Lily Venizelos
Theresia Georgia Venizelos is the Founder and President of MEDASSET, Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles - an NGO registered as a charity in the UK and a Non Profit Organisation in Greece. Lily Venizelos has devoted over two decades to the conservation, study and protection of sea turtles and their habitats throughout the Mediterranean. By unceasing lobbying of the Greek government, and international conservation organisations, she secured protective measures for loggerhead sea turtles in their most important Mediterranean breeding ground on the island of Zakynthos. Through the media, writing articles, publishing papers, attending environmental education seminars and addressing symposia and conferences, she has assisted in public awareness of the plight of these species.
In recognition of her conservation efforts, in 1987 she received one of the first UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme, 'Global 500’ Awards and has received various other awards and distinctions since.
She is regularly invited to give lectures throughout the world on sea turtle conservation and related Mediterranean problems. Venues have included, among others; The Royal Geographical Society, UK (1987); the European Youth Centre (Council of Europe), France (1987); the Archaeological Society of Greece (1988); USA International Sea Turtle Symposia, USA (1990, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007); Okayama Broadcasting TV Debate, Japan (1992); Universities of Kent, Bournemouth and Glasgow, UK (1994); Alexander Koenig Museum, Germany (1996), Zoological Society, Scotland (2000).
Zakynthos National Marine Park
Her work has led to protective measures being taken to improve the conservation status of the loggerhead sea turtle in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos, Greece, an important habitat of nesting Caretta caretta in the Mediterranean, and have resulted in legislation for their protection and in the constitution of a National Marine Park (1999).
Awards
• Friends of Hellenic Red Cross highest distinction (2000) • British Chelonia Group, Kay Gray Memorial Award (1999) • Hellenic Red Cross ‘Gold Cross’ higher distinction (1997) • Athens Academy Award (1988) • UNEP – United Nations Environment Program, ‘Global 500’ Award (1987) • International Sea Turtle Society (ISTS) Lifetime Achievement Award (2015)