'I'm a Londoner born and bred, with connections across the capital and Europe.'
Marina Yannakoudakis was born on April 16th 1956 in Paddington, the daughter of Greek Cypriot immigrants.
Political career:
Other positions held:
Professional Career:
Education:
Family:
- She was elected a Member of the European Parliament for London in June 2009.
- Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
- Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
- Delegation to the EU-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee.
- Delegation for relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo.
- High-Level Contact Group for relations with the Turkish Cypriot community in the northern part of the island.
- European Parliaments contact point for the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) in Stockholm.
Other positions held:
- President of St James Branch Ward Conservatives, Barnet 2010.
- Councillor for Oakleigh Ward in the London Borough of Barnet since 2002/ May 2010.
- Deputy Chairman, Chipping Barnet Conservative Association 2006/8.
- Trustee of Age Concern since 2004/8.
- Chairman, Oakleigh Ward Conservatives, 2002/8.
- School governor, Christ's College, Finchley since 2006.
- Chairman of The Mayor Of Barnet’s Charity Appeal 2005/6.
- Research assistant for Dr Keith Hampson MP, 1978.
- Chairman of Brunel University Conservative Association, 1978/9.
Professional Career:
- Founded Viamare Travel jointly with her husband Zacharias in 1984 – a company with an annual turnover of £4million, specialising in the representation of Mediterranean ferry operations in the UK. Financial Director of Viamare until 2009.
- British Correspondent for The Greek Review, 1981.
- Management services assistant, London Borough of Hounslow, 1978/81;.
Education:
- Open University (MA Education 2002).
- Brunel University (BSc Government, Politics and Modern History 1979).
- Diploma in Administrative Management with distinction, Institute of Management Services, 1980.
- Modern Tutorial College, London W10.
- Beckenham Convent School.
Family:
- Married to Zacharias since 1983 with three children – Stephanie (born 1984), Basil (born 1987) and Larry (born 1989).
- Outside politics and business, Marina enjoys spending time with family and friends.
- She even finds time to play the saxophone and also produces works of sculpture which are sold for charity.
'I will use my European experience to negotiate the best deal for Britain.'