Why did you enter the Investors in People 2025 Awards?

We chose to enter The Investors in People 2025 Awards because we believe our people-centred transformation journey is one worth sharing, and that our story may inspire others. As the airport operator of Larnaka and Pafos airports in Cyprus – a small island in the Mediterranean – we understand the importance of leading by example. While our geography is small, our mindset is global. Operating in a high-demand environment requires resilience, agility, and above all, the power of people, who are at the heart of everything we accomplish.

Entering the awards allows us to benchmark ourselves against the best in category and gives us the opportunity to highlight the progress we’ve made. It is about giving our transformation journey and the people that made it happen the recognition they deserve. Every achievement we’ve reached as an organisation has been made possible by our people. We wanted to share our story to show that through consistency, strong leadership, transparency, and by focusing on our people’s personal and professional development, organisations can go from strength to strength, with people at the core.

Over the past 12 years, we have achieved measurable progress: employee satisfaction and engagement has risen from 3.18/5 to 4.45/5 in 2024, while trust in leadership has grown from 3.2/5 to 4.5/5. Our efforts have led us to gain the IIP We Invest in People Platinum Accreditation since 2019, and in 2024, we obtained the IIP We Invest in Wellbeing Platinum accreditation.

Most importantly, we want to demonstrate that investing in people is not just a business strategy, but a commitment to Cyprus, to the communities we serve, and to the global aviation industry. Entering the Investors in People Awards is a chance to celebrate our people, validate our progress, and be recognised by one of the world’s most prestigious benchmarks for people management and leadership.

What has it meant to you, your team, and your organisation to be shortlisted for an Investors in People 2025 Award?

Being shortlisted is an incredibly proud moment for us as an organisation, and as a team. It represents recognition on an international stage of the work we have done over the years to establish a culture where people feel appreciated, are given developmental opportunities, the space to grow and be their authentic selves, and empowered to succeed.

At an organisational level, this recognition affirms that our investment in people is having a meaningful impact and being shortlisted shows that our commitment to inclusivity, development, and wellbeing resonates internationally. It highlights that our people strategy is not only effective locally but also scalable and relevant on a global stage.

To know that our approach and efforts have been recognised by Investors in People, a benchmark of excellence, is humbling and inspiring. It encourages us to continue striving for improvement and to maintain our Employer of Choice in Cyprus and perhaps as an Employer of Choice abroad.
Ultimately, being shortlisted is more than recognition. It is a celebration and a reaffirmation that our greatest strength as an organisation is our people.

What would it mean to your organisation to win an Investors in People 2025 Award?

Winning an Investors in People 2025 Award would not only represent external recognition for our organisation, but it would validate our transformation journey and the investment we have consistently made in creating a culture where people feel valued, have purpose, and are provided opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.

We believe that people drive performance, innovation, and growth, and to be recognised at this level would give us pride and motivation across the organisation. For our colleagues, it would mean seeing their dedication and hard work celebrated on a global stage, reinforcing their sense of belonging to a forward-thinking, people-centred organisation.

From a strategic perspective, the award would help strengthen our reputation as an employer of choice, enhancing our ability to attract and retain top talents. We also believe that our transformation journey can act as a case study for other organisations who may feel inspired by our story and our position as a forward-thinking organisation that not only sets ambitious goals but also achieves them by prioritising people.

Ultimately, winning an Investors in People 2025 Award would confirm that our vision of being a people-centred, purpose-driven organisation is not aspirational but actual. It would inspire us to build on this achievement, ensuring that we remain committed to continuous improvement, innovative people practices, and creating an environment where everyone can flourish.

By winning this award it would mean that on an international level, our organisation, its people, the initiatives implemented and the culture we have nurtured over the years have been recognised and firmly place Hermes Airports and Cyprus amongst the best in class worldwide.

How important is it for your organisation to be a part of the Investors in People community and engage in awards and events like this one?

Being part of the Investors in People community and engaging in awards and events is deeply important to our organisation because it keeps us connected to a wider network of like-minded employers who share our passion for putting people first. For us, it isn’t just about recognition – it’s about being part of a conversation about how workplaces can be better, fairer, healthier, and more inspiring for everyone.

All the initiatives we have in place have had a tangible impact on people’s lives and being part of the IIP community has helped us to make them happen faster and with greater confidence.

It provides us with the opportunity to benchmark ourselves against the highest standards, learn from best practices across industries, and continue evolving how we support, develop, and empower our people. By being involved, we are not just measuring our progress in isolation, but situating our journey within a wider community committed to raising the bar for people practices.

The value of the IIP community lies in collaboration and shared learning. Access to insights, case studies, and thought leadership helps us challenge our own assumptions, innovate, and adapt to changing expectations around work, wellbeing, and leadership. The events and awards also create spaces to celebrate achievements, both our own and those of others, reinforcing that investing in people is not only right ethically but also delivers measurable results in performance, engagement, and resilience.
For our colleagues, being part of the IIP network is a visible statement that we care deeply about their growth and wellbeing. It reassures them that we are committed to continuous improvement and that their experience at work matters.

Above all, it reminds us that the journey of investing in people never ends – and that being part of the IIP community ensures we stay accountable, inspired, and connected as we strive to create an even better workplace.

Why did you enter the Investors in People 2025 Awards?

We decided to nominate Natasa Iacovides for the outstanding leadership in HR, Wellbeing and HSE award this year because we are immensely proud of our company’s transformation journey we have lived through and acknowledge the fact that none of this would have been possible without Natasa. It was her vision, influence, passion and determination to succeed in creating a healthy organisation with strong leadership and high-performance culture, where people feel respected and have both professional and personal development opportunities.

The journey to where we are today started 12 years ago and was not without its challenges. There were changes in top management, people’s morale, motivation and engagement was very low, and let’s not forget Covid. Throughout each challenge, Natasa remained steadfast, protecting the healthy organisation and ensuring that people were supported and cared for.

She introduced initiatives that helped our leaders become more effective, which had a ripple effect on the teams they lead. Our long-established Wellbeing program is an integral part of our people strategy, and our Academy offers learning opportunities both to our people and the airport community. Today, her vision has been realised, and we believe that our story can encourage and inspire others to follow in her footsteps, and leadership style.

Now approaching the 20th anniversary of our organisation, it seems like the right time to take stock of where we are and give recognition where it is due.

What has it meant to you, your team, and your organisation to be shortlisted for an Investors in People 2025 Award?

Being shortlisted for the Investors in People 2025 Award is a moment of immense pride for Natasa, our team, and the entire organisation. It recognises Natasa’s vision, dedication, and tangible impact, validating that our efforts to create a people-centred, thriving workplace are on the right path.

For Natasa, it affirms her philosophy that organisations succeed when people feel valued, supported, and empowered. It acknowledges the challenges she has overcome -from embedding a coaching culture to pioneering holistic wellbeing programmes- and strengthening leadership across the organisation.

For our team, it reinforces pride in being part of Hermes Airports and most importantly, allows us to flourish thanks to a leader such as Natasa, whose vision, dedication and example inspires us every day to grow, excel and contribute to a thriving, forward thinking organisation.

At an organisational level, the recognition clearly reinforces that Natasa is a remarkable asset for the organisation. This acknowledgement by a respected international body highlights her vision, expertise and ability to introduce innovative initiatives that drive progress, enhance our people strategy and strengthen our culture of excellence. Ultimately, being shortlisted is more than an award; it is a celebration of our healthy culture, a reaffirmation of our strategic focus on people, and an inspiration to continue innovating and setting new standards.

What would it mean to your organisation to win an Investors in People 2025 Award?

Winning an Investors in People 2025 Award would be a proud moment for Hermes Airports, affirming the vision, dedication, and resilience that Natasa has invested over the years. This recognition would show that a strong leader can take an organisation forward and a strategic, people-centred approach is achievable with measurable outcomes that reflect the evolution from a business seeking change to one leading it. Also, this award would validate Natasa’s long-term vision, commitment and efforts that have transformed our culture and overcome challenges to create a thriving, supportive, and healthy workplace.

For our employees, this recognition will be deeply meaningful. It reflects their voices, ideas and contributions, that have built an award-worthy culture, reinforcing that their efforts have helped shape the company’s success.

At an organisational level, the award will position Hermes Airports as a leading employer of choice, demonstrating that our people strategy is both globally benchmarked and locally impactful.

Beyond recognition, winning would give us a platform to share our transformation journey with other organisations and leaders to be inspired to create healthy workplaces. Strategically, it would strengthen Hermes Airports’ reputation as a benchmark for HR, Wellbeing, and HSE excellence locally and internationally.

Ultimately, winning would celebrate a journey of leadership, resilience, and cultural transformation, proving that prioritising people is not just the right thing to do but a critical driver of organisational performance, strategic goals, and long-term success.

How important is it for your organisation to be a part of the Investors in People community and engage in awards and events like this one?

Being part of the Investors in People community is deeply important for Hermes Airports because it connects us with organisations that share our values and beliefs. It is a space where we feel we belong, and a network of like-minded employers committed to putting people at the heart of everything they do.

Engaging in IIP awards and events allows us to connect and grow together, learn from others, and reflect on our own practices. It provides opportunities to exchange ideas, share and discover innovative approaches, and challenge us to raise the bar in leadership, wellbeing, and employee engagement. This shared learning of like-minded organisations fuels growth not just for our company, but also for its people and teams.

For our employees, being part of IIP demonstrates that their experiences, contributions, and wellbeing truly matter, and that our organisation takes real care and attention towards its people, not just words, but visible and accredited actions. It fosters pride, reinforces trust, and inspires them to actively participate in maintaining our high-performance culture of strong leadership, collaboration, and personal and professional development. Recognition through IIP also energises teams, showing that investing in people produces a measurable impact on both the employee experience and organisational success.

At an organisational level, the IIP community strengthens our reputation locally and internationally. It ensures we remain accountable, inspired, and aligned with global best practices while continuing to innovate in HR, wellbeing, and HSE. Most importantly, it reinforces that our journey of investing in people is ongoing, collaborative, and meaningful.

Being part of IIP is more than recognition; it is a reminder that growth comes from connection, shared values, and commitment to people. It affirms that Hermes Airports is not only a workplace where employees thrive, but also part of a global movement shaping the future of work.