Cyprus’ new First Lady is Limassol-born career diplomat Philippa Karsera, aged 46, whose latest position in the foreign ministry in Nicosia was Acting Secretary General for European Union Affairs.
She married Nikos Christodoulides, also a career diplomat and a former foreign minister who got elected to the top job on Sunday, back in 1999.
Local media had often referred to the two career diplomats who have four daughters together as Nicosia’s power couple.
The First Lady who has been in the diplomatic service for over 20 years holds a BA in Political Science, International and European Studies from Panteion University of Athens. And a Master of Arts in Political Studies from Kings College, London.
She met Nikos Christodoulides on his first day on the job. “We joined the diplomatic service together as young attachés in 1999. I met him on the first day on the job,” she told Phileleftheros in a recent interview.
“I remember from that time how much enthusiasm he had to get things done. He was studying and writing his PhD at the same time, we had common interests and concerns. We bonded quite easily,” she added. Two years later they got married.
“Nikos is what you see. He is very active, workaholic, conscientious, meticulous, with a very high sense of duty. He is modest, sensitive and with a lot of love for his fellow citizen. By conviction, he is non-dogmatic, a good listener and refuses to comment negatively about anyone,” she also said.
Philippa Karsera served at the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in Britain, at the Embassy in Athens and the Permanent Representation of Cyprus in Brussels. She had also headed the European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as an adviser to the President on European affairs.
At the age of 40 she decided to continue her studies and joined the Law Department of the University of Cyprus where she graduated two years ago.
“Personal development is very important, in whatever you do, whatever you get involved with…I admire people who don’t rest, who study and evolve constantly and have a vision. Evolution is progress,” she said.
