Our Board of Directors
Despina Papadopoulou is the President of AIPFE Cyprus. A graduate of Imperial College of the University of London, with a BSc Degree in Biochemistry and an MSc Degree in Biotechnology, Despina has devoted 25 years to teaching, in both the private and public sectors.
She was a Biology teacher who, for the last seven years of her career served as a Deputy Headmistress. Despite a rather demanding post, she found that working with youth kept her young at heart and always on the go. A mother of two and the wife of a husband with a challenging career, Despina always has her hands full but is driven by a strong will and passion to give every moment of her time to causes she believes in.
Despina has been a Board member of AIPFE for the last fifteen years, having held the post of Vice President for nine years and that of the President since December 2021. Seeing AIPFE flourish and thrive over these years, makes her content and proud and is looking forward to continuing her work with passion and dedication as AIPFE’s President.
Despina is also devoted to the humanitarian action of the Cyprus Red Cross and since December 2022, has been an elected member of the Cyprus Red Cross Society Council. As a proud Red Crosser, she feels that this is a meaningful and honourable role for her, as charity has always been an important part of her life.
Despina finds inspiration in Maya Angelou’s quote ‘Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women’ and strongly agrees with Melinda Gates that ‘A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.’
Thalia Iacovou has been working in the field of design, branding and communications for the last 25 years. A graduate of Reading (BA) and Middlesex (MA) Universities, Thalia spent the first 16 years of her professional career in London, where she worked in the design industry with global clients on branding, communications and digital design projects.
She became head of digital branding and communications at UBS Investment Bank in London in 2002, where she also served on the e-commerce steering board, responsible for the design and user experience of the Bank's trading and banking platform. She was involved in 2 global rebrands of the business and managed all the digital brand training globally.
After returning to Cyprus in 2007, Thalia became co-director of Navajo, a creative agency with expertise in branding and digital communications, working across the corporate, music, entertainment and hospitality industries. She also advises in the fields of Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Service.
Thalia is involved in #TEDxNicosia, #TEDxNicosiaWomen, is a mentor for the Cyprus Centre for Entrepreneurship (C4E) and the Junior Achievement Program, a member of the first Nicosia LeanIn circle and co-launched the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution Day in Cyprus.
Her motivation in life is driven by a passion to approach everything with creativity and collaboration. She believes that we all have a responsibility to explore new ways of thinking in order to find solutions to the issues of our generation.
This is Thalia’s fourth term on Aipfe’s Board of Directors and her second term as Vice-President. She hopes to help drive the organisation’s mission to empower and connect women in business and civil society to a new level.
Andri Prodromou has been working at the House of Representatives as a parliamentary partner of the Member of Parliament, Chrysis Pantelides- Democratic Party since June 2021. She participates in the Committees of Finance, Foreign and European Affairs, Energy and Trade, Control and Public Expenditure and Human Rights.
Andri studied Political Sciences and Public Administration at the University of Athens-Faculty of Law, and Economics and also holds a Master’s Degree in European Union Law (LLM European Union Law) from the University of Essex in the UK.
Andri constantly monitors developments in her field of interest, in a constant effort to remain a reliable and effective associate. She has been elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Nicosia Division of the Cyprus Red Cross since March 2019.
She participates in JCI Cyprus as a former president and her role is supportive and she also becomes a permanent member of the Organizing Committee Committee for Awards for Youth Businessman/businesswomen of CCCI.
In January 2024, she was elected General Secretary of GODIK (Women's Organization of Democratic Party).She represents GODIK and participates in the council of the National Mechanism for Women's Rights and in three Council committees . ( Gender and Foreign Policy Committee,Gender and Decision-Making Positions Committee and informal Evaluation Committee of the National Strategy
She has been an active volunteer for charitable organizations such as PASYKAF, Karaiskakio Foundation, The Pancyprian Anti-Leukemic Association “LIFE , Europa Donna, assisting with event planning, fundraising and conferences.
Andri strongly believes that there is a need to improve the model for the strengthening of Youth and Women Entrepreneurship and that AIPFE's role in shaping the future of Cyprus is fundamental.
With a solid professional foundation at Deloitte, Chrysi brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as Treasurer on the AIPFE Board. Her career spans across education, training, and consulting, where she has demonstrated excellence in analytical thinking, project coordination, and leadership.
Beyond her corporate endeavors, Chrysi has been deeply committed to advancing gender equality and empowering women. She has held key positions in NGOs, spearheading initiatives to support women in leadership and entrepreneurship. She also participated in AIPFE's "Women Fit for Business" program, emphasizing skills development for women re-entering the workforce.
Her extensive volunteer work, combined with her passion for education and community development, has earned her recognition as a catalyst for change. With AIPFE, she aims to further promote female leadership, inspire future generations, and support women in achieving their fullest potential.
Chrysi's dynamic career, coupled with her unwavering dedication to social impact, reflects her belief in fostering inclusive opportunities for all.
Mahi is the Press Officer of AIPFE Cyprus. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the USA with a double major in Journalism/Public Relations and French, she has over 30 years experience in public relations and communications, Mahi has lent her expertise to various industries, including hospitality, leisure, real estate and wellness.
She actively advocates for causes close to her heart: she’s a Board member for Nicholas Zoe Foundation, a facilitator for Lean In Nicosia Huddle and a Certified Menopause Champion.
This is Mahi’s fourth term on AIPFE’s Board of Directors and she hopes to continue to act as a creative communication channel between the organization and its audiences, portraying what she considers to be a noteworthy effort for the promotion and empowerment of women, in the best possible light.
Myria Avraamidou is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian University and holds a degree BA (Hons) in Business Studies and Marketing, as well as a MPhil in Human Resource Management.
Myria is a results-driven professional with proven business development and project management experience. She brings in a wealth of experience in Human Resource Management and acts as project coordinator between AIPFE and the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) for OEB’s training seminars. She is also the project manager for Women Fit for Business, a scholarship program for unemployed, female university graduates.
Myria is a Trainer approved by HRDA, an HR people specialist and a Management Lecturer. She teaches Management, Marketing, Innovation Entrepreneurship and Organizational Behavior at the University of Nicosia Business School. She also teaches Management Consultancy, People and Organizations, simulation case study, Innovation and HRM at the Alexander College/ UWE Bristol University of the West of England.
Myria presented a paper in collaboration with the University of Nicosia on gender diversity in decision making positions at the International Women's conference at the University Pantheon Sorbonne. She has a great interest in research, especially in the areas of gender equality, coaching and female leadership.
Myria is a strong believer in innovation, commitment and change through the exchange process of knowledge and learning experience. She is a firm believer that we can rise through life's challenges, serve the society and become better humans by inspiring and empowering others.
Myria is an executive director and a BoD Member of a family business M. Avraamides & Co. Ltd.
Eva Papadopoulos holds a BSC (Hons) in Psychology and Pg Dip. in Counselling and has worked with NGOs both in Cyprus and the UK, in an attempt to contribute in improving people’s lives.
In latest years, Eva worked in the Corporate world in the UK, within the Corporate Social Responsibility field, whereby she was able to apply strategies with large scale impact for the third sector and local communities.
She carried on her studies in Corporate Sustainability Management through Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership and aspires to peruse the UN SDGs overall and more specifically Gender Equality in various spheres. Eva currently works at American International School Cyprus as a student Counsellor.
Eva’s approach in her personal and professional life is one of empowering people to reach their full potential through mentoring and collaboration. Via the platform of AIPFE and as a new member of the Board of Directors (2021), she aspires to address the issue of underrepresentation of women in leadership positions and politics.
Christos Lazanias is a graduate of the Department of Greek Philology (Classical Direction) of the University of Patras and he is also a graduate of Journalism and Communication from the Laboratory of Professional Journalism.
He has worked as a professor of philological courses as well as a journalist in electronic and print media.
He currently works for the Cyprus Bar Association as a press officer and he is a part- time radio producer at POLITIS 107.6 Radio.
In 2016, he published his first book entitled: "ΗΧΩ - ΙΣΤΟΡΙΕΣ ΖΩΗΣ" (ECHO- Life stories), which features 22 real-life human stories.
Christos was elected on AIPFE’s Board of Directors in December 2021 and hopes to be able to contribute in the organization’s collective effort to strengthen female participation in positions of responsibility, trade unions and decision-making bodies. He is an avid believer that the male perspective is fundamental.
‘We have a long way to go, as long as words, announcements and good intentions are translated into daily practice, without dogmatic formulations and meaningless slogans" he says.
Christos’ personal mottos are: "After every sunset, a new sunrise will always be waiting for us" and "Wishing to meet beautiful people in your journey".
Natasa Loizou is an international consultant, trainer and researcher with over 20 years of experience in innovation management and leadership across global organizations. Her expertise spans defense, security, public administration, and science and technology, equipping her with the strategic vision and ability to design innovative, human-centred solutions for businesses, governments and organisations.
Natasa holds an MSc in International Security (University of Bristol) and a BA in Politics and International Relations (University of Kent at Canterbury), both with honours. Her certifications on Social Science Research Methods (University of Bristol), in Agile Project Management (InterAmerican Bank of Development) and Innovation (Universidad de Salamanca) highlight her capacity for leading transformational initiatives. Among her notable achievements, she successfully led the reduction of over 50,000 firearms and 21 tons of ammunition and established five Federal Innovation and Transfer Centers to enhance collaboration between academia and industry in Argentina. In 2021, Natasa was honoured by the United Nations as a Woman Leader in Disarmament and Arms Control Policies in Latin America, recognising her pioneering contributions to gender-sensitive security policies.
During 2024 she developed an international research consulting hub, integrating her extensive academic and practical experience from Latin America and Europe. She focuses on strengthening strategic capacities for Small and Medium Companies in the Mediterranean, fostering public-private co-innovation and empowering women and youth as leaders in all aspects of societal and personal life.
Natasa seeks to connect Latin America and Europe through transformative actions and projects that deepen collaboration. Her innovative vision and empathetic leadership continue to inspire transformational change, making her a valued member of the AIPFE Cyprus Board of Directors.
Chrysanthi Danou is a Human Resources (HR) Professional with over 15 years of work experience, spanning various industries, from Banking to Retail and Wholesale to Academia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Business and Business Administration from the University of Cyprus and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics.
Chrysanthi holds a special place in her heart for female empowerment, an arena that piqued her interest as a university student in 2007, doing her research thesis on Female Entrepreneurship in Cyprus. From her role as an HR professional, she has since advocated for women in the workplace, initiating actions to support the development and empowerment of women. Being a mother of two, she fully comprehends the challenges parents of young children face in Cyprus, and is eager to initiate further actions to facilitate parents to be able to participate fully in any positions they would like, without the limitations of child caring and guilt, that unfortunately are mostly faced by women.
Chrysanthi is a CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development) Chartered Member since 2014. She is also a member of the Cyprus Employment Court of Law in Cyprus since 2011, participating in court trials concerning employment disputes, as a representative on the employers’ side.
Elena Kaskiri is a Senior Software Engineer and Video Game Designer and Developer. She holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Piraeus and a MSc in Video Game Design and Development, from the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology.
With over seven years of experience in the private sector, Elena has made significant contributions to the fields of software engineering and game development. As the co-founder and game developer of an indie game studio, Lilith's Child Game Studio, she has spearheaded the creation of innovative video games, ranging from entertainment to educational. Her professional journey also includes designing banking systems, payment solutions, and ERP systems.
Elena is a dynamic and driven professional, known for her honesty, adaptability, and accountability. She approaches challenges with an analytical mindset and excels under pressure, fostering collaboration within diverse teams. Passionate about gender equality and professional growth, she actively supports women in male-dominated fields, working to empower professionals in Cyprus and beyond.
As a ‘Women in Games’ Ambassador, Elena advocates for diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry, inspiring and supporting women to excel in this evolving field. She has been a dedicated member of AIPFE for the past three years, and continues to champion justice, equality, and inclusivity in her community and professional endeavors. In 2024, Elena was appointed to the Board of Directors of AIPFE, where she will continue to play an instrumental role in advancing the organization's mission to empower women in leadership and professional development.
