George Halkias is a well-respected community figure who has supported vulnerable Australians for 20 years.
With post-graduate qualifications in psychology, his experience includes managing a state-wide support service for victims of violent crime and training police graduates in the area of victim rights and support.
Current Work:
George is best known for co-founding and developing of the Big Issue Community Street Soccer Program which uses soccer to engage and develop homeless and marginalized people across Australia.
In this role he has coached and coordinated Australian teams at 8 Homeless World Cup events: Edinburgh 2005, Cape Town 2006, Copenhagen 2007, Melbourne 2008, Milan 2009, Paris 2011, Poznan 2013, Glasgow 2016, Oslo 2018 and Cardiff 2019. He was also instrumental in successfully bidding for and staging the 2008 Melbourne Homeless World Cup and his role included sourcing corporate sponsorship and acting as the public face of the event.
George develops innovative programs that often use sport to address pressing community issues like gender-based violence, social exclusion and racism.
Talking Points
Leadership that inspires change
George’s inspirational and authentic leadership style bring people together to achieve great outcomes at a local and community level. Hear how George had the vision and dedication to develop a pilot program to a government funded national program that is recognised across the world and to bring the Homeless World Cup to Melbourne with government and corporate support.
Leadership that inspires change
Overcoming adversity and achieving organisational and personal change
George describes how he has developed innovative and impacting programs that have changed the lives of individuals facing a range of challenges whilst also strengthening communities. He described how he empowers people and drives cultural change and sustainable change by creating environment where people are valued and developed.
Overcoming adversity and achieving organisational and personal change
Managing complex teams to success
George has coached and supported Australian Teams at 10 Homeless World Cups and shares how he mould a diverse group of people who each with their own personal challenges into a dedicated team that achieves its personal and team goals whilst representing their country with distinction.
Managing complex teams to success
Video
George Halkias | Community Leader & Inspirational Motivational Speaker | Saxton Speakers
George Halkias has vast experience working some of the most disadvantaged members of our community and uses sport as a vehicle to connect, engage and support them. His presentations are fun, dynamic, educational, meaningful and inspirational. This clip shows some of the highlights of his presentation to the staff and volunteers of Cystic Fibrosis Victoria. You will see why he is such a sought after speaker who can make any event and training memorable.George Halikas |Homeless World Cup - Fed Square Flashbacks
The Big Issue brought us the Melbourne Homeless World Cup in 2008 - an event to help changing the lives disadvantaged people from around the world. Let’s flashback to the event with George, the coach of the Big Issue Street Socceroos team, in the first video for our new series.George Halikas | Australian Story
The Energy Procurement Supply Association recently invited George Halkias to be guest speaker at our Melbourne conference dinner. We chose George over other well-known sporting and political ... keep reading FUESCO
George was an absolute pleasure to work with. I was very moved by the presentation so much so that I am still thinking about it! I highly recommend George as a speaker and I personally look forward to working with him again in the future.
Your talk most certainly did hit the mark. I had very positive feedback last night and this morning too! You’re a great speaker and your story is very inspirational. Our staff work with marginalised people every day but hearing other people’s stories helps put our experiences into perspective. And your story did just that. It also re-energises us and reminds us that we can all make a difference in some way.
