The conference organized by the NTA in collaboration with TEDxAthens, titled "Talking about transparency experientially" was held within the framework of NTA’S third operational pillar, that of "Awareness," and attendees had the opportunity to participate both in person and online, to hear speeches from distinguished personalities in the fields of sports, education, and entrepreneurship. The speakers shared their personal experiences regarding the value of transparency and the fight against corruption. The conference was moderated by Mr Nikos Efstathiou, a journalist, chief editor of Lifo (free press) and author.
Specifically:
- Mr. Vangelis Iliopoulos, an educator, Director of the Primary School of I.M. Panagiotopoulos (Greek private school), and author, used an allegorical fairy tale to address the question of "how we can talk to children about transparency." He emphasized on the importance of making children active citizens, fostering love for democracy, and understanding its principles.
- Mrs Maria Patsi, Co-Founder and COO of Warply, developing the thematic section “How technology can be put at the service of transparency”, she stressed, among others, that “transparency should be equivalent to equality and justice, citizens’ demands from the state and government. Technology, in this context, comes in and acts as a catalyst, having the potential to be the objective factor, the X factor. Through the possibilities it provides, it ensures meritocracy, and law compliance, and facilitates the audit process.
- Mr. Dimosthenis Tampakos, Olympic Gold & Silver Medalist, MSc in School Physical Education, and Lieutenant Colonel, shared his experiences from his long and distinguished career in the field of sport, highlighting it as the most tangible field of integrity, through written and unwritten rules, such as ‘Fair Play’. On the lessons he learned early on in sport, he said: "It was there that I understood the value of a good teacher, one who leads the student to stand on his or her own two feet. And the value of remaining a lifelong learner. I feel grateful for the education and values I received from my coaches". He went on to note: "But in my 30 or so years of athletics, I have seen the other side of sports. Parents push kids to become something they, the parents, want to be. Coaches insulting athletes. Athletes being unceremoniously decertified overnight". He concluded his statement by stressing the need for a new understanding of sport, which he said has already begun to be implemented, citing examples of fair play shown by athletes following unwritten laws of sport, highlighting the importance of education and the need to transmit it from the early stages of education.
- Mrs Alexandra Rogakou, NTA Interim Governor, discussed the unique value of the event, emphasizing its role in raising awareness and informing society. She mentioned that the conference aimed to speak about transparency in a simple and understandable way, avoiding theoretical and sometimes incomprehensible frameworks. The goal was to address society in a more experiential way through renowned individuals in their respective fields.
- during her remarks, referred to the unique value of the event, stating that "Our current conference, which we are organizing in cooperation with TEDxAthens, is at the ‘heart’ of the NTA third operational pillar, that of ‘Awareness Raising’ and information actions which have as their main target our society. And it shows, I think in the best way, the modern, and dare I say, innovative way in which we deal with these actions in the NTA".
You can watch the entire event at the following link: