On 12 March 2019, Mr George Tsavliris received the 2019 GREEN4SEA Leadership Award at a prestigious award ceremony held at the Yacht Club of Greece in Piraeus.

Mr Tsavliris, Chairman of CYMEPA (Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association) for over two decades, received the award for his leadership role within CYMEPA and other national and international Associations.

The award was presented to Mr Tsavliris by Capt. Dimitris Mattheou, CEO of Arcadia Shipmanagement who said that "Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It is about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves relentless implementation and getting results with a comprehensive plan always in mind, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work derived from a compelling vision, and inspiration reflects a life full of actions oriented to excellence. However, I believe that the supreme quality for leadership is integrity, honesty and strong moral principles; moral uprightness and George (Tsavliris) is generously gifted with all these virtues". Mr Mattheou shared a comment he had heard Mr Tsavliris once make in an interview : "Never undertake a project in life unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible" (a quote from Edwin Land, inventor of the Polaroid camera which Mr Tsavliris often makes reference to).  Mr Mattheou concluded that this leadership award,  is testament that Mr Tsavliris served this moto well during his lifetime.

Accepting the award, Mr  Tsavliris stated that to be considered a leader, the first prerequisite is to recognise your deficiencies and weaknesses and to have the ability and the stamina to share these weaknesses with those around you.   Mr Tsavliris shared that many times in his career he had to defy logic and go against the system. Leadership is a funny term, he said and made reference to the great financial genius, Benjamin Graham,  who said that "every day when he wakes up, he aims to achieve three things: to do something creative, to do something generous and to do something foolish".  Mr Tsavliris said that he too aims to achieve these same daily goals.  He thanked his wife and family, his brothers and his team, without all of whom, he would not be who he is.

George A. Tsavliris was born in London. He graduated from Athens College in 1968 and having acquired professional qualifications in Shipping, he concluded his graduate and post graduate studies in Shipping Law at University College London in 1973. In 2009, he was qualified as a Mediator at the ADR Group London and in 2014 was certified as a Mediator by the Greek Ministry of Justice, Transparency and Human Rights.  George Tsavliris is a Principal at Tsavliris Salvage Group and represents the business on both a commercial and environmental basis internationally. He holds the position of Past Chairman of INTERMEPA and Chairman of CYMEPA.    In addition, Mr Tsavliris is Board Member of ECSA, Board Member of the Cyprus Union of Ship Owners, Board Member of The Yacht Club of Greece, Board Member of Friends of Hellas Liberty Association and the Jubilee Sailing Trust in the UK and Honorary Chairman of the Tsavliris Cultural Foundation.  Furthermore, Mr Tsavliris has taken on the role of Academic Director of Metropolitan College / Solent Southampton University. He is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at numerous maritime related conferences and an avid supporter of various charities.

The GREEN4SEA Leadership Award is a distinction awarded to an individual person that provided industry leadership and / or contributed towards Greener and Sustainable shipping. The GREEN4SEA Awards are held annually within the scope of awarding the industry's outstanding practices for green shipping excellence, in various categories such as:  technology, initiative, clean shipping practices, green ports and personalities that are leading the path toward a more sustainable future.

https://safety4sea.com/george-tsavliris-receives-green4sea-leadership-award/