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The ESG conference
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19 May 2025
HILTON NICOSIA
PROGRAM
 
8:00 
Registration
 
9:00 
Today's Agenda
Demetris Lottides 
 
 9:10 
The 100 Trillion Clean Energy Transition 
Ramez Naam   
 
 9:40 
 Cyprus’ Sustainable Energy Strategy
George Papanastasiou 
 
10:00 
 
Cheap And Sustainable Energy In Cyprus: The Roadmap 
Fanos Karantonis (c), George Papanastasiou, Ramez Naam, George Petrou 
 
 10:20 
Energy autonomy and energy independence for households and businesses in Cyprus 
George Pechlivanoglou 
 
 10:50 
Green Transition, Funding And Risk Management 
Michalis Persianis (c), Constantinos Hadjigeorgiou, Nikolas Argyrou, Omiros Pissarides, Joseph Antoniou
 
 11:20 
Impacts of climate change in the Mediterranean and the actions required to reverse the trend 
Costas Kadis   
 
11:40 
FIRECHAT
Olympia Nisiforou (c), Costas Kadis 
 
 11:50 
Every drop counts. Twice. 
George Demosthenous  
 

 12:10 
FIRECHAT
Every drop counts. Twice.
Alexandros Charalambides (c), George Demosthenous, Georgios Kazantzis 
 
 12:20 
PANEL DISUSSION  
The Agro Transition And How It Reflects On Everyday Life 
Apostolos Tomaras (c), Maria Panagiotou
 
 12:40 
Volkswagen Group: The Road to Electrification  
Christianna Diogenous  
 
 13:00 
Electrification. How To Remove The Bumps 
Michalis Sophocleous (c), George Pechlivanoglou, Giorgos Louka, Christianna Diogenous, Elias Kokkinos
 
 13:15 
Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11): Rethinking Urban Life 
Antonia Theodosiou 
 
13:25 
Planning for Action: Building Climate-Resilient Cypriot Cities  
Byron Ioannou 
 
 13:45 
Cities On The Grill. How To Manage Temperature 
Demetris Lottides (c), Constantinos Yiorkadjis,  Byron Ioannou, Antonia Theodosiou, Giorgos Chrysochos, Irene Hadjisavva
 
14:00 
Green Transition Or Green Washing. The Top CEO’s Take 
 George Tziortzis (c), Pavlos Photiades, Grigorios Kamperis , Andreas Neokleous  

2​025 Speakers (more TBA)

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Ramez Naam
​Founder and Managing Partner of Planetary VC

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Ramez Naam is the founder and Managing Partner of Planetary VC, which invests in startups addressing the world’s greatest challenges. Ramez has spent the past decade investing in climate and energy technologies and speaking around the world on the future of energy & climate. He was one of the first to chart the exponential cost declines of clean energy technologies such as solar, batteries, and electric vehicles and to predict that clean energy and transport would become cheaper than fossil fuels. Ramez is a founding faculty member and the former Co-Chair for Energy and Environment at Singularity University. He’s also the award-winning author of 5 books, including the Nexus trilogy of science fiction novels. Ramez spent 13 years at Microsoft, leading teams working on email, internet search, and machine learning. He’s the author of more than 20 patents, several co-invented with Bill Gates.
 

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George Demosthenous
Chairman and CEO of VODA.AI
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George is the Chairman and CEO of VODA.ai, an American award-winning artificial intelligence company dedicated to helping utilities leverage data to reduce water loss, lower greenhouse gases, and better serve their communities. Water infrastructure is essential, delivering life's most valuable resource and ensuring proper sanitation. VODA.ai has emerged as the leading solution for predicting pipe failures and assessing infrastructure risk, utilizing a continuously refined AI-driven platform developed in collaboration with some of the world's largest and most innovative utilities.
Before founding VODA.ai, George worked at Mueller Water Products, assisting hundreds of utilities in managing non-revenue water and implementing smart metering solutions. George serves on the Board of the Hellenic Innovation Network, is a mentor for Cyprus Seeds, holds a Master's degree from Harvard University, and is based in Boston, MA.
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Giorgos Papanastasiou
​Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry
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George Papanastasiou was appointed Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry on March 1st, 2023. 
He is a mechanical engineer by profession, with an HND in Mechanical Engineering from the Higher Technical Institute of Cyprus, a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from City University London, and an MSc in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning from Kings College London. 
He worked for 26 years at BP in Cyprus, the United Kingdom, and other European countries, having held various managerial positions within the company, including Cyprus’ Head of Country. 
From 1st of October 2011 and until he was appointed Energy Minister, he was Managing Director and General Manager of VTT Vasiliko Ltd (VTTV), a subsidiary of Netherlands-based VTTI B.V. Inter alia, during his tenure at VTTV he led a versatile team of professionals tasked with constructing and operating the oil storage terminal of the company at Vasilikos area. 
Throughout his career, he has accumulated extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, specifically in the fields of Supply and Logistics, Health, Safety and Environment, Operations and Engineering, Sales and Marketing, Company Governance and Compliance. 
He has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation (CYS) and the Cyprus Certification Company, President of the Cyprus – Netherlands Business Association operating under the auspices of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation. 
Mr. Papanastasiou was born in Nicosia on September 10th, 1961. 
He is married to Glykeria Michailidou, they have a son, Ignatius, and reside in Nicosia.

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Costas Kadis 
European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
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Commissioner Costas Kadis leads the EU’s Fisheries and Oceans policy, focusing on implementing a long-term vision for a resilient, competitive, and sustainable European fisheries and aquaculture sector to secure Europe’s food sovereignty. He is also responsible for the EU’s global efforts to restore ocean health, ensure maritime security, and support coastal communities across Europe. 
A Professor of Biodiversity Conservation at Frederick University in Cyprus, Commissioner Kadis has held several ministerial positions for the Republic of Cyprus, including Minister of Health, Minister of Education and Culture, and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment. He also led the Greek Cypriot Technical Committee on the Environment, engaging in reunification talks with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart. 
Born in Nicosia in 1967, he graduated from the University of Athens with a degree in Biology in 1991 and earned a PhD in Conservation Biology in 1995. He furthered his education through postgraduate courses, including one on scientific research administration at Cornell University. His professional career began as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Athens before joining Frederick University in 2005, where he established the Nature Conservation Unit and served as Dean of the School of Education. 
Prof. Kadis is an accomplished scholar, authoring or co-authoring six books and over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles on natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental education. His extensive contributions reflect a lifelong commitment to sustainable development and ecological preservation. 
 

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Maria Panayiotou
Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
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Dr Maria Panayiotou was born on June 5, 1982 in Larnaka. 

She studied History and Archeology at the University of Cyprus from where she graduated in 2004 with honors. In 2006 she completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Birmingham where she earned an MPhil (B) in Modern East Mediterranean History. In 2017 she was awarded a PhD in Modern and Contemporary History from the University of Cyprus.
In January 2024, she had the honor of being appointed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, as Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, handing over the post of Environmental Commissioner of Cyprus which she held since March 2023.
She served as the Head of the Press Office and Spokesperson for the EDEK socialist political party, from March 2016 to February 2023. From 2004 to 2022 she has worked on more than seven excellence research projects, co-financed by the European Development Funds, the University of Cyprus, the Research and Innovation Foundation, and the Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation. Her employment as a member of the Scientific Team of the University of Cyprus for the “Cyprus File” project for the period 2007 - 2010, stands out. In the period 2017 - 2022 she has worked as a Specialist Scientist, teaching economic history at the Department of History and Archeology of the University of Cyprus.
Dr Panayiotou's involvement in historical research formed a fundamental pillar in her career, gaining significant experience in archival research and skills in managing European research programs of excellence. In particular, her research into the economic history of Cyprus, the study of Cyprus' agricultural export trade and the analysis of British fiscal policy, strengthened her skills in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
Her significant bibliographic contributions to research on Cyprus's ports, port infrastructure, and economic development are significant as they cover an important bibliographic gap. She has published dozens of scientific articles in mixed volumes and international scientific journals (such as the European History Quarterly) on these subjects, and has participated in numerous international scientific conferences, with the most recent being the International Conference of the Modern Greek Studies Association in Toronto, Canada.
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Pavlos Photiades
Managing Director of Photos Photiades Breweries and Photos Photiades Group
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Mr. Photiades studied Economics at Harvard College, Harvard University from where he graduated in 1988 having been awarded twice the Harvard College Scholarship Award for academic achievement. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the INSEAD business school in France. 
 
Since 1990, Mr. Photiades has been the Managing Director of Photos Photiades Breweries and Photos Photiades Group, one of the largest and most successful privately owned Groups in Cyprus and Greece with leading positions in its three divisions. After a period of rapid expansion in new fields and geographic territories, the Group today operates in beverages, insurance and real estate development in five countries, Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia and Romania. He has served on the Board of Directors of several public companies in Cyprus and Greece.
 
He served for two terms as the President of the Brewers of Europe, the organization that encompasses more than 10,000 breweries throughout Europe. Mr. Photiades is a former President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. He has been part of the first National Economic and Competitiveness Council of the Republic of Cyprus. He has been a member of the Board of Overseers of the University of Cyprus, a member of the Cyprus Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Cyprus Ski Federation. Mr. Photiades was also the founder and former President of the Harvard Club of Cyprus and has served on the Board of Directors of the Harvard Alumni Association based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is currently an elected member of the Executive Board of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation.
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Dr. George Pechlivanoglou
Director General of Eunice Energy Group
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George Pechlivanoglou studied mechanical engineering (BSc) and completed the MSc in renewable energy technology at the University of Oldenburg, Germany.
He completed his doctoral dissertation (Ph.D.) in the field of wind turbine aeroservoelasticity at TU Berlin, Germany, and did post-doctoral work at the same institute. Has published more than 90 scientific papers and holds more than 13 national and international patents. 
George Pechlivanoglou has 18 years of industrial experience in the wind energy market and 10 years of experience as a wind energy expert designer and wind turbine technical inspector with international collaborations and a global project portfolio. He held the position of the technical director of SMART BLADE GmbH for 8 years and has established several global collaborations with corporations like 3M, Vestas, Nordex, etc.
He is the former Wind Energy Committee Chair at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a member of the German Chamber of Engineers (VDI) as well as the former representative of the Technical University of Berlin at the European Academy of Wind Energy (EAWE).
Dr. G. Pechlivanoglou currently holds the position of Director General of Eunice Energy Group. 
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Georgios Kazantzis
Acting Director, Water Development Department, Cyprus
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Georgios Kazantzis has been serving as the Acting Director of the Water Development Department (WDD) of Cyprus since June 2024. WDD is the primary authority responsible for the bulk supply of drinking and irrigation water, as well as the stewardship of all water resources in Cyprus. The department owns and/or operates 110 dams, 5 water treatment plants, 5 seawater desalination plants, and hundreds of pumping stations and boreholes, while also overseeing all wastewater treatment operations across the Republic of Cyprus.
Under his leadership, WDD remains committed to the protection, sustainable development, and rational management of Cyprus’ water resources, in full compliance with European and national legislation, within the framework of the Government’s water policy.
Prior to his role at WDD, from 2008 to 2024, Georgios Kazantzis worked as a Senior Consultant and Project Manager on international water projects, focusing on delivering upgraded drinking water and safe wastewater disposal solutions to cities across Asia and Europe. His expertise has been instrumental in projects spanning from major metropolises such as Dhaka and Ho Chi Minh City to smaller regional towns, with an estimated total implementation cost exceeding €4 billion. These initiatives have the potential to improve the quality of life for approximately 70 million people across 15 countries and have been funded by leading international organizations, including World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union (EU), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), European Investment Bank (EIB), Danish Sustainable Infrastructure Finance (DSIF), Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
From 1999 to 2008, he worked as a Design Manager and Consultant on water projects in Greece, contributing to key national infrastructure developments.
​Georgios Kazantzis holds an MSc in Civil Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an MSc in Environmental Engineering from Imperial College London. He has also conducted research in River Hydrology at Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI University, and in leakage detection methodologies.


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Nicholas Argyrou
Key Account Director at Baseblue
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Nicholas Argyrou is an experienced maritime executive with over two decades of leadership in marine energy, digitalization, and strategic client engagement. Currently serving as Key Account Director at Baseblue, he supports vessel owners, operators and charterers in navigating regulatory and commercial challenges related to maritime decarbonization, EU ETS compliance, and fuel procurement optimization.
Known for his deep market insight and operational expertise, Nicholas has held senior roles across the marine fuel supply chain and frequently speaks at industry forums on the intersection of energy transition, digital technologies, and commercial strategy in shipping.

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Christianna Diogenous
CEO of Unicars

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Christianna holds a B.Sc. in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics and an MBA from INSEAD. She began her career at PwC UK then returning to Cyprus managed HR, Marketing, and PR at P.M.Tseriotis Group. At Unicars she advanced from Marketing Manager to Marketing Director and then became Managing Director at Tseriotis Consumer Goods and later Diapo, driving evolutions including the creation of Unilever Tseriotis Cyprus and the merger forming Tryfon Tseriotis. She is now CEO of Unicars. She serves on multiple boards and industry associations including the P.M.Tseriotis Group companies, Vice-President of the Cyprus Motor & Electric Vehicles Importers and Cyprus Germany Business Associations and is an Honorary CIM Fellow. 
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Marios Tannousis
CEO at Invest Cyprus

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Marios Tannousis holds the post of CEO at Invest Cyprus. He has more than twenty five  years of international corporate experience, with twelve years in the international banking and financial services group Societe Generale, where he served at various key posts.
He is a Member of the Board of the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) as well as the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA). He also served as President of the Cyprus Finance & Leasing Association and Board Member in various other organizations and bodies.
He is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Rutgers University, NJ, USA and an MBA from Mankato State University (MSU), MN, USA. He has also completed the FinTech program of Oxford University, Said Business School and  the  program on Transformational Leadership from  the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.
He is certified for offering investment services and has a special interest in Economic Development through Investments especially in Banking, Financial Services, FinTech and Investment Funds.
He represents Cyprus in various international and European Conferences.
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Omiros Pissarides
​Founding Partner of Ominthia Capital
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Omiros Pissarides is the Founding Partner of Ominthia Capital, a boutique advisory firm specializing in finance-related services for select clients. With an extensive career spanning finance and information technology, he has held partner and C-level positions at multinational firms such as PwC, AXIA and Intermec Technologies. Throughout his career, Omiros has advised on key strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. He has also played a pivotal role in originating, structuring, and executing complex transactions, with a total value exceeding EUR 10 billion. In addition to his executive experience, he has served as a non-executive director for multiple organizations—both regulated and non-regulated—as well as for nonprofit entities. He currently sits on the Cyprus Economy and Competitiveness Council. Since 2020, Omiros has written prolifically on economic developments, with a particular focus on the macroeconomics of developing and underdeveloped nations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Accounting and a Master of Business Administration. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.
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Alexandros Charalambides
​Associate Professor at the Cyprus University of Technology
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Alexandros Charalambides is an Associate Professor at the Cyprus University of Technology, working primarily on (a) predicting energy production from solar systems and (b) how innovation and entrepreneurship can assist in our efforts for decarbonization. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London and in 2022 was the recipient of a Fulbright Visiting Scholarship to work at Purdue University. He served on the Board of the International Solar Energy Society and as from 2024, serves on the Board of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. He is also the founder of Chrysalis LEAP, the first cleantech accelerator in Cyprus, and has trained more than 200 entrepreneurs on how to go from a research idea to a viable business. During his employment at the Cyprus University of Technology, he has successfully completed/currently run thirty research projects (from EU, national and private funding sources), focusing on various aspects of sustainable development and entrepreneurship. His research activities resulted in four PhDs being awarded, and in more than thirty journal papers, a plethora of conferences and other presentations.
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Joseph Antoniou
​Chief Risk Officer at Hellenic Bank, member of Eurobank Group 
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Joseph was born in 1984. He graduated from the English School Nicosia and in 2006 obtained his B.Sc. degree in Economics, from the University College London (UCL). He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds an Executive master’s in Business Administration (Executive M.B.A.) from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, having earned various academic awards.
Between 2007 and 2017 he worked in various Global Banking Institutions in London, after completing his Chartered Accountant’s qualification with Ernst & Young London, while working within their Investment Management Assurance practice. In 2010 he joined the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), as Manager in a variety of Group and Divisional Strategy and Risk roles. At RBS, Joseph was heavily involved in the balance-sheet restructuring that underpinned the Bank’s financial and operational turnaround during that time, including work on the ringfencing of the Bank’s Retail activities, RBS’ divestment of ~300 branches and the Asset Protection Scheme. In 2014, Joseph joined HSBC, as a Senior Portfolio Manager, leading a plethora of de-risking activities with a focus in commercial banking and a mandate that span across the European region and immersed himself in key strategic and regulatory risk initiatives for HSBC Europe.
In August 2017, he joined Hellenic Bank as Manager of Enterprise Risk Management & Governance. In April 23rd 2020, he was appointed as Interim Chief Risk Officer of Hellenic Bank and in September 10th 2020 was appointed in the position of Chief Risk Officer. He was a core member of the deal team that negotiated the agreement for the acquisition of ex-CCB assets and liabilities as well as the agreement for the acquisition of the performing loan portfolio from RCB Bank Limited.

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George Chrysochos
Executive Director of Cyfield Group
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George Chrysochos is an Executive Director of Cyfield Group. He has been involved in the family business from a very young age, serving in all sectors of the company. Prior to joining Cyfield full-time, he worked in the United States and Greece as a consultant for Navigant and McKinsey & Company. While working as a consultant, he maintained daily involvement with the Cyfield Group, participating in strategic and operational decisions. He returned to Cyprus with a vision to expand the family business into a regional civil and EPC contractor and to enter the energy market. In addition, he serves as the President of the Cyprus Electricity Market Association. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with Highest Honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from Stanford University. He is a member of several professional organizations in both the US and Cyprus, including the honorary Chi Epsilon, ASCE, and ETEK, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB). He served in the National Guard of Cyprus as a reserve Second Lieutenant.
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Michalis
Sophocleous

Politician

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Mr. Sophocleous was a member of parliament in the Nicosia Electoral District, elected with the Democratic Alarm. During the 2003 presidential elections, he served as coordinator of the Staff of Collaborating Forces and Personalities of Glafkos Clerides, while in the 2008 presidential elections, he served as coordinator of the pre-election campaign of Ioannis Kasoulides.In 2017, he became Director of the Office of the President of the Republic, under the presidency of Nicos Anastasiades. In the context of the 2018 presidential election campaign, he was responsible for preparing Nicos Anastasiades' governance program for the country. He also served as Executive Director of the Glafkos Clerides Institute.
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Constantinos Hadjigeorgiou
​Head of Sustainability and Program Management at
Alpha Bank Cyprus 
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Constantinos is a change management specialist, with 25+ years of experience in Financial Services and Consulting. After working in three continents (Europe, Asia and Africa), he joined Alpha Bank to lead the Sustainability Initiative of the Bank. He helps organizations to implement wide-scale programs and to navigate the intricacies of the human aspects of change. 
He is an engineer with an MSc in Geographical Information Systems, MBA and he recently graduated from the INSEAD Business School with an Executive Masters in Change. He is a versatile professional and holds various multi-disciplined professional qualifications. 
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Dr. Olympia
​Nisiforou

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Assistant Professor at the Cyprus University of Technology
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Dr. Olympia Nisiforou serves as an Assistant Professor at the Cyprus University of Technology, within the Department of Shipping under the Faculty of Management and Economics.  She is certified in Quantitative Risk Management and Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies from Judge Business School Executive Education, Cambridge, UK. Dr Nisiforou holds  a Bachelor of Science (hons) in Marine Science/Oceanography, a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Maritime Operations, a Master of Science (hons) in Learning in Natural Sciences, another Master of Science (hons) in Environmental Pollution Control, and a PhD from the Department of Environmental Science and Technology, specializing in pollution monitoring and control and renewable energy. She received a prestigious scholarship (0311/21 PENEK) from the Research Promotion Foundation for her doctoral dissertation. Throughout her academic journey, Dr. Nisiforou has received numerous awards and competitive scholarships for academic excellence. Notably, she secured first place globally in the 2010/2011 UNESCO Fellowships Program for Program Priorities and has been recognized by institutions such as the Bank of Piraeus and Hellenic Bank Professionally, Dr. Nisiforou has extensive experience in multidisciplinary technical and research operations, both locally and internationally.
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Byron Ioannou
President of the Department of Architecture
School of Engineering, Frederick University
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As the Head of the Department of Architecture and the Director of the Urban Planning and Development Unit at Frederick University, Professor Byron Ioannou brings extensive expertise in architecture and urban planning. His academic qualifications include degrees in Architecture and Urban & Regional Planning from the National Technical University of Athens, and Planning Law from Leeds Beckett University. His research and professional activities are focused on key urban issues such as climate neutral planning, housing, sustainable mobility, density and sprawl, public space, urban green spaces, planning law, and the development of inclusive settlements. His professional experience is highlighted by award-winning designs in waterfront regeneration, public space, and master planning. He has also contributed his expertise as a board member and accredited expert to numerous national, European, and international bodies involved in the built environment and urban design. A Professor of Biodiversity Conservation at Frederick University in Cyprus, Commissioner Kadis has held several ministerial positions for the Republic of Cyprus, including Minister of Health, Minister of Education and Culture, and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment. He also led the Greek Cypriot Technical Committee on the Environment, engaging in reunification talks with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart. 
Born in Nicosia in 1967, he graduated from the University of Athens with a degree in Biology in 1991 and earned a PhD in Conservation Biology in 1995. He furthered his education through postgraduate courses, including one on scientific research administration at Cornell University. His professional career began as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Athens before joining Frederick University in 2005, where he established the Nature Conservation Unit and served as Dean of the School of Education. 
Prof. Kadis is an accomplished scholar, authoring or co-authoring six books and over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles on natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental education. His extensive contributions reflect a lifelong commitment to sustainable development and ecological preservation. 
 
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George Louka
Director of the Road Transport Department
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George Louka has been serving as the Director of the Road Transport Department since July 2024. He holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, as well as an MSc in Environmental Technologies from Imperial College London. In addition, he earned an MBA from the University of Cyprus and an MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems from the Open University of Cyprus.
From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Louka worked as a Mechanical Engineer at the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. In 2008, he joined the public sector, taking on the role of Mechanical Engineer at the Department of Electromechanical Services.
Throughout his career, Mr. Louka has held several notable positions and contributed significantly to national and European transport initiatives. He co-chaired the Land Transport Working Party during the Cyprus Presidency of the European Union in 2012, served as the Concessionaire for the Concession Agreement of the Larnaca Port and Marina, and played a key role in drafting the grant scheme for electric vehicle charging stations.

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Grigorios Kamperis
General Manager, Cyprus & Malta, Philip Morris International
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Grigorios Kamperis is an accomplished finance and business strategy professional with extensive experience in strategic financial planning business development and corporate leadership, financial.  He currently serves as General Manager for Cyprus & Malta at Philip Morris International. Grigorios Kamperis is dedicated to driving strategic growth, fostering innovation, and leading high-performing teams to deliver impactful results. With over a decade of experience in financial management, business planning, and auditing, he has developed deep expertise in budgeting, forecasting, US GAAP reporting, and financial controlling. His journey at Papastratos (Philip Morris International) has equipped him with deep industry expertise and the ability to navigate complex market dynamics, contributing significantly to the company’s transformation in Cyprus and Malta, with a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence, and a steadfast commitment to sustainability. Beyond financial expertise, he is a strong advocate of collaborative leadership, data-driven decision-making, and cultivating meaningful business relationships. His ongoing focus is on creating sustainable business strategies that align corporate objectives with market demands, while consistently identifying new opportunities for growth and innovation.
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Constantinos Yiorkadjis
Nicosia district governor
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Constantinos Yiorkadjis is the Nicosia district governor. He holds two bachelor’s degrees with distinction (Magna Cum Laude with GPA 3.83), one in Economics and one in Business Administration, both from Boston University. 
 During his long professional career, he had the opportunity to work in the highly competitive environments of the US and Europe, as well as in the demanding environments of developing markets in Asia and Africa. 
 While still in university, he started working at Thermo Electron, Waltham Massachusetts, as a junior member of their treasury department, focusing mainly in the buying of currency futures.
 In 1993 he joined the Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC), first in Greece as a merchandiser and then as head of MIT organisation in the marketing department and later on as assistant to the HBC products brand manager. In December 1994 he moved from HBC to Molino, where he took the position of Marketing Manager for Coca-Cola Iasi, Romania.
 In July of 1995 he became Marketing Manager for Molino Romania based in Timisoara. In 1998 he took over the General Managers’ position for the sales territory and the production facility of Oradea.
 In January 2000 he joined FRIGOGLASS as Regional Operations Director and he took under his responsibility three production facilities (Ireland, Romania and Spain) as well as the Key Account responsibility for Coca-Cola, selling ice cold merchandisers to over 100 countries. In 2002 he became the Marketing Director of Frigoglass Cool Division having under his responsibility Product Management, Product Development, Sales/Competition and Coke Global strategy.

 In December 2005 he moved back to Cyprus with his family and in June 2006 accepted the position of marketing manager at CCHBC Cyprus (Lanitis Bros.).
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George Petrou
Chairman of the EAC Board of Directors
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George Petrou – Chairman of the EAC Board of Directors
He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Surrey, UK. Returning to Cyprus, he was employed by the company SHELL plc. He served in various positions and ranks of the multinational companies "SHELL plc" and "BP plc" in Cyprus as well as at the headquarters of the Companies in Athens and London. In 1995 he was promoted to the position of Chairman and CEO of BP Cyprus where he served until 2002. Between 2003-2005 he took over as Non-Executive President of the newly established BP Eastern Mediterranean.
He is the Founder and President of PETA HOLDINGS Group which consists of a number of Companies in Cyprus and Jordan, including STAROIL (CYPRUS).
He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Cyprus Oil Refineries and is a member of the Board of Directors of the CYMEPA Foundation (Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association).
He was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of OEB in 2005, since 2011 he has been serving on the Executive Committee and for the years 2019 and 2020 he served as President of the Board of Directors. He has also served as Chairman of the Foreign Market Development Committee and is President of the Energy Committee.
He is married to Parvin Petrou and they have 3 children.


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Fanos Karantonis
Co – founder, Managing Director K-Energy by Karantoni
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Fanos Karantonis, Engineer (MEng), Energy Specialist Expert, Chairman of Cyprus Association of Renewable Energy Enterprises (ΣΕΑΠΕΚ), Board Member of Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB)  
Mr. Karantonis is an investment professional with a specialization in renewable energy, energy storage, and sustainable infrastructure. As the founder of engineering and investment firms, he has been instrumental in financing early-stage renewable projects in Cyprus and across Europe, bringing extensive expertise in project development, structuring project financing, bridge loans, and mezzanine funding.  
Deeply committed to the transition toward a low-carbon economy, he possesses in-depth knowledge of renewable energy, green hydrogen, battery storage, and data center infrastructure. In addition to his investment and technical expertise, he plays a pivotal role in shaping regulatory and market developments as the Chairman of the Association of Renewable Energy Enterprises in Cyprus, advocating for industry growth and policy advancements.  
Experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the renewables, automation and energy efficiency industry. Skilled in Renewable Energy Systems, Energy Performance Contracting, Electrical Contracting, Solar PV, and Energy Management Systems. Strong business development professional with a Master of Engineering (MEng) focused in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from University of Nottingham. Participation in professional bodies, associations and boards with strong representation of private sector stakeholders in the transformation of energy markets and regulatory framework towards sustainable and green energy future. 

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George
Tziortzis

Head of Consulting Services of EY Cyprus
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George is the Head of Consulting Services of EY Cyprus. He joined the firm in 2022 and he has more than 25 years of experience in management and consulting roles with a focus in Business and Digital Transformation. He has worked, on a full-time basis, in the United States, Switzerland and Cyprus helping organizations in different industry sectors transform and increase value. George has lead consulting practices, acted as a C level executive and has been a member of executive management teams, always brining the transformation and technology view to the executive and board level forums of organizations.
George enjoys assisting organizations re-define their operating model, optimize operations, develop new business models and leverage technology and digital services to increase revenue and optimize customer value and experience. He has managed and delivered engagements for clients in different countries and industry sectors with a focus on Banking, Payments, Government/eGovernment, Retail and Telecommunications, contributing significantly to national level initiatives such as national level digital signatures model and digital economy platforms.
Prior to joining EY George worked for the Louisiana University Office of Telecommunications for 2 years, was a member of KPMG for 22 years and acted as the Digital Transformation Manager, CIO and Digital Economy and Transformation Advisor at the Bank of Cyprus.
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Michalis Persianis
​Chairman, Fiscal Council
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Experienced Director Corporate Affairs with a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry, focusing on CSR, CX, Marketing and Branding. Skilled in Crisis Communications, Journalism, International Relations and Corporate Communications. Strong media and communication professional.
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Andreas Neocleous
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CEO at CYTA
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Andreas Neocleous is a highly accomplished executive with over 25 years of international leadership experience in telecommunications, technology, and finance. As the CEO of Cyta, Cyprus' largest telecoms provider, Andreas has led the organization through a major transformation, positioning it as a national champion for digital innovation and economic growth.
Before joining Cyta, Andreas held senior roles at global giants such as Goldman Sachs, Ericsson, and MTN, building a reputation for driving change, delivering results, and inspiring teams across different industries and cultures. His leadership style is based on strategic clarity, operational excellence, and a strong commitment to public value.
Andreas combines strategic vision with practical execution, advocating for responsible growth that benefits economies, societies, and future generations alike. Under his stewardship, Cyta has not only modernized its networks and services but has also reinforced its role as the state’s trusted partner in executing national digital and innovative strategies.
Andreas is particularly passionate about the future of digital infrastructure, sustainable growth, and the human side of technology. He is a firm believer that true green leadership requires action, transparency, and measurable impact — not just slogans. 
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Antonia Theodosiou
Commissioner for the Environment
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Antonia Theodosiou holds a master’s degree in Architecture with a specialisation in ecological buildings and restoration of architectural heritage monuments, from the RWTH Aachen University in Germany. She attended a master’s programme in Environmental Engineering at (TU) Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany and in Conservation and Restoration of Historical Structures and Monuments at Frederick University in Cyprus. She has also attended the one-year School of Tourist Guides of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO).
For five years she was Director of the Akamas Sustainable Development Management Plan at the Department of Environment. She collaborated with the UNESCO National Commission for the inscription of the “Art of Dry Stone, Walling, Knowledge, and Techniques” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and has participated as a UNESCO expert in relevant educational and european programmes. Also, as an expert, she was involved in environmental and sustainable development projects as well as on cultural and energy issues related to the “Natura 2000” European Ecological Network. She worked for two years at the CTO and participated in the creation of the tourism programme in traditional buildings (agrotourism).
She is Vice-President of the International Scientific Society for Dry Stone Interdisciplinary Study (SPS), Vice-President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites ICOMOS Cyprus and Scientific Representative of ICOMOS Cyprus to the International Scientific Committee on Earthen Architectural Heritage (ISCEAH). She is also member to national and international associations and councils for environment and culture.
She has received national and international distinctions for architectural and landscape works, as well as for the restoration of designated buildings and ancient monuments. She has represented Cyprus in the Biennale of Art and Architecture in Italy.
She is co-author of books and guides on traditional architecture, the environment, the traditional anthropogenic landscape, the drystone constructions, nature, and culture of the Akamas Peninsula.
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Eirini Hadjisavva 
Senior Urban Planning Officer at the Department of Town Planning and Housing.
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Senior Urban Planning Officer at the Department of Town Planning and Housing.
She studied architecture and urban/spatial planning and holds postgraduate degrees in MBA and MPA.
She has 18 years of experience in the preservation of architectural heritage and, since 2019, she has been the Head of the Spatial Planning Branch. In this role, she is responsible for the design and implementation of urban and architectural policy, with an emphasis on sustainable development.
She actively participates in national and European committees and working groups on spatial governance and cultural heritage, representing both the Department and the Republic of Cyprus in national and European groups.
Her work focuses on the design and implementation of administrative and urban planning reforms, and she is also responsible for the Department’s Recovery and Resilience Fund projects.
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Elias Kokkinos
Managing Director at EKCO Group
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Elias Kokkinos is an experienced Managing Director with a strong background in marketing, sales, and business strategy. He currently leads multiple ventures, including EKCO Group, EKCO Maximum Power, and Smoothie Factory Cyprus, where he oversees operations, brand development, and market expansion. Elias is passionate about understanding both the brand and the consumer, believing that impactful storytelling and team collaboration are key to business success. With prior roles at Unicars Ltd and Giftpoint Ltd in the UK, he has developed expertise in product positioning, pricing, digital marketing, and B2B sales. He also founded Business Insights Consulting, where he advises on strategic planning and operational growth. His early career included technical positions at NewCytech and IBM, providing him with solid IT foundations. Elias holds a BA in Business Studies with Marketing from the University of West London and is a Cisco Certified Network Associate. Fluent in Greek and English, with additional knowledge of French and Italian, he combines analytical thinking with creative marketing insights. Known for his drive and team-oriented leadership, Elias believes in dreaming big, staying motivated, and delivering results through collaboration. His career reflects a consistent focus on innovation, consumer behavior, and business growth in both local and international markets.
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Apostolos Tomaras
Kathimerini journalist
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I have been working in the field of journalism since 1995, starting with radio, then moving on to television, and more recently to the print press. I graduated from the Athens School of Mechanical Engineering (EPAS Ymittos), specializing in product design and machine tools. I worked for ten years at Ymittos Defense Systems, from which I voluntarily resigned in 1990.
My career in journalism began at Radio Cosmos in Paphos, initially as a producer of an evening program and later as a presenter in the morning slot (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.). During that time, along with other journalists from Paphos, we staffed the news department of the newly established local TV station PAFOS TV. In parallel with my work in local media, I also served as a correspondent for nationwide media, reporting from the Paphos district.
In April 1999, I moved to Nicosia following an offer from LOGOS TV. Alongside my duties as a television news editor, I also worked at LOGOS Radio, where I was responsible for preparing and presenting a weekly morning news show.
In September 1999, the management of the channel was taken over by Mega Channel, where I continued to work in the news department for the next 14 years. As a news editor, I had the opportunity to cover all the major events from autumn 1999 to autumn 2013. During my time at Mega Channel, I worked across all types of television reporting. I also created a series of documentaries, primarily of historical content. I conducted research and presented programs on major events that marked Cyprus over the past 40 years.
As a journalist, I witnessed firsthand major events such as the S-300 missile crisis, the Church crisis of 2000, the National Guard helicopter crash, the Annan Plan and the referendums, Cyprus's accession to the EU, the opening of the crossing points and subsequent developments, the opening of Ledra Street, the 2008 Presidential Elections including the preparation of candidate profiles, the Cypriot Presidency of the EU, the tragedy at the naval base in Mari, and the financial collapse of 2013 before and after the bank deposit haircut and the bailout memorandum.
In ecclesiastical reporting, I had the opportunity to undertake several assignments abroad during the developments around the honorable removal of the then ailing Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos. I twice covered the trips of Cypriot hierarchs to Istanbul for meetings with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar, in preparation for the Chambésy gathering in Geneva in 2006. I also covered the death of Patriarch Peter of Alexandria, his funeral at St. George’s Monastery in Cairo, and the enthronement of his successor, Theodoros II.
I closely followed the Athens Olympic Games period with reporting assignments in the Greek capital. During my time at Mega Channel, I regularly covered major news stories from Cyprus for Mega Greece’s News Department, including the Helios air disaster, the Mari explosion, and the economic crisis of 2013.
Alongside my work at Mega Channel, I collaborated with LOGOS Radio in preparing and presenting the morning news program, and for over a year, I hosted a weekly show featuring guests from the political, economic, and social spheres. In 2008, I joined the editorial team of the Kathimerini newspaper.
In September 2013, I left Mega Channel to join Kathimerini as a permanent contributor.

2​024 Speakers

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Prof. Cameron Hepburn
Battcock Professor of Environmental Economics
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Cameron Hepburn is the Battcock Professor of Environmental Economics at Oxford's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.  He is also the Director of the Economics of Sustainability Programme, based at the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School. Cameron has published widely on energy, resources and environmental challenges in the world’s leading journals (such as Nature and Science) across several disciplines, drawing on degrees in law and engineering and masters and doctorate in economics (as a Rhodes Scholar).  He has co-founded three successful businesses and provides advice on energy and environmental policy to governments.

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Dr. George Pechlivanoglou
​Director General of Eunice Energy Group
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George Pechlivanoglou studied mechanical engineering (BSc) and completed the MSc in renewable energy technology at the University of Oldenburg, Germany.
He completed his doctoral dissertation (Ph.D.) in the field of wind turbine aeroservoelasticity at TU Berlin, Germany, and did post-doctoral work at the same institute. Has published more than 90 scientific papers and holds more than 13 national and international patents. 
George Pechlivanoglou has 18 years of industrial experience in the wind energy market and 10 years of experience as a wind energy expert designer and wind turbine technical inspector with international collaborations and a global project portfolio. He held the position of the technical director of SMART BLADE GmbH for 8 years and has established several global collaborations with corporations like 3M, Vestas, Nordex, etc.
He is the former Wind Energy Committee Chair at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a member of the German Chamber of Engineers (VDI) as well as the former representative of the Technical University of Berlin at the European Academy of Wind Energy (EAWE).
Dr. G. Pechlivanoglou currently holds the position of Director General of Eunice Energy Group. 
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Stella Kyriakides
European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
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On 1 December 2019, Ms. Kyriakides became the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. 
 In the area of health, she is leading the Commission’s work on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, to help improve cancer prevention and care and is in charge of developing a new Pharmaceutical Strategy to ensure that Europe has enough affordable medicines to meet its needs.  
Her responsibilities also include supporting Member States in improving the quality and sustainability of health systems, creating a European Health Data Space to promote health-data exchange and support research. She is also in charge of ensuring full implementation of the European One Health Action Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance and working towards a global agreement on antimicrobials. 
On food safety, Commissioner Kyriakides is leading the new ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy for sustainable food, covering every step in the food chain from production to consumption. Her responsibilities also include ensuring enforcement of animal welfare laws and promoting European standards globally as well as ensuring enforcement of EU laws on food safety and animal and plant health and leading the work to protect plant health, reduce dependency on pesticides and support low-risk and non-chemical alternatives.  
During the COVID-19 crisis, she has been leading the Commissions work to coordinate the EU’s health response and support Member States to tackle the outbreak. This includes working to ensure that essential goods and services can flow freely across borders, essential medicines and medical devices are available at affordable prices, and leading the EU’s efforts to secure access to safe and effective therapeutics and vaccines.  
Previously, Ms. Stella Kyriakides worked as a clinical psychologist in the Mental  Health Services of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus in the area of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,  from 1979-2006. In 2006, she was elected to the Cyprus Parliament and was re-elected in 2011 and 2016 for the Democratic Rally party, of which she was the Vice-President.  
In 2012, she was appointed Head of the Cyprus Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In 2017 she was elected President of the PACE, thus becoming the 30th President of the Assembly.  
She founded the First Breast Cancer advocacy organisation in Cyprus, Europa Donna - Cyprus where she served as President from 2000-2015. She was also President of the European Breast Cancer Coalition Europa Donna.  
She received many awards in recognition of her relentless efforts and work in support of women’s rights, children and patients’ rights and had numerous publications, research contributions/articles on children related matters and cancer in Cyprus and other European countries.  
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Prof. Dimitris K. Melissas
​Lawyer and Professor of Public Law at the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens

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Dimitris K. Melissas is a Lawyer and Professor of Public Law at the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, specializing in Urban Planning Law, Spatial Planning Law and Environmental Law. 
He teaches at the Faculties of Civil Engineering, Architecture - Engineering and Surveying at undergraduate and postgraduate level. 
Director of an interdisciplinary Laboratory entitled "Digital Technology Laboratory for Technical Projects" at the School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens.
Vice-President of the Scientific Council of the Institute for European Constitutional Sciences (Hagen - O.D. Germany).
 He has authored and edited 32 studies and 74 articles in Greek, German and English. He practices law before the Council of State and the Administrative Courts of Appeal in matters of urban planning, spatial planning and environment.
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Wopke Hoekstra
European Commissioner for Climate Action
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Wopke Hoekstra is the European Commissioner for Climate Action since 9 October 2023. He was born on 30 September 1975 in the Netherlands. Before assuming office in Brussels, he held various political positions in the Netherlands and worked in the private sector prior to that. After graduating in law from Leiden University, and having studied at LUISS in Rome, he worked at Shell for two years. Thereafter, he completed an MBA at INSEAD in France and Singapore and worked for consultancy firm McKinsey & Company from 2006 to 2017, becoming partner in 2013. In 2011, Hoekstra became the youngest member of the Dutch Senate – for the party Christen-Democratisch Appèl (EPP), a party that he led between 2020 and 2023. From 2017 to 2022, Hoekstra served as Minister of Finance, and from early 2022 until August 2023, he was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. He was nominated as European Commissioner for Climate Action by the Dutch government.
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Pantelis Pavlou
Director with Sustainability & Corporate Reporting Services of EY
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Pantelis is a Director with Sustainability & Corporate Reporting Services of EY since 2021. In his role he participates in international expert groups of EY’s Corporate Reporting Services helping EY’s clients to address challenges in financial and sustainability topics.    
Pantelis had a successful career in contributing to policy and standard setting both at the European and International level as well as leading professional teams in finance and risk functions for international financial conglomerates. 
He holds a BSc in Public and Business Administration at the University of Cyprus and he is an external auditor by training. He also holds the Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and Business Finance Professional (BFP) titles and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC).
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Irene Piki
Deputy Minister to the President
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Irene Piki is the Deputy Minister to the President since 1st March 2023. She studied Economics in the UK, (BSc Regional Science – Economics and Human Geography) at the University of Reading, followed by an MSc on Environmental and Natural Resources Economics at University College London (UCL).


She was employed in the public service of the Republic of Cyprus as a career technocrat from 1997 to 2023, at various posts with a wide range portfolio, which includes issues relating to the economy, environment, regional policy, reforms and investments, as well as European issues. 


In September 2019 she took over as Head of the Strategy, Coordination and Communication Directorate at the Ministry of Finance. In March 2021 she was promoted to Director of Finance and in October 2022 she became the Director of Economic Policy and European Affairs.


She has served as member of the Board of Directors of Invest Cyprus (CIPA), the Research and Innovation Foundation, the Cyprus Organization for Standardization, as well as the Cyprus Economy and Competitiveness Council. She has also represented Cyprus in various EU Committees relating to economic and cohesion policy issues.
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Yiannis Olympios
Founder V+O Group​
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Yiannis began his career in the field of communication with the Greek Foreign Ministry. He is a leading consultant in the fields of privatization, acquisitions and crisis management. He has consulted major Greek companies and managed key foreign investments in the country. Yiannis is active member of important think tanks in Greece and abroad.
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George D. Tsopelas
Chairman, McKinsey & Company, Greece & Cyprus
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Mr. Tsopelas joined McKinsey in London in 1994 and led the opening of the Athens Office
in 2000. He has worked extensively in Banking, Insurance, Energy, Basic Materials and Economic Development in Europe, Middle East & Africa. 

Mr. Tsopelas holds an M.B.A from Harvard Business School. His undergraduate studies include a BSc in Economics & Econometrics and a BSc in Business Administration.  
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Chris Angelides
Energy Transition, Decarbonization, Sustainability and ESG expert - Honorary Consul of The Republic of Cyprus to Texas
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Three decades of international, technical and commercial experience in the Energy industry across the value chain. Senior leadership roles in Strategic Planning, Operations, Non-technical Risk Integration, ESG/CSR and Stakeholder Management. Experience includes Performance Unit management with P&L responsibility, developing and implementing Sustainability Strategies, and establishing Strategic Alliance Partnerships to support the Energy industry transition to Net Zero Emissions.

Proven as an effective leader with the ability to motivate and inspire people to think and work out of their comfort zone.

Successfully managed business operations across sectors, and developed extensive knowledge and understanding of business cultures and regulatory policies across the globe.
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Andreas Neocleous
CEO at CYTA
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Andreas Neocleous is the first CEO of Cyta, Cyprus’ largest telecommunications organisation, to have been appointed from the private sector. On assuming his duties in January 2019, he redefined the organisation’s vision and set it on a course of growth and dynamic evolution, which has since resulted in a significant increase in revenue and profitability. 
Under his leadership, Cyta dealt effectively with COVID-19, simultaneously supporting households, businesses and all state services. During the same period, he negotiated and signed a landmark agreement allowing the broadcasting of all Cypriot football matches by all the island’s TV platforms. 
Before taking up his duties at Cyta, he was, among others, Director of Business and Customer Experience at MTN Cyprus, Commercial Manager at Ericsson and a Senior Technology Analyst at Goldman Sachs in London and New York. Through the course of his career, he has gained deep knowledge and experience of issues relating to leadership, reform, modernisation and corporate culture transformation.
He has a PhD in Telecommunications & Digital Signal Processing and a Master of Engineering in Electrical and ElectronicEngineering, both from Imperial College, University of London.
Proven as an effective leader with the ability to motivate and inspire people to think and work out of their comfort zone.

Successfully managed business operations across sectors, and developed extensive knowledge and understanding of business cultures and regulatory policies across the globe.
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Alexandros Charalambides
Associate Professor at the Cyprus University of Technolog​y
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Alexandros Charalambides is an Associate Professor at the Cyprus University of Technology, working primarily on (a) predicting energy production from solar systems and (b) how innovation and entrepreneurship can assist in our efforts for decarbonization. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London and in 2022 was the recipient of a Fulbright Visiting Scholarship to work at the School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University in the said field. He served on the Board of the International Solar Energy Society, and as from 2024, will serve on the Board of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. He is also the founder of Chrysalis LEAP, the first cleantech accelerator in Cyprus, and has trained more than 200 entrepreneurs on how to go from a research idea to a viable business. During his employment at the Cyprus University of Technology, he has successfully completed/currently run thirty (30) research projects (from EU, national and private funding sources), focusing on various aspects of sustainable development and entrepreneurship. His research activities resulted in three (3) PhD being awarded and more than ten (10) research associates being employed, and more than twenty (20) journal papers, and a plethora of conferences and other presentations.
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Eliza Livadiotou
​Executive Director Finance of BoC
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Eliza is the Executive Director Finance since October 2019 and since October 2021 she has been
an Executive Member of the Bank of Cyprus Board of Directors.
She is responsible for Finance, Treasury, Strategy and Corporate Finance, Investor Relations, ESG,
Real Estate Management, Restructuring & Recoveries, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement and
Economic Research.
She began her career in 1995 with the audit firm Arthur Andersen in Cambridge, UK, where she
qualified as a Chartered Accountant. In 1999 she joined Bank of Cyprus, as Assistant to the Group
Chief General Manager. In 2005 she moved to the Finance Division.
In December 2013, Eliza was appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and from 2016 to late 2021
she was responsible for the Finance and Treasury Divisions. In October 2021, she was appointed
Executive Member of the Board of Directors.
Eliza studied Economics at the University of Cambridge (MA Hons).
She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre, a Non-
Independent and Non-Executive member of the Board of Directors of CISCO, and a member of
the banking committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
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Antonis Rouvas
Chief Executive Officer of Hellenic Bank
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Born in 1969. He has graduated from Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA with a BSc (High Honours) in Business and Mathematics and holds the professional titles FCA (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) and AMCT (Association of Corporate Treasurers, UK).
He held senior positions at leading institutions in Cyprus and abroad, including Credit Suisse (Singapore, Cyprus, London) and KPMG Cyprus (Partner – Head Financial Risk Management / Head Asset Management) and he has a deep knowledge and broad experience of the financial services industry. He served as Hellenic Bank Group’s Chief Financial Officer from 2008 to beginning of 2017.


He was appointed Executive Member of the Board of Directors / Chief Financial Officer of Hellenic Bank on 20 September 2021.


On 1st August 2023, he was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of Hellenic Bank. His duties as Chief Financial Officer have been temporarily undertaken by the Bank’s Chief Accountant.
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Andreas Petsas
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Senior General Manager of Eurobank Cyprus
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Mr. Petsas started his career in Laiki Bank in 1997 where he served in various positions in Corporate and Investment Banking while in 2006 he was appointed as Deputy General Manager of Laiki Bank AD Serbia.  He joined Eurobank Cyprus in 2007 in the position of General Manager Corporate and Investment Banking and in 2014 he was appointed Senior General Manager responsible for the Corporate and Investment Banking and Wealth Management Banking Divisions.
Mr. Petsas holds a BSc in Business, Finance and Economics from the University of East Anglia and an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. He is also registered in the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Register of Registered Persons as holder of the Advanced Certification.
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Miltos Michaelas
Managing Director of Alpha Bank Cyprus
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He graduated from American Academy, Larnaca in 1985. He pursued a comprehensive education, combining studies in Management and Computer Science at Aston University with an MBA in Financial Studies from the University of Nottingham. He is a Chartered Director as awarded by the Institute of Directors (UK), and was also an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. He served in a number of executive positions and boards of directors with Banks in different countries. He started his career in 1992 at Laiki Bank (Cyprus), where he held several roles for 7 years leading to the position of the Manager of Corporate and Institutional Banking, Nicosia. He then moved to Petrolina Group (1999 to 2001) where he held the position of the Group Financial Manager. In 2001, he moved to Laiki Bank (Australia) Ltd, since renamed to Bank of Sydney, as General Manager, a post he held for 5 years. From 2006 until 2013 he worked at Laiki Bank (Cyprus) as the General Manager of International and Financial Services. From 2013 to 2016 he served as the Director of International Operations and Real Estate Management Unit (REMU) at Bank of Cyprus. In 2016 he returned to Bank of Sydney and held the position of CEO until 2023. In June 2023, he was appointed Managing Director of Alpha Bank Cyprus Ltd and an Executive Member of the Bank’s Board of Directors.
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Aristidis Vourakis
CEO of Astrobank
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Aristidis Vourakis  is Astrobank CEO since November 2020. He is an international banker with a career spanning over 20 years including 18 with JP Morgan in London and 3 as Deputy CEO of Lebanon’s Bank Audi Group. As Managing Director of JP Morgan’s Financial Institutions Investment Banking, he helped banks implement growth initiatives and strengthen their capital structure. He also supported Greek issuers, including the Hellenic Republic, access equity and debt capital markets following the debt restructuring of 2012.  He holds an MSc. in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics and a BSc. in Banking and Financial Management from the University of Piraeus.
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George Perdikis
President of the Cyprus Green Party
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George Perdikes was born in Nicosia on the 23rd of March 1962. He is married to Electra Panaretou and has two sons, Alexander and Stephanos.


As a student at Acropolis High School he participated in the student movement for the creation of Acropolis Park. 


He is a civil engineer (Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). 


During his studies in Thessalloniki in Greece, he participated in the student movement through the socialist “Democratic Movement of Cypriot Students “AGONAS” and he was elected president of the National Student Union of Cypriots (E.F.E.K.) during the period 1984-1986. He participated in the founding of several ecological organisations: Friends of Akamas, Ecological Movement, Friends of the Sun, and others. He is one of the founding members of other NGO’s: EL.A-ZO (an association of cancer patients and friends), the Technical Committee for disabled people (TEDEA) and others. He is an honorary member of the Pancyprian Organisation for the Blind. He has received many awards for his social and environmental contributions throughout the years from many citizens’ organizations.  


He is a founding member of the Cyprus Green Party (1996) and was the first elected Green MP in Cyprus. In November 2002 he was elected Secretary General of the Cyprus Green Party and served as such for two more consecutive terms. In April 2009 he was elected as Press Officer of the Party from 2009-2011. He remained an ex officio member of the Political Committee of the Party until March 2013, when he was temporarily elected as Secretary General again, since Mrs Ioanna Panayiotou, who was the Secretary General then, was appointed at the position of the Commissioner of the Environment. 


At the 10th Pancyprian Conference of the Cyprus Green Party in October 2014 he was elected as President of the Cyprus Green Party and since 2016 President of the Cyprus Greens – Citizens’ Cooperation. In June 2020 he handed over the Cyprus Greens presidency to its MP Mr. Ch. Theopemptou. He took over the Presidency of the Cyprus Greens - Citizens' Cooperation again, after the resignation of Mr. Theopemptou in Autumn 2023.


He was elected as a member of the House of Representatives with the Cyprus Green Party in the elections of May 27th, 2001 and was re-elected in the elections of the 21st of May 2006, the 22nd of May 2011 and the 22nd of May 2016 with the Cyprus Greens – Citizens’ Cooperation. After that, he did not reclaim the parliamentary seat in the 2021 elections.


He was a representative in the National Council from 2001 until 2020.
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Evgenios Evgeniou
Chairman of Invest Cyprus
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Chairman of Invest Cyprus, member of the National Board for Research and Innovation and of the Corporate Governance Committee of the ICAEW, was a member of the Council of the University of Cyprus. Currently a non-executive director. Had a 31-year career with PwC serving as member of the PwC Europe Middle East and Africa Leadership Team (2014 - 2021), representing fifteen European territories, and as Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC Cyprus (2012-2021). Beyond commercial success key achievements included: setting the net zero action plan; technological transformation; digital upskilling of personnel; developing the data analytics, Cyber security, and AI capabilities; launching the PwC Experience Centre. An Imperial College London Engineering graduate and a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA). He holds the INSEAD Corporate Governance Certificate and has completed the Harvard Direct Leadership programme.  
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Maria Panayiotou
Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
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Dr Maria Panayiotou was born on June 5, 1982 in Larnaka. 

She studied History and Archeology at the University of Cyprus from where she graduated in 2004 with honors. In 2006 she completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Birmingham where she earned an MPhil (B) in Modern East Mediterranean History. In 2017 she was awarded a PhD in Modern and Contemporary History from the University of Cyprus.
In January 2024, she had the honor of being appointed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, as Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, handing over the post of Environmental Commissioner of Cyprus which she held since March 2023.
She served as the Head of the Press Office and Spokesperson for the EDEK socialist political party, from March 2016 to February 2023. From 2004 to 2022 she has worked on more than seven excellence research projects, co-financed by the European Development Funds, the University of Cyprus, the Research and Innovation Foundation, and the Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation. Her employment as a member of the Scientific Team of the University of Cyprus for the “Cyprus File” project for the period 2007 - 2010, stands out. In the period 2017 - 2022 she has worked as a Specialist Scientist, teaching economic history at the Department of History and Archeology of the University of Cyprus.
Dr Panayiotou's involvement in historical research formed a fundamental pillar in her career, gaining significant experience in archival research and skills in managing European research programs of excellence. In particular, her research into the economic history of Cyprus, the study of Cyprus' agricultural export trade and the analysis of British fiscal policy, strengthened her skills in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
Her significant bibliographic contributions to research on Cyprus's ports, port infrastructure, and economic development are significant as they cover an important bibliographic gap. She has published dozens of scientific articles in mixed volumes and international scientific journals (such as the European History Quarterly) on these subjects, and has participated in numerous international scientific conferences, with the most recent being the International Conference of the Modern Greek Studies Association in Toronto, Canada.

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George Papanastasiou
Minister of Energy, Commerse and Industry
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George Papanastasiou was appointed Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry on March 1st 2023.
He is a mechanical engineer by profession, with an HND in Mechanical Engineering from the Higher Technical Institute of Cyprus, a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from City University London and an MSc in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning from Kings College London.
He worked for 26 years at BP in Cyprus, the United Kingdom and other European countries, having held various managerial positions within the company, including Cyprus’ Head of Country.
From 1st of October 2011 and until his appointment as Energy Minister, he was Managing Director and General Manager of VTT Vasiliko Ltd (VTTV), a subsidiary of Netherlands based VTTI B.V. Inter alia, during his tenure at VTTV he led a versatile team of professionals tasked with constructing and operating the oil storage terminal of the company at Vasilikos area.
Over the course of his career, he has accumulated extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, specifically in the fields of Supply and Logistics, Health, Safety and Environment, Operations and Engineering, Sales and Marketing, Company Governance and Compliance.
He has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation (CYS) and the Cyprus Certification Company, President of the Cyprus – Netherlands Business Association operating under the auspices of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation.
Mr. Papanastasiou was born in Nicosia on September 10th 1961.
He is married to Glykeria Michailidou, they have a son, Ignatius, and reside in Nicosia.
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Demetris Lottides
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Agenda Cyprus Summits Founder
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With the launch of the magazine Must in 1999, Dimitris Lottidis established a small magazine publishing business that, along with his brother Christis, has grown into one of the most significant media conglomerates in the nation. He is regarded as one of Cyprus' media industry's forerunners. He founded numerous Cypriot print and digital publications (such as Man magazine, Beautiful People Magazine, DECO, and WiZ Guide), as well as Must fashion, street festivals, and other events. In 2008, he spearheaded the initiative to publish the historic Athenian newspaper KATHIMERINI in Cyprus as a collaboration with its parent newspaper KATHIMERINI, with the goal of creating Cypriot media characterized by quality and propriety, supporting Cyprus's European direction. He founded the Digital Agenda Cyprus Summit, which aims to establish an annual regional technology conference that will support the country and the broader region as a hub for the exchange of ideas and solutions for humanity's future.
He studied journalism and law at the Kapodistrian University of Athens and has a Master's degree in  Communication Policy Studies from the CITY University of London. He is a supporter of biodiversity and sustainable development, serves on numerous boards and associations for the media industry, and has been publishing articles on a regular basis for 25 years.
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Lefteris Charalambous
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Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company’s Athens
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Lefteris Charalambous is the Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company’s Athens office where he also leads the Energy & Heavy industry work. He is a core leader of McKinsey’s Global Energy and Materials Practice.
He joined McKinsey in 2008 and since then has had extensive experience in serving clients in Greece, rest of Europe, Middle East and the USA in the power, oil & gas, metals, basic materials and other industrial sectors in large scale transformations. He brings particular expertise in the fields of corporate strategy, sustainability and technology enablement.
Lefteris has been a core member of McKinsey “Greece 10 years ahead” economic development work and has led the effort to develop the “Net Zero Roadmap” for Greece and for Cyprus in cooperation with a broad range of institutions. He has also led various pro-bono initiatives to support energy transition and youth reskilling in cooperation with industrial associations and NGOs in Greece and beyond. 
He holds a Diploma in Civil Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
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Michalis Persianis
​Chairman, Fiscal Council
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Experienced Director Corporate Affairs with a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry, focusing on CSR, CX, Marketing and Branding. Skilled in Crisis Communications, Journalism, International Relations and Corporate Communications. Strong media and communication professional.
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Constantinos Yiorkadjis
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​​Mayor of Nicosia
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Constantinos Yiorkadjis is the Mayor of Nicosia sinceJanuary2, 2012. He holds two bachelor’s degrees with distinction (Magna Cum Laude with GPA 3.83), one in Economics and one in Business Administration, both from Boston University. 
 During his long professional career, he had the opportunity to work in the highly competitive environments of the US and Europe, as well as in the demanding environments of developing markets in Asia and Africa. 
 While still in university, he started working at Thermo Electron, Waltham Massachusetts, as a junior member of their treasury department, focusing mainly in the buying of currency futures.
 In 1993 he joined the Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC), first in Greece as a merchandiser and then as head of MIT organisation in the marketing department and later on as assistant to the HBC products brand manager. In December 1994 he moved from HBC to Molino, where he took the position of Marketing Manager for Coca-Cola Iasi, Romania.
 In July of 1995 he became Marketing Manager for Molino Romania based in Timisoara. In 1998 he took over the General Managers’ position for the sales territory and the production facility of Oradea.
 In January 2000 he joined FRIGOGLASS as Regional Operations Director and he took under his responsibility three production facilities (Ireland, Romania and Spain) as well as the Key Account responsibility for Coca-Cola, selling ice cold merchandisers to over 100 countries. In 2002 he became the Marketing Director of Frigoglass Cool Division having under his responsibility Product Management, Product Development, Sales/Competition and Coke Global strategy.
 In December 2005 he moved back to Cyprus with his family and in June 2006 accepted the position of marketing manager at CCHBC Cyprus (Lanitis Bros.).
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Dr. Nikolas P. Mastroyiannopoulos
Member of the Board of Directors – Green Energy Group
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Dr. Nikolas P. Mastroyiannopoulos is Founding Managing Partner of W11 Ventures. He is a non-executive director on the Board of Directors of the Green Energy Group in Limassol, and the CIM Business School in Nicosia Cyprus and the Chairperson of the Techisland Health Cluster Committee. He has previously served as the Cyprus Chief Scientist of Research and Innovation, appointed by H.E. the President of the Republic of Cyprus. He was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation, the national R&I funding agency of Cyprus, and a Board member of the JRC Board of Governors, the Cyprus National Board for Research and Innovation, a member of the Steering Investment Committee of the Cyprus Equity Fund in collaboration with the European Equity Fund (EIF), Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Research, Innovation and Technology, the national representative to SESAME and the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP), among others. Dr. Mastroyiannopoulos was a leading researcher, and academic. He has extensive translational and innovative research experience, focusing on developing Therapeutic approaches for Neuromuscular and Heart disorders with the aim to commercialize. He established national and international collaborations with various academic and research institutions around the world and has a solid publication record with several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters with considerable citations. He has attracted numerous grants and seed funding as principal investigator or collaborator from National and international funding bodies as well as private initiatives. He holds a doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a B.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences. 
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A PROJECT ENDORSED BY
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PLATINUM SPONSORS
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GOLD SPONSORS
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SILVER SPONSORS
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On the path to a climate - neutral Europe by 2050
“Frontrunners from the financial, government and
business sectors discuss and decide on the common future”
The Green Deal
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“Climate change is the biggest challenge of our times. And it is an opportunity to build a new economic model.”
The European Green Deal set the blueprint for this transformational change.
A change which will bring with it many benefits, from creating new opportunities for innovation, investment, and green jobs, to improving our health and wellbeing.
All 27 EU Member States committed to turning the EU into the first climate neutral continent by 2050.
​To get there, they pledged to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

The EU now has legally binding climate targets covering all key sectors of the economy.
The overall package includes:
● emissions reduction targets across a broad range of sectors

● a target to boost natural carbon sinks
● an updated emissions trading system to cap emissions, put a price on pollution
● and generate investments in the green transition
● ​and social support for citizens and small businesses

The Risks

Climate change and nature degradation pose risks to our social, financial and infrastructure sector. We need to assess how these risks and the transition to a carbon-neutral society affect present life, so that we can account for their impact on work as governments, banks, and enterprises. This will help us to keep the business environment stable and safe.
We must work to better understand, monitor and manage climate related risks in the financial system and explore the relationship between climate, nature and the economy.
We must support an orderly transition to a carbon-neutral economy by promoting the development of sustainable finance and creating incentives for a greener financial system.
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Cyprus Environmental Implementation Review 2022,
​ European Commission Executive Summary

“There has been some progress on waste management, through the implementation of the 2015-2021 municipal waste management strategy. The updated
national waste management plan, in line with the requirements of the revised Waste Framework Directive, is still pending. The illegal landfills in Limassol and
Nicosia have closed and their rehabilitation is ongoing. Waste generation is significantly above the EU average, while the recycling rate has not improved since the last report.
Cyprus makes very limited use of economic instruments in this
 area.
Cyprus needs to make a significant effort to set up an adequate network
 of facilities that would effectively manage all of its waste in line with the waste
hierarchy if it is to reach the recycling targets for 2020 and beyond.
According
 to the Commission’s 2018 ‘early warning report’, Cyprus is at risk of not meeting the 2020 municipal waste recycling target of 50%.
On nature protection, there are still insufficiencies in designation.
Therefore,
 Cyprus has still to complete its Natura 2000 Network, in particular the marine part…”

The topics of discussion

● Integrating sustainability throughout the business.

● Build a resilient roadmap to accelerate the transition.

● Strengthen strategic alliances between finance and sustainability.

● Shaping future strategy and investments through sustainability data. 

● Mobilising capital to unlock green growth.

● Drive confidence in infrastructure and investment.

● Systemic change towards a net positive future.

● Innovation as a driver of the transition.
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​● Farm to Fork, the way forward.

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