Greek Conference > Legal and Medical Conferences

The Greek Conference held its biennial overseas event on the Dodekanese island of Kos at the end of September 2007.

Kos Conference 2007

Melbourne Lawyer Chairman, Eugenia Mitrakas described the sell out event, as easily the most successful legal/medical conference that she had organised in either Greece or Australia, easily surpassing the highly acclaimed event in Mykonos two years earlier.

"We had an excellent professional program and tremendous participation from our delegates, who came from Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Africa" she said, "as well as fantastic assistance from the Eparhos of Kos, Maria Kypreou, and the Mayor of Kos, George Kiritsis and we also appreciated the support of Victorian Member of Parliament, The Hon John Pandazopoulos MP, who spoke at the Opening Ceremony in conjunction with the Australian Ambassador to Greece, His Excellency, Paul Tighe"

.The Kos 2007 Conference was a highly regarded event in Kos. It received substantial local media coverage, including reporting in local media and also televising the Opening Ceremony of the Conference for the evening newscast.

Opening Ceremony (L-R), Professor Peter Doherty, John Pandazopoulos MP, Justice Robert
McDougall, George Kiritsis, Eugenia Mitrakas, Judge Vardavakis and Ambassador Paul Tighe

Australia's Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine and The Greek Conference's Australian patron, Professor Peter Doherty, delivered the Keynote Address, under the heading "Challenges 2007", dealing with contemporary issues in medical developments and their impact on society as well as warning as to potential risks of climate change.

Kos 2007 addressed issues in law and medicine under the general topic of "Challenges in Law, Medicine and Science" and was organized in conjunction with a steering group in Athens led by Dr Takis Vidalis from the Hellenic Bioethics Commission under the auspices of the Greek Patron, Judge Konstantinos Vardavakis, recently retired from Arios Pagos, the Supreme Court of Greece.

Eugenia Mitrakas said that a highlight was the contribution from Professor Stephanos Geralanous, the President of the International Hippocratic Foundation of Kos. Apart from an overview of the history of Hippocrates' famed Askliepion at Kos, participants were provided with a guided tour of the excavations and were able to witness a symbolic re-enactment of taking Hippocrates' oath.

Other Greek participants included Dr Elli Louka, who is presently researching at Princeton in the United States of America, Professor Dimitra Klamaris from the Law School of the University of Athens, as well as medical specialist Dr Kostas Pantos.

Kostas Pantos was previously at Melbourne's Monash University, but is now based in Athens, while still collaborating with the IVF research team at Monash.

Apart from these participants, Eugenia Mitrakas said that Kos 2007 attracted a wide range of other speakers on legal topics, including Judges Glen Williams and Robert McDougall from Queensland and New South Wales, respectively, as well as Judge Phillip Recordon from New Zealand. There was also a strong representation of practising and academic lawyers from Australia, New Zealand and also South Africa, with important contributions from Melbourne University’s Professor Loane Skene as well as Australian barristers Dimitrios Eliades and Phillip Laskaris and South African academic, Professor Christa Rautenbach.

Turning to the medical and scientific part of the professional program, cancer specialist Professor John Boyages made an important contribution as did well known specialists Professor Murray Esler from the Baker Institute, Professor Jock Findlay from Monash University and Dr Dimitra Tzioumi from Sydney's Children's Hospital.

In addition, Sydney specialist Dr Chris Eliades spoke on difficult issues relating to obesity and treatment options.

Outside the Professional Program, Kos 2007 had an extensive social program, showcasing Greek Culture, with major contributions from local musicians, supported by Melbourne singer Renee Georgoulas, in a concert in tribute to one of Greece’s most famed composers, the late Manos Hadjidakis, which held in the magnificent ruins of the ancient Roman Odeon in Kos town. The ruins of the old amphitheatre resounded to the classical tunes of Manos Hadjidakis performed by the Apollo Band under Tsammpikos Kamateros and Thanasis Pouliou.

In addition, the Conference heard from Melbourne born writer Gillian Bouras, now resident near Kalamata, who had avoided the terrible fires there a few days previously.

Part of the cultural program included a cruise to nearby Patmos and a presentation there from Professor Mary Aspra on Byzantine art and culture prior to delegates visiting the Cave of St John and the historic Monastery of St John.

Delegates to the Conference were also treated to a display of traditional Dodekanese dancing in the courtyard of the famed Castle in Kos Town, presented by the Lyceum Club of Kos, with the assistance of the Eparhos of Kos and the Mayor of the Municipality of Kos.

Support for Thalassaemia Research

"It has always been my aim to provide a high quality professional program and to also showcase Greek art and culture to our delegates", commented Eugenia Mitrakas. "I am sure we achieved this outcome to the fullest degree possible and I am confident that these events not only encourage Greek-Australian professionals to explore their origins, but also expose a far wider audience from many countries to the beauty and traditions of Greece. To do this and to support such an important program as the Murdoch's thalassaemia research work makes the effort more than worthwhile".

"We are a not for profit organisation" said Eugenia Mitrakas, "and from Kos 2007 we aimed to support the Cell and Gene Therapy Unit at the Murdoch Institute in its research into thalassaemia".

"We had worked with Professor Panos Ioannou from the Murdoch previously and we were delighted that Dr Jim Vadolas from the Murdoch was again able to join us and speak on ethical issues in the potential benefits and risks of human gene therapy and even more delighted that we will shortly be able to make a substantial donation to the Murdoch for their thalassaemia research program".

Eugenia Mitrakas said that preparations were well under way for Masterclass 2008 to be held in Melbourne in November 2008 and that the organisation's next event in Greece would be held in September 2009. Both events will also support the Murdoch's thalassaemia program.