Despina Syrri

President, Symbiosis

Despina Syrri has been Visiting Fellow at the Amsterdam Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Director of Research and International Cooperation at the Immigration Policy Institute in Greece, and has worked with the Reuters News Agency, Athens News Agency, the South East Europe Research Centre, the Berlin Migration Netzwerk, the British Council, the Refugee Studies Centre and the EastWest Institute on issues of post-conflict development, migration, refugees, borders and the Western Balkans integration to the European Union.

She taught Political Science and Political Anthropology at the American College of Thessaloniki, worked for 1988 to today with International Organisations (Council of Europe, Stability Pact for South East Europe) and NGOs in Southern Africa, East Europe and South East Europe, as well as in election observation and human rights missions with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, published journal articles and book chapters in Greek, South Slavic and English, authored research papers and documentaries. During 2010-2011 she coordinated the Migration and Intercultural Education in Thessaloniki project, is currently involved in developing post-graduate degrees at EU level on Humanitarian Action (EUPHRA EC project), in training police on interculturalism (EIF programme) as well as in research on detention centres at the Greek-Turkish border and the treatment of third country nations at Europe’s periphery with ELIAMEP and the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, is directing Symβiosis, and is a member of the Thessaloniki Migrants’ Integration Council.