Committee

In accordance with Decisions no. 59.304 and 90.121 of 28/01/2004 and 07/10/2020 respectively, the Council of Ministers decided to appoint the following people as President and members of the Cyprus National Committee on Environment and Children’s Health, for a period of three years, from 01/11/2023 until τις 31/10/2026:

President

• Dr Stella Canna Michaelidou  — Chemist, Expert on Toxicology and the Impact of Toxic factors on Health (in particular children’s health) & Food Safety Expert

Members: 

• Dr Michael Anastasiades — Pancyprian Medical Association (President of the Cyprus Pediatric Society)
• Prof. Andreas Hadjisavvas — Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics (Geneticist in the Department of Molecular Pathology)
• Ms Niki Efthymiou — Nursing Services (Chief Health Visitors Officer) 
• Dr Tasoula Kyprianidou – Leontidou — Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance (Labour Inspectorate Senior Officer)
• Ms Andria Thoidi — Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry (Consumer Protection Service Officer)
• Ms Despo Louca – Christodoulou — State General Laboratory (Senior Chemist)
• Dr Georgios Tsalakos — Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth (Teacher at the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute for Natural Sciences)
• Dr Haris Hadjigeorgiou — Cyprus Paediatric Society (Paediatrician)
• Mr Charis Nicolaides — Office of the Environment Commissioner (Environmental Management Officer)
• Dr Pinelopi Anagnostopoulou — University of Cyprus (Paediatrician – Paediatric Pulmonologist, Lecturer in Pediatrics)
• Mr. Renos Koumis — President of the Confederation of Parents of Primary Education (President of the Assocation of Limassol)
• Ms Natalia Georgiou – Tsiakalou — Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (Officer)
• Dr Rebecca Georgiou — Medical and Public Health Services (Paediatrician)
• Ms Tatiana Chrysostomou — “Young Volunteers” (Treasurer B)

Short Resumes:

Dr Stella Canna Michaelidou

Chemist with PhD on Pesticides toxicology, Diploma in management and post doctorate training (at London DHSS,  EPA/USA, RIVM Nederlands etc). on  Environmental Chemistry, Toxicology focusing on  the Impact of Toxic factors  on children’s health, Food Safety and Risk Assessment She has developed expertise and experience  on the above fields for more than 45 years.

Retired as Act. Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Director of the State General Laboratory, Cyprus. Ex member of the  Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (2010-2018),, elected by the European Council and EU Commission, ex member of the  EFSA Pesticides Residue Panel, DG  Sanco Scientific Committee on Health  and Environmental Risks (SCHER) (2009-2013)- Health Risk Assessment sub.comm. Ex member in the committees on Environment-Health a) in WHO Euro  (2007-2009),  and b) European Commission (2007-2010). She has also been expert in  UNEP, MEDPOL, TAIEX, IFCS and UNITAR. Since 2004 she is the  President of the Cyprus National Committee on Environment and Children’s Health (Cy-CECH), In June 2014, she was in the Advisory Group  on Environmental Health   of the  International Pediatric Association working on a position paper on the Impact of Electromagnetic field/ radiofrequencies (EMF/RFR) on Children’s Health.

She is being working in transforming  scientific knowledge into tools for science based policies, prevention, public awareness and education. She is coordinator of the Cyprus Children Environment and Health Action Plans  and was coordinator and evaluator  of UNDP and EC research projects. She is member of the European Network of Scientists for Social & Environmental Responsibility, closely collaborating with Doctor’s Associations (Cyprus, Austria, USA etc).

Invited speaker at international conferences and teaching seminars for doctors, teachers, parents. Advisor to policy makers . Since 2011 she is focusing on potential impacts of Electromagnetic Fields/Radiofrequencies (EMF/RFR) on Children’s Health leading the work of the Committee. She is chief co-author of “the Nicosia Declaration on Electromagnetic Fields/Radiofrequencies 2017” (signed by the chambers of Doctors of Cyprus and Austria/Vienna and the Cy-CCEH. Principal author of the review  document “Possible impacts of radiation from Wi-Fi, mobile phones etc., to the fetus and child: What do we know – Is it enough to apply the precautionary principle?” ,  prepared for the Ministers of Health, and Education and the Parliament.

She is  author of many scientific papers and documents, chief co-author of the book “I am learning how to protect my child” (2011, revised 2016) in Greek, author of articles and educational material for parents, teachers, paediatricians as well as Videos and  leaflets e.g on EMF/RFR and safe technology use by children, chemicals, pesticides, Hg in energy saving lamps,  ETS, etc www.paidi.com.cy. In 2007 she was  elected as “The Cyprus Woman  for the Environment”. Her modo is:

“The integrated scientific knowledge, must be distilled into structured and concrete information for public and most importantly for science based policies founded on the basic principles of Public Health, Prevention and Precaution. Because our children need to protected”.

Email: stellacm@spidernet.com.cy, tel +35799431695

Dr Michael Anastasiades

was born in Famagusta. He graduated from the Medical School of the Democritus University of Thrace in 1995 and obtained his specialty title in Paediatrics in Athens in 2001. Since then, he has been working as a private paediatrician in Nicosia.

He is a member of the Cyprus Paediatric Society (currently serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors and as a member of its Vaccination and Infections Committee), a member of the Hellenic Paediatric Society, and the representative of the Cyprus Paediatric Society to the European Academy of Paediatrics.

He is also a member of the Medical Body Council (currently serving as Treasurer of the Cyprus Medical Association), where he also chairs the Ethics Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the Executive Committee and the official representative of the Cyprus Medical Association to the National Committee on Environment and Child Health, the Committee addressing vaccine hesitancy, and the Council of Medically Assisted Reproduction.

He is a member of the Cyprus Resuscitation Council (CYCRes), and since 2008 has been an instructor in the official European Paediatric (EPALS) and Neonatal (NLS) Life Support seminars for healthcare professionals. Since the establishment of the University of Nicosia Medical School in 2011, he has been serving as a Clinical Tutor.

Dr Tasoula Kyprianidou-Leontidou

Dr. Tasoula Kyprianidou-Leontidou is a Senior Labour Inspection Officer, Head of the Chemical Protection Sector of the Department of Labour Inspection. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and a Master’s and PhD from Tufts University in Boston in Chemical Engineering, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom and a Master in Public Sector Management from the Cyprus International Institute of Management. She has worked at the Technical University of Zurich and the University of Cyprus and has published 15 scientific articles in international scientific journals. Her tasks include monitoring safety-related issues at large-scale installations and offshore activities, controlling the placing of chemicals on the market and their use in workplaces and the representation of the Republic of Cyprus in European and International Committees. She is a member of the Management Board of the European Chemicals Agency and has been appointed by the Council of Ministers to the Board of the Cyprus Organization for the Labelling of Precious Objects and in the National Cosmetics Committee. She is also the representative of Chemical Engineers to the Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK) being member of the General Council.

Ms. Andria Thoidi

Andria Thoidi is a Trade and Industry Officer at the Competition and Organised Bodies Relations Division of the Consumer Protection Service, Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry. She holds a Law degree from the University of Cyprus and has completed postgraduate studies in Education, Leadership & Management (MSc) and Public Administration (MBA).

She gained experience through the Erasmus Placement Programme in Athens, a legal traineeship at Kousios, Korphiotis, Papacharalambous Law Firm, and previous roles at the University of Cyprus Legal Affairs Office and the House of Representatives as a Scientific and Parliamentary Associate.

Ms. Thoidi is actively involved in social and civic initiatives. She has served on the Boards of the Cyprus Youth Council and the University of Cyprus Alumni Association, and was a founding member of the University’s Law Society. She has participated in environmental and health awareness campaigns and represented youth in the “Youth Parliament” Environment Committee.

Ms. Despo Louka Christodoulou

Ms. Despo Louka Christodoulou holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Lomonosov University (Moscow, Russia).

She is a National Expert in food safety, with over 30 years of experience at the State General Laboratory of Cyprus (SGL). She has served as Head of Laboratories, Senior Chemist, and Quality Manager for the Pesticide Residues & POPs, Pharmaceuticals, Food Supplements, and Cosmetics Laboratories. She has represented Cyprus in various EU working groups and committees, participated in EU inspection missions, and served as a member of European scientific committees and national councils.

Ms. Christodoulou has extensive leadership experience, including managing scientific teams, promoting applied research, and fostering national and international collaborations to enhance control effectiveness and excellence.

She has organized and chaired national and pan-European conferences and has been a speaker at several European seminars on food safety and advanced analytical technologies.

She has received three European awards (2017–2021) for excellence in laboratory performance in pesticide residue analysis.

Dr. George Tsalakos

Dr. George Tsalakos was born in the village of Lysi, in the Famagusta district. He graduated in 1990 with an M.Sc. in Physics from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in Moscow, where he also obtained his Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics in 1994, specializing in the General Theory of Relativity.

From 2002 to 2020, he worked as a secondary education Physics teacher. Since 2009, he collaborated part-time with the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, contributing to various teacher training programmes. As an Inspectorate Advisor for Physics at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, he was involved in school laboratory safety and the removal of hazardous substances such as mercury and radioactive materials.

Since September 2020, he has been a permanent staff member of the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, serving as Instructor for Science Education. His work focuses on assessment for learning, project-based learning, and the integration of experimental activities in science teaching at both primary and secondary levels. He also participates in various teacher professional development programmes at the Institute.

In October 2020, he was appointed by the Council of Ministers as a member of the National Committee on Environment and Child Health, representing the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth for a three-year term.

Ms. Natalia Georgiou-Tsiakalou

Natalia Georgiou-Tsiakalou holds a degree in Geology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and trained as a Greek Sign Language interpreter. She worked for seven years in Thessaloniki in GIS mapping and training, and as a sign language interpreter at universities.

Since 2006, she has been with the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Cyprus, focusing on recycling, environmental assessments, Green Public Procurement, EU Ecolabel, and waste management legislation. She also manages Cyprus’s involvement in EU-funded projects like GRASP and LIFE FoodPrint and serves on various national environmental and health committees.

Ms. Tatiana Soukiouroglou Chrysostomou

Ms. Tatiana Soukiouroglou Chrysostomou holds a degree in Marketing and Business Administration from Boston University. She has experience in financial auditing, business management, and co-founded a garden tools import company. In 2000, she earned a diploma in Interior Design from Intercollege Nicosia and has since worked both for firms and as a freelance interior designer for offices, stores, and homes.

Since 2010, she has been a board member of the Cyprus Association “Micro Volunteers,” focusing on children’s social development. She founded the “Step By Step” branch of “Stepping Stones To A Brighter Future LTD” and represents the Manadoob® program in Cyprus and Greece. She also developed the Zimbaloo program for young children, working closely with psychologists, and trains educators in both countries.

Ms. Chrysostomou is a certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner, using these skills to coach youth and adults to reach their full potential and personal goals.