Catherine Sofianou, President of SOFMEDICA Group, is a prominent figure in Europe's healthcare sector. Born in Cairo to a Greek family, she moved to Greece in 1963 and, alongside her husband, established a trading company. In 1994, recognizing opportunities in healthcare, she founded a company in Romania focused on high-end medical technologies, introducing innovations like the Artificial Heart and Robotically Assisted Minimal Invasive Surgery to the region.

Currently overseeing a family-owned group with over 160 healthcare professionals across Romania, Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Cyprus, she actively contributes to various social not-for-profit organizations. Over the years, she has received numerous awards, including recognition for her contributions to fighting breast cancer, leadership in healthcare, and support for social projects.

Acknowledged internationally, Catherine Sofianou received honors from the Princess of Thailand, the Academy of Romanian Scientists, and the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. Her philanthropic activities extend to cultural promotion, education, and Greek literature dissemination. Notably, she was named "Ambassador of Greek Diaspora" for her role in renovating the Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in Cairo.

In 2022, she received the Humanitarian Contribution Award at the ARGO Awards and a recognition award from Jharkhand Rai University in India for her outstanding healthcare innovation contributions. In 2023, Sofianou received the Gold Medal from the Faculty of Classic and Humanities Studies of the Democritus University of Thrace, further highlighting her multifaceted contributions to society.

Born in Athens in 1972, I graduated from Pierce College in 1990 and later from Deree College in 1994. I am mother of two children, Panos, aged 23, and Irini, aged 20. Commencing my professional journey in 1990 at the family business "DIAKINISI SA" in the logistics sector, I served as a packaging manager until 2007, in addition to being a shareholder in the company. Following the sale of the company, I underwent a career transition, entering the jewelry industry. I founded the company "ANAPNOE," where I currently hold the position of CEO.

In 2017, I designed a collection that took part in Paris Fashion Week. Notable collaborations include Nikki Beach in the summers of 2016-17 and Jackie'O Mykonos in the summer of 2022. The company specializes in importing jewelry from India and Italy and operates not only in Greece but also in Zambia. Moreover, i am actively involved in the real estate sector, with collaborations in both Greece and Zambia.

I was born in Kos, the island of Hippocrates, and graduated from the Hippocratic High School of Kos. I am the mother of two doctors and actively involved in tourism and hotel businesses, with a focus on issues related to accessible tourism.

At the same time, I actively participate in local government. Specifically, I served as a Municipal Councilor in the Municipality of Kos from 2014 to 2018. My collaboration with the municipality continues to this day for initiatives related to promoting the Hippocratic Idea on medical and tourist levels.

My love for art and culture led me to create the "Chrysiis" gallery from 2010 to 2015, a multifunctional space showcasing young artists and hosting various cultural events.

With a wealth of knowledge and skills, my educational path led me to achieve a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, specializing in Plant Design. My thesis was on Business Excellence Model.

Fluent in Greek, Arabic, English, and with basic knowledge in French, my language proficiency underscores my dedication to effective cross-cultural communication. A member of the Technical Chamber of Greece since 1996 and the Egyptian Travel & Tourism Association since 2004, I am committed to continuous professional development and collaborative networking.

My professional experience spans Egypt, Greece, Europe, and North America, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of diverse markets and cultures. My career began as a quality admin at Phillips in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Previous roles as a board member at NASCOTOURS SAE and managing partner at Bright Living SAE in Cairo highlight my commitment to excellence in contracting, operations, quality assurance, and logistics. Currently I am serving as the President & CEO of NASCOTOURS SAE in Alexandria, Egypt and as President & Managing Director of NORSTAR SA in Athens, Greece. I lead the organizations with a focus on development, management, public relations, operations, and quality assurance.

In addition to my technical proficiency, I possess strong IT skills, including MS Office, social media, and CRM applications. My leadership and communication skills have played a pivotal role in driving organizational success on a global scale.

In essence, my professional journey represents a harmonious blend of technical knowledge and extensive expertise in the travel and tourism industry acquired over many years. Armed with this knowledge and experience, I am prepared to contribute effectively to any endeavor, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for excellence.

FREELANCE WRITER, MARKETING & STRATEGY CONSULTANT WITH HIGH-LEVEL EXPERIENCE IN TELECOMS AND THE LUXURY FASHION SECTOR.

In the past 25 years, I have gained valuable international experience in Business and Marketing. After completing my MSc in International Marketing in the UK, I started my career at INTRACOM, the leading Telecoms company in Greece during the 90s. In various positions within the company, I had the opportunity to work in both R&D and Business Development. I actively participated in over 30 EU co-funded telecoms project consortia, which involved frequent travel to the European Commission and collaborations with top telecom players across Europe.

Later on, I joined the New Investments Department at INTRACOM, where I was responsible for evaluating new investment proposals and conducting business planning for the parent company, its subsidiaries, as well as joint ventures and spin-offs. In the early 2000s, I relocated to Romania and assumed the role of Marketing Manager at SOLMAR, the first market entrant in the Luxury Fashion sector at that time. This position entailed contract negotiations with all the renowned luxury fashion houses in Paris and Milan, buying responsibilities for the Group's multi-brand and mono-brand stores in Bucharest and Moscow, brand management, sales management, HRM, as well as PR and media relations.

Upon returning to Greece with my family, I have been working as a freelance consultant for various fashion houses. At present, I am a full-time freelance writer, primarily focused on Theater and TV series, and in the process of finalizing my first novel.