Our Team

Dimitra Kalantoni

President - CEO

Dimitra, the originator of the venture called EXELIXI ZOIS (Life Evolution). Mother of a rowing champion but also a friend since their age difference is very small. She is an Executive Management postgraduate student of the English-speaking ALBA University and has also studied Hotel Management at Vienna’s Modul University. Since then Dimitra has worked in the area of Public Relations, Event Management, Marketing and Communication at some of the largest hotel companies in Greece, Spain and Austria. One of her successes is her participation in the organization of the NATO conference.

Dimitra continued her successful career with nationwide acclaim in the automotive field. She also participated in setting up a large hotel chain (Grecotel group of 18 hotels). She later worked as a Project Manager at an NGO.

Currently, she is the Commercial Director at SNFCC, where she oversees the country hire department of third-party events, hosting over 500 corporate events, organizations, social events, conferences and ideas dissemination events (such as TEDx Athens). In addition, it oversees visits by heads of state and key figures.

Above all, however, Dimitra is a mother. During her son’s school years, she was always on parenting boards. There she set up on her own initiative a parenting school and, at the same time, she actively participated in the participation of students in European programs, in whatever way, supporting the work of teachers. At the same time, she is a member of the Boards of the Egypt Maritime Club, where athletes have had great success in recent years in Olympic Games, World, European and Pan-Hellenic Championships. Her great love for her son and all the children led her to take more active action today. Although her personal time is minimal, she did not hesitate for a moment to pursue the minimal chances of accomplishing the difficult task of creating EXELIXI ZOIS (Life Evolution). She was inspired to create EXELIXI ZOIS (Life Evolution) after meeting with a 17-year-old girl during one Christmas visit to a girls’ hospitality institution as President of Parents and Guardians of the 1st Old Faliro High School 5 years ago. The young girl’s agony about the future also became Dimitra’s agony, too. Today, however, thanks to her efforts and with the full support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, she is attempting to make a substantial contribution to empowering children living in closed childcare institutions.She speaks English, German and Spanish.

Dimitra is the President and Founder of EXELIXI ZOIS (Life Evolution).

Vasilis Siemos

Economic Advisor

Vasilis Siemos is an economist, a graduate of the Department of Economics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and holds a postgraduate degree in International Banking and Finance (MSc International Banking & Finance) from the University of Salford.

He has 20 years of professional experience in the field of business consulting, specializing in strategy and business and financial planning. He has coordinated significant projects and initiatives of institutional bodies to support entrepreneurship. He has served as Vice President of the Board of Directors in an anonymous company of business consultants and held positions of administrative responsibility in companies in the industry.

He is the Head of the Business Accelerator at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Archimedes of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, responsible for shaping and providing an integrated program of counseling support and guidance to entrepreneurial teams with the University of Athens as a reference point, for the development of entrepreneurial ideas with key elements of innovation and differentiation. He has published articles in scientific journals, conferences, and newspapers on topics related to entrepreneurship.

He is also a proud father of two teenage boys.

At Exelixi Zois he works as an Economic Advisor.

Stephanos Deligiannis

Volunteer & Sports Network Coordinator

Stefanos was born and raised in one of the poorest countries in the world, Sudan. The difficulties helped him to understand from the outset the value of solidarity and help to and from fellow human beings.
Sport allowed him to overcome his difficulties in a beautiful way. In this regard, he has managed to combine his two most beloved sports and children’s occupations through his studies at the Department of Physical Education and Sport (TEFAA) at the University of Athens.
He has had a long career in the private sector in Greece and abroad with his main position of Manager in a marina in Saudi Arabia. However, his love for progress and development has come through attending many certified seminars and postgraduate studies in personal development (Life Coaching). The next step was to deal with the ESCS ecosystem. These elements brought him close to the EXELIXI ZOIS (Life Evolution) team.

At EXELIXI ZOIS (Life Evolution), Stefanos is in charge of managing the volunteer network and organizing sports programs.

Taxiarhoula Spanou

Social Worker

Taxiarhoula Spanou is a graduate of the Department of Social Work at the University of Western Attica. She has worked in the field of refugee and child protection. She is a member of the Social Workers Network actively involved in advocating for and empowering socially vulnerable groups. She has been involved in activism related to deinstitutionalization, speaking at conferences and workshops about the harmful effects on all aspects of the lives of children living in closed child protection facilities. She has completed Erasmus Studies in Finland and has participated in numerous Erasmus Training courses on topics such as art, homelessness, and trauma.

Aristeidis Lorentzos

Psychologist - Career Counselor

Aristeidis Lorentzos was born in Athens. He studied Psychology at Panteion University of Social and
Political Studies. He
also has a Master’s Degree at Counseling and Career Guidance at Psilosophy
School at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
He is fellow research of Counseling and Career Guidance Laboratory of the Department of
Educational Studies at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Aristeidis Lorentzos has
working experience as a Psychologist and Career Counselor in many mental health centers of both public and private sector.

At EXELIXI ZOIS, Aristeidis works as a career couselor.

Zoe Papadiamanti

Head of Strategic Communication & Fundraising

Zoe is a graduate of the Department of History and Archaeology at the University of Athens. She continued her studies in the Netherlands, obtaining a master’s degree from Leiden University, where she completed the MA program “Cities, Migration, and Global Interdependence.” In the past, she has worked as a teacher with children and has collaborated with Non-Governmental Organizations as part of her undergraduate thesis work and volunteering activities. At Exelixi Zois, she serves in a Junior position in the Communications and Fundraising department.

Konstantina Ignatiadi

Head of Marketing & Communications

Konstantina is a recent graduate of the “Communication in Advertising” department at DEREE, the American College of Greece. She has worked as a Junior Content Campaign Manager in the Marketing department, specifically in the field of Influencer Marketing. Additionally, she has experience in managing social media accounts and creating visual content. Moreover, she has participated in the implementation of projects involving online campaigns for clients such as Apivita, Uber Taxi, Douleutaras, Bochery, My Market, Free Now, Insurance Market, and E-shop.gr.

At Exelixi Zois, she serves in the Marketing and Communications department.

Panagiotis Kasselakis

Psychologist

Panagiotis is a graduate of the Department of Psychology at the University of Crete, with a postgraduate specialization (M.Sc.) in Stress Management and Health Promotion in the Medical School of the University of Athens. He specializes in Schema Therapy, clinical sleep therapy, and the assessment of children with learning difficulties, and has worked and collaborated with organizations providing support to children and adolescents. He has attended and continues to attend conferences, seminars, and workshops on topics related to Mental Health and the correlation of Psychology with physical illness. His core belief is that the way someone self-identifies influences their thinking and behavior, while the value they attribute to themselves is projected onto others and shapes their human relationships.

Mersina Vamvaka

Head of Human Resources & Financial Operations

Mersina Vamvaka was born in Athens in October 1998 with roots from Mytilene. She completed her internship at Exelixi Zois, and graduated from the University of Central Greece with a specialization in Financial Accounting. She has worked in the accounting department of a shipping company. She has attended educational programs through the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens related to Human Resources Management.

She would like to continue her studies in the field of Human Resources Management as well as in Computer Science. In her free time, she enjoys music, photography, exercise, and gaming.

At Exelixi Zois, Mersina works as the Head of Human Resources and Financial Operations.

Angelos Gavalas - Kogiannakis

Sociologist and Senior Student in Psychology

Angelos is a graduate of the Department of Sociology at the University of Crete and a final-year student of the Department of Psychology at the Hellenic American University of the Hellenic American Union. His extensive networking in the psychosocial field began with an internship during his first cycle of studies at the “Atrapós” Adolescent/Youth Unit of the Organization Against Drugs (OKANA) in Athens. During his second cycle of studies, he completed his internship at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of the General Hospital of Attica “Sismanoglio – Amalia Fleming.” Concurrently, he has worked as an academic advisor-supporter for adults with psychosocial and learning difficulties. Additionally, he has volunteered at the NGO “PLOES” (Company of Psychosocial Studies) and the NGO “EPAPSY” (Company of Regional Development and Mental Health), focusing on community interventions for adolescents and young people from psychosocially challenging backgrounds. Lastly, he is a founding member of the NGO “Thallo.” In his free time, he enjoys exercising, watching movies, and reading books.

At EXELIXI ZOIS, he offers voluntary work in the field of psychosocial empowerment.

Katerina Pakou

Social Worker

Katerina Pakou is a graduate of the Department of Social Work at the University of West Attica. She is continuing her postgraduate specialization in the field of Health and Social Care Management at the University of West Attica. She has attended educational programs at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in the field of Special Education, specifically focusing on Mental Disorders of Children and Adolescents and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She enriches her knowledge by attending seminars, conferences, and workshops on Mental Health issues. She completed her practical training at the Piraeus Juvenile Probation Service. She participates voluntarily in family and child protection programs, based on an international model and standards that set quality benchmarks and include international policies for the safety and protection of children. Her primary goal is to delve into the complex issues concerning the care of children and adolescents through a holistic approach, taking into account the developmental stage of each age.

At EXELIXI ZOIS, she serves as a Social Worker.

Spyros Fanariotis

Psychologist - Psychodrama Practitioner

Spiros Fanariotis studied psychology at the University of Athens. At the same time, he worked as a visual artist at the Golden Sphere study center. During his studies, he attended a training seminar on art therapy, with an emphasis on the visual arts, at the University of the Aegean. The required internship for his degree was carried out at the Center for Psychodramatic Meetings of Athens. After graduation, he trained in psychodrama at the Psychodrama Institut für Europa in Berlin. Based in Athens, he completed the Therapeutic Treatment of Addictions program at 18 Ano. During his mandatory internship in the clay group of the Reintegration department, he attended a series of 18 Ano seminars focused on art in mental health structures. Additionally, he has received certification from the Transcare Project e-learning and from the experiential seminars of the Hellenic Network of Women of Europe.

At EXELIXI ZOIS, he coordinates psychosocial empowerment seminars through the arts.

Dionysis Kalogirou - Loumitis

Mathematics Teacher

Dionysis is trying to share his passion and curiosity for the mysteries of the world with fellow people through mathematics, the secrets of the sea and his active involvement with civic affairs.
His initial graduate studies in Greece (School of Environment, University of the Aegean, Lesvos – Mytilene) and in the UK (Earth and Ocean Science, University of Brighton) were related to environmental studies which he combined with free diving and scuba diving. He has worked in the catering sector and in the press from a very young age until the day he became a diving instructor
and professional diver for marine and fishing works. In 2014 he was accepted at the Mathematics Department of the University of Patras, being able to follow what has always aroused the greatest
excitement for him. Since 2018, i.e. the year he graduated, his love for pure mathematics has become both the motive and tool in order to communicate with children & teenagers and offer them whatever he has learnt through the various jobs he had over the years, everything he has come to understand and whatever he can conceive about mathematics. When he is not teaching mathematics to children, he teaches them to dive with safety by working for diving centers in various Greek islands. What could not have been missing from his everyday life is sports and physical activity. Therefore, Dionysis actively participates in free diving games and devotes his evenings to the apprehension of Algebra and the number theory.

At EXELIXI ZOIS (Life Evolution) Dionysis teaches Maths at the collaborative institutions of children’s care.

Dilena Blana

Philologist

Dilena has graduated in Greek Philology from the University of Athens. She began teaching children as a student. During the academic year 2018-2019, she attended the annual training seminar titled “Special Education – Learning Difficulties” at the University of Athens. From 2014 to 2017, she volunteered at the social tutoring center of the Municipality of Korydallos. She has been an athlete for many years, playing basketball for a local team, and now she plays in her spare time.

Dionysis Myrilos

Philologist

Dionysis Myrilos is a Philologist with a classical specialization (ancient Greek and Latin literature), a graduate of the University of Ioannina, and holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Exeter in the UK in Classics (MA in Classics: Ancient Drama, its Social and Intellectual Context). Additionally, in 2018, he enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Ioannina in the field of Ancient Greek Philology. His interests lie in ancient Greek literature (Tragedy, Comedy), ancient Greek religion, and social anthropology of antiquity. During his postgraduate studies in England, he participated in seminars, lectures, and groups on the Greek language and ancient Greek civilization.

He has extensive professional experience in the field of teaching and educating students and has been teaching in private education since 2003. His love for children and teaching guides his professional path.

At Exelixi Zois, Dionysis Myrilos teaches philological subjects in collaborating child protection structures.

George Goudis

Music Teacher

George Goudis is a graduate of the Athenaeum Conservatory in classical piano, holds an MA in songwriting from ICMP London, and is a doctoral candidate in Ethnomusicology at the University of East London.

Under the pseudonym George Gaudy, he has released albums and EPs in Greece and the United Kingdom and has composed music for the television series “Alter Ego.”

His academic interests include intercultural relations, authenticity, hybridity, and the political implications of popular music.

His articles have been published in culturenow, Athens Voice, and Jumping Fish.

In addition to his successful artistic career, he works as a music teacher, organizes composition and songwriting seminars, and undertakes orchestration, recording, and music production in his studio.

At Exelixi Zois, he has been given the opportunity to work as a music teacher for children from less privileged backgrounds, contributing to inclusivity in artistic education.

Maria Georgiadou

Anatomy and Hygiene Teacher

Maria Georgiadou is a professor of Anatomy and Hygiene. She was born in Athens and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 1991 from the TEI of Athens. She worked at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center for 7 years, gaining valuable professional experience. Since 2000, she has been working as an educator in Vocational Lyceums in the Health and Welfare sector, specializing in Nursing. She acquired pedagogical and didactic competence from the Pedagogical Department of ASPAITE and specialization in Counseling and Orientation from the same school. She has also worked at IEK and the TEI of Athens as a Laboratory Associate. At the same time, she has attended training seminars and programs related to education, such as a 9-month specialized training in “Sexual Education of Children and Adolescents” from the University of Athens, “Special Education: Interdisciplinary Convergence Practices” from the University of Athens, “Teacher Advisor” from IEP, and “Psychologist Advisor” also from IEP within the framework of the program “A New Beginning in Vocational Lyceums.”

At Exelixi Zois, she teaches Anatomy and Hygiene, two nationally examined subjects. She has a son, George, who is 16 years old, and she feels joy and honor to be a member of Exelixi Zois.

Sophia Papoulia

English Language Teacher

Sophia Papoulia is a graduate of the Department of English Language and Literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She is professionally involved in teaching English to students of various ages and with different learning needs. She has attended the educational seminar titled “Introduction of the English Language in Kindergarten” at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as well as the seminar on Special Education at the Hellenic Mediterranean University.

Additionally, she is engaged in classical and contemporary dance and holds certifications from the International Dance Teacher Association.

She has participated in philanthropic events and has also been distinguished in dance competitions at the national level in Greece.