Katerina Hadjistilli

Katerina Hadjistilli pursued her studies in Archaeology, History, and History of Art at the Universities of Thessaloniki, London, and Munich, acquiring a strong interdisciplinary academic foundation in the humanities. She currently serves as First Vice-President of the Cyprus Greens – Citizens’ Cooperation Movement and as a Municipal Councillor in the Municipality of Strovolos. In parallel, she holds the position of Director of the Universitas Foundation, an academic institution dedicated to advancing research on contemporary social, economic, and political challenges through the implementation of European-funded programmes, the organisation of international conferences and exhibitions, and the establishment and support of higher education and research institutions.

Her professional trajectory encompasses academic and research appointments in Cyprus and abroad, including Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany, as well as curatorial and research experience in major museum institutions, such as the German Museum and the Alte Pinakothek. She has been actively involved in the field of cultural heritage protection, notably contributing to antiquities repatriation processes, including the Munich Case, and participating in archaeological excavations both in Cyprus and internationally. Furthermore, she has collaborated with the Deputy Ministry of Culture and has engaged in interdisciplinary cultural initiatives at the international level.

Her scholarly and professional activities extend to participation in international cultural fora, including the Venice Biennale, as well as institutional collaborations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the World Forum of Cultures (Nicosia), particularly in relation to the systematic documentation and study of religious monuments in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Her research interests are situated at the intersection of Cultural Heritage Protection, Environmental Sustainability, and Cultural Policy, with a particular emphasis on cultural diplomacy, institutional governance, and the role of culture in sustainable development frameworks.