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I am a strategist, a systems thinker and a facilitator.
A summary
For the last 16 years I have worked with many communities to implement participatory bottom-up initiatives and empower active citizenship, I have been part of several teams that use collective design for systemic solutions and I have facilitated teams to transformational journeys.
In 2018, I founded the social innovation agency among, and I have been its director since. Our focus is developing holistic methodologies that address social challenges in our communities in a more participatory and systematic way.
A few actual facts that reflect my journey are:
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Work directly with partners from 500+ public and private organisations.
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Engage 600.000+ citizens in projects.
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From private companies like Deloitte to Municipalities and organisations like Onassis Stegi, and INCO (Google.com), I have trained 2300+ people from 46 countries.
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Facilitate trainings in 9 countries.
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Mentor in initiatives that support social innovation and social entrepreneurship like Global Shapers Thessaloniki Hub, WISE (Qatar Foundation) and more.
Examples of projects & trainings
Learning partner & facilitator at the European Programme for Integration and Migration
Co-leading a 6-month learning journey for EPIM and their partners to move away from traditional monitoring and evaluation approaches, acknowledge the complexity of the environment EPIM's partners operate in, offer a common space for reflection, personal and collective growth, and connection among and with EPIM's partners.
We designed an online co-creation session, a kick-off webinar, one in-person summit, and a series of online trainings.
We designed an online co-creation session, a kick-off webinar, one in-person summit, and a series of online trainings.
Learning designer of an online programme to support 50 entrepreneurs from 17 countries with COSME EU
programme
The purpose of this online programme was to train 50 companies from around Europe on how to design a sustainable business plan and a go-to-market business model canvas. From the Value proposition to revenue streams, we designed an interactive learning programme that supported entrepreneurs with a more human-centred approach.
WORTH Partnership Project was funded by COSME Programme of the European Union for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
WORTH Partnership Project was funded by COSME Programme of the European Union for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Service Designer on the EU project ''Co-create Design Innovation Services''
We designed a process guide of how to set up a design support service for SMEs: user research, delivery system, awareness raising, post-evaluation, improvement.
Conference Manager of the ''Future city conference''
A conference about the future urban environment, the trends and the best case practises.
700 participants, 10 international speakers, 6 workshops and 40 volunteers.
The conference was organised by parallaximag and Thessaloniki Allios project and it was supported by the Cultural Society of Entrepreneurs of Northern Greece, Goethe-Institut, British Council, Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, USA Embassy, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Netherlands embassy.
700 participants, 10 international speakers, 6 workshops and 40 volunteers.
The conference was organised by parallaximag and Thessaloniki Allios project and it was supported by the Cultural Society of Entrepreneurs of Northern Greece, Goethe-Institut, British Council, Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, USA Embassy, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Netherlands embassy.
Social Innovation expert, learning designer & facilitator for the Social Innovation Cluster of the Bosch Alumni Network platform
Together with ChangemakerXchange and Pocket Stories, we co-designed the strategy of the Social Innovation Cluster with 700 social innovators from around the world.
For 2 years we were implementing a programme by applying user-centered research, delivering trainings, providing opportunities for collaboration, designing learning material on social innovation and more.
For 2 years we were implementing a programme by applying user-centered research, delivering trainings, providing opportunities for collaboration, designing learning material on social innovation and more.
Service Designer at the EU project Design4Innovation
The project was focusing on supporting governments to develop and implement Design Action Plans to enhance SME competitiveness through a more strategic use of design.
Strategy Design for the re-design of the national service “Help at Home” with 3.000 employees in 300 Municipalities.
This human-centered project took place in collaboration with the London School of Economics, 4 Municipalities and the support of the TIMA Charitable Foundation.
Our goal was to understand what are the challenges that the users and the providers of this service face and re-design the touch-points and the process.
We introduced the human-centered methodology to the Public Sector employees of this service with trainings and focus groups.
Our goal was to understand what are the challenges that the users and the providers of this service face and re-design the touch-points and the process.
We introduced the human-centered methodology to the Public Sector employees of this service with trainings and focus groups.
Project Manager of a Municipal project that engaged 40.000 citizens
A collective memory cultural project with 35 public and private partners and 150 volunteers.
Learning designer & facilitator of Design Sprints
Design Sprints, used as a methodology to solve the biggest challenge that an organisation from the civic society faces.
Process designer for the Civil Protection of the Municipality of Kaisariani
We re-designed the operation system of a Municipality in Athens, Greece, to (a) improve the decision makers' response in emergency situations and natural disasters, like fires in the forest of this Municipality.
Also (b) we co-designed a communication plan with the community, customised to the needs of this specific area.
Also (b) we co-designed a communication plan with the community, customised to the needs of this specific area.
City & climate crisis workshops
3 workshops on the prevention and the activation of the climate crisis in the city of Thessaloniki. What is the system and how can we think more systemically?
Learning designer and facilitator for the Make Change Design Sprint of the ''All Systems Connect'' conference in Hague
What are some viable models for mobilising and securing a head-of-state level commitment to and mandate for, accelerated national progress on sanitation, water, and hygiene?
The goal was the Head of State/Government to identify and support water, sanitation and hygiene as a priority for the country, plan 1-3 significant and sustainable actions, and provide political steer for its inclusion in national planning and financing priorities.
The goal was the Head of State/Government to identify and support water, sanitation and hygiene as a priority for the country, plan 1-3 significant and sustainable actions, and provide political steer for its inclusion in national planning and financing priorities.
Facilitator ''Understanding systemic change in an uncertain environment''
The importance of recognizing the dynamics of the system we operate in, before proceeding with a project.
A workshop on the importance of systemic change in Greece, at the invitation of the Actors of Urban Change program, which empowers urban change stakeholders in Europe, with the aim of collaborating innovatively for more sustainable, inclusive and equitable cities.
The purpose of our workshop was to reflect on our role in the system we operate, to learn practical tools for understanding a system and to wonder how our project becomes more ''systemic''.
A workshop on the importance of systemic change in Greece, at the invitation of the Actors of Urban Change program, which empowers urban change stakeholders in Europe, with the aim of collaborating innovatively for more sustainable, inclusive and equitable cities.
The purpose of our workshop was to reflect on our role in the system we operate, to learn practical tools for understanding a system and to wonder how our project becomes more ''systemic''.
Project Manager ''Park(ing)day, Re-designing the streets''
An interactive intervention in 2 Municipalities of Thessaloniki aiming to disseminate the results of a REMEDIO Interreg program.
Learning designer & facilitator of a 5-day empowerment bootcamp for 5 start-ups (European Institute of Innovation & Technology)
This interactive bootcamp for start-ups from Israel, Spain, the Netherlands and Greece, focused on strengthen business capacity, sustainability plan and resilient skills.
In collaboration with Industry Disruptors and the EIT Jumpstarter program of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, that strengthens Europe's ability to innovate through entrepreneurial support.
In collaboration with Industry Disruptors and the EIT Jumpstarter program of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, that strengthens Europe's ability to innovate through entrepreneurial support.
Learning designer & facilitator ''Health Lab''
An online 4-days Design Sprint for doctors, researchers, nurses, policy makers for the National Health System in Greece.
Facilitator of a 4-day Design Thinking in Lebanon
"Community Lab" was a participatory workshop in Beirut about the sustainability of Hamra neighborhood in Beirut.
Learning designer & facilitator of a 2-year participatory process for the Municipality of Kavala
172+ participants from Kavala city highlighted the needs of the city, substantially helping the Municipality of Kavala in designing a sustainable cultural strategy for the future.
Project Manager ''Brain Drain on social innovation'' LAB
A 4-days LAB in Thessaloniki with experts from Europe.
Project manager of West Side Story tactical urban project
West Side Story was a project to document the needs of a neighbourhood in the western entrance of Thessaloniki.
This project aimed to get closer to the problems of an area neglected by the city and to initiate a public debate about its future. With the participation of creatives, artists, volunteers and more, we mapped the needs of the era and delivered a tactical urbanism project to highlight the history of the era through different means of creativity: Music, Theater, Image, Dance, Design, Architecture, Graffiti.
The project was part of the program Thessaloniki Youth Capital 2014.
This project aimed to get closer to the problems of an area neglected by the city and to initiate a public debate about its future. With the participation of creatives, artists, volunteers and more, we mapped the needs of the era and delivered a tactical urbanism project to highlight the history of the era through different means of creativity: Music, Theater, Image, Dance, Design, Architecture, Graffiti.
The project was part of the program Thessaloniki Youth Capital 2014.
Facilitator of participatory methods training
Designed & delivered the workshop ''How can we build a cross-sectoral collaboration for the sustainability of Chios island'' as part of Interreg Meltemi.
Facilitator at COVID-19 Collective Action Summit
100+ changemakers of the largest Institutions from 50+ countries gathered digitally for 2 days (20-21 April 2020), in order to share good practices for dealing with COVID-19.
As part of the facilitators' team of ChangemakerXchange, we designed & delivered the summit for fellows from Ashoka, Obama Foundation, Yunus & Youth, Global Changemakers, Global Shapers, Bridge for Billions, Bosch Alumni Network, ChangemakerXchange, ChangeNOW and the Ginkgo Foundation.
As part of the facilitators' team of ChangemakerXchange, we designed & delivered the summit for fellows from Ashoka, Obama Foundation, Yunus & Youth, Global Changemakers, Global Shapers, Bridge for Billions, Bosch Alumni Network, ChangemakerXchange, ChangeNOW and the Ginkgo Foundation.
Project manager of the green cities project Voltaro
Since 2017, Voltaro has been a landmark event in the Region of Central Macedonia for sustainable transportation, circular economy and green cities.
More than 80 organisations and 4.000 citizens actively participate each year.
More than 80 organisations and 4.000 citizens actively participate each year.
Project manager of a 10-days festival for the creative industry in Thessaloniki
Made in SKG was a festival that hosted exhibitions, shows, trainings, guided tours and more.
Lead facilitator of Athens Climate Lab with 100 participants
Enhance the dialogue on climate change in Athens with 100 activists and policy makers from 20 organisations who spend 8 hours to design the system of climate crisis in Athens.
The topics were the impact of climate change in Athens, realistic and systemic study of climate change in Athens, vision of the ideal Athens and bridging the gap between the vision and the reality of climate change today.
The topics were the impact of climate change in Athens, realistic and systemic study of climate change in Athens, vision of the ideal Athens and bridging the gap between the vision and the reality of climate change today.
On the media - a selection
Democratizing Cities panel (Reworks connekt forum)
National conference for the health policies
Help at home Municipal service article (kathimerini)
Thessaloniki's Resilience Journey podcast: Lessons and challenges of implementing a resilience strategy
How can I create an effective training podcast (Business Undercover)
A conference about the synergies in the cultural sector
All the above is a selection of projects and collaborations that have inspired me.
If you want to check more, you can visit my LinkedIn profile.
If you've reached all the way here, well, thank you! Contact me if you want to find a way to collaborate.
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