Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies nears 40th anniversary

After being established in August 1986, the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (AIMS) remains the oldest and most active scientific entity of Macedonian Hellenism in the global diaspora. 

The Institute has put on five international conferences, published 12 books, issued two scientific journals, and has achieved the operation of a unique electronic hub which contains more than 45,000 bibliographic sources, scientific articles, and archives related to Hellenism in Macedonia, Thrace, and the islands of the Northern Aegean. 

For around forty years, AIMS has been active in financially and ethically supporting libraries, Greek studies, museums, Cultural Departments in Greece, adopting scholarships, and providing monetary prizes to students engaged in studies related to Macedonian Hellenism.

Since 1990, for the past 34 years, AIMS has remained financially self-sufficient, without state support, and acts nationally as an independent body. Beyond the basic annual income of $45,000 collected from the property rental, AIMS has sponsors who make contributions annually, such as the brothers Panagiotis Liveriadis (Stamatis, Telemahos, and Iphigenia).

During 2023 and 2024, AIMS published a digital version of the Macedonian Studies Journal, which is the only scientific journal published in the worldwide Greek diaspora. It provides annual scholarships and awards to school libraries and schools teaching the Greek language, financially supports book publications in Australia, Cyprus, and Greece, strengthens the Cyprus Program at Station 3ZZ, the Macedonian Tombs in Mieza, Macedonia, the research program of the Museum of Macedonian Struggle in Thessaloniki, and students excelling in Greek studies. 

The Bibliographic Atlas Program for Macedonia, containing references to over 45,000, has also been sent to the central libraries of Harvard University and Boston College in the USA. 

This year, AIMS has taken on the responsibility of supporting the nationwide organisation of the presentation of the book “Hagia Sophia,” published by the Interparliamentary Assembly for Orthodoxy. The book provides a description of the churches bearing the name of St Sophia in 28 countries around the world.

In mid-April, book presentations are set to take place in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra. Due to this, a 10-member delegation from the parliaments of Orthodox States will be coming to Australia. They will collaborate with the Institute and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia to coordinate the book presentations.

Reorganisation of the Board of Directors:

In December 2023 during a Board of Directors meeting, the reorganisation of the General Assembly took place.

With the proposal of AIMS President, Dr Anastasios Tamis, the members appointed Ms Theofani Karampatsa, a founding member of AIMS, as the Chair of the Board of Directors, and Ms Christina Kotsifaki-Sari as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors. 

The Secretary and the title of Public Officer are under the responsibility of Rev. Lecturer Panagiotis Gogidis, while the positions of Treasurer were re-elected to economist Evangelos Binos and Dr Anastasios Panagiotelis. 

Mr Georgios Lioukas remains responsible for the electronic hub of AIMS and an advocate for the Publications Department, along with Dr Vasilios Sarafidis and business strategy expert Nikolaos Papakonstantinou, and historian Mr Stavros Stavridis. 

Gymnasium Professor Dimitra Flessa has been titled the lead of the culture and events sector, and Makis Kaznaxis has been named the historical executive.

Dr Eleni Kalampouka’s term was creative and fruitful for many years, as she contributed to valuable services for AIMS for two decades. 

The AIMS Board of Directors is committed to preserving the memory of its members who, as dedicated individuals, left the earthly world, namely unforgettable associates Panagiotis Liveriadis, Kostas Chatzistavros, Dimitris Kontoleon, and Christos Mantzios. 

In November 2023, AIMS brought American History Professor Dr Constantinos Hatzidimitriou to Australia as part of the Christos Mantzios Visiting Scholar Award, and in December, AIMS donated $2,000 to support Modern Greek studies at Alphington Grammar, within the framework of the Panagiotis Liveriadis Scholarship Award.

For those who are interested in becoming members of AIMS or contributing donations for its research and publishing program, they can contact George Lioukas on george.lioukas@aims.edu.au or george.lioukas@bigpond.com.