Stefanos P. Tamvakis

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ON STEFANOS P. TAMVAKIS

Stefanos P. Tamvakis was born on the 27th of June 1952 in Alexandria. He studied at Averofion school of Alexandria and later, at Cambridge, UK, Business Administration.

He speaks fluently Greek, French, English and Arabic.

In 1976 he returned to Egypt and took over the family business, in food manufacturing, St’ George’s, est. 1905, along with his cousin Stefanos Th. Tamvakis.

His community activities began in 1976, at his election, as a member of the philanthropic society Aeschylus – Arion, following the steps of his father, Paul Tamvakis, who once served President of the society.

In 1984 he was elected board member of the Greek Community of Alexandria (EKA). His first concern was the reform and development of the Community’s Old People’s Home “Kaniskeri-Andoniadi”.

In 1990 he was elected President of the Greek Community at the age of 38.

In 1995 he was elected Vice-President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), and was unanimously re-elected 3 times.

As SAE Vice-president he steadily developed the communication network of the Greeks that live in the region of Asia-Africa and advanced its coherence. His belief is that the Greeks of Asia and Africa are a single, united entity regardless the countries they stay, a prescription of the special conditions that exist in these countries. He organized one regional conference ( 1997 in Egypt ) and two conferences of the Youth network ( 1999 in Alexandria and 2001 in Johannesburg )

He advanced the cooperation with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

In 2001 he participated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission to Sudan, which was aiming to a fair and just trial of two Greeks that were being held at Sudanese prisons.

In December 2001 he was elected Alternate President of SAE and was assigned to look over and coordinate the organization’s communication and handling of youth and educational issues.

In March 2002 he stepped down from the presidency of the Greek Community of Alexandria and was unanimously awarded, the title “Honorary President of the Community”.

During his service as President of EKA he organized the historic celebrations of the 150 years of the Community’s existence, in 1993. He also, greatly assisted the mission, and installation, in Alexandria, of Alexander the Great’ s statue, a donation of Greeks of Egypt who live in Greece and Egypt.

He re-established the community press in Egypt, with the publication of the newspaper “Patrida” and in the meantime aimed and succeeded, in advancing an even closer collaboration with the Greek Community of Cairo.

His good relations with the Egyptian government and close cooperation with the governors of Alexandria are an important element in promoting issues of concern to the Greeks of Egypt and Hellenism in general.

His influence in the approval of “Protovoulia gia tin Alexandria” is also significant. The “Protovoulia” is a Ministry of Foreign Affairs program, aiming at the refurbishment of the Greek Compound in Chatby and the advancement of its service sector. The “Initiative” in the premises of the Greek Community is of strategic importance for Hellenism, since it will set the basis for its future and continuity in the land of the Nile.

In May 2003 he was elected Board Member of the “Alexander S. Onassis” Foundation. His communication and cooperation with Foundation, dates back to the days of his Presidency at the Greek Community.

In December 2003 he was re-elected SAE Alternate President.

He was honoured by the President of the Greek Republic Mr.Konstandinos Stefanopoulos with the Golden Cross of the Order of Phoenix . He was decorated by the late Patriarch of Alexandria, Parthenios with the highest distinction of St. Marks the Evangelist. He was also decorated by the deceased Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Petros the XII with the High Cross of the Patriarchial rank of St. Sava, which is the Master of Ceremonies, as well as by the Patriarch of All Russia,Alexios the I.

On the professional sphere, he develops and expands, along with his cousin, Stefanos Th. Tamvakis, one of the most famous food industries in Egypt, St’ George’s, established 1905.

Alexandria
Egypt.