Sotiris Tsoukarelis

Sotiris Tsoukarelis is a founding member and head of social innovation at the social cooperative enterprise “The High Mountains." 

He studied political science at the University of Crete, focusing on political philosophy and local development. He then attended the Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center of the National Technical University of Athens, specializing in the environment and development of mountain areas. 

Since then, he has considered himself an activist for mountain regions, decentralization, and the agri-food sector. He actively participates in environmental movements defending his homeland and promotes alternative models of production and living, based on cooperation, community development, and global connectivity. 

Sotiris is also a practicing farmer, cultivating vegetables at an altitude of 1,000 meters on his model farm in Demati, Zagori. In addition, he has been trained at the American Farm School in the fi elds of experience tourism development, marketing, alternative tourism, and agritourism. He is a dairyman and cheesemaker and a graduate of the Dairy School of Ioannina. 

He currently serves as President of the Union of Social and Solidarity Economy Entities of Epirus “Koino K.AL.O.” and as Vice President for Ecosystem Development of the Panhellenic Confederation of Social and Solidarity Economy Unions “PA.S.E. K.AL.O." Since January 2024, he has also been an advisor to the mayor of Ioannina on social economy issues and chief executive offi cer of the municipal real estate company of Ioannina (DI.AN.E.T.A.I.).