Marina Theodotou | TEDxNicosia Founder and Curator

Fiercely independent and optimistic since she was a little girl, Marina dreamed of driving her own: life, business, fast car, aspirations and even fears through new experiences and often completely new environments. So, from being a banker in the US, where she lived most of her life (Carolinas and Manhattan) and an NGO Country Director in the Middle East, she became a Government Agency Director in Cyprus and finally today, an entrepreneur, founder and curator of TEDxNicosia and Managing Director of Curveball Ltd (www.curveballlimited.com) based in Nicosia, Cyprus.

This modus vivendi allows her to connect the various dots from her education (Bachelor’s with Magna Cum Laude and MA in Economics from the University of South Carolina) her professional experience (Bank of America, Financial Services Volunteer Corps, Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency and Curveball Ltd) her travels and deep belief in multiculturalism with civic society and policy interests defined by the nexus of current affairs, financial sector development, women’s empowerment as well as youth entrepreneurship and SME development.

She writes often in business publications in English and Greek and when she is not working, she loves to cook for and host friends and family. She adores movies and turns the TV on only to watch “Chopped” her favorite show, the ultimate reflection of a free market society where only the best chef survives cooking up a storm of exotic and otherwise unavailable ingredients. Marina reads quite a bit, loves the New Yorker magazine, does power yoga and plays tennis. Having lived and worked in four continents, travel, new learnings and conversing in six languages also constitute more dots. She is grateful for her amazing parents, two pioneering older sisters and a fantastic brother in law. She holds her few good friends dear and close to heart and aspires to connect even more dots in her life in months and years to come.

She is thrilled to be involved in the TEDx community through curating TEDxNicosia, which she considers both a journey and a destination.

Marina feels privileged to be on this TEDxNicosia journey with a team of amazing individuals without whom the destination would be unfathomable.

 *The following team members are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Alana Kakoyiannis | TEDxNicosia Production Management

Alana Kakoyiannis is a filmmaker based in Nicosia, Cyprus and New York, New York (www.alanakakoyiannis.com) She is the founder of Sugarfoot Films, a boutique production studio with a focus on creative documentary in both traditional and emerging forms. Over the past ten years, she has worked independently to produce several short films that have been screened internationally at such venues as the Tribeca Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, and Kassel Documentary Film & Video Festival. Her 2008 film Cosmopolis garnered the Grand Jury Prize for Best International Documentary in the Migr@tions Online Festival held by Radio Canada International. She has made online and commercial work for clients including Etsy, Current TV, Monocole Magazine, and Al Jazeera English.  In the Fall of 2011, Alana was invited to lecture on filmmaking and documentary practice at the American University in Cairo.  Raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, she earned her M.F.A from Hunter College at the City University of New York and her B.A. from Denison University.

Alana is an avid runner and spends her free time developing and documenting the use of next generation building materials together with her husband Michael, a structural engineer.

Rania Traiforos Makriyiannis |TEDxNicosia Operations and Communications Management

Rania was born and raised in the USA and has lived in Cyprus since October of 2009.  Always looking for new avenues of inspiration and learning, Rania is active in a number of activities; besides her love for music and travel, she is a board member of the Young Business Professional Organization and the Oxford University Alumni Society of Cyprus. Rania holds a double major degree in Logistics & Supply Chain Management and Marketing from the University of Maryland, Smith School of Business and an MBA from Oxford University, Saïd Business School, where among other things- she was on the student board, lead a student organized professional trip to the UAE, and competed in multiple events at the European MBA tournament.

At work, Rania focuses on Business Development, developing and executing the strategy for the promotion of Cyprus as an investment destination across sectors and geographies. Prior to her MBA, Rania led BPO and procurement projects across multiple industries also providing guidance on talent acquisition. Rania’s past also includes operational experience in the Oil & Gas and Food Service industry. Rania is looking forward to adding one more role to her CV, that of mother, when she and her husband George welcome their first child into the world in January 2012.

Loris Stavrinides | TEDxNicosia Digital Design Management

Plain and simply, Loris just loves to create. A born artist, he has focused on mastering digital design, and gaining big agency experience in the UK & and the US, with a cadre of global well-known brands as clients under his belt. In 2010 he returned to Cyprus where he established Oniric Creative Studios (www.oniric-creative.com) offering quality creative & digital services to small and big brands, local and international, helping them stand out in the crowd.

He is influenced and inspired by movies, games and art - it's almost an addiction that is reflected in his personal style of work. Loris believes that less is more, and if you are not having fun while working hard then it's not worth it! Active in local social and charity work, he always seeks new opportunities to inspire local professionals via innovation, ideas and creativity. He says "being part of the organizing team for TEDxNicosia, the very first TEDx event in Cyprus is an honor" he says, "an opportunity he is delighted to be part of" aligning with his motto: "Dream big, take Risks, always Care, and Live like a King”.

Antonios Yemenaris | TEDxNicosia Logistics Management

Antonis is a Customer Service Officer at USB Bank Plc based in Cyprus. He is a Warwick Business School graduate, where he earned an MSc in Finance. He also holds a BSc in Economics from Athens University of Economics and Business. Antonis considers himself an “aesthete” and a “right directed thinker” who is passionate about art and lifestyle. He is proud to be member of Rotaract Club Nicosia Aspelia and through his involvement in the club he strives to make a difference and be the change he wants to see in his society. Antonis is a sociable individual who relishes utilizing his interpersonal skills to meet interesting people and discover pioneer ideas. A believer in lifelong learning concept, he is currently enrolled in Russian language courses and photography lessons in order to further expand his Knowledge and creativity.

After a six years journey abroad full of experiences and knowledge, Antonis returned back to Cyprus in 2010.  The pursuit of inspiration in his daily life is even more imperative now and TEDxNicosia is a perfect opportunity for him to be inspired and inspire others to dream, risk, care and eventually live!.