Graduate gives $175,000 to support Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies
Peter Pontikis鈥檚 gift of $35,000 per annum for the next five years will support the teaching of the , including the production of the first-ever textbook specifically tailored for the teaching of Modern Greek in the Australian tertiary education system.
University of Sydney graduate Peter Pontikis
鈥淧eter Pontikis is one of the most engaged and committed life-long students of Greek culture and language,鈥� said , Chair of the Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies. 鈥淧eter鈥檚 donation gives us the opportunity to prepare material for people who haven't studied Greek and want to explore their linguistic origins and foundational cultural stories.鈥�
With the assistance of publication co-supervisor and Modern Greek lecturer , the textbook will be based on 鈥渁 deep knowledge of the country鈥檚 educational system and language acquisition practices implemented in Australian primary and high schools.鈥�
Peter Pontikis鈥檚 donation gives us the opportunity to prepare material for people who haven't studied Greek and want to explore their linguistic origins and foundational cultural stories.
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, Acting Head of the , signals that the prospective teaching material 鈥渨ill be a national and international resource.鈥�
鈥淚t allows us to offer a program that is unique in Australia. The support given to our Modern Greek Studies by members of the Greek community is truly impressive. It is particularly pleasing to see how Mr Pontikis鈥檚 dedication and commitment to knowledge have led him to make this generous donation.鈥�
Peter Pontikis reading Greek literature at home
鈥淗aving grown up in Australia, Peter realised that our department offered him the opportunity to connect with his heritage and develop strong links with the Greek-Australian community,鈥� said Professor Karalis.
Peter thanks the Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies for the opportunity to support the teaching of Modern Greek in the 21st century 鈥渨ith all its familiar and newer challenges to adapt and accommodate the engagement and delivery of effective inspiration of the most subversive, sacred and wellspring language.鈥�
Peter Pontikis graduated from the University of Sydney with the in 1984 and a Master of Arts in 2005. 鈥淚t was my village and alma mater where life and its opportunities began to open for me. It was luck and a gift,鈥� said Peter. 鈥淚t is with deep gratitude that I have the honour to return to the sandstone starting block of my journey after half a life鈥檚 arc.鈥�
Now based in Brisbane, Peter provides services to India and Southeast Asia and maintains a high international profile with his successful career in financial technology, treasury and investment management. With over three decades of industry experience, Peter has worked for a range of organisations, including KPMG, Westpac, St. George Bank, ANZ Trustees and Suncorp Banking.
Reflecting on his achievements, Peter described the University of Sydney as 鈥渁n expedition that taught me more than just IQ and the graces of burnished EQ, but that of the importance of nurtured, supported and well-invested cultural capital or, simply, CQ 鈥� Cultural Quotient.鈥�
鈥淐ultural Quotient, or cultural intelligence, is borne out of constant exposure to and reflection on the diversity of human condition, nature and world history to which language documents and communicates,鈥� said Peter.
鈥淚ndeed, language 鈥� the element that defines our very humanity as a species 鈥� is what connects us to a greater whole,鈥� said Peter. 鈥淭he Greek language plays a nuanced role throughout history in this connection with past endeavours and experiences, and still continues to do so today.鈥�
