An Inclusive Greek Australian Women's Network
CONNECTING CULTURES, GENERATIONS, PROFESSIONS
The Food for Thought Network was founded in 2001 by Varvara Ioannou. It is an incorporated not for profit organisation. It has an educational focus and runs inspirational events pertaining to career, family, health and well-being in a culturally inclusive way.
Motivational speakers from different professions, businesses, generations and cultures are invited to present thus providing fantastic development and networking opportunities for personal and professional growth.
By attending our events you will engage with professional peers outside your organisation and profession. Food for Thought Network will be valuable in opening up future oportunities! Do not wait till you are offered a leadership role to decide that you need a mentor to develop these skills. Continuously building these networks and capabilities throughout your career will make you more likely to be identified as a potential leader and be offered opportunities. Come along and learn the language of success.
2013
How do Women Make Successful Careers?
Can they have it all?
How can we help the younger working women to succeed?
The world of work is rather complex and demanding.To be successful in today's world, it takes a lot of juggling, persistence, hard work and a little help from family and friends.
On 20th May we will profile three senior Australian Greek women in Banking and Finance who will share their secrets for success.
- Lisa Livis, State General Manager Commercial Banking for Victoria Westpac Banking Corporation
- Mary Scoutas, Head of Sales, Customer Contact Centre, National Australia Bank
- Stephanie Apostolopoulos, Marketing Manager, Delphi Bank
- Venue: Philhellene.
- Further details and bookings: info@fftn.org.au
Upcoming Inspiring People Series 3
We are proud to present in collaboration with Antipodes Festival
Attributes of Identity - In Conversation with Justice Emilios Kyrou
Mc: Professor Nikos Papastergiadis
Hosts: Eyvah Dafaranos, poet, art curator, wife of Greek Ambassador & Professor Nikos Papastergiadis
'I feel the gain to Australia is in the children rather than the parents' (Australian immigration official, 1967). Source: Justice Kyrou’s autobiography
The discussion will explore the attributes of Justice Kyrou’s identity and how they were affected by racism as a child migrant growing up in Broadmeadows, family background, relationships, career highlights, definition of success and what it means to be a Supreme Court Judge.
Justice Emilios Kyrou is a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, having been appointed in May 2008.
His Honour is the second practising solicitor to be appointed directly as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria since it was established in 1852. He is also the first and only Greek-born Justice of the Court. He was born in the village of Sfikia, which is near Veria in northern Greece. He migrated to Australia with his parents and younger brother in 1968 when he was 8 years old.
Justice Kyrou graduated from Melbourne University in 1982 with a first class honours law degree and a commerce degree. He was the top law graduate and was awarded the prestigious Supreme Court Prize. In 1985 he published two legal texts and in 2012 he published a partial autobiography with the title, ‘Call me Emilios’.
Since his appointment to the Bench, Justice Kyrou has heard a broad range of cases, including judicial review applications and appeals on questions of law from tribunals and various courts, contractual and property disputes, contested wills and claims on estates, human rights disputes, civil jury trials for personal injuries and murder trials. He has also served as an additional judge of the Victorian Court of Appeal on four occasions.
Prior to his elevation to the Bench, he was a senior litigation partner in the international legal firm that is now known as King & Wood Mallesons.
Date: Saturday 7 September 2013 Time: 6:00- 9:00 pm
Place: The Wheeler Centre Melbourne
Inquiries Varvara Ioannou 0403 034 527,
Alexandra Megas 0438 660 301, Anthoula Paraskeva: 0419 663 257
All proceeds go towards supporting various worthy causes.
This year we are supporting FrondithaCare!
Our cause for 2011 and 2012 was Paralympian Michelle Erichiello.
CONGRATULATIONS MICHELLE ! You did us all proud!
Our Sponsored paralympian Michelle came 5th in the London Paralympics
In 2011-2012 FFTN supported an inspiring woman Michelle Errichiello (neeWinkler)
To read more about the positive publicity that Food For Thought has received please click here.
The Inspiring People Series 2 was held on Tuesday 21 June 2011, please click here to read the media coverage.
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In February 2007, Michelle went to work not knowing her life was about to change forever. When taking out a rubbish bin while on duty, an out-of-control car mounted the footpath, crashing into Michelle and instantly amputating her right leg.
Once out of surgery she set herself three goals - walk again, dance again and run again. Although Michelle only started running to keep fit, she was soon identified as a potential elite athlete and began to focus seriously on her training. Under coach Tim Matthews, she made rapid progress and made her debut at a major championships when she contested the 2009 Arafura Games in Darwin.
Whilst at home, Michelle enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends and is studying to become a trauma counsellor. She is currently about to commence training at the NSI Canberra as she has her sights firmly set on representing Australia at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
But her inspirational journey of triumph has been tough. Michelle described the first six months after the incident as "extremely frustrating".
"Lots of falls ... I didn't want to give up because it could not beat me. I had to deal with it. I knew I was going to be fitted with a prosthetic leg soon.
"There was a lot of frustration, there was anger. The frustrating thing was before [the incident] I was so active and so capable and then literally, in an instant, I was having to rely on other people."