The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) celebrated its 39th consecutive year of honouring excellence, leadership, and service within the Hellenic-Australian community, hosting the 2025 HACCI Excellence Awards Gala Ball at Melbourne’s iconic Plaza Ballroom on Friday, 14 November. The annual event once again reaffirmed its reputation as the most glamorous evening on the Hellenic-Australian social calendar, blending prestige with a vibrant showcase of culture, achievement, and community spirit.
A night of distinguished guests and community celebration
Nearly 400 guests attended this year’s Gala Ball, joining prominent leaders from the Greek-Australian community and the broader Victorian civic landscape. Distinguished attendees included:
- Ms Dimitra Georgantzoglou, Consul General of Greece in Melbourne
- Mr Evan Mulholland, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs
- Ms Vivien Nguyen AM, Chair, Victorian Multicultural Commission
- Mr Nicholas Hatzistergos, Chair, Bank of Sydney Board
- Mr George Kailis, Chair, The Hellenic Initiative Australia
- Mr Andrew Pana KC, Chair, Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association (Vic Chapter)
- Prof Marinis Pirpiris, President, Hellenic Medical Society of Australia
- Bill Papastergiadis OAM, President, Greek Community of Melbourne
Also present were members of the HACCI National Federation Council — outgoing chair Dr Elena Limnios (HACCI WA), Alex Demetriou (HACCI SA), Angela Tomazos (HACCI NT), and George Mavrakis (HACCI NSW). At the end of the night, the rotating Chair position passed to Angela Tomazos.
A Gala of culture, elegance, and connection
Hosted with characteristic poise by journalist and filmmaker Helen Kapalos, a HACCI Board Member, the ceremony guided attendees through an evening that blended sophistication with genuine celebration.
Guests enjoyed a lavish three-course dinner, premium Greek wines, and elegant desserts, while a rich entertainment program honoured the depth and vibrancy of Greek culture.
Performances included:
- The Manasis School of Greek Dance and Culture, presenting traditional dances and energising the post-award dance floor.
- Nikki Nouveau, whose Androniki project paid tribute to iconic Greek cinematic songs of the 1960s.
- The Estudiantina of Melbourne, highlighting Smyrneika and Rebetiko traditions.
- DJ Vath with bouzouki virtuoso Steve Gold, who kept the celebrations alive with contemporary Greek beats.
Award presentations and partners
HACCI Board Members Vicky Alexiou, Peter Zervos, and Mia Fileman joined event partners in presenting this year’s honours.
Key presenting partners included Bank of Sydney, Directed Group, KordaMentha, PRONIA, Heidelberg United FC, and SalaryMasters, as well as the Saristavros and Stamoulis Families.
Event partners 3XY Radio Hellas, Archipel Mansion, Flowers Vasette, Melvourni Coffee, and Thematikos enriched the evening with distinctive contributions, including gift packages that showcased Thematikos fragrances and Melvourni’s new olive leaf tea. Flowers Vasette created striking floral arrangements in honour of the awardees.
A special highlight of the evening was the auction of a three-night stay at Archipel Mansion in Santorini, raising funds for the biomedical research of Professor Rob Kapsa at the RMIT biofabrication laboratory. Professor Kapsa, a global leader in regenerative medicine, is driving breakthroughs in muscular dystrophy treatment and therapies for neurological and degenerative diseases. HACCI’s donation will directly contribute to this critical research effort.
The 2025 HACCI Excellence Award winners
- Spiro Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award: Sotiris Hatzimanolis
- Bank of Sydney Business Excellence Award: JULY (Athan Didaskalou)
- Woman of Influence Award (SalaryMasters): Eugenia Mitrakas OAM, FANZCN
- Professional Services Award (KordaMentha): Chief Justice Chris Kourakis
- Innovation Award (Directed Group): John Paitaridis
- Community Service Award (PRONIA): Paul Nicolaou
- Sport Award (Heidelberg United FC): Mary Konstantopoulos
- Chris Saristavros Young Achiever Award: Costa Vasili
Profiles of the 2025 HACCI Award recipients
Athan Didaskalou – Business Excellence Award
Co-founder of JULY, Didaskalou transformed a single smart carry-on into one of Australia’s most recognisable global travel brands. JULY now sells in 10 countries, with its flagship stores, design-led identity, and innovations like CaseSafe™ cementing its international success.
Sotiris Hatzimanolis – Lifetime Achievement Award
A foundational figure in Greek-Australian journalism, Hatzimanolis has spent over 45 years shaping multicultural media through his leadership at Neos Kosmos, mentoring journalists and giving voice to generations of Greek Australians.
Mary Konstantopoulos – Sport Award
Founder of Ladies Who League, Konstantopoulos has built one of Australia’s most influential platforms promoting women in sport. Her advocacy, writing, commentary, and governance work have played a significant role in advancing gender equality across the sector.
Chief Justice Chris Kourakis – Professional Excellence Award
The first Greek-heritage Chief Justice of South Australia, Kourakis is known nationally for his reformist leadership, commitment to justice, and mentorship within the legal profession. He is also National Patron of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association.
Eugenia Mitrakas OAM, FANZCN – Woman of Influence Award
A trailblazer in law, Mitrakas became Australia’s first Greek female solicitor in 1972. Her decades-long contribution includes founding major Greek-Australian organisations, championing gender equity, developing multicultural legal services, and raising substantial funds for charities.
Paul Nicolaou – Community Service Award
A business and philanthropic leader, Nicolaou’s contributions span national business organisations, homelessness advocacy, major fundraising campaigns, and mentoring. His work through the Vinnies CEO Sleepout alone has raised over $575,000.
John Paitaridis – Innovation Award
One of Australia’s most influential technology executives, Paitaridis built a new cyber-security company that he sold to Accenture for over $1 billion in 2025. A long-time industry leader, he has held major roles at Telstra, Optus, AIIA, and government cyber councils.
Costa Vasili – Young Achiever Award
Founder and CEO of Ethnolink, Vasili transformed his start-up into Australia’s leading multicultural communications agency, delivering services in more than 150 languages. His work has reshaped how governments and organisations speak to multicultural communities.
Leadership reflections
HACCI Board Chair Fotini Kypraios paid tribute to the talent and unity of the community:
“The 2025 HACCI Excellence Awards celebrate the spirit that defines our Hellenic-Australian community — dedication, leadership, and innovation. Our winners are an inspiration to all, and we thank our members, partners, and supporters for helping us champion excellence across every aspect of Hellenic-Australian life.”
She also noted the significance of HACCI’s growing membership program and the milestone of having more women than men on the event delivery team for the first time.
An evening of pride, achievement, and Hellenic spirit
As is tradition, the night concluded with an exuberant Greek dance party, honouring both collective and individual accomplishments. The 2025 HACCI Excellence Awards once again highlighted the resilience, ambition, and cultural richness of Melbourne’s Greek community — a celebration of heritage and a testament to the next generation of Hellenic-Australian leaders.
