In conversation with Elena Skarpathioti
We’re inviting recent UK graduates who have studied in the UK or Greece and final-year students of UK courses to join a face-to-face session and be inspired by the achievements of UK alumni, get tips on professional development and next steps after graduation and connect with other alumni.
In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to find out more about Elena Skarpathioti’s professional journey and be inspired by the highlights in her career. The first part will be a discussion in the form of an interview between Elena and Alexandros Charkiolakis, followed by a Q&A session where you can ask questions and get insights. The session will be in Greek and participation is free.
About Elena Skarpathioti
Elena Skarpathioti is an accomplished Human Resources (HR) Strategic Professional with a strong background in stakeholder management, talent acquisition, and talent and people management. Proficient in navigating diverse sectors such as financial services, shipping and FMCG, her key expertise lies in HR management, HR consulting, stakeholder management, people management and development, complemented by exceptional negotiation and communication skills. She holds a Law degree and Masters (LLB, LLM) from the University of Essex, UK, along with certifications in Marketing (CIM) and HR (CIPD). Elena brings extensive experience to both Greek and international companies, demonstrating her ability to successfully lead projects and large teams across borders.
About Alexandros Charkiolakis
Alexandros Charkiolakis studied music at the University of Sheffield, where he graduated with a BMus (Hons) in 2002 and an MMus by Research in Musicology and Orchestral Conducting in 2004. He also holds an MSc in Philosophy and Management from the University of Athens. He was Head of the ‘Erol Üçer’ Music Library and a Lecturer of Historical Musicology at the Istanbul Technical University. He was then appointed General Director of the Friends of Music Society in Athens. He is currently a member of the Board of the State Orchestra of Athens and the Mikis Theodorakis Museum in Zatouna. He is also the Regional Alumni UK Ambassador for the EU region.
Registration
To attend the face-to-face session, complete the registration form by Sunday 25 May 2025 (13.00 Greek time):
The session will be in Greek and participation is free.
Upcoming event: In conversation with Dr Andreas Persidis and Alexandros Athanassoulas
- Wednesday 4 June 2025, 17.30–19.00
- British Council, 17 Kolonaki Square, 106 73, Athens
- Register by Tuesday 3 June 2025 (13.00 Greek time)
We’re inviting recent UK graduates who have studied in the UK or Greece and final-year students of UK courses to join a face-to-face session and be inspired by the achievements of UK alumni, get tips on professional development and next steps after graduation and connect with other alumni.
In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to find out more about two exciting professional journeys, those of Dr Andreas Persidis and Alexandros Athanassoulas and be inspired by the highlights in their careers. The first part will be a discussion in the form of an interview between the guest speakers and Dr Vasiliki Ivrou, followed by a Q&A session where you can ask questions and gain insights.
Find out more about the speakers and the moderator (PDF, 110 kb).
Registration
To attend the face-to-face session, complete the registration form by Tuesday 3 June 2025 (13.00 Greek time):
The session will be in Greek and participation is free.
Past events
14 May 2025 | Inspiring Minds | Artificial Intelligence for Progress: Shaping the Future of Technology, Work and Society
Presenter: Anastasios Ntabizas
We’re inviting UK graduates who have studied in the UK or Greece to join our ‘Inspiring Minds’ series of lectures and panel discussions led by industry experts to advance their career through learning and skills development and connect with other alumni.
In this session, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a transformative force that can shape multiple aspects of modern life, from professional environments to societal impacts.
The presentation will highlight the potential of AI to drive innovation and efficiency with a focus on the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven workplace and ethical considerations in deploying AI in leadership and decision-making. It will also explore the societal shifts that AI brings, such as the balance between automation and job creation and the role of AI in daily activities that can improve the quality of life. A Q&A session will be included.
The event will be in English and participation is free.
About Anastasios Ntabizas
Anastasios Ntabizas is the Business Development Manager at the South-East European Research Centre (SEERC), the research centre of CITY College, University of York Europe Campus. He holds a Master’s degree in Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Sheffield and a BSc in Computing and Management Science from Loughborough University, UK.
With over 20 years of professional experience, Mr Ntabizas has successfully led the acquisition and management of numerous EU-funded projects, significantly contributing to research, innovation and regional development. At SEERC, he is responsible for driving business development strategies, fostering collaborative synergies and leading multidisciplinary teams of researchers and professionals.
He is currently pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence at the International Hellenic University (IHU), focusing on the applications and societal implications of AI across various sectors. His research is driven by a strong commitment to innovation, lifelong learning and the pursuit of solutions with positive societal and environmental impact.
Throughout his career, Mr Ntabizas has held key roles in national and international organisations, including NOESIS – Thessaloniki Science Center & Technology Museum, INTERSOS in partnership with UNHCR and SEPVE – the Association of IT Companies of Northern Greece. He has organised and managed a wide range of high-level conferences, expert meetings and brokerage events across Europe, and has overseen the implementation of large-scale national and European initiatives.
7 April 2025 | Panel Discussion | Social Entrepreneurship in Greece: Challenges and Prospects
We’re inviting UK graduates who have studied in the UK or Greece to join our ‘Inspiring Minds’ series of lectures and panel discussions led by industry experts to advance their career through learning and skills development and connect with other alumni.
At the panel discussion, you’ll gain a better understanding of social entrepreneurship and its context in Greece. The discussion will cover current trends, challenges faced by social entrepreneurs and strategies for overcoming these, the support framework and examples of good practice.
The discussion will be led by Maria Nomikou, Senior Consultant, British Council, and the panel will consist of:
- Stella Kasdagli, Co-founder of WHEN, writer and inclusion expert
- Ifigeneia Bakella, Co-founder and Director of Genesis Hellas NGO
- Dimitrios Chaidas, Strategic Communications expert, Founder and Managing Director of DevComm
The event will be in Greek and participation is free.
Find out more about the panel (PDF, 112 kb).
19 February 2025 | UK Alumni Networking
We’re inviting UK graduates who have studied in the UK or Greece to the first Alumni UK networking event in Thessaloniki!
Come and join us for this opportunity to reconnect with the UK, network with other UK alumni and meet representatives of British Council Greece, the Alumni UK global network and the British Embassy in Athens.
The event will be hosted by Anastasia Andritsou, Director British Council Greece and Cyprus.
We look forward to seeing you there!
12 February 2025 | The Neuroscience of Empathy: How to Create a Better Society Through Deeper Connections
Presenter: Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis
We’re inviting UK graduates who have studied in the UK or Greece to join our ‘Inspiring Minds’ series of lectures and panel discussions led by industry experts to advance their career through learning and skills development and connect with other alumni.
In this session, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of empathy, its different types and its importance in business, education and society in general.
Learning objectives
- Appreciate the significance of empathy in all aspects of life.
- Learn the different types of empathy and how these work in the brain.
- Detect key empathy barriers of empathy from a neuroscientific perspective.
- Connect deeper with people through all points of contact.
- Become a more empathetic leader and improve society for all.
The event will include a Q&A session and a short break. The event will be in English and participation is free.
About Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis
Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis has been applying neuroscience to business and education for the last two decades. He has scanned more than nine thousand brains from twenty-five countries globally for business and academic purposes. He has co-authored the books Neuroscience for Leaders and Advanced Marketing Management, both for Kogan Page Publishing, London. He has worked with international brands such as IKEA, IBM, JTI, Nestle, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, CISCO, SAP, Pierre Fabre, Coca Cola, T-Mobile, Dixons, Banca Intesa Sanpaolo, Societe Generale, Unicredit, Microsoft, VMware, Raiffeisen Bank, DELL, USAID and others.
He is the Head of the Applied Neuroscience Lab in EY Greece, offering cutting-edge Neuromarketing, NeuroHR, Neuroleadership and Neurosafety services. He received his PhD and MBA from the University of Sheffield (UK) and is a certified Neuromarketer. Dr Dimitriadis is a Professor of Practice at City College, the University of York Europe Campus, Greece, where he leads the Master of Science in Neuromarketing. He is also a Visiting Professor at the School of Economics and Business at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and at the Fribourg School of Management in Switzerland.
29 January 2025 | In conversation with Dr Despina Zacharopoulou
We’re inviting recent UK graduates who have studied Arts and similar courses in the UK or Greece and final-year students of UK courses in Arts and similar subjects to join our face-to-face session and be inspired by the achievements of UK alumni, get tips on professional development and next steps after graduation, and connect with other alumni.
In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to find out more about Dr Despina Zacharopoulou’s professional journey and be inspired by the highlights in her career. The first part will be a discussion in the form of an interview between Dr Zacharopoulou and Dimitrios Marinos, followed by a Q&A session where you can ask questions and gain insights. The session will be in Greek and participation is free.
About Dr Despina Zacharopoulou
Dr Despina Zacharopoulou is a leading expert in the emerging field of performance philosophy and the winner of the Study UK Alumni Award in Culture and Creativity 2024 in Greece. Despina’s live performances, publications, lectures and academic teaching have had an impact on artists, academic scholars and wider audiences worldwide. Despina observes that the Royal College of Art equipped her with all the necessary tools and values that have shaped her current path: critical thinking, practice-led research methods, transdisciplinarity, commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. She is now sharing her expertise with key academic and art institutions around the world, promoting contemporary performance art research as a form of inhabited philosophy towards other ways of being. Despina holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy and Fine Art from the Royal College of Art.
About Dimitrios Marinos
Dimitrios Marinos is the Managing Director of the Athens Conservatoire and finalist for the Culture and Creativity Alumni Award 2023 in Greece. Dimitrios wears the hats of a manager, an educator and a performer. By doing so, he is dedicated to the quality improvement of cultural and performing arts institutions and strongly advocates for the pivotal role they play in the advancement and cohesion of society. Dimitrios holds a Master of Arts in Performance from the Royal Academy of Music, University of London.