Joanna Despotopoulou is an Economist, graduate of the University of Piraeus in Economics. She has also completed post-graduate studies on:

• Business Administration, University of Economic Studies of Athens
• Tourism Economics-University of London-Birbick College (Msc Degree)
• European Community Affairs, IIAP-Ecole Nationale d’Administration of Paris

She has also acquired degrees in:

• Tourism Marketing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) of Tokyo, as well as in Sponsorship Marketing, Crisis Management and Volunteer Management from Universities at home and abroad

Joanna Despotopoulou is the President of Special Olympics Hellas, and has been offering her services, on a volunteer basis, to the cause of Special Olympics and children with intellectual disabilities since 1990.

By decision of the Deputy Minister of Culture Responsible for Sports she was designated to the position of the President of the Bid Committee for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which after the successful bid were awarded to Athens.

In January 2008, by decision of the Minister of Culture she was awarded the Position of the President of the Organizing Committee of the Special Olympics World Summer Games – ATHENS 2011.

Joanna Despotopoulou has also held the following positions:

• State Secretary General of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, Athens-Greece
• Research, Analysis and Marketing Director of the Greek National Tourism Organization in Athens and London
• Communications and International Affairs Advisor of Royal Olympic Cruises and Epirotiki Cruise – Line, Greece

In her capacity as Marketing Director of the G.N.T.O she has served as a member on various committees of the European Union, such as the Tourism Intergroup of the European Parliament, the Eurostat Tourism Projects Evaluation Team.

Joanna Despotopoulou is member of the Board of Trustees of the Federation International de l ’Automobile Foundation (FIA Foundation), affiliated member to the World Tourism Organization and a Full Member of the Automobile and Touring Club of Greece (ELPA)

She is also the author of studies and articles on Tourism Research, Marketing, Special Olympics and Social Solidarity, published in the Greek and the International Press.

For her dedication and volunteer services to the less favored citizens Joanna Despotopoulou  has been awarded with:

• The Gold Medal of the City of Athens (2000)
• The Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament (2001)
• The Award of Moral Excellence of the Academy of Athens (2002)
• The Award DELPHI ( with decoration) of the International Olympic Academy (2003)
• The Centennial Gold Medal of Lions International (2005) and
• The Ordine al Merito de la Republica Italianna (Grande Ufficialle) 2006

She is married to the Civil Engineer and President of ELPA, Vassilis Despotopoulos and has two sons, Theofanis and Ilias.