London ‘Minds in Cyprus’ event held with great success (pics)

Some 700 onsite participants and hundreds more online took part in the highly successful ‘Minds in Cyprus’ event in London, which saw President Nikos Christodoulides encourage highly-skilled UK-based Cypriots to bring their talents back to Cyprus.

"Cyprus is changing and needs you all," Christodoulides said at the event at Guildhall in London.

The event was co-organised by the Presidency of the Republic with Invest Cyprus and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) and saw Christodoulides present the new Action Plan for the Repatriation of Talent, within the framework of the Minds in Cyprus national initiative.

Also addressing the event, Evgenios Evgeniou, the Chairman of Invest Cyprus, "I invite you to think about how your own personal story can become part of the next chapter of our country's story."

Phanos Theophanous, the president of Cypriots in the City, spoke to the crowd about the importance of all Cypriots keeping the country in their minds and looking to take the important step to invest back home.

As well as bringing participants in contact with 20 companies interested in connecting with talented UK-based Cypriots considering a move to Cyprus, the event also included two expert panel discussions.

During a panel discussion on 'A Changing Cyprus: New Horizons for Talent and Enterprise,' at the Minds in Cyprus event in London, part of the Brain Gain Initiative of the government, speakers shared their vision on attracting people back to Cyprus and getting them to stay and contribute to the economy.

The panel was moderated by Lia Riris, Deputy Director General, Invest Cyprus.

It included the Deputy Minister to the President of Cyprus Irene Piki, the President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry Stavros Stavrou, the CEO of Remedica Andrew Bird, the Executive Director and Global head of talent acquisition at MUFG Joanna Carlin, the CEO of ECOMMBX Michalis Charalambides,and the Co-founder of 33East Demetris Zoppos.

During a second panel discussion 'Why I went Back: Stories of Return, Belonging, and Impact,' speakers focused on the reasons they came back to Cyprus and what helped them to grow and adapt.

The panel was moderated by Charis Kynigou, Executive Board Member, Head of Private Banking, Treasury Capital Markets & ESG, Astro Bank.

Making up the panel were Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hellas Direct Alexis Pantazis, ISDI Limited CEO Thalis Anaxagoras, the Founder and Director of PERHA Group and Marianna Hadjiandoniou, and the Founder and Managing Partner of Invel Real EstateChristophoros Papachristophorou.

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Dr Nicodemos Damianou also made an intervention at the event

You can rewacth the event below. Please note the event begins with sound at the 28.30 minute mark and with video following at the 29.09 minute mark on the YouTube video.

Also read: President presents Action Plan for the Repatriation of Cypriot Talent in London

Also read: Christodoulides calls on skilled UK Cypriots to contribute to a changing Cyprus

Also read: Evgenios Evgeniou invites skilled UK Cypriots to let their personal stories become part of Cyprus' story

Also read: Phanos Theophanous: “We gather to commit to Cyprus’ legacy"

Also read: Experts discuss 'A Changing Cyprus: New Horizons for Talent and Enterprise' in London

Also read: "This is the best time for you to invest your future in Cyprus" experts tells 'Minds in Cyprus' audience

Also read: CCCI "proudly supports and facilitates efforts to repatriate highly skilled diaspora professionals"