The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) held its Inaugural HACCI National Federation Meeting (HNF) in Sydney on Friday, February 10, 2023.
In what marked an historic milestone for the Hellenic Australian professional and business community, the Board Chairs of HACCI Victoria, Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia – Fotini Kypraios, Angela Tomazos, Kostas Koutsonas, and Dr Elena Limnios, respectively – came together at the offices of Business Sydney to hold the inaugural meeting of the HACCI National Federation.
HACCIs across Australia have now realised the vision of the founding members of the respective Chambers to unite and establish a national presence and voice representing the Hellenic Australian business and professional community.
As designated by the HNF Terms of Reference, the heads of the four Chambers formed the founding HACCI National Federation Council, each of them assuming the role of chair, on an annual rotating basis.
HACCI Victoria Chair, Fotini Kypraios, will be the inaugural Chair of the newly formed HACCI National Federation Council.
“The HACCI National Federation is a vision HACCI Victoria has been working on for many years. I am excited for what the future holds,” Ms Kypraios said. “It is a privilege to be part of a new era of unity amongst Chambers across the country.”
“I am grateful for the enthusiasm with which my interstate colleagues have embraced the opportunity to be part of a collective, national voice of the Hellenic Australian business and professional community.
“The HACCI National Federation will lead by example to connect, motivate and inspire future generations of community and thought leaders. Anything is possible when we work together,” she said.
As per the HNF terms of reference, the National Federation will serve to connect each of the state Hellenic Chambers of Commerce in order to facilitate continued collaboration and connection between them, as well as the governments of Australia and Greece.
According to Kypraios, “The Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and Industry throughout Australia have been operating autonomously, with little or no interaction with each other since their inception.”
“Despite our many respective achievements that we’re all proud of, this parallel operation has undermined our ability to seize opportunities, particularly when it comes to synergies and collaborations on an interstate, national, or even international level.”
“The time for a shift in mindset has arrived” she said “the establishment of the HACCI National Federation is a proud achievement for us all,” she concluded.
HACCI NT Chair, Angela Tomazos highlighted the importance of the federation for the territory’s Hellenes.
“It is a particularly proud moment for HACCI NT, as we Territorians have first-hand experience of the impact of distance, of being apart.”
HACCI WA Chair, Dr Elena Limnios said “the vision of the HNF is for a balanced and equal participation of each member state, unity in our leadership and decision making,” adding “I’m confident that the Federation will prosper and signify a new era for Hellenism in Australia.”
HACCI SA Chair, Kostas Koutsonas said the newly founded federation will “lead by example and demonstrate how independent Greek Australian associations can work together harmoniously, with trust and respect.”
The HNF says its first activities will take place within the year and are expected to be announced soon.
