Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, held a series of high-level meetings in Melbourne, Victoria this week, engaging with leaders across government, business, education, culture, and the Greek Australian diaspora.
Ambassador Duncan met with Victoria’s Minister for Local Government and Consumer Affairs, Nick Staikos, and the Greek Consul General in Melbourne, Dimitra Georgantzopoulou.
She also took part in a roundtable with the Victorian Government and met Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nick Reece to discuss sister city ties with Thessaloniki and plans for a business mission to Greece.
Other key engagements included discussions with Lee Tarlamis OAM MP regarding ANZAC commemoration efforts, and a meeting with His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne.
During talks with HACCI (Victoria) Chair Fotini Kypraios and board members Vicky Alexiou and Helen Kapalos, Ambassador Duncan explored growing investment opportunities in Greece across sectors such as education, hospitality, tech, renewables, property, and mining.
At La Trobe University, the Ambassador spoke with students about diplomatic careers and language learning alongside Dr Stephie Nicoloudis and Dimitri Gonis.
She also met with Vice Chancellor Theo Farrell and Deputy Vice Chancellor Stacey Farraway to discuss offshore education and collaboration opportunities in Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Cultural highlights included a visit to the Hellenic Museum’s Rituals exhibition with Director Sarah Craig, and a meeting with the National Basketball League ahead of Panathinaikos BC’s upcoming visit to Australia.
The Embassy expressed optimism about the outcomes of the visit: “We look forward to many of the ideas discussed coming to fruition.”
