Stella Kyriakides served as the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety of the European Union from December 2019 to November 2024 . She graduated in psychology from the University of Reading with a master’s degree from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. She worked as a clinical psychologist in the Mental Health Services of the Ministry of Health in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. From 2006 to 2019, she served as a Member of the Cyprus Parliament . From 2011-2019 she was head of the Cyprus delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 2017, she was elected as the 30th President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the fourth woman to hold this position in the history of the Assembly, and the only Cypriot. She founded Europa Donna Cyprus, of which she served as President for 15 years and was elected President of the European Coalition for Breast Cancer Europa Donna. She was appointed, President of the National Cancer Committee of Cyprus to draw up the Cyprus National Cancer Plan. Mrs Kyriakides has received internationally numerous awards for her work in patient advocacy. Ms. Kyriakides was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the Department of Sciences of the University of Reading for her overall contribution to the field of health. In 2024 Mrs Kyriakides was awarded the European Cancer League Honorary Award for her work in cancer prevention and treatment across Europe , and in 2025 received the Yvonne 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award in Oncology . Mrs Kyriakides currently serves on the Advisory Board of the European School of Oncology, is a Senior lecturer of the school. She is a member of the Board of the University of Cyprus. She has been selected by the World Economic Forum to be a Global Champions for Womens health.
