The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOC NSW) will hold Board of Directors elections this Sunday, 30 November 2025, following an official announcement received today confirming an updated ballot of 26 candidates proceeding to the vote.
The elections, to be held from 8:30am to 6pm at the Greek Community Club on Lakemba Street in Lakemba, follow a period of heightened community investment in the elections process, with strong interest in the institution’s governance and future direction.
Field narrows
The updated ballot of 26 nominees signals a significant reset in the leadership race, shaped by a wave of candidate withdrawals in recent days. This development was first reported by The Greek Herald with the announcement that current President Harry Danalis and Secretary Nia Karteris would be withdrawing from the elections.
Besides Mr Danalis and Ms Karteris, others who have stepped back from the elections race are: Panagiota Avramidis, Nick Gratsounas, Tina Dalakakis, Peter Doukas, Vasiliki Mitsios, Alexandros Samaras, Kathy Stojanovic, Stavros Tsilimos and Christos Belerhas.
The withdrawals have marked a major turning point in an elections cycle that initially drew 37 nominations – a number many considered a sign of renewed governance interest within the Greek Australian diaspora.
Danalis and Karteris to remain until elections conclude
Despite withdrawing their candidacies, both Mr Danalis and Ms Karteris will continue in their current roles until the elections conclude on November 30, ensuring continuity of leadership operations during the governance transition.
In a statement to The Greek Herald, Mr Danalis reflected on his long organisational tenure at the GOCNSW, which spans 45 years of senior involvement and key leadership roles.
“It is time to let someone else take the reins,” Mr Danalis said.
Ms Karteris, stepping back after 28 years of volunteer service, including as Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, Vice President and Secretary at GOCNSW, issued a statement of gratitude to the Community and its members.
“I would like to thank the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and its members for allowing me to provide the community 28 years of service as a volunteer… Thank you,” Ms Karteris said.
$4.5 million funding to steer next Board priorities
The elections moment arrives in a year of significant structural progress for the organisation.
Earlier this year, during the tenure of Mr Danalis and Ms Karteris, GOCNSW secured $4.5 million in funding from the Albanese Government for its Community Cultural Centre – one of the most significant federal cultural infrastructure allocations in the institution’s history.
That funding success is expected to remain a key focus for the incoming Board, which will assume responsibility for steering its development and long-term delivery.
The 26 candidates proceeding to the ballot
The Community has confirmed the following nominees are moving forward on the official ballot (alphabetically):
- APOIFIS CON
- ARVANITIS DIMITRIOS
- BEKRIS DIMITRIS
- COSTA ATHANASIA
- DIAMATARIS GEORGE
- FOUNTOULIS MANOS
- HOULIARAS OLYMPIA
- KATRIS NIKITAS
- KOULOURIS STANLEY
- MAVROCORDATOS CON
- PAPANIKITAS NICK
- PASCHALIDIS/PAPADOPOULOS GEORGIA
- PROESTOS PAMELA
- PSARROS JIM
- RONIS PETER
- SARELAS ANNA
- SKILADELLIS CHRIS
- SMYRNIS ANDREW
- SPIROPOULOS CONSTANTINE
- TERZIS JOHN
- THEODORIS ARTEMIS
- THLIVERIS PERSEFONI SUE
- TSILIORIS PETER
- TSINTILAS PETER
- ZORAS EVAGELOS
- ZOUMPOULIS IOANNIS
Highly anticipated turnout
With debate around leadership renewal, succession and governance stability now sitting alongside long-term infrastructure ambitions, member engagement is projected to be high.
Sunday’s vote is widely anticipated as one of the most closely watched elections periods for the Community in recent years, as GOCNSW members prepare to determine the institution’s leadership direction for its next chapter.
