Building trust with the state, expanding its impact

He is upholding the bequest of his uncle, Stavros Niarchos, who intended that fractional the foundation’s activities beryllium based successful Greece. Andreas Dracopoulos, co-president of the instauration named aft the precocious renowned Greek shipowner, has worked with successive governments to recognize ambitious initiatives successful culture, acquisition and healthcare. 

In this speech with Kathimerini, helium reflects connected his acquisition collaborating with the Greek state and its representatives, while besides addressing speculation astir a imaginable relation successful politics.

It’s been 10 years since the instauration of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), which rapidly became a landmark for the residents of Athens and beyond. How bash you spot it evolving successful narration to the archetypal vision?

First of all, it is important to separate the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, arsenic galore radical tend to spot them arsenic 1 and the same. We envisioned the park, brought it to fruition and were very pleased to bequeath it to Greek society. We proceed to support it done programs and each signifier of assistance we tin provide. It is an undertaking that is still successful advancement for me. Most importantly, however, radical person truly embraced it and proceed to visit it successful ample numbers. That means it is fulfilling its purpose. If I person 1 complaint, it is that adjacent much could beryllium happening there. It should beryllium adjacent much vibrant and much profoundly integrated into society arsenic a whole. That said, the nationalist effect has been extraordinary. Beyond the Greek National Opera, which is doing singular work, the National Library has besides go a large constituent of reference. Every clip I visit, it is afloat of radical – particularly young people. These are wonderful sights to see. Still, we should ne'er remainder connected our laurels. As the saying goes, “the cleanable is the force of the good.”

What does giving backmost to society mean successful these profoundly turbulent times? More specifically, what benignant of relation tin an instauration similar the SNF play within this broader κοινωνικά framework?

That is simply a analyzable question, and I bash not judge there is simply a single answer. Philanthropy and κοινωνικά support should ne'er vie with the nationalist sector. From the very beginning, we person emphasized that our relation is to complement, not replace. Where we tin help, we do. We span gaps and take initiatives, but – I repetition – we complement the state; we are not a substitute for it.

‘Our ambition is for the SNF hospitals to go flagship institutions within the ESY. From that constituent onward, however, it will beryllium up to the state and each successive authorities to physique connected this instauration and strengthen the healthcare system arsenic a whole’

What impressions person you formed implicit the years done your narration with the state and your dealings with politicians?

To statesman with, we person worked successful 135 countries and travel crossed galore antithetic models. We person ever tried to support a definite region and to stay retired of politics, including successful Greece, adjacent though the quality of our work inevitably brings us into areas where the state is involved. But we person ever operated with transparency. All the projects we person undertaken – and there person been galore – were carried retired within the model of public-private partnerships, a exemplary we strongly judge in. Nothing successful beingness is perfect, but mostly speaking, I tin accidental that we person had very affirmative practice with each authorities we person worked with. I judge each medication understood from the outset that our lone extremity was to assistance society. A communal narration of trust was, therefore, built.

Do radical ever inquire you for favors?

No, never, and I think that is due to the fact that they cognize we simply bash not run that way. Back successful 1997 oregon 1998, we were gathering a guesthouse successful Ioannina when a writer called and said, “We’d similar to come.” I replied, “Wonderful.” Then helium asked, “Will you screen our expenses? We’d similar some extras, too.” I told him, “We don’t bash that benignant of thing.” I still retrieve his response: “If you don’t wage us, we won’t travel – and if we don’t come, we won’t write anything.” I answered, “That’s your problem, not ours. You won’t get a single euro.” I think radical understood very aboriginal connected – and word spread – that we were not connected that “wavelength,” so they stopped asking. And naturally, we bash not bash favors either.

Politically, you sometimes travel crossed arsenic something of a maverick. For example, there are rumors that you supported Stefanos Kasselakis, while you person besides spoken positively astir Pavlos Polakis during his tenure arsenic alternate curate of health.

On the 1 hand, I travel from a center-right background. On the other, owed to my quality and the quality of our work, we bash not place with specific parties oregon politicians. My collaboration with Mr Polakis began done the SNF Global Health Initiative. This started successful 2017, when Mr Pavlos Polakis and then wellness curate Andreas Xanthos approached us. That simply happened to beryllium the authorities successful bureau astatine the time. We went to the Ministry of Health and asked them directly: tell us what the state needs, due to the fact that we are considering launching an inaugural to support the National Health System (ESY) successful whatever way we can. We had conscionable delivered the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and wanted to lend something other meaningful to Greece arsenic well. We asked, “What are the country’s astir pressing needs?” And helium replied, “Did you cognize that we haven’t got a pediatric infirmary anyplace extracurricular Athens?” I grew up successful Athens, yet it had ne'er occurred to me. Then helium said, “Why don’t we physique an outstanding infirmary that could go a flagship instauration successful Thessaloniki and service not lone bluish Greece but the Balkans arsenic well?” “That’s an fantabulous idea,” I said. The speech then moved connected to [the SNF wide infirmary of] Komotini and I still retrieve him asking, astir incredulously, “Do you mean it?” I replied, “Yes. Let’s marque it happen.” I made the determination that very aforesaid day.

That is why I person ever said that we should ne'er hide the radical who person genuinely contributed. It has thing to bash with politics; it has to bash with individuals who were willing to prosecute and work toward solutions. And [Polakis] did that. It impressed me. He understood the needs connected the crushed and together we built, from the crushed up, what is present known arsenic the Global Health Initiative successful Greece. I cannot assistance but explicit my gratitude to him some for the collaboration and for the ideas helium brought to the table. Of course, galore radical construe this arsenic governmental support. I support nary idiosyncratic politician. I support Greece, the projects we undertake and the interaction those projects tin person connected society. That is our sole concern.

As for Mr Kasselakis, I money scholarships for Greek students astatine the universities where I studied, but the recipients are selected wholly by the institutions themselves. One of the students I met some 20 years agone happened to beryllium Mr Kasselakis. I met him conscionable arsenic I met galore different students. I had perfectly nary engagement successful his selection, either then oregon afterward.

Let maine inquire astir the caller hospitals funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. How will they disagree from a typical Greek nationalist hospital, and what relation will the SNF person erstwhile they statesman operating?

Once they open, we will person nary operational relation whatsoever, conscionable arsenic we bash not astatine the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. In the lawsuit of the taste center, we proceed to connection informal support by backing programs and initiatives. As for the hospitals, they will instantly go integrated into the National Health System. Our relation astatine this constituent is to guarantee that they are designed to the highest imaginable standards. They are being designed by the renowned designer Renzo Piano, whose doctrine emphasizes the healing powerfulness of proximity to nature. At the aforesaid time, we are committed to equipping them with the champion available aesculapian technology and infrastructure. Perhaps astir importantly, we person already established partnerships with internationally starring institutions such arsenic Johns Hopkins Hospital and New York [Presbyterian] Hospital successful Manhattan. Our ambition is for these hospitals to go flagship institutions within the ESY. From that constituent onward, however, it will beryllium up to the state and each successive authorities to physique connected this instauration and strengthen the healthcare system arsenic a whole. It is besides the work of the state to guarantee that these hospitals are decently staffed and that their doctors and nurses person the support they need.

Do you often brushwood what radical telephone the “good Greece”? Does it springiness you crushed for optimism?

I firmly judge there is simply a ample and fundamentally steadfast portion of Greek society that remains strong contempt being very weary and disappointed. At the aforesaid time, different portion of society has drifted dangerously adjacent to apathy. These radical consciousness they person thing near to judge successful and struggle adjacent with basal day-to-day survival. Political extremes, some successful Greece and internationally, exploit this frustration. Some sections of the media besides carnivore work by straight oregon indirectly amplifying extremist voices. What concerns maine profoundly is the operation of rising surviving costs, the pressures of mundane beingness and the accelerated beforehand of technology – particularly fears surrounding artificial quality and the anticipation of quality beings being replaced. I worry that neither planetary society nor Greece is adequately prepared for what lies ahead, and we whitethorn look very hard realities. Will AI yet trim what we understand arsenic humanity to a benignant of levelling commodification? What we request are leaders who afloat grasp the standard of the changes coming, on with superior practice and semipermanent strategy. And we request them urgently.

After the hospitals – which are intelligibly a large undertaking – what other would you similar to bash for Greece?

My uncle, Stavros Niarchos, wanted astatine slightest fractional of our enactment to beryllium centered successful Greece. It is considerably much than fractional today, partially due to the fact that of the taste halfway and partially due to the fact that of the economical situation that profoundly affected the country. We proceed to support Greece with a absorption connected strengthening society itself. That said, we are not an ATM dispensing unlimited funds. We besides request to marque choices and acceptable priorities. Nevertheless, I would similar to judge that we person helped our state successful galore ways – some visibly and down the scenes.

There seems to beryllium a increasing civilization of philanthropy and nationalist giving successful Greece successful caller years. Is this something you person besides noticed?

Absolutely, and it gives maine large satisfaction. I often used to wonder: Where are the radical with the means to help? In caller years, however, there has been singular momentum astir philanthropy and nationalist giving, which I find profoundly encouraging. But this is not simply astir who contributes and however much. It is besides astir cultivating a civilization of volunteerism, solidarity and civic responsibility. And I judge that is gradually becoming a broader κοινωνικά question successful Greece.

And what astir your ain ambitions? There are rumors from clip to clip that you whitethorn beryllium funny successful taking up politics.

We will transportation connected on the way we person already chosen: Supporting society, remaining grateful for the accidental to bash so and honoring the representation of Stavros Niarchos, who gave us the means to assistance others. I person nary ambitions beyond that.

What was the astir important acquisition Stavros Niarchos taught you?

There was nary single acquisition – and each of them astatine once. Simply by working alongside him, you learned constantly. I judge the top lessons travel not done words but done the way a idiosyncratic conducts himself successful mundane life. His doctrine was simple: Give each effort, everything you’ve got; work hard; support learning. That rule has been with maine passim my ain life, and I walk it connected to my children arsenic well. At the extremity of the day, earlier you spell to sleep, you should beryllium capable to say: “I gave everything I had today.” This doesn’t mean you will succeed astatine everything oregon get an “A” each time. But it does mean giving your very best, each single day. That is the lesson: Give it your all.