Eight young Greek Australians will represent Australia at the 2nd Greek Youth Diaspora Symposium in Athens today – a growing international forum designed to connect, empower and showcase the next generation of Hellenic leaders around the world.

The General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the symposium will take place from 25 to 28 November 2025 at the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Centre.

The event brings together young people aged 18–25 from across the global diaspora to exchange ideas on culture, identity, innovation, education and emerging global challenges.

This year’s theme, “Diaspora Dialogues: Connecting Young Voices Around the World,” highlights the Symposium’s mission to build long-term networks between young Greeks abroad and their peers in Greece. Participants from 30 countries are expected to attend.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, will officially open the Symposium today at 2pm.

A growing institution welcomed by diaspora youth

The Greek Youth Diaspora Symposium was first launched in 2024 and quickly became an annual institution embraced enthusiastically by diaspora communities. Its purpose is to cultivate leadership, promote cultural continuity and support meaningful dialogue between young Greeks worldwide.

Distinguished academics, entrepreneurs and political leaders will moderate the discussions throughout the four-day event, guiding participants through a wide range of topics including cultural identity, Greek language preservation, arts, education, artificial intelligence, innovation, sustainable development, the environment, volunteering, sport and social cohesion.

Spotlight on young Greek Australians

Australia’s strong delegation reflects the country’s vibrant Greek diaspora, with eight young leaders selected to participate as panel speakers. They will share their experiences as Greek Australians, contribute to discussions on global Hellenism and strengthen ties with peers from Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.

Their involvement comes as the Greek government expands programs that engage younger generations of the diaspora, acknowledging Australia as one of the largest and most influential Greek communities globally.

Recognising the next generation of Diaspora Ambassadors

Last year’s “Greek Youth Diaspora Ambassadors” – selected during the inaugural 2024 Symposium – will present their projects and receive formal recognition for their work.

The new 2025 cohort, including the Greek Australian participants, will in turn be appointed as Ambassadors and tasked with delivering initiatives that promote the Greek diaspora over the next year.

All sessions of the Symposium will be livestreamed, with online viewers able to register at: https://greekyouthdiaspora.gr/registration/.

The Greek International Women Awards (GIWA) returned to the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Centre on Monday for a night that celebrated the talent, leadership and global impact of Greek women.

As the largest international network of professional women of Greek heritage, GIWA continues to unite, inspire and create role models for generations to come.

From start to finish, the evening combined elegance, emotion and meaningful connections, drawing distinguished guests from Greece and abroad.

The ceremony opened with a captivating dance performance and the phrase, “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for,” before hosts Katerina Gkagkaki and Tasos Tryfonos took the stage.

This year’s event was held on November 24, just one day before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In her remarks, renowned actress and director Mimi Denissi highlighted the importance of solidarity over competition among women.

With 15 award categories and a total of 154 nominees, the evening showcased impressive achievements across diverse fields.

The Media & Marketing Communications category — which included The Greek Herald publisher Dimitra Skalkos as a finalist — was won by Kyra Kapi, known for managing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ TikTok presence. It was a category filled with women whose work continues to inspire and shape the public sphere.

The Greek Herald also featured in the “Social Responsibility” category, with the newspaper’s Digital Editor, Andriana Simos, named finalist alongside other women who transformed their ideas into action. The award was ultimately received by Sofia Kouvelaki.

In the Arts category, the judges reached a tie, awarding both Angelika Kathariou and Marianna Kapsetaki.
In Business and Entrepreneurship — a category featuring Greek Australian nominee Violet Roumeliotis AM — the winner was Marianna Prokopi Dimitriadis, co-founder of three pioneering biotechnology start-ups.

Sofia Psarra was recognised in the Design category, while sexologist Eirini Cheirdari received the award for the Humanities. The Environmental Awareness prize went to Zisoula Dasiou.

Greek Australian designer Angela Nicolades was shortlisted for the Fashion award, which was ultimately presented to Antonia Karra.

Other award recipients included:

• Finance: Maria Leontiou
• Hospitality: Katilena Alpe
• Law & Political Science: Souzana Klementidi
• Science & Technology: Alexandra Drakaki
• Shipping: Aspasia Pastra

The 2025 GIWA ceremony once again highlighted the remarkable achievements of Greek women worldwide — women who continue to break barriers, uplift their communities and inspire future generations.