The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the winners of their 2020 awards held online yesterday.

The live-streamed event hosted by acclaimed comedian Mary Coustas acknowledged excellence, innovation, leadership and business acumen of the Hellenic Australian community.

The ceremony also included some musical performances streamed from Athens by singer-songwriter Foivos Delivorias, gypsy jazz group Gadjo Dilo and the Chris Frangou Trio who performed in Melbourne.

READ MORE: HACCI’s network for young professionals celebrates its sixth year

AWARD WINNERS

Bank of Sydney Business Award – Barbara Konstas
Barbara Konstas  was awarded the Bank of Sydney Business award for her work as CEO of the Melbourne Seafood Centre, Victoria’s only wholesale fish market. She was integral in its formation, designing and implementing key processes and procedures. 

Professional Services Award presented by Intralot – Dr Paul Eliadis AM
Dr Paul Eliadis received the Professional Services Award for his dedication in supporting medical research that explores promising opportunities in cancer care. He also donated $1 million for the creation of the academic Chair of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Queensland.

Innovation Award presented by Directed – Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos
Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos was awarded the Innovation Award for her work as a world-renowned researcher and her commitment to sharing the wide-ranging benefits of immunotherapy, applying her innovative ideas to diseases including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, other cancers, mental health, drug addiction and more recently against coronavirus. 

Woman of Influence Award presented by SalaryMasters – Violet Roumeliotis
Violet Roumeliotis was awarded the Woman of Influence award for her work as CEO of Settlement Services International (SSI), a not-for-profit that supports migrants to achieve their full potential and her commitment to achieving equity and advancing diversity and inclusion in all forms.

Sports Award presented by Heidelberg United – Delly Carr
Delly Carr was awarded the Sports Award for his outstanding over 30 year career of capturing and narrating the history and mythology of our national sports through his photos. He was also formally recognised by his peers with his induction as a founding Member of the World Photography Academy and still remains as the only Australian Member.

Community Award presented by PRONIA – Lilian Gomatos
Lilian Gomatos received the Community Award for her decades of contribution to the Darwin Greek community, working tirelessly to promote Greek culture to the broader community. She became the first female president of the Greek Community of the Northern Territory. Through her leadership, the community established Glenti, the glorious Greek festival that has been running in the Northern Territory for 32 years. 

Chris Saristavros Young Achiever Award – Natalie Kyriacou OAM
Natalie Kyriacou was awarded the Chris Saristavros Young Achiever Award for her work in creating inclusive youth education programs and technologies that increase access to wildlife and environmental conservation and sciences. Through her passion for the environement, she is ensuring access to education, increasing female participation in science, technology and leadership roles and empowering the next generation of young people to participate in issues of global concern.

Spiro Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award – Nick Polites OAM
Nick Polites received the Spiro Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award for being a champion of multiculturalism and a living example of how music brings people together. He was one of the founders of the Greek Australian Welfare Society, now known as PRONIA, When they were facing a lack of Greek-speaking social workers, he returned to University to obtain a degree in social work. He would later become a director of PRONIA, a position he held for 15 years.