The Governor-General has announced 2025 King’s Birthday Honours and Awards for 830 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service.
At least 12 of them are of Hellenic background, based on our surname search, and double the amount from last year.
Recipients will attend ceremonies at the Government House in their respective state or territory in coming months to receive the insignia of their award.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Distinguished researcher and Neos Kosmos contributor Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos has been recognised for significant service to medical research, particularly immunology.
The RMIT and Victoria University professor has worked in her field for years and has been on the board of many organisations, such as the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI).
Previous awards include 2010 Greek Australian of the Year at The Peloponnesian Confederation of Australia, 2004 Victorian Honour Roll of Women, 2002 Victorian Young Tall Poppy Award, 1997 Victorian Young Australian of the Year Award, and 1997 Commander Order of the Phoenix, from the President of Greece.
More recently she was awarded the prestigious Galien Scientific Research Award by Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.
Apostolopoulos described the receiving the award as incredible.
“It feels like a moment to pause and reflect on a lifelong journey in medical research: trying to understand how diseases work, creating vaccines and drugs, new immunotherapies, with the aim to make a real difference in people’s lives,” she told Neos Kosmos.
“It is importance of never giving up, no matter how tough things get.
“This honour isn’t mine alone. It belongs to everyone whom I have worked with, who have mentored me, and whom I have mentored.
“I’m incredibly proud, overwhelmed with gratitude, and reminded once again why this work matters.”
She added that her parents, as migrants who came to this country, have inspired her to keep pursuing her career.
“They migrated to Australia really for us, for their children to have a better life and they should be proud of what they’ve done and that’s what keeps me going.”
Australian Sports Technology Network (ASTN) and Sports Without Borders founder James Demetriou has been awarded for significant service to sport, to education, and to business.
Demetriou played nine games with the Essendon Football Club (1975-1976) and later served as the club’s Board Director in the mid to late ’90s. He was also a City of Coburg Councillor in the early to mid ’80s.
He’s held leadership positions in university programs at Swinburne, Monash, and Melbourne Uni.
“Shocked and humbled” is how he best described the feeling of receiving this recognition.
He told Neos Kosmos he’s proud to leave a legacy behind in sport innovation with the programs he’s helped set up.
“The work on Sports Without Borders, very proud to be able to have given at least 20,000 young newly arrived migrants an opportunity to be able to participate in sport and get socially included,” he said.
“My role has been to give back, and particularly around sport, where it was such an important part of our lives – my whole family has been heavily involved with my brother at the AFL (former CEO Andrew Demetriou).
“I mean going back to the Pascoe Vale Football Club where we were able to join a great club that really included us and helped us and supported us in building our teamwork and discipline… and here we are years later seeing the result.”
He said it’s also about giving back to Australia because Australia has been very good to his family.
Demetriou recently attended the Cyprus Diaspora Forum and received an award there. He also visited the villages his parents came from, which he said was emotional.
“You just think, two people in their early twenties leaving their families, never to see their mothers and fathers again, going to Australia to start new lives and the legacy of four children, 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.”
Dr Irene Ioannakis from Western Australia has also received an AM for her significant service to the business sector in the field of vocational education and training.
Ioannakis is the CEO of Ioannakis and Associates and was the Acting and Deputy Chief Commissioner of Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
She has held executive positions at Motor Trade Association, Chevron Australia, GE Oil and Gas, WesTrac and Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA, and had held numerous board memberships across many businesses and schools.
“I’m rarely stuck for words but I almost am this time. I am beyond humbled and extremely proud,” she told Neos Kosmos.
She noted that one does not get recognised for something significant like this without other people in your life.
“One of the key things for me has been the influence and impact I’ve had in ensuring quality in education and training, making providers who are delivering the training to not just our young people but particularly young people in apprenticeships are of quality themselves and they are there for the right reason.”
She said she is beyond passionate in what she does – it’s about giving back for her and now in semi-retirement she still gives back knowing there’s a lot more work to do.
Ioannakis’s connection to her Greek roots didn’t stay after her parents. Who were from northern Greece near Florina, passed away.
But she stays connected through food and music.
“Trust me I hear a bouzouki playing, I’m first on the dancefloor.”
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
The late Georgia Alexandrou has been recognised for her service to the Greek and Cypriot communities of Canberra.
Before Alexandrou passed away in 2024, following a battle with cancer, she served as President of the Cyprus Community of Canberra and ACT and President of the Pan-Australian Coordination Committee – Justice for Cyprus (PASEKA), having a great impact through these roles.
She was also a Co-chair for the Greek Glendi and committee member for both the Australian Hellenic Council and the World Council for Hellenes Abroad.
Neos Kosmos reached out to her husband Chris Alexandrou, who said he’s very happy with her acknowledgement.
“It’s a testament to her work with the community. She definitely deserves it – gave 25 years of her life to the task,” he said.
“As a wife she was an incredible person.”
He said the family are still coming to terms with her loss, especially their son Andreas, who was 17 at the time. Chris said he’s doing his upmost to guide him through this next part of life.
Chris Gryllis has been awarded an OAM for his service to the community of Orange, NSW.
Gryllis and his sister Helen immigrated to Australia from Patmos, arriving in Orange in 1962, where his older brothers Michael and Theo did so six years prior.
He told Neos Kosmos the day they arrived was the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, so festive lights overhanging Summer Street (where his brothers owned Jim’s Café) were on and they joked they had been turned on specially to welcome them to Orange.
From then on Gryllis quickly decided to assimilate into the Australian way of life.
He joined the Orange Choral Society, Rotary Club of Orange, Salvation Army’s Red Sheild Appeal and Orange’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 1987 he was elected as an Alderman on Orange City Council (later the title became Councillor). He served on Council for 27 years including some years as Deputy Mayor.
During this time he chaired many committees including Finance, Sister Cities, Tidy Towns, Airport and the Hospital Liaison Committee where he instigated the Wayfinders Volunteers.
He also served on the boards of Ophir County Council and Blayney Abattoirs. Through his involvement with the NAIDOC Committee, he instigated the Flame of Hope and Reconciliation Relay and the creation and display of the flame lit cauldron during Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week.
“All these commitments mentioned would not have been possible without the moral and physical support from my brothers and sisters and their families, my staff in my real estate business, my friends and many others but especially the support from my wife Mosha and daughter Irene,” he said.
“I have been very lucky and blessed to spend most of my life in a city that I dearly love. Orange and its people have given me the opportunity to fulfil many of my dreams.
“I accept this honour very humbly and although it is in my name it belongs to all those who helped me over the years.”
Staying in NSW, Jim Ronis has been recognised for his service to the community through a range of organisations.
Ronis has long been involved in the Greek community, sport, education and real estate.
In sport he is most notably a former director of Football NSW from 1987-2007. He is a founding member of West Sydney Berries Football Club (Formerly Canterbury-Marrickville Olympic Soccer Football Club) (Now Canterbury Bankstown Football Club), Hellenic Lions Club and Bankstown APEX Club.
Ronis is a founding member of the Kalavryton Society (NSW) Aghia Lavra Inc, where he is a former president, and is a former vice president of the St Euphemia Greek Orthodox Church.
He told Neos Kosmos he is very grateful for the recognition.
“I’ve done a lot of work for the community, the Greek community and associations that I belong to. I’m very honoured to receive such an award,” he said.
“I owe this award to my parents. They brought me up the right way and they taught me how to serve my fellow community members.”
He added that while he looked to get paid, he ended up being rewarded greater, seeing the result of his work.
Yet another NSW recipient of an OAM, Peter Satouris – For service to the retail industry, and to the community.
Satouris is the founder and owner of Peter’s of Kennington, specialising in gifts, hampers and gift registry.
His business has sponsored Randwick Rugby Union Club, South Sydney Rabbitohs, and been a benefactor of Souths Cares and Sydney Children’s Hospital.
Awards include Medal of the Order of Christ-loving, and proclaimed a Grand Commander, Greek Orthodox Church of Australia, and Torch Bearer at the Olympic Torch Relay, 2004.
The Original Juice Company co-founder Nikolaos Thyssen (Theodossiadis) has been awarded for service to business and manufacturing.
Alongside The Original Juice Company, Thyssen has co-founded Procal Dairies, Ezy Chef, Ready Cut Company, and Patra Orange Juice.
‘I’m very pleased,” he told Neos Kosmos. “I came from Greece with nothing and will finish up very successful. I love Australia, the best country in the world.”
He quoted from his recent book, Nick Thyssen: The Story of a Great Innovator to Remember, that his message for people who wish to accomplish more in life – is to get “off their arse and do it”.
“You don’t get successful sitting around all day… I worked day and night.
“And that is only because Australia gave me the opportunity to do so.”
Public Service Medal (PSM)
Sarah Corinna Samios (Federal) from the ACT has received a PSM for outstanding public service in establishing the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
The ART was the most significant reform to Australia’s merits review system in decades, replacing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).
Samios led the complex reform involving multiple stakeholders and teams, providing strategic advice to government, AAT members, departments, and the public.
Under her leadership, the Administrative Review Taskforce successfully recruited all statutory appointments to the ART—482 in total—through 17 selection panels since January 2023.
She played a central role over two years, demonstrating strong leadership, focus, and commitment to delivering the reforms to a high standard.
Peter Apostolos Delibaltas in Queensland has been recognised for outstanding public service in the delivery and access to legal services for disadvantaged.
Starting his career with the Public Defender’s Office in 1990, Delibaltas has represented many people in high-profile cases, including before the Supreme Court.
His extensive legal experience, coupled with his leadership skills, saw him elevated to senior roles at LAQ including serious crime principal lawyer, director of criminal law services, senior director legal practice and senior executive director legal practice.
He played a key role in implementing major Queensland justice system reforms at LAQ such as youth justice system reforms, including establishing LAQ’s Youth Legal Advice Hotline and support programs and Mental Health Review Tribunal representation.
Delibaltas has supported the delivery of legal services for people impacted by natural disasters, and for those appearing before the Royal Commissions into Disability, and Defence and Veterans Suicide.
He’s also contributed to First Nations initiatives and during the COVID lockdowns and natural disasters, made sure essential services from LAQ were delivered.
“Extremely honoured and great privilege to have worked for legal aid for 35 years delivering services to underprivileged and financially disadvantaged people for so long in various parts of what I do,” he told Neos Kosmos.
Delibaltas’s father is from Dhidhimótikhon in northeastern Greece, and his mother from Chios.
“They’ve always been extremely supportive of me pursuing a career in law,” he said.
“My sister’s a lawyer, my cousin is a lawyer, so we’ve got a few lawyers in the family and they’ve always encouraged me to pursue my goals and dreams and I was very fortunate that I worked so hard earlier in my life to give me that opportunity.”
He’s been an active member of his Greek community, from his youth at the Greek Orthodox Parish of the Dormition of Our Lady in Mt Gravatt.
Australian Police Medal (APM)
Detective Chief Inspector Sotirios Courcoulos in NSW has received an APM for distinguished service as a member of an Australian police force.
He has had experience in all courts and has been in charge of investigations relating to a wide range of offences such as murder, armed robberies, arson, woundings, large thefts and sexual assault.
Courcoulos joined the NSW Police Force as a cadet at 16 in 1977 and was sworn in as a police officer two years later. He was in charge of several murder investigations during the 1990s.
In 2012 he moved to State Crime Command to join Strikeforce Raptor, then the Gangs Squad, as the investigations coordinator. In 2017 he joined the Financial Crime Squad and managed to disrupt fraud networks that targeted major banking institutions, uncovering large amounts of money.
In 2023 Courcoulos assumed his current role as the Child Abuse Squad manager of South West Sydney, where he coordinates the NSWPF’s response to child sexual abuse, serious physical abuse or extreme neglect.
In Victoria, Sergeant Joanna Maree Parissis has also been awarded for her service to the Australian police force.
Sergeant Parissis’s career has spanned three decades across the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne.
With frontline experience, expertise as a youth resource officer and later a state-wide strategic role, she has changed the lives of hundreds of young people and has enabled them to reach their best potential and improve their lives.
She has also developed ongoing programs, like the health and wellbeing program in partnership with the Pavilion School and community events through Blue Light Victoria.
As a board member of Blue Light Victoria Board, she has made significant contributions with philanthropic engagement through successful grants and fund raising.
