‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year 2025’ Award was won by Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou AM, the founder of the Food for Thought Network, an organisation dedicated to mentoring and empowering Hellenic women in Australia and globally.
The inaugural ‘Woman to Watch’ award, celebrating young female leaders, was awarded to Melina and Zoe Haritopoulou-Sinanidou, scientist sisters making strides in STEM research.
As each award was announced, the room erupted in applause and celebration, with attendees recognising the winners’ dedication, perseverance, and contributions to their respective fields.
In addition to the award winners, the event also celebrated the finalists, who represented an extraordinary range of talent across multiple industries. Among them were scientists, entrepreneurs, community leaders, advocates, and artists, all making significant contributions to Australian society while honouring their Hellenic heritage.
A night of inspiration and community
The event concluded with a presentation and heartfelt vote of thanks from Ms Karteris, who encouraged attendees to continue championing the achievements of Hellenic women.
The overwhelming success of ‘Hellenic Horizons’ solidified its place as a cornerstone event for IWD, ensuring that the contributions of Hellenic women—past, present, and future—will be honoured and celebrated for years to come.
*All photos copyright Effy Alexakis.
