With International Women’s Day (IWD) approaching on Sunday, March 8, The Greek Herald is pleased to announce the finalists for its 2026 Women’s Awards, recognising outstanding Hellenic Australian women whose leadership, service and achievements are shaping communities across Australia.
Observed globally each year, IWD celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while highlighting the continued pursuit of gender equality. This year’s theme, #BalanceTheScales, underscores the urgent need for fair, inclusive and accessible justice for women and girls everywhere.
Launched in 2024, The Greek Herald Women’s Awards were created to honour the achievements of Greek and Cypriot Australian women across a wide range of fields, while amplifying stories of leadership, resilience and service within the Hellenic diaspora.
Now in its third year, the initiative continues to recognise women whose contributions – often made beyond the spotlight – have a meaningful and lasting impact on their communities. Two award categories will again be presented in 2026:
- The Greek Herald Woman of the Year Award, open to women aged 30 and over who demonstrate exceptional leadership and contribution across community, professional, cultural and public life, and
- The Woman to Watch Award, recognising emerging leaders under 30 who are already making a meaningful impact and represent the next generation of changemakers.
This year’s awards attracted a strong response from readers across Australia, with nominations spanning fields including business, education, science, health, the arts, sport, philanthropy and community service.
All nominations were reviewed by an independent judging panel consisting of
- Sophie Cotsis MP, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety
- Kat Theophanous MP, Victorian Member for Northcote
- Anastasia Mavrides, Chair of Neolea SA
They selected 15 finalists across both categories based on leadership, impact, community contribution and their ability to inspire others.
‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Award finalists
- Lauren Cassimatis, Melbourne, VIC
Lauren Cassimatis is a criminal defence lawyer, accredited specialist in criminal law, and founder of Gallant Law in Melbourne. Inspired by her yiayia to pursue law – and with more than 20 years’ experience – she advocates for people at their most vulnerable, combining legal excellence with compassion, dignity and a strong belief in holistic advocacy, rehabilitation and preventative programs that improve individual outcomes and strengthen the broader community.
Beyond the courtroom, Lauren has positively impacted the lives of thousands of women through Connecting Lawyer Mums (CLM), a global community she founded to address isolation, gender bias and burnout experienced by mums and parents across the legal profession. What began as a candid social media post following the birth of her second child has grown into a network of more than 9,000 members worldwide. CLM supports women through mentorship, advocacy, career and leadership development, alongside regular events and annual awards that celebrate achievement and resilience.
As a proud Australian woman of Hellenic heritage, Lauren’s leadership and dedication reflects her cultural values of family, resilience, generosity and collective strength. She leads with kindness, challenges entrenched patriarchal systems, and creates spaces where women feel seen, supported and empowered to thrive.
- Sue-Ellen Vasiliou, Sydney, NSW
Sue-Ellen is an unsung heroine. She runs a small charity in memory of her daughter Alegra who passed away from Childhood brain cancer. The charity has raised over $2m in funding and has been a contributor to research which has found a drug which is now FDA approved.
Her continued efforts help current children with the disease and will help future children yet to be diagnosed. She runs the Little Legs Foundation which is a current nonprofit organization.
Guided by deep Hellenic values of philanthropy, family, resilience, and service, Sue-Ellen leads with compassion and relentless determination. She has created a community where families are not alone—offering financial assistance, emotional support, and hope at a time when it is needed most. Her advocacy has increased awareness, driven funding, and accelerated research into a disease that remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in children.
She has also been previously awarded the Westfield local hero award for her local Sydney area.
- Voula Valanidas, Drummoyne, NSW
For more than 25 years, Voula has dedicated her professional life to supporting children with ASD, developmental delay and additional needs, and the families who walk alongside them. Through Lift Off Early Intervention, she leads a team of specialists that support hundreds of families each year, helping children build communication, independence and connection at a critical stage of development.
Through her frontline work, Voula recognised a deeper, often invisible imbalance, the emotional, mental and physical load carried by mothers of children with additional needs. In response, she founded Mum’s Matter, a grassroots movement created to address the growing mental-health burden on mothers, offering connection, education, advocacy and safe spaces where mums feel seen, supported and valued.
A respected advocate for inclusion, neurodiversity and dignity, Voula challenges stigma and reshapes understanding across families, schools and service networks.
Quietly determined and values-driven, Voula embodies the spirit of #BalanceTheScales, creating access where there were barriers, lifting others through compassion and action, and delivering meaningful, lasting change in the lives of women, children and families.
- Koraly Dimitriadis, Melbourne, Victoria
Koraly has a unique ability to use her art in poetry and writing to tackle issues that affect women and particularly Greek and/or Cypriot women. She has raised important societal issues affecting women and minority groups without fear. She is also the organizer of Greek Women Speak gathering together Greek women who tackle taboo topics. Koraly is not afraid to lead on issues that affect women or highlight inequality in society.
Koraly is courageous and is not afraid to voice her opinion. She has raised societal issues ranging from the role of the patriarchy, the Greek church, wars in Palestine/Israel, Cyprus and its continued occupation by Turkey, and Australian politics. As someone who has lived experience as a Greek woman getting a divorce she also talks alot about this experience and how society viewed this part of her life.
Koraly is an exceptional role model and whether you agree with her or not, she is to be admired for her courage to tackle issues some wouldn’t touch for fear of ruining their reputation. Koraly is deserving of this award as a leader in taboo topics.
- Nia Karteris, Sydney, NSW
For over three decades, Nia Karteris has devoted countless volunteer hours to strengthening and sustaining the institutions that support Australia’s Hellenic community. Her leadership extends far beyond festivals. Through senior governance roles within the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, she has contributed directly to the oversight and advancement of community services, including aged care — ensuring dignity, culturally appropriate support and advocacy for elderly Greek Australians.
Nia has been instrumental in major fundraising initiatives that have secured the financial stability of key community programs. She has worked tirelessly behind the scenes — planning, negotiating, coordinating and mentoring — often without recognition. Under her stewardship, flagship cultural events such as the Greek Festival of Sydney and the Greek Film Festival have flourished, drawing tens of thousands annually and generating vital revenue that supports broader community infrastructure.
Her impact is both visible and deeply personal. She has preserved cultural continuity for older generations while creating platforms that engage and inspire younger ones. She does not seek applause; she builds foundations. Nia Karteris is an unsung heroine because she has consistently placed community before self, contributing leadership, time and strategic vision that will benefit future generations.
- Christina Bachiella, Sydney, NSW
Christina Bachiella is a well known creative musician; event organiser; established the Greek Jam where she attracted approx. 500 young people to regular events where they came to play greek traditional instruments and sing traditional songs with many professional musicians playing alongside and teaching amateurs Greek music.
She is the Recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Indigenous Education
Strategies and was nominated for the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion.
She plays the darbuka in a Rebetiko (Greek blues) band and has a deep love of world music and cultural exchange.
She founded Greek Fringe, a grassroots platform connecting artists and audiences through contemporary Greek and diasporic culture.
She has toured internationally as a musician, including performing for audiences in Japan, and has hosted live and hybrid cultural events. She is a polyglot of Greek Italian background and is fluent in both languages and has studied Greek at University.
- Katrina Tsaftaropoulos, Sydney, NSW
For 20 years, this unsung heroine has dedicated her career to supporting vulnerable families across the welfare sector, with a strong focus on domestic and family violence.
As a frontline domestic violence caseworker, she has walked alongside women and children at their most critical moments, offering safety, advocacy, dignity and hope when needed most.
Her impact extends well beyond individual cases. A trainer in trauma and trauma informed practice, she delivers education to internal and external services, equipping practitioners with knowledge and resilience to sustain compassionate, ethical practice – strengthening professionals, she strengthens entire systems of support.
Understanding the long-term effects of violence on children, she authored “Raindrops and Dreams”, a children’s book that gently opens conversations about domestic and family violence, safety, feelings and healing. Through storytelling, she helps families and professionals address difficult realities in age-appropriate ways and challenges silence and stigma, creating pathways for understanding within both the broader community and culturally diverse spaces.
Grounded in Hellenic values of family, philotimo and collective responsibility, her leadership honours tradition while boldly addressing difficult realities. She does not seek recognition — yet her influence is deeply felt. She is not only an advocate. She is a catalyst for change.
- Heather Makris, South Australia
Heather leads with courage, conviction and heart. As an Education Director, she empowers children, young people and employees to learn, thrive and fulfil their potential, shaping cultures of equity, excellence and belonging locally, nationally and internationally. Through coaching and mentoring countless leaders, teams and community she amplifies strengths, builds confidence and unlocks potential, always humble, always others-focused. She is a transplant recipient, mother, grandmother, wife and proud DonateLife Ambassador, an authentic leader who leads with purpose.
She organises the annual South Australian DonateLife Walk, advocating for organ and tissue donation and giving hope to families nationally. Her survival of meningitis, sepsis and organ transplantation did not slow her; defying doctors her perseverance sharpened her clarity of purpose, to make every opportunity count and to help others.
An inspirational and innovative speaker, Heather challenges thinking, removes barriers to change and creates the conditions for courageous leadership. She speaks with authenticity, vulnerability and strength, inspiring many. Grounded in her heritage and values of service, generosity, kindness and community, Heather’s impact is deeply relational and enduring. Her legacy lives in the empowered leaders she has grown, the children whose futures she has strengthened, the lives she continues to save through advocacy.
- Cassandra Kalpaxis, Sydney, NSW
An unsung heroine within Australia’s Hellenic community, Cassandra Kalpaxis is an award-winning family lawyer, bestselling author of Dignified Divorce, founder of Australia’s first divorce retreat, and founder of the Not One More Girl DV education program for students. She has built her career around one clear mission: empowering women to live safely, independently and with financial confidence.
Through her work, Cassandra educates women on financial literacy and independence, ensuring they understand their assets, their rights and their long-term security so they can make informed decisions about their future. She is a strong advocate for amicable divorce, coaching individuals through separation with clarity, confidence and strategy, and prioritising resolution outside of court wherever possible to minimise trauma, cost and prolonged conflict. She believes informed decisions, not fear, should shape a person’s next chapter.
Passionate about ending Australia’s femicide epidemic, Cassandra developed the Not One More Girl DV education program, now delivered in schools across Australia. Working directly with students, she has witnessed powerful lightbulb moments among young people who have normalised violence at home and are inspired to break the cycle.
- Marina Kyriakou, Melbourne, Victoria
Marina Kyriakou is an unsung heroine whose work has reshaped the landscape of endometriosis awareness, care, and advocacy across Australia. Drawing from her own lived experience, she has become a driving force for change, educating GPs, nurses, and health professionals to improve early recognition, patient support, and clinical pathways for this often-misunderstood disease.
Marina’s commitment extends far beyond traditional advocacy; she has reinforced policy reform in workplaces, including within Indigenous communities, ensuring women have access to culturally safe, flexible, and compassionate support when navigating chronic pelvic pain and complex surgical journeys. In her own time, Marina listens to every story shared with her, offering guidance, validation, and hope to women who have long felt dismissed or unheard.
Her empathy and persistence have made her a trusted voice within the medical field and a lifeline for countless patients. Marina’s impact also reaches the national stage. She actively participates in government roundtables, contributing lived experience insights that shape policy, funding priorities, and national strategies for endometriosis care. Her advocacy is grounded, tireless, and deeply human. Through education, policy influence, and unwavering compassion, Marina Kyriakou is quietly transforming the future of endometriosis care in Australia, one conversation at a time.
The ‘Woman to Watch’ Award finalists
- Paris Paranomos, Sydney, NSW
Paris, a young Greek Australian woman whose impact lies in her ability to connect people, culture and community. As President of the Macquarie University Greek Association (MUGA), she created inclusive spaces where Greek-Australians feel a genuine sense of belonging and pride, preserving Hellenism and empowering the next generation of Greek-Australian students.
Under her guidance, MUGA delivered cultural and social initiatives that strengthened engagement among Greek-Australians, including Spasta, CUGA Winter Wonderland, MUGA Underground and CUGA Cruise, alongside on-campus BBQs and sweet stalls. She represented MUGA as co-host of the Combined University Greek Association and attended major national commemorations, including Greek Independence Day, ensuring youth representation within the community.
As a Director of the Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation, and collaborated with the Greek Australian Society and Dr Patricia Koromvokis, Lecturer in Global Cultures and Languages, building meaningful networks between students and the wider community. She also supported MUGA’s partnership with the St Elessa Food Initiative, helping distribute meals to people experiencing homelessness and extending Hellenic values of φιλότιμο beyond campus.
Balancing leadership with her studies in Speech Pathology and work as an Outside-Of-School-Care Educator, Paris is driven by a genuine desire to improve the communication and quality of life of others.
- Alexandra (27) & Angelica (26) Georgopoulos, Sydney, NSW
Alexandra and Angelica Georgopoulos are emerging leaders reshaping Australian football, boldly challenging a traditionally male-dominated sport. Across grassroots, state and national levels, they have devoted their careers to creating meaningful pathways for women and girls – ensuring they are not only included but empowered to lead.
Through her work at the Office of Sport and across Football NSW and Football Canterbury, Alexandra directs initiatives that expand access, remove barriers and grow female participation. Her leadership has lifted female representation at Strathfield FC to 40% in 2025, giving young girls visible role models, stronger pathways and the confidence to see themselves belonging in the game.
As the youngest female Board Director at Football Canterbury and a commercial leader within the A-Leagues, Angelica is helping shape the professional future of the sport. Her presence in governance and elite competition demonstrates to young women, particularly within multicultural communities, that leadership in football is attainable.
Together, through the Strathfield FC Female Football Festival, they have created a lasting platform that celebrates and elevates women and girls, strengthening community connection and inspiring the next generation to step forward with confidence.
- Theodora Koutzoumis, Sydney, NSW
Theodora is an unsung heroine within Australia’s Hellenic community through her commitment to people, service and youth wellbeing. As an aspiring psychologist dedicated to working with young people, she focuses on advocacy and creating safe spaces where young voices are heard. Through her volunteering, she supports young people and vulnerable communities.
With the Raise Foundation, she mentors young people and contributes youth-informed insights through the Youth Advisory Council. At Headspace Hurstville Youth Reference Group, she works in the community and visits high schools to advocate for mental health and reduce stigma. Through the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation, she co-hosts programs for primary school-aged children, helping them understand mental health. With batyr, she advocates for mental health at university and through 4 Voices, she provides emotional support to women experiencing domestic violence, connecting them with community services.
Representing the Raise Foundation she spoke on a panel about mentoring young people and attended a NSW Parliament mental health roundtable, listening to students and sharing insights. Within the Greek-Australian community, she served as President of the Macquarie University Greek Association, supporting events that foster pride in Hellenic identity. Through leadership and advocacy, she continues to make an impact in the lives of others.
- Madison Eve, Melbourne, Victoria
Madison Eve is a 15-year-old writer and illustrator with bold aspirations and an unwavering commitment to social change.
The talented teen combines the power of writing with art to make a poignant statement on current events and social issues, including bullying, domestic violence, disability inclusion and the pursuit of peace and harmony.
Proving that age is no barrier to success, Madison Eve is already making her mark on the national and international stage. Her bold and emotive style of art has caught the eye of celebrities, sports stars, politicians and philanthropists, including OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn, former AFL player Anthony Koutoufides and Chair of the Herald & Weekly Times, Penny Fowler.
Madison Eve has been described by industry leaders in the media, arts and social advocacy fields as a rising star with a strong sense of social justice and a maturity beyond her years.
She is proud of her Hellenic heritage and recently spoke at Parliament House in Victoria about the importance of family and cultural connection.
Her next project is to write and illustrate a range of children’s books based on the lived experiences of young people. The sky is the limit for this rising star!
- Tia Christodoulou, Lugarno NSW
Tia is a powerful example of resilience, purpose and quiet leadership within Australia’s Hellenic Community.
Born in Sydney to a Cretan mother and Cypriot Father, Tia entered the world missing her right hand. With just a stump, she has managed to impress and fascinate all who meet her. At just 12, she also underwent major spinal surgery for severe scoliosis, receiving titanium rods and bolts in her lower back. Rather than letting adversity define her, Tia chose strength.
Now a primary school teacher at St Joseph’s, Tia empowers children daily. Tia is up at 4am every day to train. She uses a prosthetic hand to lift weights, also works as a trainer and was voted Trainer of the Year at F45 Training.
At just 23, Tia now runs her own gym in Engadine with over 120 members, teachers full time, hosts community events and is currently leading a charity fundraiser supporting Stillbirth Foundation Australia.
Through positivity, discipline and service, Tia changes lives – proving that limitations don’t define you. Your mindset does.
What happens next
The winners of both The Greek Herald Woman of the Year Award 2026 and The Woman to Watch Award 2026 will be publicly announced on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at an IWD event at The Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands, Sydney from 3.30pm. The event is presented by The Greek Festival of Sydney, in collaboration with The Greek Herald.
Both winners will also be featured in a special cover story in The Greek Herald, including exclusive interviews highlighting their journeys, achievements and the impact of their work within the community.
