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‘A phenomenon’: Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis on his ancestor naval commander Bouboulina

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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‘A phenomenon’: Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis on his ancestor naval commander Bouboulina

Laskarina Bouboulina was a naval commander and heroine of the Greek War of Independence. 

But she was not only that. 

Bouboulina or ‘Capetanissa’ was also a woman twice widowed by the age of 40, a mother of 10, an enterpreneur and until recently, the first and only woman in world naval history to hold the title of Admiral.

Two centuries after Bouboulina raised the Greek flag of the Revolution to resist the Ottoman oppression, Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis, a sixth-generation descendant is trying to keep her legacy alive and explains why her story is more relevant than ever. 

Q: What is it like to be a descendant of a Greek female naval commander and a heroine of the 1821 Greek War of Independence?  

A: On my father’s side, I am a 6th generation descendant of Greek revolutionary heroine Laskarina Bouboulina from her youngest son, Nikolaos Dimitriou Bouboulis (1808/10 – 1884), who later became a commander in the – then – Royal Hellenic Navy. 

My two younger brothers and I were raised on the island of Spetses in Bouboulina’s house – part of which remains our family home to this day – surrounded by this incredible woman’s story. Since we were also carrying the family name, you can understand that it wasn’t something anyone could easily ignore and it wasn’t always easy for us. 

I admit that, as children, our feelings about our heritage were mixed, something I consider completely natural at that age. Of course, as we got older and better understood the important role our great-grandmother played in Greece’s path to independence and the historic legacy of her actions, we grew to both respect, admire and love our family’s history. 

I am immensely proud of my heritage, even though it comes with a great weight on one’s shoulders – and I do not mean that in a negative sense. It is a responsibility, a duty if you will, to safeguard her legacy and try to live up to Bouboulina’s actions and ideals, in a way befitting to today’s modern world. 

Q: Who was Bouboulina from your perspective? Can you give us a fact regarding something about her that most people don’t know?

A: Laskarina Bouboulina, the ‘Capetanissa‘. Naval commander and heroine of the 1821 Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire. This is the punchline of her story, that almost every Greek around the world knows. However, if you look closely, she is so much more than that. 

She was a woman, twice widowed by the age of 40. A mother of 10 children in total – 7 of her own, plus 3 more from her second husband’s first marriage. 

An accomplished businesswoman, an entrepreneur who managed her own wealth and shipping enterprises. A born leader, who commanded her own fleet and her own private army during the revolution and, until recently, was the first and only woman in world naval history to hold the title of Admiral.

 All of this in early 19th century Greece, a land dominated by men and patriarchal tradition. To me she was a phenomenon in her own right, a pioneer of her time, whose story inspired writers, poets and artists throughout Europe.

If you move past the Greek Revolution and also consider modern day civil and equal rights movements and the struggle for the emancipation of women throughout the world, I believe her story could not be more relevant today. 

Did you know?

  • Something many people do not realise is that, when she entered the war in 1821, Bouboulina was 50 years old. In those days, she was considered advanced in age, if not an old woman. General Kolokotronis, arguably the most famous figure of the revolution, has gone down in Greek history books as the Old Man of the Morea – he was 51. This only adds to the immensity of her accomplishments. 
  • During the battle of Argos, her eldest son Yannis was killed. It is said that she searched the battlefield for his decapitated body and sent word to Spetses that “…my son is dead but Argos is ours”. 
  • In his book L’Archipel en Feu, Jules Verne mentions many heroes of the Greek Revolution, one of them being Laskarina Bouboulina. The first translation of the book by H. Canellides was published in 1884.
  • Q: You and your family have been the driving forces behind ‘Bouboulina’s Museum’. Why is this project important to you?

A: The museum was founded in 1991 by my late father, Philip, and my mother Linda, in a final attempt to save the 350-year-old mansion from certain collapse. 

A designated heritage site since 1925 via Presidential Decree, unfortunately state assistance over the years was minimal and the cost of maintenance and restoration was impossible for the family to keep up with.

 It is a private non-profit organisation, and its main objectives, apart from the restoration and maintenance of the building and grounds, are its function as a cultural centre and national monument, ensuring that this legendary woman’s story is known to the world. 

To date, more than €1.500.000 – mainly generated from the proceeds of visitors’ tickets but also state and European funding – have been spent on building renovation and artefact restoration work, and the Museum has welcomed more than 1.200.000 visitors from Greece and abroad. 

We are considered the No1 attraction on the island and we have been named amongst the 10 best small museums in the country by the Guardian. In 2016, the Museum and my father were honoured with an award by the Academy of Athens, Greece’s highest cultural institution, in the category of ‘Ethical and Political Sciences’. 

I take pride in knowing that the story of this legendary woman has spread around the world, in great part thanks to our Museum and the work we have done over the past 30 years. 

As I mentioned earlier, this is my family’s heritage and something you cannot easily run away from. It is as much a part of me as I am a part of it and I think that applies to all of my family. The continued survival of the Laskarina Bouboulina Museum is the least we can do in her memory. It is our obligation to those who came before us and those who will come after us. 

Q: Is there support and/or interest from the diaspora and are there any plans for collaboration with Hellenic Museums overseas?

A: Interest and knowledge of the Bouboulina Museum has thankfully increased in the past decade, especially since the introduction of social media but also from documentaries, television interviews and newspaper articles in Greece and abroad.

Even though most of our visitors are Greeks, we have translated Bouboulina’s story into 25 languages and we work with many embassies in Athens organising tours and events. We have collaborated with a number of small cultural institutions in Greece, as well as with the Maritime Foundation in London and the Hamburg Maritime Museum in 2016.

We have always wanted to expand and diversify the museum, to collaborate with cultural institutions in and out of Greece and to bring the Bouboulina Museum firmly into the 21st century. However, the country’s unfavourable financial conditions over the past years’ economic crisis, coupled with Spetses’ short tourist season, have been obstacles in fulfilling many of these plans with our own financial means.

Furthermore, the 2020 restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, the effects of which are expected to last well into the future, not only rendered most of our plans unachievable, but they also brought with them the very real threat of closure. Thankfully we were able to weather the storm so far and stay afloat. Unfortunately, a great number of other institutions around the world were not so lucky. 

Q: Are there any special events coming-up for the 200 years from the Greek War of Independence?

A: The 200-year anniversary of the Greek War of Independence has been anticipated as a year of great celebration. It is not only a landmark for Greece and Spetses, but additionally a year of special importance to us as it also marks 250 years since the birth of Laskarina Bouboulina, and 30 years since the founding of the Museum.

As we are a small, family-run museum, we do not have the capability or the resources of some of the larger institutions in Greece, but we are confident we can still play an important part in the celebrations. We have a small number of plans in the works for 2021, such as art and history exhibitions, lectures and music events. 

However, as everyone surely understands, it is very difficult – I would say almost impossible – in the current climate, to plan and organise any sort of event that would entail large numbers of people. No one really knows how museums and cultural institutions will be able to operate this season, so nothing is set in stone regarding the celebrations. 

Q: How can someone from overseas support Bouboulina’s Museum?

A: I am a firm believer that out of any crisis comes opportunity. We are currently in the process of creating a new website for the museum and also establishing an association of friends. Our website will of course have an e-shop, so people will be able to purchase items from our gift shop which we are also enriching with new products. Once the association is up and running, it will form the link between the museum and the general public in Greece and abroad.

By becoming a member, you will help with providing the museum with financial, material and moral support and help increase the public’s perception of the museum itself and its cultural activities. The continuity and growth of the museum beyond the borders of Spetses and Greece is only possible through the commitment of friends and sponsors. 

We hope to have the website up very soon and to establish the association before the summer season begins, but until then, anyone wishing to support the museum and the work we do may contact us at bouboulinamuseum@gmail.com. Especially in these turbulent times we are all living in, everyone’s continued support will allow us to faithfully continue our obligation to those whose sacrifices earned us our national freedom. 

White Pearl Foundation raises over $20,000 at 2021 Breakfast for Brain Cancer

Andriana Simos
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White Pearl Foundation raises over $20,000 at 2021 Breakfast for Brain Cancer

Guests, sponsors and donors raised just over $20,000 at the 2021 Breakfast for Brain Cancer event, which was hosted by the White Pearl Foundation on March 19 at the Estate Vaucluse House.

The White Pearl Foundation was founded by Suzane Peponis-Brisimis in honour of her mother who passed away from a brain tumour in late 2013.

READ MORE: Suzane Peponis-Brisimis: Leading philanthropist shining a spotlight on brain cancer research.

“An enormous thank you to our guests, sponsors and donors who helped us raise just over $20,000 at the 2021 Breakfast for Brain Cancer,” Suzane Peponis-Brisimis tells The Greek Herald.

“The event sold out in 72 hours and many missed out. We are currently looking at holding a second event in June, COVID permitting, and of course the White Pearl Ball on November 27, 2021. We will keep you posted.”

On the day, Cassandra Bennett, patient and author of the soon-to-be released Survivorship Diary for patients and carers, flew in from Canberra to speak at the event and had the attendees captivated when she spoke of her journey with brain cancer and her motivation for creating the diary.

Guests also enjoyed a very informative address by Associate Professor Michael Back, Radiation Oncologist and Director of The Brain Cancer Group,Care2Cure, who is curating and leading The Brain Cancer Group’s latest initiative, a Brain Cancer Databank.

“The comprehensive DataBank will comprise data from three linked projects under TBCG. Conceptually, once established, every patient will be entered into the TBCG Brain Cancer DataBank through a linked pathway in which their initial brain tumour specimen is stored, alongside their actual brain cancer images and their information data,” Associate Professor Michael Back said.

“A scientist asking a question can then access the actual brain tumour specimen, and see how that influences the MRI appearance and treatment outcomes. It will be a powerful future resource for the Brain Cancer community.”

The Associate Professor then went on to discuss the three new initiatives being launched by The Brain Cancer Group, including:

  1. Brain Tumour BioBank and Laboratory: This is the Laboratory situated in the Kolling Institute of Medical Research on the Royal North Shore Hospital campus and contains the biological samples of patients brain tumours, as well as the biological research laboratory studying the tumour specimens. Funding for this laboratory has been from previous fundraising campaigns and is now an established unit. 
  2. Clinical Outcomes Database: This is the detailed database that gathers baseline tumour and treatment information from our patients and assesses the outcomes of treatment. This is being funded by a donation from the family of Tim Cohen. Information from the BioBank and Imaging Laboratory will feed into this database. 
  3. Brain Cancer Imaging Laboratory: This is new imaging databank under development paralleling the principles of the Brain Tumour BioBank and Laboratory gathering the actual images from patients for future study and assessment. It will be the only Imaging Laboratory in Australia and be a great resource for local and international researchers. 

Donations to help the Databank become a reality are always welcome and appreciated and can be made at https://www.whitepearlfoundation.org/how-to-help/donate-to-the-brain-cancer-group or please contact Suzane on 0418 238723 or suzane@whitepearlfoundation.org for any enquiries.

Greek Revolution heroes turned into LEGO figures to celebrate Greek National Day

Andriana Simos
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Greek Revolution heroes turned into LEGO figures to celebrate Greek National Day

Theodoros Kolokotronis, Alexandros Mavrokordatos and Lord Byron have all been immortalised in LEGO by Australian “Lego Classicist,” Pop-Artist and Historical Archivist, Liam D. Jensen.

Mr Jensen was asked to create these specially custom-designed LEGO figures by The British School at Athens’ Director, Professor John Bennet, to mark the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

He instantly set to work to create one-off figures which are almost exact replicas of Kolokotronis (General of the Greek War of Independence), Mavrokordatos (one of the first political leaders of independent Greece) and Lord Byron (a Philhellene).

Lego Alexandros Mavrokordatos (left) and The British School at Athens’ Director, Professor John Bennet (right).

But Mr Jensen says on Facebook that he did have some difficulties when recreating Kolokotronis.

“Theodoros Kolokotronis was probably the most challenging figure I have made to date, as often he is depicted in his dress uniform with a very specific looking helmet that simply does not exist in any of LEGO Group’s existing parts (as I never use 3rd party parts or 3D printed parts).” he wrote in an artists note.

“So I talked to my friend Constantinos Vasiliadis from the Acropolis Museum, who informed me that Kolokotronis was only depicted in the helmet after the War of Independence, and before that he was more often depicted with a sariki or small hat. And so with Constantinos’ advice, I designed the portrait with that in mind.”

Lego Theodoros Kolokotronis (left) and Lord Byron (right)

All we can say is that we LOVE the idea!

The Lego Classicists Family is an educational project that combines history and pop-art to engage with the art and culture of the ancient world and the people who study it.

Liam D. Jensen is a Pop-Artist and Historical Archivist who is most well-known for his portraits of notable classicists and historians around the world using the medium of LEGO mini figures. These include Professor Mary Beard (Cambridge University & TV presenter), Mr Stephen Fry (Author of Mythos, Hero’s & Troy) and Professor Pandermalis, Director of the Acropolis Museum.

Greek War of Independence: The liberation of Kalamata

The Greek Herald
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Greek War of Independence: The liberation of Kalamata

On this day in 1821, the Battle of Kalamata took place between the Greek revolutionary forces and the Ottomans. It was one of the first events of the Greek War of Independence which resulted in the capture of the city by the Greeks. Kalamata became the first city to be liberated.

To mark the day, we take a look back at the history of the battle.

Before the Battle:

In the middle of March, a ship loaded with ammunition, sent by the Friends of Smyrna, arrived at the port of Almyros, outside Kalamata. The Nikitas and Anagnostaras men carried the precious cargo to a safe place.

The Ottoman authorities of Kalamata are informed of the incident and, acting naively, ask the elite to learn about the contents of the cargo and why it is accompanied by armed men. They reply that the gunmen are villagers who accompany oil shipments for fear of robbers. The Suleiman of Kalamata, Arnaoutoglou, is convinced and asks for help from the people of Mani, who send 150 men to the city under Ilias Mavromichalis.

The battle of Kalamata.

As of March 17, however, the nobles of Mani, under the leadership of Petrobei Mavromichalis, had raised the flag of the revolution in Tsimova, today’s Aeropolis of Laconia. The priest of the village swore and blessed the weapons of the captains and the unruly Maniates started the Revolution, eight days before its conventional start.

Immediately after, Kyriakoulis Mavromichalis and Giatrakos start for Mistras and Monemvasia, while Petrobeis Mavromichalis and Theodoros Kolokotronis with 2,000 men travel to Kalamata. Meanwhile, at the other end of the Peloponnese, is the first revolutionary action of the Struggle, with the siege of Kalavryta on March 21.

READ MORE: Greek War of Independence: The day Kalavryta became free.

The Battle for Kalamata:

The people of Mania arrive outside Kalamata on March 22 and occupy the surrounding hills. Only then does Arnaoutoglou understand what is happening. It is too late to escape to Tripolitsa, as Kalamata is completely surrounded. 

When the revolutionaries enter Kalamata on the morning of March 23, 1821, Elias Mavromichalis asks Arnaoutoglou to surrender, emphasising the futility of his effort.

The people of Mani arrive outside Kalamata on March 22 and occupy the surrounding hills. 

Indeed, Arnaoutoglou hands over the city and the Turkish armament to the revolutionaries by protocol. At noon, in front of the church of Agios Apostolos and in a festive atmosphere, the priests bless the flags and swear allegiance to the fighters.

This was followed by a meeting of the chiefs, who decided to set up a revolutionary committee, which they named the “Messinian Senate,” to better coordinate the struggle. Its leadership was assigned to Petrobei Mavromichalis, who bore the title of General of the Spartan and Messinian army. 

On the same day, the “Messinian Senate,” with its Proclamation to the European public, announces that the Greeks rose up for their freedom.

Source: San Simera.

Greece’s Deputy FM meets with Archbishop Makarios of Australia and Ecumenical Patriarch

The Greek Herald
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Greece’s Deputy FM meets with Archbishop Makarios of Australia and Ecumenical Patriarch

Greece’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister and representative for Greeks Abroad, Kostas Vlasis, has met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia in Istanbul.

In the framework of his responsibilities for religious and ecclesiastical affairs, Mr Vlasis paid a visit to the city to attend the Enthronement of Metropolitan Geron Emmanuel of Chalcedon, as well as the patriarchal church service at Agios Georgios Greek Orthodox Church in Fanari on Orthodox Sunday.

During his stay in the city, Mr Vlasis also visited the Theological School of Halki and the Prinkipo Greek Orthodox Orphanage and could be heard saying: “The reopening of the School is a constant request of both the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Greece, as it is a beacon and monument of culture and history.” 

The Bishop of Arabyssos guided Mr Vlasis through the facilities of the school including the library, which hosts a very rich collection of literature. 

Afterwards, he attended the enthronement ceremony of the Metropolitan Geron Emmanuel of Chalcedon, in the presence of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the historic cathedral of the Holy Trinity of Chalcedon.

Private meetings followed with the newly enthroned Metropolitan of Chalcedon, Archbishop akarios of Australia, Archbishop Elpidoforos of America and of course, with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. 

“Every meeting with him is a blessing, an honour and an inspiration. In difficult circumstances, the Ecumenical Patriarchate continues to be a beacon for the entire Orthodox world, a guardian of our faith and a source of enlightenment for every Christian,” Mr Vlasis said after the meeting.

Sophie Cotsis MP brightens spirits of SES volunteers in Canterbury with Greek sweets

Andriana Simos
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Sophie Cotsis MP brightens spirits of SES volunteers in Canterbury with Greek sweets

Member for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis MP, visited the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Canterbury Unit head office on Sunday to thank the amazing volunteers who are dedicating their time to keep people safe during the once-in-a-century floods currently impacting the state.

During her visit to the unit, which is led by Local Controller Lenore Nelson, Ms Cotsis brought Greek sweets from Trianon Cake Shop, including Galaktoboureko, kataifi and Turkish delights, to brighten the spirits of the volunteers.

“The volunteers at Canterbury SES are doing a fantastic job. As soon as they knew there would be bad weather, they dropped everything to help out,” Ms Cotsis tells The Greek Herald.

Sophie Cotsis MP visited the NSW SES Canterbury Unit head office on Sunday. Photos: Sophie Cotsis MP Facebook.

“We just wanted to show the volunteers and local SES, on behalf of our community, that we’re grateful and we’ve got their back.”

After delivering the sweets, Ms Cotsis had lunch with a few volunteers and was briefed about the local emergency situation.

“They were very straight when they said to me that we should clean our house gutters and just do general maintenance,” Ms Cotsis says.

Sophie Cotsis MP had a small lunch with some of the volunteers. Photos: Sophie Cotsis MP Facebook.

“I urge everyone to please be careful – don’t walk, drive, ride or swim in flood waters. Listen and follow the instructions of the NSW Police Force and NSW SES.”

Ms Cotsis’ visit comes as today, large parts of NSW are expected to face more wild weather, with flooding set to reach levels not seen for around 30 years.

Magnisalis family lose home built 47 years ago:

The Magnisalis family have already been impacted by the floods in the Hawkesbury region, with their home built 47 years ago being inundated by water.

Talking on Sunrise this morning, Peter Magnisalis describes how much the home they’ve now lost meant to them.

“We all grew up here with my two brothers as a family and my father built everything brick by brick. My parents life savings and all our histories are here,” Peter says.

“We didn’t have much time to evacuate. We pretty much got my parents out, got a couple of basic things out and they’ve literally just got whatever clothes they’ve got on…. it came up that quick.”

On the verandah of the house are the remnants of the breakfast they left behind as the Magnisalis family rushed to evacuate.

“The water started coming in from the back not long after we sat down to eat, but as you can see we were bamboozled. We didn’t know what to get first,” Peter says.

“It’s their pride and joy. It’s their little castle and that’s all they’ve got. They’ve got their house and they’ve got us… You can’t replace it.”

Peter’s parents, Irene and Nick, told Sunrise “we’ve lost everything.”

“I tried to be strong for my wife. She was so panicked,” Nick says with tears in his eyes.

If you find yourself in an emergency, please call SES on 132 500 or visit https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au.

Mitsotakis and Macron hold telephone call to discuss Turkey, EU report

The Greek Herald
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Mitsotakis and Macron hold telephone call to discuss Turkey, EU report

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, held a telephone conversation with French President, Emmanuel Macron, on Monday.

Talks focused on the upcoming European Council (to be held via teleconference), the report on Turkey by European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya, and the fight against COVID-19.

Macron last week canceled a visit to Athens where he was expected to attend celebrations on March 25 commemorating the bicentenary of the beginning of Greece’s War of Independence in 1821.

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, held a telephone conversation with French President, Emmanuel Macron, on Monday.

READ MORE: French President cancels Independence Day visit to Greece.

The decision was made as the French government imposed a month-long lockdown on Paris and parts of northern France against the virus.

Athens considers Borrell’s report on Turkey ‘positive and balanced’:

With regards to Josep Borrell’s EU report on Turkey, Greece considers it “positive and balanced” as it includes a lot of satisfactory points even if there are “some deficiencies,” according to diplomatic sources who spoke to Ekathimerini.

These sources say the positive points are that the report has a two-fold approach both for a possible positive agenda and for the prospect of sanctions, which are clear and set out in detail.

European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has released a report on Turkey.

Athens is also satisfied with the fact that the report is clear in terms of the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and of the continental shelf. The disagreement should be resolved through dialogue in the context of International Law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and if a solution is not reached through the dialogue, the two countries should have recourse to The Hague, the sources said.

The report depicts in a generally objective way the developments in the context of the EU-Turkey relations.

READ MORE: Greece, Turkey complete 62nd round of preliminary talks on maritime dispute.

Joe Biden sends message to mark bicentenary of 1821 Greek Revolution

The Greek Herald
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Joe Biden sends message to mark bicentenary of 1821 Greek Revolution

US President, Joe Biden, on Monday sent Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, a letter on the occasion of Greece’s celebration of the bicentennial of the 1821 Greek Revolution. 

“I participate together with the Greek people and the millions of proud Greek-Americans in celebrating this joyful anniversary,” Biden said in his letter.

He noted that Greece is a “key NATO ally and close friend” of the United States, a country that “provides stability and actively contributes to peace and prosperity” in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Western Balkans.

US President, Joe Biden (left), with Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis (right).

He also noted that during his political career, he had the privilege of working closely with several Greek Prime Ministers and has also had long conversations with Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.

Biden noted that he looks forward to continue the tradition of further strengthening cooperation between the two countries, and of reaffirming the joint commitment to the Transatlantic Alliance and to all the common values that unite Greece and the US. 

Source: Ekathimerini.

Georgegina Poulos: “I want to be a role model for young women”

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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Georgegina Poulos: “I want to be a role model for young women”

Georgegina Poulos was the first person I approached for the “21 Women for 2021” interview series. 

With her positive attitude she encouraged me to follow a storytelling path towards recording the voices of Australian women of Greek heritage who challenge stereotypes and break glass ceilings. 

And if you think this is a rather unusual intro, you should read on.

A Global Director People at T2 Tea, Georgegina is responsible for shaping, leading and delivering the company’s global People strategy in order to support and enable performance against agreed business objectives.

Five years ago, by becoming the first woman to lead the male-dominated Hellenic-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) the Greek Cypriot senior executive, proved that generosity and empathy are virtues that have the potential to create change. 

Now she’s on a mission to transfer her knowledge to future female leaders who will in turn contribute to the society as a whole. 

Q: You are currently the Global Director of People at T2 but you chose an -out of the box- path to pursue your career. Tell us a bit more about it.

A: I started working at a young age in my Mum’s clothing store, with a love for fashion I opened my own small boutique when I was 19. At 21, my parents gave me a year abroad and I stayed 10! 

I remember sitting in Burger King on Tottenham Court Road with my best friend and the Evening Standard looking for jobs. We would each take a turn to run up the stairs to use the payphone. Towards the end of the day, it was my friend’s turn and she made the call to Johnny Pizza Bar. He asked if she had any experience, she said no but my friend does. So, I called back and I ended up working for Gioma Restaurants for 10 years in London and The Netherlands. I trained all new managers, developed a Children’s marketing campaign and opened 6 restaurants.

After returning to Australia in 2000, I stayed in hospitality and completed my Post Graduate in HR and IR. My first HR role was for HMS Host at Melbourne Airport, from there I moved to the Stamford Plaza Hotel. 

After spending 15+ years in hospitality I decided to move into another industry, Supply Chain. I soon realised my strength as an HR practitioner was strategic thinking, organisational design and working in complex and challenging environments. 

I have been able to transition across multiple industries such as Food Service, Logistics, Energy, Retail and Local Government. I’ve loved the flexibility of running my own consultancy and working in organisations to build capability to deliver strategy. Four years ago, I joined T2 and I love every minute of it.        

Q: How has your Greek background and values helped you navigate your career path and overcome barriers?

A: Work ethic and resilience have been instilled in me since a child and I bring these attributes with me.

Q: You were the first woman to lead the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) as the Chair of Board. Why is it important for more women to follow in your footsteps?

A: I was privileged to be the first female Chair of HACCI. The current Chair is also a woman as are many of the Greek Community Groups.

For me it is important that I am a role model to younger females within our community so they can see it isn’t a ‘boys club’, that women can be strong influential leaders both in business and in the community 

Q: You have worked around the world. Are our workplaces inclusive enough in Australia?

A: I think organisations globally still have a lot of work to do to be truly inclusive. We have strong social biases that need to be broken. I am proud of the work we are doing at T2 in this space, we have just started this journey and we too have so much more to do 

Q: What is the message you would like to share with our readers this International Women’s Day?

A: This year’s theme “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” is so important as many women were severely impacted last year during the peak of COVID and still are. 

Flexibility was one of the great outcomes of last year. Employers need to continue to embrace flexibility to encourage more women to take up leadership positions. Whether it be flex roles & or Work From Home (WFH). 

The notion of working 5 days in the office 0800-1800 no longer exists. COVID has shown us that true leaders can lead virtually and by embracing flexibility creates more opportunity for female leaders to thrive both personally and professionally 

My own personal takeaway is that having flexibility to anywhere, anytime and any way I become more productive and a better leader.

Greek kefi triumphs over rainy weather at Canberra’s Hellenic Festival

Andriana Simos
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Greek kefi triumphs over rainy weather at Canberra’s Hellenic Festival

Canberra’s two-day Hellenic Festival at the Hellenic Club of Canberra was a hit over the weekend, with 3,500 people attending despite the weather trying to rain on their parade.

“People were dancing in the rain. It was awesome! Kefi always triumphs over the weather,” President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, John Loukadellis, tells The Greek Herald.

On Saturday, people and organisations from different cultural backgrounds including Greek, Indian, Chinese, Colombian, Mexican, African, Serbian and Pacific Island nations, all came together to provide a multicultural feast.

Photos: The Hellenic Club of Canberra / Facebook.

ACT’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Tara Chayne, and President of the Hellenic Club of Canberra, Stef Pashalidis, also gave speeches recognising the importance of the multicultural event.

“We had set up a marquee and the Greek community had people cooking loukoumades, tiropites, octopus, frappedes, souvlakia, lamb on the spit… There were also dim sims, chicken rolls and Otai, which is a Tongan watermelon drink. It was just a great way to acknowledge the different multicultural backgrounds of Canberra,” Mr Loukadellis says.

Photos: The Hellenic Club of Canberra / Facebook.

This was followed by the ultimate Hellenic festival on Sunday, which was launched with a traditional ‘welcome to country,’ as well as a number of speeches from Mr Loukadellis, Ambassador of Greece to Australia, George Papacostas, and the High Commisioner of Cyprus, Mrs Martha Mavrommatis.

Attendees were invited to take part in a number of exciting games such as a plate-breaking competition, a zeibekiko dancing competition and even a yeeros and loukoumades eating competition. Performances from dancing groups, as well as Greek band, DEFI, also drew loud applause.

Left: Ambassador of Greece to Australia, George Papacostas, with John Loukadellis. Right: High Commissioner of Cyprus, Martha Mavrommatis, gave a speech. Photos: Facebook.

“I’d like to thank the contribution of Nick Manikas from ‘Fair Canberra,’ who organised the other cultures on the day and also the events manager from the Hellenic Club, Lisa Andonaros, for the exceptional work she put into making the festival a reality for all,” Mr Loukadellis says.

“It really was an awesome day. The event finished at 5pm but the party didn’t stop until 7pm!”

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