Social entrepreneur and diversity icon Violet Roumeliotis is the latest recipient of the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) Woman of Influence Award.

Every year, the HACCI Awards acknowledge and reward organisations and individuals that have excelled in eight distinct areas of endeavour. The awards recognise excellence, innovation, leadership and business acumen of the Hellenic Australian community.

The Award, presented by SalaryMasters, recognises Roumeliotis as a champion of diversity, inclusion and social justice who opens pathways for female leadership, driving change for a diverse and vibrant society.

As the CEO of SSI, a not-for-profit that supports migrants and newcomers to achieve their full potential, Roumeliotis has created tangible results to strengthen Australia’s status as a world-leading multicultural nation.

Under her leadership, SSI grew from a state-based body to a national organisation and has seen revenue increase from $9 million to $115 million, setting an example of how social entrepreneurship can be the driving force for a better tomorrow.

Upon receiving her Award, Roumeliotis reflected on her parents’ legacy as immigrants from post-World War II Greece, and how this has strongly influenced her own life story.

“Greek entrepreneurs, in fact, migrants who have arrived on our shores, have contributed significantly to, and are the backbone to the success of Australia as a multicultural, socially-cohesive and vibrant society,” Roumeliotis said.

“I am very proud of being Greek-Australian and everything that it offers me as a citizen of this beautiful country. This award is also for all those migrants who have arrived on our shores with hope and open hearts and aspirational dreams,” she said.

Roumeliotis is committed to achieving equity and advancing diversity and inclusion in all forms. In 2020, she was admitted to the Order of Australia for outstanding service to the community.

Besides the Woman of Influence award, the diversity icon was also hailed Telstra Australia Business Woman of the Year, has been named one of AFR’s Top 100 Women of Influence for 2018 in the category of Diversity & Inclusion and garnered the title of Community Fellow from Western Sydney University for outstanding service to the community.