More than 230 guests gathered at The Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands, Sydney, on Sunday, March 8, for ‘Restoring Balance: Hellenic Women Leading Change,’ The Greek Herald’s International Women’s Day event presented in collaboration with the Greek Festival of Sydney.
Now in its third consecutive year, the event has quickly become one of the most anticipated gatherings on the Greek Festival calendar, bringing together women and men from across the Hellenic Australian community for an afternoon of reflection, discussion and celebration of women’s leadership.
This year’s program featured a panel discussion, cultural exhibition and the presentation of The Greek Herald Woman of the Year Awards, recognising outstanding Greek and Cypriot Australian women whose work is shaping their professions and communities.
Guests were welcomed with complimentary drinks and canapés at The Grand Roxy, with owner Bill Mougios generously supporting the event by providing the venue for the community gathering.
Community leaders reflect on progress and equality
The event was emceed by Marika Kontellis, Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, who opened the afternoon by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land and welcoming guests to the International Women’s Day celebration.
Kontellis reflected on the importance of recognising women’s achievements while acknowledging the ongoing work needed to address inequality.
“Why do we need an International Women’s Day? Because for generations women have been oppressed, and in many ways that inequality still exists,” she said.
She also highlighted the strength and talent of Hellenic women in Australia and the importance of continuing to celebrate their contributions.
Among the guests in attendance were Consul General of Greece in Sydney Giorgos Skemperis, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety the Hon. Sophie Cotsis MP, Con Apiofis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, Pamela Proestos, Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, and Tilda Sikes, Festival Director of the Greek Festival of Sydney, alongside community leaders, media representatives and supporters of the festival program.
Also in attendance were Kieran McKenna and his wife, representing Bank of Sydney, with McKenna serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the bank.
Reflections on progress and equality
Addressing the audience, Consul General of Greece in Sydney Mr Skemperis shared a personal reflection about his mother, who served as mayor of his hometown in northern Greece in the 1980s, highlighting how attitudes toward women’s leadership have evolved over time.
“For nearly 4,000 years of Greek civilisation, women have had equal rights with men for only around 50 years,” he said, noting the importance of continuing to advance gender equality.
Mr Apiofis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, also addressed the audience, paying tribute to the women who helped build the foundations of the Greek Australian community.
“For generations, Greek women have been the heart and strength of our community in Australia,” he said.
“They preserved our language, nurtured our culture, strengthened our institutions and helped build the vibrant Hellenic presence we see in Australia today.”
Cultural exhibition honours Greek heritage
Adding a cultural dimension to the afternoon was Echoes of Hellenes, a curated exhibition by emerging creative Evangeleah Plakias.
Plakias explained that the collection was inspired by the struggles and triumphs of Greek ancestors and aimed to connect historical memory with contemporary identity.
“I want to create works that showcase the stories of our ancestors and bring their struggles and triumphs to life,” she said.
Among the works on display was a traditional Ioannina dress, which Plakias explained took 14 months to complete, with much of the garment sewn by hand.
Creating the piece became a deeply personal journey. Plakias revealed she used the sewing tools of her late grandfather, who had been a tailor in Greece, throughout the process. Working with his tools made her feel closely connected to both her family and heritage.
The dress had never previously been formally exhibited, making its debut at the event particularly meaningful.
Panel discussion captivates audience
One of the most compelling moments of the afternoon was a panel discussion moderated by Andriana Simos, Digital Editor of The Greek Herald, featuring three distinguished speakers from science, community advocacy and the judiciary.
The panel brought together Dr Melina Haritopoulou-Sinanidou, a biomedical researcher undertaking a PhD in neuroimmunology and neurotrauma, Margaret Skagias, founder and CEO of the national charity CaringKids, and The Honourable Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson, former Resident Justice of the Supreme Court of the ACT.
Across the discussion, the panelists shared deeply personal reflections on migration, identity, leadership, inequality and resilience.
Haritopoulou-Sinanidou spoke about growing up in Greece during a time of economic uncertainty and the determination it instilled in her as she pursued a career in science in Australia.
Skagias spoke movingly about her work with young carers through the CaringKids Joy Box program, which provides support and recognition for children caring for family members living with illness or disability.
Justice Loukas-Karlsson reflected on her upbringing as the daughter of Greek migrant parents who ran a café in regional Queensland, sharing stories of discrimination she encountered early in her legal career and the importance of mentorship and kindness within the profession.
In one of the most emotional moments of the discussion, Justice Loukas-Karlsson spoke about how a recent cancer diagnosis had reshaped her perspective on work, balance and the importance of compassion in leadership.
The conversation resonated strongly with the audience, drawing applause and emotional responses as the panelists shared their experiences.
Celebrating women across Australia
Following the panel discussion, Publisher and Managing Director of The Greek Herald Dimitra Skalkos addressed the audience and introduced the finalists for The Greek Herald Woman of the Year Awards 2026.
Ms Skalkos thanked attendees for the strong turnout and reflected on the growth of the event over the past three years.
“It’s really wonderful to see such a strong turnout again this year,” she said.
“Over the past three years we’ve been hosting this event with the Greek Festival of Sydney to bring our community together to celebrate leadership, dialogue and the contribution of Hellenic women.”
She noted that nominations had been received from across Australia and that several finalists had travelled interstate to attend the event, reflecting the national reach of the awards program.
“This year is also particularly special for us as we prepare to celebrate 100 years of publication at The Greek Herald, a century of telling the stories of our community, including the voices and achievements of Hellenic women,” Ms Skalkos said.
Finalists for both the Woman of the Year and Woman to Watch categories were invited to the stage and recognised for their achievements.
Winners announced
The Woman to Watch Award was announced by the 2025 recipients Melina and Zoe Haritopoulou-Sinanidou, who returned to the stage to recognise the next generation of emerging leaders.
Tia Christodoulou (NSW) was named the 2026 recipient, recognised for her resilience, leadership and dedication to empowering young people through education, fitness and community initiatives.
Guests then welcomed NSW Minister the Hon. Sophie Cotsis MP, who addressed the audience before announcing the Woman of the Year Award.
Ms Cotsis acknowledged The Greek Herald’s role in highlighting the achievements of women within the Hellenic Australian community and noted the significance of the publication approaching 100 years of continuous publication in 2026.
“This publication has been able to tell the story of Australian Greeks and the story of modern Australia,” she said.
She also reflected on the generations of migrant women who helped build the foundations of the Greek Australian community.
“It’s because of those women – the mothers and grandmothers who worked in factories, built businesses and raised families despite racism and sexism – that we are able to achieve what we do today,” she said.
Following her remarks, Marina Kyriakou (VIC) was announced as The Greek Herald Woman of the Year 2026.
Both winners were presented with roses by Mr Roses, a long-time supporter of the festival.
Honouring women across the Hellenic Australian community
With strong attendance and national participation, The Greek Herald International Women’s Day event and Woman of the Year Awards continue to grow as an important platform recognising the achievements of women across the Hellenic Australian community.
The afternoon concluded with warm applause for the finalists, speakers and organisers, as guests reflected on the stories shared and the continuing impact of women whose leadership, advocacy and resilience are shaping the future of the community.
All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Eirini Alligiannis.
