Harry Theoharis, with a background in software engineering, has significantly contributed to Greece's digital transformation and fiscal health through various public service roles, including Secretary General for Information Systems and Public Revenues, Minister of Tourism, and most recently, Deputy Minister of Finance for taxation matters.
Four Speakers Added to FWA's 2024 International Business Conference Lineup
March 6, 2024
We're excited to announce even more additions to our impressive lineup for the FWA's
2024 International Business Conference (IBC) in Greece. Join us and learn from their unique insights into Greece’s economic reinvention and path to success.
Click for full bio
Mr. Harry Theoharis was first elected in 2015 and on December 18, 2018, he joined the New Democracy party.
Mr. Theoharis holds a MEng (Hon) in software engineering-first class from Imperial College, London, and has held high-ranking positions in companies of the private sector in Greece and abroad. He has also worked in start-up companies.
During 2011-2012, Mr. Theoharis served as secretary general for information systems and he is known for introducing new digital services to assist the public, helping reduce bureaucracy and its resulting costs.
He later (2013-14) served as a secretary general for public revenues at the Greek Finance Ministry. There, he succeeded in meeting budget revenues and producing a fiscal surplus. He is also known for launching the www.publicrevenue.gr platform to increase transparency in public administration.
Mr. Theoharis was Minister of Tourism from 2019 to 2021 and the Parliamentary Spokesperson of New Democracy political party at the Hellenic Parliament from 2021 to 2023.
In the national elections of May and June 2023, he was re-elected Member of Parliament with New Democracy political party and on June 27, 2023, Mr. Theoharis was appointed by the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis as Deputy Minister of Finance of Greece for taxation matters.
Aphrodite Avramea leads Strategy and Sustainable Development at ELLAKTOR Group, a leading international infrastructure company. Her career includes pivotal roles at Intrum Hellas, Piraeus Bank, and Marfin Investment Group.
Click for full bio
Aphrodite Avramea serves as Head of Strategy and Sustainable Development of ELLAKTOR Group since July 2021. She has more than 20 years of experience in the banking and financial sector, having served as Senior Director of Corporate and Shipping Restructuring at Intrum Hellas, Director of Corporate Restructuring, as well as Senior Manager in the Strategy and Task Force and Merchant Banking Divisions of Piraeus Bank, Head of Banking Relations at Marfin Investment Group, Head of Corporate Banking at Marfin Egnatia Bank and Manager at the Shipping Finance Division of Laiki Bank. She holds a Master's Degree in Finance from Harvard University, an MBA from the City University of New York and a Bachelor of Economics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
She is a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Charterholder and member of the Hellenic CFA Society.
Dr. Maria-Oraiozili Koutsoupia is President and co-founder of Rythmisis, Greece's first National Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection, and Digital Governance Law. She is a qualified lawyer in Greece and Belgium, specializing as an AI legal expert in Brussels, focused on healthcare and medical technologies.
Click for full bio
Dr. Maria-Oraiozili Koutsoupia is a qualified lawyer in Greece and in Belgium, working as an AI legal expert in Brussels, in top tier US law firms, focused on healthcare and medical technologies.
Maria-Oraiozili holds a PhD in Information Law from the UoA Law School and three masters in law, one in public law, one in international legal studies and one in IP and Information, Communication and Technologies from the UOA and the KU Leuven Law Schools, respectively, while she has published numerous articles in the field of public law and digital healthcare. Maria-Oraiozili is the President and co-founder of Rythmisis, the first National Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection and Digital Governance Law in Greece combining law and technology towards regulatory compliance.
Spyridoula Boutou is Chief Operating Officer of MIBS Group, a leading Greek real estate developer. She has a background in civil engineering, real estate, and project management, having held key leadership positions across three systemic Greek Banks.
Click for full bio
Spyridoula Boutou is a highly accomplished and results-oriented executive with over 18 years of experience in civil engineering, real estate, and project management. Throughout her career she has held key leadership positions in the real estate sector across three systemic Greek Banks, gaining a comprehensive 360-degree view of the real estate market both in Greece and abroad. She has excelled in collaborating with professionals from various cultures and countries, providing valuable advice and successfully coordinating investments for diverse asset portfolios. She is noted for her ability to provide solutions in difficult situations, managing teams that operate efficiently, consistently and implementing and introducing innovative and sustainable policies. As COO at MIBS Group, she leverages her vast expertise and strategic mindset to drive MIBS Group's growth and operational efficiency with a focus on unity, trust, and quality.
She holds an MEng in Civil Engineering, an MSc in Real Estate Finance from City University of London, and a Professional Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments from Cornell University.
The FWA's International Business Conference (IBC) is a week-long executive-level experience designed to raise your international business awareness while immersing your senses in a dynamic culture. This year, we are traveling to Greece May 11-18, 2024. Join us and learn about Reinvention as a Path to Success while socializing, networking and enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Athens and Santorini.
Register now - expand your worldview and raise your professional profile!
Registration Deadline: April 1, 2024
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming the new and returning Financial Women’s Association Board Members for the 2025-2026 term. We look forward to working with you to support and serve our community. Thank you for your leadership and service!
The FWA is pleased to welcome Riya Shah and Joanna Jordan from the Jaggar Community Fellows Program at Adelphi University . This competitive program offers paid nonprofit internships, benefiting both organizations and students. Riya joins us as our Database Management & Data Analysis intern, and Joanna is our Marketing and Communications intern.
Highlights from Kathryn Mayer: I’m honored to have been the featured speaker at the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) event, Elevate Your Network, Empower Your Career . A huge thank you to the FWA Membership & Engagement Committee, Erin K. Preston, Samantha DiMercurio, and Marsh McLennan for making this happen. Networking is evolving as many of us are returning to the office again, and FWA members are eager to rebuild their skills. Despite the rainy evening, the energy, engagement, and willingness to be vulnerable made this workshop unforgettable. I opened with this powerful insight: "Research shows that new ideas and career opportunities are most likely to come from weak ties – relationships outside our closest circles."* To illustrate this, I shared my own experience—how a simple question to my book editor led me to a life-changing conversation with keynote speaker and bestselling author Victoria Labalme who is a weak tie. Her advice? Just start calling yourself a keynote speaker. That shift in mindset transformed my approach, leading to new opportunities within weeks. Then, I challenged attendees with an interactive exercise. Each participant partnered with someone they didn’t know, spending five minutes brainstorming a person they wanted to meet or a request they could make to connect with a weak tie. The energy in the room was electric as women realized the untapped potential in their networks. Next, we explored key principles of strategic networking: defining its purpose, differentiating mentor-sponsor relationships, and identifying the 10–15 critical connections that drive success. Attendees then paired with new partners to reflect on how they define themselves—not just professionally, but through their education, family roles, hobbies, volunteer work, and social circles. Many discovered surprising commonalities, from boxing to shared alma maters, reinforcing the power of authentic connections. By the end, everyone walked away having met at least two to three new people and with actionable strategies to enhance their network. If you want to dive deeper, I cover strategic networking in my newly released book, The Productive Perfectionist. I also write a monthly blog on leadership development, so stay ahead of the curve and subscribe! Plus, if you're looking for coaching or training, visit kcmayer.com to connect and to buy my new book! *Gianpiero Petriglieri, “How to Make Better Friends at Work,” MIT Sloan Management Review, volume 65, no.3 (Spring 2024), page 44
Building and retaining leadership and a pipeline for the future Ariel Boverman is a human resources (HR) professional who has used her expertise to guide executives though organizational change at top firms including Marsh and McLennan, PwC, EY and Wells Fargo Advisors. She represents the Nominating Committee on the FWA’s board, and previously, she served on the board of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In her free time, Ariel loves engaging with diverse people and cultures and being a tourist in her own city. Sherree DeCovny, co-chair of the FWA’s Marketing & Strategic Communications Committee, spoke with Ariel about her background and her role in helping the FWA ensure sustainability through strong leadership.
