Emmanuel Valageorgiou is the new President of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of New South Wales. Valageorgiou succeeds Jack Passaris, who has served as the council’s president for more than nine years. Passaris will remain as the Council’s honorary president.
Australian-born Valageorgiou draws his ancestry from the island of Samos. He studied Economics at the University of Sydney and works for NSW power operator TransGrid. In recent years Emmanuel has worked closely in a voluntary capacity with the Canterbury Multicultural Age and Disabilities Support Services.
Four other members of Greek origin make up the Council’s board: Fiona Passaris; Peter Doukas; Haroula Themistokleous; and Tasha Vanos.
At the annual general meeting of the Council a proposal was adopted to create a ‘James Samios Award’ in honour of the much respected NSW politician who died in July.