Theme: MOMENTUM

TEDxNicosiaWomen 2015 is a reason to continue celebrating the true essence of women. It is not just about innovation but about how they impact their local community and initiate change. This event will feature ideas worth spreading and it will evolve around women’s lives, work, passion, life philosophy and ideas.

Cyta Amphitheater
CYTA Headquarters
Tilepikoinonion 1, Street
Nicosia, Lefkosia, 1396
Cyprus

Alexia Paraskeva

Being on stage is Alexia Paraskeva's second home. She loves the challenge of playing other roles and losing herself in characters’ worlds. It is a form of therapy, escapism from reality and her daily routine to a safe place, the stage, where she can transform into someone else and lose herself for a few hours. She loves teaching and sharing the skills she acquired as a professional actress and drama teacher. Alexia notes: "The past fifteen years have taught me that this profession enriches me continually. The youthful energy and passion I see in my pupils reminds me of where my journey began. Teaching helps me grow as an individual and a professional. For me, it is the most fulfilling way of bridging the gap between my passion and other people’s aspirations. It’s all about inspiring and being inspired!"

Christina Smith

Christina Smith is of Cypriot origin. She grew up in the UK and moved to Cyprus in 2007 with her husband, Ian, to spend more time with their two children. Prior to moving to Cyprus, she had a long career in the local government sector in the UK, working with councillors, communities and police officers both in London and Manchester. Before coming to Cyprus she was the Director of Greater Manchester Police Authority, an organisation that was tasked with the accountability of the Chief Constable and his police force. Since moving to Cyprus, Christina has run her own training company and is now the Vice Consul at the British High Commission in Nicosia.

Patricia M. Martin

Patricia M. Martin is President and Shareholder of Patricia M. Martin, Attorney At Law, P.C. in the USA. A U.S. Fulbright Scholar between August 2014 to May 2015, she worked in Cyprus to implement ONE WOMAN AT A TIME (OWAAT), a community-court collaboration aimed at empowering abused women to become self-represented civil litigant claimants for emergency protections to prevent violations of their human right to privacy. Ms. Martin guided Cypriots to create and launch the first “Zero Tolerance of Abuse Against Women” National Campaign, and the international virtual blueprint for abused women to self-help and end their abuse, absent violence. Prior to law practice, Ms. Martin was Judicial Law Clerk for the Supreme Court of New Mexico. Her philanthropic endeavors yielded over $10 million for At-Risk Youth and Native Americans. Twitter: @theeartoflaw

Sophia Papastavrou

Sophia Papastavrou was born in Athens, Greece and raised in Ghana, West Africa by Cypriot parents. Sophia immigrated to Canada at 15 and continued her studies where she earned a Master of Arts in Sociology. She also holds a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Social Anthropology. Sophia is a gender and development expert currently working in Cyprus as a Gender Learning Hub Leader. In addition to her professional expertise she is working towards a doctorate in the Department of Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. Her PhD dissertation focuses on women’s activism and organizing for peace in Cyprus. Sophia has worked for United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Cyprus, Uganda, and Ghana, including internships with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Communications at the Secretariat in New York.

Yasmin Ohlsson

Dr Yasmin Ohlsson, MBChB MRCGP, is a fully qualified, UK trained family doctor with a specialist interest in Preventive and Lifestyle Medicine, in addition to being a nutrition adviser and an accredited coach. She is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and the International Coach Federation and is the Cyprus country representative for the European Society of Lifestyle Medicine (www.eslm.eu). Yasmin splits her time between the UK and Cyprus. Yasmin’s mission: “To create a healthier future for everyone by establishing a culture of proactive living that improves physical and mental health, prevents disease and reduces reliance on medication”. Follow her on Twitter @NEAMEDICA