Yanis Varoufakis
Former Greek finance minister and Professor of Economics, University of Athens
In 2015, Yanis Varoufakis became the world’s most prominent opponent of austerity when, as finance minister of Greece, he refused to accept the terms of the loan agreement dictated to his bankrupt country by the eurozone’s leaders. Since resigning his post he has become the figurehead of an international grassroots movement, speaking to audiences of thousands in cities across Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Singapore and Russia.
Born in Athens in 1961, he was for many years a professor of economics in Britain, Australia and the USA before he entered government. He is currently Professor of Economics at the University of Athens.