Anna Koukkides-Procopiou

Anna Koukkides-Procopiou
Άννα Κουκκίδη-Προκοπίου
Koukkides-Procopiou in 2023
Minister of Justice and Public Order
In office
1 March 2023 – 10 January 2024
PresidentNikos Christodoulides
Preceded byStefi Drakou
Succeeded byMarios Hartsiotis
Personal details
Born1974 (age 51–52)
Alma materUniversity College London (BSc), London School of Economics (MSc), University of Nicosia (PhD)
ProfessionPolitician, economist, activist

Anna Koukkides-Procopiou (Greek: Άννα Κουκκίδη-Προκοπίου; born 1974) is a Cypriot politician, economist, and activist. She served as the minister of justice and public order of Cyprus from March 2023 to January 2024.

Early life and education

In 1996, Koukkides-Procopiou received a bachelor's degree in economics and history from University College London. She earned her master's degree in international relations at the London School of Economics in 1997.[1]

In 2015, she obtained a certificate in religion and politics from the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University.[1]

Professional career

Koukkides-Procopiou previously served as president of AIPFE Cyprus, the Cypriot branch of the International Association for the Promotion of Women of Europe.[2] She was a speaker at the TEDxNicosiaWomen conference in 2013.[3]

In April 2024, she co-founded the Cyprus Women Bi-Communal Coalition (CWBC), a group of experts advocating for the inclusion of women in the Cyprus peace process.[4] Other founding members included Ayşegül Baybars, Doğuş Derya, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Jale Refik Rogers, Katherine Clerides, Mine Atlı, Praxoula Antoniadou, and Stefi Drakou.[4]

Koukkides-Procopiou is the founder and president of Politeia, a Cyprus-based think tank.[5] She is also a senior fellow and advisory board member at the Center of European and International Affairs at the University of Nicosia.[6][7]

She is a member of ExxonMobil's Global Women in Management team, based in Washington, D.C.[5]

Political career

In March 2023, Koukkides-Procopiou was named the minister of justice and public order of Cyprus. She served in the role until 10 January 2024, when she was succeeded by Marios Hartsiotis following a cabinet shuffle by President Nikos Christodoulides.[8]

In August 2023, she faced criticism for holding an informal meeting in Cyprus with Israeli minister of national security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is known for his anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian views.[9]

Awards and honours

In 2017, Koukkides-Procopiou received the Women Economic Forum award for "Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All".[2][10]

In 2026, she was named a Yale Peace Fellow by the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs in recognition of her efforts to empower women in the public sphere.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Anna Koukkides-Procopiou". Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  2. ^ a b "AIPFE Cyprus President Receives WEF 17 Award". AIPFE Cyprus. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  3. ^ May, Kate Torgovnick (October 16, 2014). "A support group for women in business, inspired by TEDxNicosiaWomen | TED Blog". TED Blog. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Ipek Borman, as co-founder of the Steering Committee, at the launch event of Cyprus Women Bi-Communal Coalition (CWBC)". Peace Research Institute Oslo. April 26, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Anna Koukkides-Procopiou". Cyprus Forum. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  6. ^ "Anna Koukkides-Procopiou". Women Economic Forum. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  7. ^ "Cyprus Forum brings together a cross-section of top panellists". University of Nicosia. October 9, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  8. ^ "Four ministers leaving Cabinet following reshuffling". philenews. January 8, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  9. ^ Prakas, Nikolaos (August 11, 2023). "Controversy arises over meeting with Israeli national security minister". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  10. ^ "CYPRUS: AIPFE President receives WEF 17 award at New Delhi forum". Financial Mirror. May 11, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2026.