STUDIES AND WORK

Niovi, now 52, is originally from Athens, Greece,

’a hospitable country where sunlight, blue sea and sky meet in harmony’

. With a BA in Business Administration from the American Deree College and another ’Grosses Deutsches Sprachdiplom’ from the Goethe Institute of the University of Munich, she began her professional career in banking.

’I started my career at Bayerische Hypo und Vereinsbank AG, where I was responsible for the newly developed credit administration department and gained experience in a wide range of credit-related tasks. My work experience was significantly enriched by trainings in London and Munich. I then joined Aspis Bank SA as an acting deputy manager in one of the head office branches.’

2005 brought a significant change in Niovi’s life. After meeting her husband, a legal advisor to the European Commission, she moved to Brussels, ending a 14 year career and starting a new chapter in a new country.

FAMILY - HELPING OTHERS

Her always restless and active nature definitely helped her to adapt to the new reality. The fact that she is a woman who speaks four foreign languages was also an advantage. In parallel with her new life as a mother of two children, a girl and a boy (now 18 and 16), she found the time and energy to get involved in new projects.

’While raising my children and for two consecutive years, I volunteered at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, in the ward for hospitalised children.
The latter strengthened my will to contribute to others less fortunate, and this became my life’s goal. Another experience that marked me for life was my participation in a mission to South Korea in 2000, where I met Sister Nektaria, mother to thousands of children in Kolkata, India.’

ACTIVE MEMBER OF FDE

’I’ve been an active member of the Association Femmes d’Europe for 14 years, first in charge of the Greek group, then as Secretary General for five consecutive years.
For the last three years I had the honour of being elected President of the Association, which gave me a deep insight into all the different areas of FdE. Since then, Femmes d’Europe has become an integral part of my life and my involvement has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever experienced.’

Indeed, one can feel her deep attachment to the association and her desire to bring about positive change.

’I firmly believe that our association is unique in its concept : a philanthropic European association of women, structured in national groups, with a multicultural aspect that is one of our competitive advantages, where solidarity, friendship and commitment are intertwined.’

THE JOY OF GIVING

There are countless reasons why people choose to volunteer ; everyone has their own inner motivation. Niovi says :

’the joy of giving has a multiplier effect and I am happy to say that the members of Femmes d’Europe fully embrace this concept.
Financing small humanitarian projects, mainly in Europe but also all over the world, is without a doubt our ’raison d’être’. I am grateful to have read and seen hundreds of projects financed by our association.’

Among the dozens of events that the Association organises each year, her favorite remains the colourful and popular Christmas Bazaar, which has been held for the past two years in the heart of the European Quarter in central Brussels.

’We are grateful to the European Commission for hosting us and for its valuable and continuous support for decades’

says Niovi.

LOOKING AHEAD

She then continues emphasising that she is

’honoured and determined to continue our long tradition and, together with all of you, to raise awareness and communicate the meaningful work of Femmes d’Europe, to improve our image by highlighting our projects, to motivate and involve our existing members, and to attract new ones in an ever-changing environment. Every single contribution is valuable and appreciated !
In the end, I would like to add that I am simply grateful that life has given me the opportunity to contribute to helping those in need, and I wish to thank my colleagues, members, friends and all those who support our beautiful association !’

Thank you, Niovi !