The Food for Thought Network Inc (FFTN) hosted it’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) remotely via Zoom on 22 November. The AGM summarily presented the year gone by, achievements actualised and projected events and goals for 2021 central to which will be growth in scope and contribution, organise events observing the 200 year anniversary of the Greek War of Independence and to strengthen partnerships/alliances with other organisations that share similar values and missions.

A big highlight of the evening was the announcement of our new patron professor Vasso Apostolopoulos, chosen because she exemplifies the group’s values, mission and vision for the future. “She is a stellar role model, combining a brilliant science career and a family, recognised globally for her achievements. Our world, our girls are very much in need of role models like Vasso,” Food for Thought Founder Varvara  Athanasiou-Ioannou said.

Next year, 2021, will mark the 20-year anniversary of the establishment of the group by Ms Athanasiou-Ioannou who envisioned and actualised a non-for-profit organisation the primary focus of which has been to provide a networking platform for Greek Australian professional women, with an emphasis on organising events aimed at raising awareness about barriers and enablers to women’s development. Since its foundation, the group continues to expand and grow in membership from within Australia and internationally.

Due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the FFTN has continued its contributions to Greek Australian women and their non Greek friends by holding weekly Zoom conferences presented by leading professionals hailing from the sectors of science, psychology, health, life coaching, community leaders, to name but a few. Professor Apostolopoulos has been a regular and esteemed contributor. The 32 Zoom sessions dealt with topics pertaining to the Covid-19 virus, its impact, self-care, mixed relationships, menopause, family dysfunction amid lockdowns, domestic violence and mental illness, resilience through challenge, professional jealousy, Greek cultural topics of interest amongst others.

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During the AGM, Ms Ioannou announced the new committee. The new members are, Irene Lelou (Business Administration), Georgia Pernitzis (Social worker), Dr Maria Karydakis (linguist), Maria Makris (educator) and Maria Maikousis (government executive officer) and current members Alex Megas, membership specialist Melina Malos (Educator) and Lynda Moraki (pilot). FFTN is enhanced by a number of other volunteers working on different working groups. Angela Ballas our graphic volunteer designer, Maria Foscolos, Dora Papadakis and Evie Lioliou working on the promotion of our language. And global remote members, including Dr Despina Anastasiou (global marketing) Switzerland, Metaxia Kladis, (Career Coach) Bahrain and Diana Athanasiou (business owner in Greece).

Closing the AGM, The Food For Thought Network hosted its last Zoom conference for the year with a bang with noted speaker and presenter, Dr John Tickell, Physician, international researcher and presenter, author and television personality who has spent several decades travelling and studying the health, wellbeing and longevity patterns of people around the world and talked to us about the new rules of health.

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