Gerasimos Kouvaras has 25 years of engagement as executive director, instructor, advisor and volunteer in and for the civil society sector at the national and international level. Since 2007, he has been Country Director of ActionAid in Greece and during his tenure, he has also served as an elected member of the Federation Leadership Team of ActionAid International. Before joining ActionAid, among others, Gerasimos served Amnesty International as Director for Greece and the Greek Ministry of Education as Special Advisor on Volunteering and the Youth Sector. In that capacity, he led the National Office for Youth Policies and chaired the Working Group on Youth of the Council of the EU during the Greek EU Presidency in 2003.

Gerasimos is a PhD in Management candidate at Bayes Business School of City University of London and his other academic background includes an MBA from Nottingham Trent University, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki. As an instructor, he has given several lectures and workshops in Greece and abroad within his areas of expertise to audiences including university post-graduate students, UN staff, public officials, NGO senior staff, youth leaders and Tedx attendees. His artistic background includes Opera Studies at the Greek State Conservatory and over 150 performances as a member of the Greek State Radio Choir, an international distinction as Artist Photographer (AFIAP) from the International Federation of Photographic Art, and the publication of a poetry collection of haiku poems in Greek. Gerasimos is currently Vice Chair of the Board of the International Forum for Volunteering in Development (FORUM). Last but not least, Gerasimos is a member of the World Human Forum team and coordinator of the Hellenic Inner Development Hub.