.jpg)
Organization Earth was officially founded in January 2010 by 40 founding members who come from a variety of backgrounds and activities (media, academics, business, creatives) bringing different perspectives and insights to our mission.
The Board of Directors is made up by 7 members with 3 alternate members:
Maria Alexiou
Maria Alexiou; Chair of the B.o.D of CSR Hellas and ESG Senior Advisor
Maria Alexiou studied Law in Athens, Greece, and specialized in human rights and civil liberties in international and European law at Leicester University, U.K. She is a member of the Athens Law Bar and Chair of the Board of Directors of CSR Hellas, a non-profit-making business association representing 140 companies (2012, www.csrhellas.org), as well as a member of the Board of Directors of CSR Europe (2018, www.csrweurope.org), member of the Board of Directors of Global Compact Network Hellas (2021, www.ungcnh.org) and current member of the experts group of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG Lab, www.efrag.org) Project Task Force on Sustainability related to Risks and Opportunities. Maria currently serves as Environmental, Social, and Governance Advisor at TITAN Cement International (2020, www.titan-cement.com) at Group and regional level, supporting management in embedding sustainability and social responsibility in strategy and decision-making. She headed the TITAN Group CSR Department for almost two decades (2003 to October 2020). She also sits at the Advisory Board of HIGGS (2017, www.higgs.org), supporting programs to empower civil society and social entrepreneurs in Greece.
Maria Vassilakou
Maria Vassilakou served as Vienna’s Vice Mayor responsible for Urban Planning, Traffic & Transport, Climate Protection, Energy and Public Participation from November 2010 to July 2019. She is an experienced urban leader, devoted to livable, inclusive and green cities, with a passion for urban transformation processes leading to sustainable change. Having founded Vienna Solutions, Maria Vassilakou now works worldwide as a strategist and global advisor on urban transformation and transition management, sharing her experience and know-how with cities, NGOs, organizations and corporations. Since September 2019 Maria Vassilakou also serves as a member of the EU-Horizon Mission experts board on “Climate-neutral smart Cities“ advising the European Commission on the design and implementation of the respective mission aiming at 100 European climate-neutral cities by 2030.
Dimitris Dermatas
Dr. Dimitris Dermatas is a Professor of Geoenvironmental Pollution at the School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. He has recently served as Chair (2018-2019) of the European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (https://www.impel.eu) and as the Special Secretary of Inspectorate of the Ministry of Environment & Energy in Greece (2017-2019). In the past he has served as Executive Governing Board Member of the Panhelenic Network of Solid Waste Management Associations (2007-2013), Governing Board Member (2010-2013) of Municipal Waste Europe (MWE) and as the General Director in the Solid Waste Management Association of Eastern Macedonia – Thrace, Greece (2007-2010). Before he was the Director of the W. M. Keck Geoenvironmental Laboratory and Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Environmental and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, USA (1991-2006). There are more than 4300 citations of his work and he is listed amongst the top 2% world's leading scientists (http://www.civil.ntua.gr/news/2020/12/3/16-professors-school-civil-engineering-among-top/). He has received numerous awards for his teaching and research accomplishments. He has gotten his MS (1988) and Ph.D. (1992) from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley, USA. Dimitris also volunteers in the non-profit ‘Organization Earth’ (www.organizationearth.org), of which he was a founding member (2010) and member of the Board of Directors. He was born in Thessaloniki, Greece and has three children.
Epaminondas Evergetis
Dr. Evergetis graduated from the Agricultural School of Athens where he studied extensively the Greek floral biodiversity. Over the past 20 years, he has worked on research and development programs focusing on organic agriculture and environmental protection. Moreover, Epaminondas is the author of over 30 papers, published in international scientific journals. Since 2016, he’s been teaching and conducting research for the Agricultural University of Athens while in Spring of 2023, he was appointed curator of the Hippocratic Botanical Garden in the island of Kos.
Nikos Karadiakos
Nikos lives and works in the city of Thessaloniki. He is an architect with a working-focus on bioclimatic architecture and ecological design. Nikos is a member of the professional association for Bioclimatic and Holistic Architecture and a founding member of Organization Earth. He holds a degree in Mathematics from the Mathematical Physics department of the University of Ioannina, a degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and a Masters from the same school in Sustainable Development and Environmental Studies.
Lenia Kontogouri
Lenia Kontogouri is the Director General of “Together for Children” (TFC) Association. She has been an adviser to the Minister of Rural Development and Food on matters of rural education and has worked for a number of years in the field of political communication.
She started her career in television and shows productions but gradually moved away to focus on the areas of politics and civil society. She studied sociology at Panteion University and holds an MA in Creative and Media Enterprises from Warwick University, United Kingdom.
Her love for the environment and urban green brought her to Organization Earth.
Sotiris Kostantinidis
Avid traveler, experience gatherer, nature lover. Grew up in the city of Athens, always living with a dog. Owner of a travel agency for more than two decades specializing in African safaris and Himalayan treks. Has been involved in the humanitarian world with missions in Kosovo, Iraq and Moria, currently running Elaionas refugee camp as site management support program manager with Athenian municipality’s development agency. With a degree in marketing, a sky diver, a speleologist, having climbed Mt Kili, a trained wildlife ranger, having crossed Sahara Desert and currently training to paraglide. Owned a holistic and natural healing, feeding and keeping dog space and has organized multiple trekking and motorcycle camping trips. Devoted to the Center of the Earth which provided ample of purpose and tons of happiness and fulfillment. Always looking for a new – sustainable- kick.
Favorite quote: how you treat people you don’t know defines who you are
Dinos Machairas
EU Climate Pact Coordinator for Greece. Team Leader at Aephoria.Net. President of the Hellenic Platform for Development. Member of the Steering Committee of SDG Watch EU, General Secretary at IFOAM Organics Mediterranean. Member of the Board at ActionAid Hellas, at Margarita Vocational Training Center for people with intellectual and atUN Global Compact Network Hellas. Former Executive Director at Organization Earth from 2015 to 2021.
Andreas Stefanidis
Andreas Stefanidis is an experienced social entrepreneur, president of the Educational Association of Athens HFAISTOS, the Federation of Hellenic Associations of Young Entrepreneurs, and the co-founder and president of the Academy of Entrepreneurship, a non-profit organization which aims to create a healthier entrepreneurial environment on a national and European level. Academy of Entrepreneurship is a member of the Euclid Network and founding partner of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). Andreas is since 2014 the Accelerator Director of Aephoria.net host organisation of Bluegrowth accelerator of sustainable business ideas related to local sea and aquatic resources. He holds a degree in Business Administration with Major in Management Accounting and Minor in Economics from the State University of New York at New Paltz (1994), having graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. He has also been certified as a trainer of adult non-formal education and for designing and teaching online courses from Rutgers University. In 2008, he introduced the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Greece.
Sergios Fotiadis
Sergios Fotiadis studied Industrial Design at Rhode Island School of Design, he has worked for Rubbermaid in the USA, Maddison Limited, in England, J.N.Leoussis advertising, and has taught at Vakalo school of art and design. He is involved in the design and production of objects, furniture and exclusive design, interior and retail design, set design, for television and theater, graphic design, sculpture.
In 2001 he founded the creative studio “We design”, with his brother Philip, and Theano Petridou, while, since 2005, he teaches at the Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering at the University of the Aegean, in Syros, and at the International Hellenic University, in Thessaloniki, Product Design and Design Thinking. He is one of the General Secretariats and founding member of the non profit Organization «Organization Earth».
Christos Zouras
Christos Zouras envisioned the Center of the Earth and shaped its relationship with Organization Earth which he cofounded in 2008 and directed for 7 years. Since then he holds a seat in its Board as Honorary President.
During 2005-2008 he was the CEO of ARCTUROS NGO. For the period 2008-9, he was appointed as a Permanent Member of the Greek National Council of Country Planning & Sustainable Development. He has experience in Public-Private Partnerships, having worked in the field with Ernst & Young Consultancy Office in Athens and cofounded M-Stat Mobile Statistics SA (Telecommunications Industry). Since 2015 he joined Costamare, the leading International Container Shipping Company, with duties ranging from Internal Control to Corporate Development.
He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Bocconi University Milan Italy, a Financial Management Certificate from ALBA Graduate Business School Athens Greece, a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from DEREE College Athens Greece, an Internal Control Diploma from the Greek Institute of Internal Auditors (Member of the International Certified Internal Auditors Association), and has completed the Art & Science of Negotiations Executive Education Program of Harvard University - Kennedy School.
OUR TEAM
Alexis Galinos
Alexis Galinos currently serves as Executive Director of the BoD of Organization Earth as well as Vice President at the Athens-Epidaurus Festival. Alex holds extensive experience in local sustainable development, having produced and managed (on behalf of the Municipality of Athens), one of Europe’s first ERDF pilots in Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI). Moreover, Alex has worked extensively on Public Private Partnerships, urban regeneration and place-making, having focused on stakeholder engagement and co-creation. Previous posts include Managing Director of the Municipality of Athens Development Agency, Special Secretary and Senior Advisor at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs and external consultant of the World Bank. Alex Galinos has worked in Greece, USA, India and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and a BA in Economics from Bates College.
Alexandros Giannarakis
Alexandros Kotsis Giannarakis is responsible for the design and implementation of agri-food in Organization Earth. He serves as Program Coordinator in IFOAM AgriBioMediterraneo, the Mediterranean Regional Body of IFOAM Organics International, the largest umbrella organization regarding Organic Agriculture. He is also a European Union Climate Pact Ambassador, representing Organization Earth. He holds a degree in Environmental Geoscience, from the University of Edinburgh.
Christos Darmogiannis
Christos Darmogiannis, Sport for Development Educator. He implements programs aiming the personal development and the improvement of the social and physical health of the participants through sport and designs social inclusion activities for unaccompanied minors and children residing inside refugee camps.
He holds a degree from the University of Piraeus in Industrial Management and Technology, he is a sport analyst and a former professional basketball player having ten years of experience in the national leagues.
Nikoletta Karystinou
Nikoletta Karystinou heads the design and implementation of educational environmental workshops in Organization Earth. She is an agriculturalist with a degree in Natural Resources Development and Agricultural Engineering from the Agricultural University of Athens. She holds a teacher certification for adult training, and she is currently studying for a master‘s degree in Bioeconomy, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development at the University of Piraeus and the Department of Biology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Irini Lorentzatou
Irini Lorentzatou is a Sport for Development Coordinator who plans and implements programs aiming to develop and improve the social and physical health of the participants through sports. She holds a degree from the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens where she specialized in adapted physical education. She also holds a Psychology degree from the University of the Aegean. She has been involved in and worked with Paralympic sports, as a Referee Boccia and Goalball coach, as well as in a series of programs designed for children with or without disabilities.
Angel Babalouka
Angel Babalouka has studied Communication at the State University of New York. In 1995 she started working in Marketing positions, and from 1998 she began her career in the media. She has served as Commercial Director for international media both offline and online – Mad tv, NatGeo, Fox, LinkedIn, Twitter, Wetransfer, etc.
In 2018, she joined Organization Earth team as Head of Strategic Partnerships with companies.
Στέφανος Μπατσής
Ο Στέφανος Μπατσής είναι νομικός με μεταπτυχιακές σπουδές στο Δίκαιο του Περιβάλλοντος και την Κοινωνιολογία του Αθλητισμού. Συμμετέχει στη συντακτική ομάδα του περιοδικού Kaboom και είναι συνιδρυτής και υπεύθυνος των εκδόσεων Πλήθος. Έχει εργαστεί στον ανθρωπιστικό τομέα και στην Οργάνωση Γη είναι υπεύθυνος σχεδιασμού και υλοποίησης των αθλητικών προγραμμάτων.
Giannis Borsis
Giannis Borsis oversees all activities at the "Center of the Earth'' and the "Pocket Parks". He has also been responsible for Organization Earth cooking activities for the last 8 years, as part of the collective cuisine set up for corporate events that take place in the "Center of the Earth '', as well as in the "Sundays on Earth". He was responsible for organizing and implementing the kitchen at the temporary refugee camp of the Port of Piraeus as well as for the project Shamiyaana – Food for Thought: Thought for Change during Documenta 14.
Yiorgos Xepapadakos
Yorgos Xepapadakos has been responsible for the operation of
“Center of Earth”, since 2012. Throughout the years he has been engaging in organic cultivation, conservation of the natural environment, and implementation of experiential learning programs.
He specialized in plant production, arboriculture, viticulture, and landscape architecture, by working on the orchards and gardens of the Iviron Monastery, located at the monastic state of Mount Athos (1998-2006), and the oasis of Mount Sinai Monastery (1997).
He has published a variety of articles and investigations on ecological, humanitarian, and social issues in the Greek Press (Vima, Kathimerini, Eleftherotypia, Ethnos, Real News, Protagon.gr). He has also hosted radio shows in Greek radio stations (EPA-4, Kosmos 93.6FM, Galaxy 92FM). He has written essays on folklore, travel books, and guides for “Pegasus” editions.
Evi Pavlakou
Evi Pavlakou is responsible for implementation of Environmental Educational workshops and Social Inclusion programs in Organization Earth for children and adults. She holds an integrated master degree from the Faculty of Crop Science in Agricultural University of Athens. She has been studying for a master’s degree in Sustainability and Environment Education at Departments of Agriculture and of Special Education of the University of Thessaly
Kyriaki Retzeka
Kyriaki Retzeka is Head of Programs. She develops and coordinates the annual programming, including implementation and management, as well as new strategies and partnerships development, grants applications, and events and activities planning. She holds an MBA from the University of Piraeus. She has managed and coordinated more than 30 projects with 6000 beneficiaries in total (humanitarian and environmental fields) in partnership with international NGOs (UNHCR, IRC, UEFA Foundation for children, Barcelona Foundation, Yuri Djorkaeff Foundation, UNICEF).
Foteini Retzo
Foteini Retzo has been responsible for European, National, and privately funded programs since 2018. A sociologist with a degree from the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, she also holds a degree in Design and Management of European Programs from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
In 2015, Foteini started working as a Ministry of Migration coordinator in the Elaionas Refugee Camp.
Foteini first joined Organization Earth as a project manager for the “Livelihoods for Vulnerable Populations in Athens” project.
Vassilis Stamogiannis
Vassilis Stamogiannis, Community Engagement Manager, has been a key NGO executive on a national and European level (JEF-Europe, MEDASSET, Aegean Rebreath) and has extensive experience in developing participatory actions and initiatives in collaboration with active citizens groups, municipalities, institutions, and agencies. From 2016 to 2019 he was a member of the synAthina team, the award-winning civil society platform of the Municipality of Athens. As Community Engagement Specialist of the UIA program "Curing the Limbo" (2018-2021), he contributed to the development of collaborative actions between refugees and active citizens groups of Athens. He holds a Master's degree in European Studies from the Catholic University of Leuven with a dissertation on the European legal framework for genetically modified crops.
Vickie Stavropoulou
Vickie Stavropoulou is a program manager responsible for designing and implementing Environmental Education and Social inclusion programs. EU and nationally funded, the programs aim to educate participants about sustainability issues and foster social inclusion of vulnerable groups. She holds a degree in Marketing and a postgraduate degree in Environmental Management. She has extensive work experience in planning and running projects in partnership with NGOs, companies, and educational establishments in the UK.
Alex Haidar Aldahan
Alex Haidar Aldahan is a Sports Educator. Through systematic physical trainings, Alex employs a focused pedagogical methodology aiming for recovery, inidividuazation and social inclusion. Alex is a graduate of the Psychology department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Utrecht. He has trained for 4 years as a RECBT psychotherapist (Emotional-Cognitive Behavioral Approach) at the Hellenic Institute of Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy, the Albert-Ellis Institute. In the past, Alex has organized and coordinated training programs at the Athens Seminar Center. He has also collaborated with special therapy centers where he offered individual and group sessions to children and teenagers. In the last year, he completed the Level 1 seminar cycle of the Hellenic Institute's Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT/HiEFT) program.