Naya Tselepi

PhD Human Geography, MSc International Cooperation, Rural & Surveying Engineer

Naya Tselepi was born and raised in Thessaloniki. She studied at the Faculty of Engineering of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in the Department of Surveying Engineering (2002). Her Master’s degree in ‘International Cooperation’ took place in Madrid at the Universidad Complutense (2004). She continued her studies with a PhD in Human Geography and with an IKY scholarship at the Department of Geography of the University of the Aegean (2016).

Since then she is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Educator with main areas of interest in collaborative governance, participatory planning, (educational) commons, migration, mapping, and research methodologies. She has collaborated in various research projects at universities in Greece and abroad.

In the past, she has worked in the Non-Governmental Organizations ARSIS and ANTIGONI as a manager of European and national programmes for vulnerable groups (migrants, refugees, homeless, Roma, etc.). She then worked with the environmental organisation ‘Mamagea’ as a Scientific Associate and Community Coordinator on governance and Participatory Planning issues.

She worked as a Adjunct Professor in the postgraduate studies ‘Social and Solidarity Economy’ at the Hellenic Open University & at the Pedagogical Department of Primary Education of the University of Thessaly.

In 2025 he took over as Project Manager at ANATOLIKI SA. Organisation for Local Development with fields of interest in governance and participation, sustainable development and tourism, natural disaster prevention, climate change, energy and digital transition.

In addition, she is a certified expert, trainer and facilitator in the Sociocratic Circular Method and co-founder of the Greek Centre of Sociocracy, she has worked in the Youth Council and the Network of Schools for Democracy of the Municipality of Thermi as well as with many organizations and groups.
She holds a diploma supplemenet from the School of Pedagogical Education (ASPAITE) and certifications in Gordon Teacher Effectiveness Method and Non-Violent Communication seminars. She is a single mother and active in social and environmental issues.