Annual awards pay tribute to four women
Four women who have excelled in the areas of business, culture, the environment and community service were the winners of the 13th “Kivotos Golden Lady of the Year Award”.
It was organised by the Kivotos Luxury Lifestyle Company and presented during a ceremony at the Hilton Park by House speaker Dimitris Syllouris, and Andys Nathanael, Chairman of the Cyprus-Russian Business Association.
The four award recipients were wellness and health specialist Susanna Vitti (Corporate Entrepreneur), art historian and consultant Maria Paphiti (Culture), clinical herbalist Miranda Tringis (Community Environment), and peace and community activist Katie Economidou (Philanthropy and Humanitarian).
Maria Paphiti also received the highest acclaim from the jury and was proclaimed “Kivotos Golden Lady of the Year 2019”, presented with a painting by renowned Cypriot artist, Maria Ignatiou Shiakalli.
Host Constantinos Shiakallis said “the awards pay tribute to all women, awarding distinguished personalities for their dynamic and remarkable contribution to the business, cultural, environmental and charitable life of Cyprus”.
The annual awards for “Cyprus National Woman of the Year” and “Cyprus Russian Woman of the Year” were established in 2006 to give a platform of recognition for women pioneers across Cyprus and operate under Kivotos Luxury Lifestyle Ltd.
“Gender equality not only promotes peaceful and just societies but can also contribute vastly to global welfare.
Women’s empowerment and undertaking leadership positions in the business and financial sectors is crucial towards achieving inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. The award recognises the gravity of women’s empowerment and their significant achievements towards realising this vision,” said Dr. Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, former Foreign Minister and an independent director at RCB Bank.
‘Corporate Entrepreneur’ award winner Suzanna Vitti is the Director of the Neomed Institute of Wellness and Rehabilitation, devoted to making a difference in the world of alternative medicine, to provide hope, genuine care and improved quality of life for those suffering from long term illness.
‘Cultural’ award winner Maria Paphiti is an art historian and art consultant, educated at Christie’s Education and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, where for a number of years, she headed the international department of Icons at Christie’s Auctioneers.
She has extensively contributed to the repatriation of several artworks looted from Cyprus after the Turkish invasion of 1974, including the recovery of six important icons from the Metropolis of Morphou, icons stolen from
Trikomo, and, the 6th century mosaic of Apostle Andrew from the Church of Panagia Kanakaria. In April this year, Maria secured the withdrawal from an auction in Düsseldorf of the reliquary casket of St. Mamas, which had been stolen from the church dedicated to the saint in Morphou.
‘Community Environment’ award winner Miranda Tringis is a clinical herbalist and founder of Cyherbia Botanical Park in Avgorou, a popular destination for tourists and school trips which features nine themed herb gardens, a maze, a lavender meditation labyrinth, woodland planted in the shape of the island, a distillation room for essential oil extraction, an herbal apothecary, shop and tearoom.
‘Philanthropy and Humanitarian’ award winner Katie Economidou is a tour guide and peace activist, dedicating her life to peace and reconciliation.
She initiated the bi-communal choir, Hands Across the Divide, the Citizens Group for Peace in Cyprus, Women Waging Peace, among others. She earned the Stelios Award twice, for the Mediation Initiative and Guided Tours in Cyprus.
The other candidates were Dr Sonia Ajini, founder and Managing Director of Ajilex Ltd, a legal consultancy practice with a concentration on maritime law, shipping claims and disputes; Capt. Iro Gidakou, first female Cypriot Master in Command of an LNG ship (Maran Gas Maritime Inc. Shipping Company) and President of the Merchant Marine
Officers Association of Cyprus; Gina Panayiotou, the Global Head of Shipping, Energy & Transport at Michael Kyprianou & Co. LLC, sitting on several committees of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, the Cyprus Bar Association Navigation Committee, a board member of WISTA Cyprus, founder and host of the radio show “It’s All About Shipping” and recipient of the first “Young Leader Award” in Cyprus; Zena Vardaki, branch manager AstroBank, nominated for the 2018 UK National Mentoring Awards in Youth category and mentor and coach to over 300 children and teenagers; Andry Voskaridou, founder of Desserts Festival Cyprus that brings together thousands of visitors from all over the island in one day to celebrate delicious desserts and family fun; Clare Andreou, RAD Examiner and tutor, ballet teacher and director of Dance Works School of Ballet; actress Paola Hadjilambri, playwright and producer and as an Olympic Priestess since 2000 is one of the 23 ladies that ignite the Olympic Flame and the only one from Cyprus; dancer and choreographer Nefeli Tsiouti, associate researcher at the Cyprus Musculoskeletal and Sports Trauma Research Centre, and CEO of Breakalign Ltd, an international prevention of injuries research project for dancers; Myrianthi Timveos, Creative Director and New Age Grower of a start-up family company, HerbanLeaf Farms Ltd.; rights activist Irini Kalotychou who helped establish the single mothers-fathers association.