ABOUT US

IDENTITY

Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) is an environmental organisation that supports sustainable initiatives and promotes the preservation of the exceptional beauty and natural value of the Cyclades. Our vision is to generate positive environmental change. Our mission is to develop networks, empower and support local communities of the Cyclades to follow sustainable solutions.
Through our triple role within Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), we aim to support environmental conservation and sustainability efforts in the Cyclades.

Donor

As a donor, we provide essential financial support to local communities to implement conservation projects. By offering grants, we enable grassroots initiatives to address environmental challenges, protect natural resources, and promote sustainability at the community level.

Fund Operator

Acting as a fund operator, we serve as a bridge between donors and beneficiary communities, ensuring that every donation achieves the greatest impact. This involves managing funds efficiently, transparently, and accountably, while also providing guidance and support to help communities effectively utilize resources for conservation projects.

Enabler and Implementer

In our role as an enabler and implementer, we empower key actors within local communities by providing cooperation and capacity-building opportunities. This includes offering training, technical assistance, and networking opportunities to support the development and implementation of conservation initiatives. Additionally, we design and run flagship programs, aimed at preserving valuable environmental resources in the Cyclades and fostering collaboration among local entities across the islands.

By dynamically allocating funds to both local initiatives (grants) and programs powered by CPF, we ensure that resources are effectively utilized to support environmental conservation efforts in the Cyclades.

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CPF achievements: Six years in a nutshell

OUR APPROACH

Bottom-up, empowering the locals
Our approach to environmental preservation in the Cycladic islands prioritizes the empowerment of locals and the co-designing of solutions based on community needs. By working in partnership with local stakeholders and providing support tailored to their priorities, mentoring, capacity building and networking opportunities, we effectively address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development in the region.
We share knowledge. We link people and islands. We create bonds.

OUR PEOPLE

Our Steering Committee (SC), Advisory Council (AC) and General Meeting of Partners (GMP) work closely with CPF’s core team and, together, have made CPF what it is today.

The SC members have co-funded the initial budget and keep contributing to our cause in significant ways, including co-funding key operational costs, leveraging personal networks to support our charity in achieving strategic goals and carefully selecting the grants that we fund.

The AC members have a long-standing experience in environmental governance, communication, fundraising and sustainability and provide local knowledge and technical support, as well as their opinion for grant proposals.

The GMP leads the initiative by directing the strategy, approving budget allocation and trying to broaden the donor base. It is CPF’s supreme body and is entitled to decide on all matters relating to the Association which are under its supervision and control.

With a core team of 5 people focusing on local engagement, fundraising, governance, external relations, communication, grant making, advocacy, events, education, campaigns and financial management, assisted by 2 Project Managers with an expertise in local ecosystems preservation and marine conservation, as well as 1 Scientific Advisor, CPF operates with the generous funding mainly from its GMP and SC members to ensure that our limited resources are effectively utilized to support environmental conservation efforts in the Cyclades.

 

Occasionally, the CPF recruits interns and volunteers who are either based on the islands or have significant experience in the areas of our interest  to support the work on the ground.

In CPF, we have a wide array of backgrounds and interests and we all share a passion for protecting the Cyclades’ outstanding natural beauty.

Learn how to join the CPF family here!

LOCAL TEAM

ANNI MITROPOULOU

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
When the CPF launched in December 2017, Anni joined as the Executive Director, driven by respect and care for the unique natural environment of Cyclades, as well as by the confidence that individuals and communities have the power to bring positive change. She has a scientific background in International Affairs, Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development, and extensive working experience -of almost 20 years-with Greek and International NGOs and Foundations, in the fields of environmental and cultural management, sustainable development, local engagement, project & event management, advocacy, campaigning, fundraising, communication and human rights. She’s based between Athens and Naxos, and travels regularly across the islands.

Ioanna Kyriakakis

Campaigns & Operations Manager

Ioanna holds a B.A. in Economics, Business Economics & Finance, and a Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship. She has always been in love with the Cycladic Islands and has drawn inspiration from their unique beauty. This is why she wanted to help preserve the Cyclades’ natural value by joining the CPF in June 2021 as a Project Manager for the CPF Posidonia Alert campaign and educational program, using her 19 years of professional experience in coordinating cultural and educational events to raise awareness on social issues. Making her dream come true, she now lives on Syros Island, and occasionally makes hand-built ceramics inspired by Cycladic beauty and sustainability. Since July 2024, she works as the Campaigns & Operations Manager in the CPF team.

Maria Chrissafi

Head of Finance and Human Resources

Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a University degree in Economics and Finance for Business and Organizations Management. She is a freelancer tax consultant. After many years of working in the field of environmental organizations combined with her love for the environment, the sea and the Cyclades, she started working with CPF in January of 2024 to manage the finances and accounting. Since July 2024, she works as the Head of Finance and HR in the CPF team.

Dorothy Filiotis

Communications & Engagement Officer

Dorothy is a Greek American from Athens with a diverse background in Greek ecological and sustainability related initiatives, interspersed with the academic trajectory including a BA in Evolutionary Anthropology and MA in Regenerative Economics. Over the past years, living on Paros island she worked for a program to reduce single-use plastic and popularise tap water, and has supported on-site and on-line with a food forest project and other eco-literacy campaigns. Since July 2024, she works as the Comms & Engagement Officer in the CPF team.

Ioannis Koutoudis

Grants & Programs Advisor

Ioannis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Diploma in Information Systems. He has 7+ years of professional experience developing and managing projects funded by international Funds, the European Commission, National Authorities, Foundations, and Private Donors to create meaningful social impact. As a non-formal educator, his work also focuses on building the capacity of NGOs and specific target groups. Since October 2024, he works as the Grants & Programs Advisor in the CPF team.

EIRINI KARATHANOU

PROJECT MANAGER

Eirini is an ichthyologist with MScs in sustainable management of the aquatic environment and Mediterranean aquaculture. She has worked abroad at Karlstad and Helsinki university as scientific personnel on freshwater ecosystems. Even though always interested in her previous domain, the Mediterranean put a spell on her. She returned to Greece, firstly at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and then she joined the Cyclades Preservation Fund. Born and raised in Thessaloniki, she visited the Cyclades as part of the family holidays, while now she happily works and travels around Cycladic islands. In her leisure time, she swims, scuba dives and never says no to a good book. Since June 2022, she works as a Marine Project Manager in the CPF team.

ELENA SYMEONIDOU

CONSULTANT & PROJECT MANAGER
Elena is working in the environmental and agricultural sector in the Cyclades since 2010, focusing on natural resources management and food production. She is actively using the frameworks and toolboxes of Permaculture and Agroecology, in projects ranging from private gardens and farms to public regeneration projects. She facilitates public events and teaches seminars and workshops in diverse audiences. Having lived mostly in Paros island for over a decade, she has studied the fascinating but fragile island ecosystems, has witnessed the effects of climate change, land use change and overtourism on the archipelago and has concentrated her work towards the mitigation and adaptation to these effects. She has been in the CPF family with various roles since 2018.

VANGELIS PARAVAS

SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Vangelis is a trained biologist, specialised in ecology and zoology of endangered marine mammals, as well as a professional nature and wild-life photographer. He has over 20 years of professional experience in research, conservation and protection of marine species and ecosystems, working for nature conservation in various capacities and supporting, among others, public and non-profit entities. He has been in the CPF family with various roles since 2018 and is currently our Scientific Advisor for marine projects and sustainable fisheries.

DOROTHY FILIOTI

PROJECT MANAGER
Eirini is an ichthyologist with MScs in sustainable management of the aquatic environment and Mediterranean aquaculture. She has worked abroad at Karlstad and Helsinki university as scientific personnel on freshwater ecosystems. Even though always interested in her previous domain, the Mediterranean put a spell on her. She returned to Greece, firstly at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and now at the Cyclades Preservation Fund as a marine project manager since June 2022. Born and raised in Thessaloniki, she visited the Cyclades as part of the family holidays, while now she lives on Syros and happily works and travels around Cycladic islands. In her leisure time, she swims, scuba dives and never says no to a good book.

ARTEMIS APERGI

PROJECT OFFICER
Artemis is 21 years old and was born in England to an English mother and a Greek father. She shares her time between the United Kingdom and Greece and she is familiar with the island environment because she grew up in the Ionian Islands, on Paxos. She is a student at SOAS in London, studying the Persian language and international relations, and she aspires to specialise in translation. Her love for the environment and the fact that she grew up bilingual led her to work as a translator and project assistant on the CPF. Artemis has been in the family of CPF since the summer of 2022.

DIMITRIS TSAFOUTIS

CONSULTANT
Dimitris is an economist and since 2019 he has been researching this innovative form of tourism called fishing tourism. More generally the situation in the fishing industry made him fully devote to this tourist product in the last 4 years. During this time, he has been in contact with almost all the professional fishermen who actively practice fishing tourism in our country. Of course, a part of them are located in the Cyclades where his visits and contacts with local fishermen are frequent. His goal is the knowledge and experiences he has acquired to contribute to the development of this alternative form of tourism. He has been collaboating with the CPF since September 2022.

GENERAL MEETING OF PARTNERS

Anastasios Leventis

Dimitrios Hatzis

Jeremy Downward

Yanni Pipilis

STEERING COMMITTEE

Ben Goldsmith

Jade Brudenell

Iasson Tsakonas

Mathias Kamprad

Andrea Kyriakou

Grace Yu

Barbara Donoghue Vavalidis

OUR AIM IS TO MAKE IT EASY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE ORGANISATIONS WORKING FOR THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE PLACE THAT THEY LOVE.

BEN GOLDSMITH, CO-FOUNDER ‘THE CYCLADES PRESERVATION FUND’ & ‘THE CONSERVATION COLLECTIVE’

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Xenophon Kappas

Theofilos Kyratsoulis

Rachel Howard

Kalliopi Tsagkaraki

Eileen Murray

Emily Kern

Alice Apponyi

Nassia Kassela

Conservation Collective

We are member of the Conservation Collective, a global network of 18 local foundations funding effective grass-roots conservation initiatives to protect the environment, restore nature and safeguard against climate change.