HBA UK celebrates emerging talent through the 6th Student Award

Strong professional communities have a responsibility: to invest in the generation that will follow.

That commitment remains at the heart of the HBA UK Student Award, which was presented for the sixth consecutive year during the 31st Annual Gala of the Hellenic Bankers Association (HBA) UK at Drapers' Hall in the City of London.

Established to recognise outstanding students from the Greek and Cypriot community, the HBA UK Student Award celebrates academic excellence and intellectual curiosity across banking, law, and technology.

This year's award was presented to Ioli Kostika, a Law student at Queen Mary University of London. Selected from a highly competitive field of 17 applicants, her winning paper explored the integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into financial services, offering thoughtful analysis of the growing importance of sustainability and responsible business practices across the sector.

The award was presented by Dimitris Tsesmetzoglou, CEO Greece & Cyprus at Howden Hellas, whose participation reflected the shared commitment of HBA UK and Howden Hellas to recognising and supporting emerging talent. As HBA UK's longstanding Grande Sponsor, Howden Hellas has played an important role in helping this initiative continue to grow and inspire future generations of professionals.

More than an academic distinction, the HBA UK Student Award represents the Association's commitment to connecting generations, encouraging excellence and creating opportunities for young professionals to engage with the wider financial community.

For more than three decades, HBA UK has served as a platform for dialogue, professional development and collaboration across the Greek and Cypriot financial diaspora. Supporting the next generation remains central to that mission, ensuring that the Association continues to foster talent, encourage new perspectives and contribute to the future of the profession.

HBA UK warmly congratulates Ioli Kostika on this well-deserved recognition and extends its sincere appreciation to all applicants, the judging panel and Howden Hellas for their continued partnership in making the Student Award an enduring part of the Association's commitment to future leadership.