11th HAEE Energy Transition Symposium

Political science, English language and literature, and Arabic language and literature graduate

Previously held positions

2020-2023    Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France in Bucharest 

2017-2020    Director of culture, education, research and networks at the Ministry of                       

                           Europe and foreign affairs

2016-2017  Deputy director of the European Union

2013-2016  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France in Skopje

2010-2013  Secretary general at the French Institute in Paris

2006-2010  Director of the French Institute in the United Kingdom

2003-2006  Deputy spokesperson in the Office of the President of the Republic

2002-2003  Adviser in the office of the Minister 

2000-2002  Deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of foreign affairs 

1999-2000  Spokesperson at the European Commission 

1995-1999  Administrator for the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, DG Relex 

1991-1995  Adviser at the Permanent Representation of France in Brussels

1988-1991  Adviser at the Permanent Representation of France in Brussels

1985-1988  Environmental adviser (Ministry of foreign affairs)

Honors

Knight of the French Legion of Honor

Officer of the National Order of Merit

Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters

Håkan Emsgård was appointed Ambassador of Sweden to Greece in January 2025.

Prior to coming to Greece, he was Ambassador to Egypt (2021-2025). He has served as Ambassador to the Netherlands and to the international organisations in the Hague (2010-2015), with parallel accreditation to Luxembourg (2012-2014).

Ambassador Emsgård has held various positions at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including Deputy Director General and Head of the EU Department (2005-2010). He has also served at the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Education, the Finance Ministry and at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London.

Date and place of Birth: 25 September 1971, Muscat, Oman

Marital Status: Married, 3 children

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Education

1989 High School (VWO) Rijnlands Lyceum, Oegstgeest

1996 Master of Business Administration, University of Groningen

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Professional experience

Ambassador van Hellemond joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998 as a diplomatic
trainee after working at ABN Bank in Tokio, Japan. Her first assignment as a junior policy
officer was in the multilateral division at the Ministry in The Hague. Her first posting abroad
as a diplomat was in the field of development assistance and trade in Jakarta, Indonesia.

She then had the following assignments:

2005 - 2009 Senior Policy advisor in the Economic and Development Assistance
division in Cairo, Egypt

2009 - 2013 Coordinating Policy Advisor in the Financial and Budgetary division at
the Ministry in The Hague

2013 - 2017 Head of recruitment and Human Resources division at the Ministry in
The Hague

2017 - 2021 Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, based in Harare,
Zimbabwe

2021 - 2025 Director-General NL Diplomatic Missions at the Ministry in The
Hague

2025 – current Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic

His Majesty’s Ambassador Matthew Lodge received his appointment to the Hellenic Republic in August 2021.

Matthew has a BA (Hons) in Modern Languages (French and Russian) from the University of Birmingham. He was an officer in the Royal Marines from 1986-1996.

He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1996. Matthew’s first posting was to the British Embassy in Athens. He also worked on the Balkans, served in Georgia and Armenia, and had postings to Paris and the UK Permanent Representation to the EU. He later served as Private Secretary to the Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Baghdad, Head of the FCO’s Afghanistan Group, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Finland, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, and Minister at the British Embassy Paris, serving concurrently as Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

He was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic in August 2021.

Matthew is married to Alexia and they have twin boys.

Before being appointment to the Hellenic Republic (2022), Ambassador Popov occupied different positions in his country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, including that of Ambassador-at-Large, Director of the Multilateral Cooperation Department (2020-2022), Ambassador to Austria and Slovakia, Permanent Representative to the OSCE and UN (2013-2016), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2009-2013), Deputy Director/Director of the General International Security Department (2002-2004), Second/First Secretary of the Embassy of Moldova to the USA (1997-2001). During his career path outside the MFA, he was President of the Moldovan Institute for Strategic Initiatives (2016-2020), Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova (2004-2009) and Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (2009). He is a graduate of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (2002-2003), Faculty of International Relations of Romania's National School of Political and Administrative Studies (1994-1996) and the Faculty of Journalism of the University of Bucharest (1990-1994). Apart from his native Romanian language, he also speaks English, Russian and French. Mr. Popov has the rank of Ambassador and is the father of four children.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer at HELLENiQ ENERGY Group, Executive Member of its Board of Directors and General Manager Strategic Planning and New Activities. 

He is responsible for strategic planning, new business development, the Group’s gas & power, renewables, upstream and engineering businesses, and its representation in international organizations.  He has represented the Group on the Board of the European Fuel Manufacturers Association as a Principal or Alternate Director since 2012.  He joined HELLENiQ ENERGY Group in 2007.

George Alexopoulos was Director of Business Planning & Development at an international, diversified business group (SETE S.A.), based in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1998 to 2006, while at the same time being responsible for the Group’s energy portfolio.

He had previously worked in various technical and business development positions at Stone & Webster, Molten Metal Technology, Merck, Dow Corning, and Dow Chemical in the United States between 1993 and 1997. 

In July 2024 he was elected President of the SEV Business Council for Sustainable Development (SEV VIAN).

He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School (1998) and M. Sc. (1993) and B. Sc. (1992) degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He is married to Elizabeth Spada and they have 3 children.

Oskaras Alšauskas is an Energy Modeller at the International Energy Agency (IEA), an autonomous intergovernmental organisation focused on energy security. He works in the IEA’s World Energy Outlook team, where for the past four years he has specialised in global energy demand modelling and analysis, with a particular focus on the transport sector. His work includes projections of global demand for oil, electric vehicles, batteries, and other fuels and technologies. Prior to joining the IEA, Oskaras worked for energy companies in Lithuania and Sweden. He holds a Master’s degree in International Energy from Institut d’études politiques de Paris.

Theodora Antonakaki, Director of Bank of Greece’s Climate Change and Sustainability Centre, is
coordinating BoG's work on climate, sustainability and research at the Climate Change Impacts
Study Committee and representing BoG at the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for
Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and at the Eurosystem Climate Change Forum, where she
has been appointed Chair for a two-year term (2025-2026).
She is a graduate of the Polytechnic School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the
University of London, where she was an Honorary Research Fellow. During her career, she has
also been an advisor on issues of sustainability and socioeconomic impact, in a wide range of
projects. She has lectured at the Syracuse University, the University of Stirling, the Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki and the Hellenic Open University. She has written book chapters in
edited books and published at peer reviewed journals.
Ηer work has gained awards from Europa Nostra and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark,
while she has been honored, by the French Republic, with the title of Knight of the French National
Order of Merit (Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite), as an acknowledgment for her
contributions to climate and sustainability issues.

Prof. Konstantinos Aravosis is Vice President and Waste Management BoD Chairman
at Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water – RAAEY
He is Professor and UNESCO Chairholder on Green Innovation and Circular Economy
at the NTUA (National Technical University of Athens) and Professor at the ATHENS
MBA (NTUA – Athens University of Economics) since 1997. He is the coordinator of the
“Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development Research Group” of the
Sector of Industrial Management and Operations Research of the Mechanical
Engineering School.
He was also a visiting professor at Imperial College - University of London and a
research associate at the Earth Engineering Center of Columbia University - USA.
He was Secretary General for Forestry, from 2/2022 to 7/2023, at the Greek Ministry
of Environment and Energy. Prior to that, he was also Secretary General of Natural
Environment & Water.
He is a Mechanical Engineer (Aachen University of Technology - Germany) with an MSc
in Management Science from Imperial College and a Phd from NTUA.
He was an advisor to the Minister of Culture, on the Olympic Games projects, and their
post-Olympic use.
He has been President of the Greek Association of Environmental Protection
Companies (PASEPE), President of the Hellenic Solid Waste Management Association
(HSWMA) (now Hon. President), President of the Ordinary Environmental Committee
of the Technical Chamber of Greece, President of the Greek Branch of the Waste to
Energy Research and Technology Council, coordinated by Columbia University and
Member of Evaluation Committees for Investment and Energy Projects of the Ministry
of Development. Furthermore, he has been Member of the Board of the Organization
of Labour Residencies (OEK) and General Manager of Environmental Companies.
He has extensive research experience (as a coordinator or project team member of
European Programmes) in investment management and evaluation, operational
research and environmental investment analysis.
He was co-founder and main organizer of the largest national volunteer campaign
(45.000 volunteers) LETS DO IT GREECE where the whole country is cleaned in one day
with symbolic character in the framework of the international campaign LETS DO IT
WORLD.He has organized 14 International Conferences and has authored books and more than
100 publications in international scientific journals and proceedings of International
Conferences while coordinating many national and international research projects.

George Arvanitis joined PROTASIS in 2008 and since 2025 he is the Chief Commercial Officer, driving
the company’s commercial strategy and operations. Previously he served as the Head of the Systems
Integration Division, focusing on the integration of Intelligent Electronic Devices, OT cybersecurity,
development of Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), SCADA Systems, and Power Management Systems
(PMS).
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computers Engineering with specialization in Energy
Systems and a Master’s in Engineering for Energy Production and Management, both from the National
Technical University of Athens (NTUA). George Arvanitis is a member of the Technical Chamber of
Greece since 2005.

Eleni Bairami is the owner and Managing Director of ECO Hellas, one of the fastest-growing companies in the Renewable Energy Sector in Greece.

Focusing on solar energy, biogas, gasification and circular economy, Eleni has developed, constructed, operated more than 2 GW of renewable energy projects with over 280 million of investment value. Currently she is collaborating with multinational RES conglomerates in a series of projects in Greece and in the Region of Southeastern Europe.

Eleni studied Physics majors and Mathematics in Wolfgang - Goethe University Frankfurt / Main Germany, while she started her career in the German Bank sector in Frankfurt/Main.  She continued her career in the RES private sector by working in executive positions in the biggest German biogas and biomethane construction company MT Energie/ MT Biomethan (today HITACHI ZOSEN INOVA) where she gained experience in ​projects in several countries such as Germany, France, UK, South and North America, South Korea, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Latvia, and Greece. Eleni focuses on constantly following recent developments in the sector, thus maintaining cutting-edge knowledge of the developments and challenges in the Renewable Energy industry.

Given her academic background in physics and mathematics, she has the ability to function seamlessly in a highly technical environment, while maintaining the required business perspective, thus providing a 360^ο approach to complex issues regarding the energy sector.​ And at the same time, she can communicate specific details related to the operation and management of projects, thus approaching a broad range of audiences and​ business partners.

Nikolaos Bakatselos is President & CEO of Pyramis Metallourgia A.E. and Pyramis Deutschland GmbH.

He has served as Member of the Board of Directors and Deputy Managing Director of Northern Greece Publishing S.A. He has also held the position of Managing Director of Imperium AEEX and served as Member of the Board of Directors of Egnatia Bank Securities S.A. Additionally, he was a Member of the Board of Directors of Attica Bank from February 2014 to June 2016.

Nikolaos Bakatselos was a Member of the Steering Committee of the International Hellenic University from 2006 to January 2014. He also served as Member of the Board and President of the Northern Greece Committee of EEDE. He is a Member of the Support Committee of CERTH, Trustee of Anatolia College, Member of the Board of Directors of SVE, Member of the Board of Directors of IOBE, and Honorary Consul of Belgium for Northern Greece.

He has also been a Member of the Board of Directors of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce for many years. In 2010, he was elected Vice President and Chairman of the Northern Greece Committee. He served as President of AmCham Greece from June 2019 to July 2025, during which time he was a founding member of AmChamGR-US in Washington, D.C.

Nikolaos Bakatselos is a Founding Member and Member of the Board of the Council of Competitiveness of Greece.

From October 2019 to February 2022, he served as President of HEDNO, following his election by the General Assembly of the association.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Reading and an MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance from City University Business School, London.

Current Affiliations:

• Honorary President, French Association for Energy Economics (F-AEE)
• Council Member, International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE)
• Program Director, Paris School of Economics
• Professor, Centrale Supelec, Paris-Saclay University
• Past President, International Association for Energy Economics

Education:

• M.Sc in General Engineering from Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France, and MBA in Petroleum Economics and Management from the Center for Economics and Management, IFP School

Former Affiliations:

• President, F-AEE, (2009-2015) ;
• Vice President, Economics & Prospective, ENEDIS (2014-2021) ;
• Vice President, Energy Policy, AREVA, Group.Head of the Economics Department (2000-2012) ;
• NUSYS consulting company, Paris (1998-2000) ;
• Forecasts and Planning Manager, Cogema (1989-1999) ;
• Project-consultant, Shell (1987-1989) ;
• Research Assistant, Economic and Industrial Research Division, University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (1986-1987)

Additional Memberships/Affiliations:

• Awarded the Knighthood of the National Order of Merit.
  Co-Chair, G20 Energy Task Force, energy, water and food nexus

Matthew Bryza is a former White House and senior State Department official, and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Bryza’s 23-year diplomatic career included assignments as Ambassador to Azerbaijan; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Director on the National Security Council Staff at the White House for Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus; US mediator of the Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Cyprus conflicts; and Deputy Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy. Additionally, as the Cold War was ending, Matthew was a Political Officer in the U.S. Missions to Poland and to Russia.

Based in Istanbul, Matthew is Managing Director of Straife, a U.S. corporate strategy and investment firm, as well as a Partner at Abbert Capital, a Houston-based venture capital fund. He also serves on the Boards of energy companies operating from the Greater Caspian Region to Turkey and Texas.

Additionally, Ambassador Bryza is a Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation, a geopolitical research organization headquartered in Washington, DC. He was previously Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, founding the institute’s cyber security and energy security programs.

Matthew is a frequent commentator in global and regional media outlets including the BBC, CNN International, Al Jazeera, the Financial Times, and Bloomberg.

He is the recipient of Estonia’s Cross of Terra Mariana and Georgia’s Order of St. George.

Ambassador Bryza received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University and his master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Professor Pantelis Capros holds the title of Professor Emeritus in Energy Economics and Operations Research within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Since 1988, he has been engaged in teaching courses related to energy economics, mathematical programming, and economic analysis at NTUA. He is also the founder of the E3MLab, which specialises in modelling the interactions between energy, economy, and environment. Professor Capros has developed several esteemed models, including PRIMES, PRIMES-TREMOVE, Prometheus, and GEM-E3. These models are recognised for their official application in the impact assessment studies conducted by the European Commission and play a pivotal role in supporting the European Commission's Reference Energy and Transport Outlook publications, which have been released biennially since the 1990s. Additionally, these models are employed by various governments and utility organisations for public policy formulation and investment assessments.

Professor Capros possesses an engineering degree from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), in addition to three Master's degrees in the fields of Economics, Computer Science, and Operations Research. He has also attained a Doctorat d'Etat (PhD) in Mathematical Economics from the University of Paris, France. Furthermore, he has authored several scholarly books and has published over 200 papers with prestigious international publishers.

Prof. Capros served as the first Chairman of the Regulatory Authority for Energy in Greece from 2000 to 2005, and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Power Corporation for several years. He held an academic position as a Professor at the University of Paris I Sorbonne until the year 2000. Additionally, he assumed the role of interim Minister of Energy and Environment in Greece from May to June 2023. He is currently serving as the President of E3Modelling SA, which is part of the RICARDO PLC group.

Anne-Sophie Corbeau is a Global Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy. She leads the Center’s research on hydrogen and natural gas. Anne-Sophie has around 25 years of experience in the energy industry, and is a recognized expert on natural gas and hydrogen. She is the author of many publications focusing on gas, LNG markets, hydrogen, Asia, China, India and Africa, including the book “LNG markets in transition: the great reconfiguration”. She is also the co-chair of Gastech's governing body.

Prior to joining the Center, Mrs. Corbeau was head of gas analysis at BP where she was responsible for advising the Leadership Team on gas market developments and long-term pricing assumptions. She served as a member of BP France’s Comex (board). She also worked at KAPSARC, the International Energy Agency and IHS CERA.

She began her career as an engineer working on fuel cells and hydrogen at Peugeot and Debis Systemhaus. Anne-Sophie holds two MSc from the Ecole Centrale Paris and the University of Stuttgart. 

Athanasios Dagoumas is an Associate Professor in Energy and Resource Economics at the University of Piraeus. He holds a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, where he completed his PhD in Energy Economics. He has over 20 years of work and research experience in energy-related issues. He was the President of the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste, and Water in Greece. He also worked as a Senior Researcher at the University of Cambridge, as a Member of the Board of the Cambridge Trust for New Thinking in Economics, as a Senior Energy Analyst at the Transmission System Operator, and at the Electricity Market Operator in Greece. Moreover, he was enrolled as a Special Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change in Greece. His extensive experience enhances his capacity for in-depth understanding of multidisciplinary aspects of the global energy sector: economic, engineering, environmental, and policy. He is keen on developing models for the real energy markets, the energy systems, and the economic-energy-environment (E3) systems.

Konstantinos Eleftheriadis is the Energy, Resources & Industrials Industry Leader and a Financial Advisory Partner at Deloitte Greece. He specializes in Financial Advisory, M&A Transactions and Forensic Services. With over 21 years of professional experience, Konstantinos’ expertise has been instrumental in a range of sectors with special focus in the Energy & Resources market, both locally and internationally. Konstantinos specializes in services and areas like: transactions support, M&A assistance, feasibility studies, independent business reviews, liquidity, business and e-mobility plans, storage, gas and new fuels, and advice on Power Purchase Agreements, having provided such services for many Greek and international clients that are operating in Power generation, Renewables, Oil & Gas, Mining & Metals, Waste treatment, etc.

Prof. Samuel Furfari is a chemical engineer with a PhD in energy from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. After obtaining his doctorate, he worked for 36 years as a senior European official in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, eventually becoming Advisor to the Director-General. Throughout his career, he contributed to the development of nearly all areas of energy policy and technology, including strategy, hydrogen, environment, climate change, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

From 2003 to 2021, he taught energy policy and geopolitics at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, where he is now Professor Emeritus. Currently, he teaches Energy Geopolitics at ESCP London Business School and is an honorary professor at the Polytechnic School of the University of Madrid.

He is a member of the World Federation of Scientists’ Permanent Monitoring Panel on Energy and served as President of the European Society of Engineers and Industrialists from 2019 to 2022. He is the author of more than 20 books. His most recent works are "Energy Insecurity: The Organised Destruction of the EU’s Competitiveness" , "The Truth About COPs: Thirty Years of Illusions" and "Azerbaïdjan. Géopolitique de l’énergie d’une Eurasie en mutation.

Maria Rita Galli is Chief Executive Officer of AKTOR LNG S.A., responsible for the LNG and natural gas activities of the AKTOR Group.

She is an internationally experienced energy executive with more than 25 years of expertise in natural gas, LNG, energy infrastructure, and business development. Before joining AKTOR in 2026, she served as Chief Executive Officer of DESFA (Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator) from 2021 to February 2026, contributing to the development of Greece’s strategic energy infrastructure and regional energy connectivity.

Maria Rita Galli began her career in 1997 at Eni, where she held senior management positions in gas and LNG supply and trading, international business development, mergers & acquisitions, and management of international subsidiaries.

In 2016, she joined Snam as Executive Vice President for Business Development and coordinated the acquisition of a 66% stake in DESFA through the SENFLUGA Energy Holdings consortium, formed by Snam, Enagás, and Fluxys. She subsequently served as Chairwoman and CEO of SENFLUGA before assuming the leadership of DESFA in 2021.

She holds a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan.

Dr. Panagiotis Grammelis is Director of Research at the Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute of CERTH (CERTH/CPERI). He has 25 years of experience in energy production and environmental issues, specializing in the utilization of alternative fuels and low carbon energy technologies. He is leading the Laboratory of Environmental and Energy Transition Technologies and has been the scientific responsible in 178 research projects with a total budget of 64 million euros, funded by the European Commission, the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI), Regional Authorities and international industries. He manages the erection and operation of the first H2 technology part in Ptolemais – Western Macedonia, funded by the Greek Just Transition Fund. He participates in the coordination committee of ETIP-Bioenergy, the Biomass Panel of the RHC-ETP Platform (Chairman) and the Committees of the GSRI for the Environment and Decarbonisation. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the international journals IJER, IJGW & Energies Journal / Fuels and the scientific committees of international conferences (GCGW, EUBCE, WSED). He is co-author in 438 papers in scientific journals, international conferences, workshops and books, with 5714 citations and h-Index 42 according to Scopus.

Michelle began her career at Matrix in 2013 and joined the boutique broking firm APLUS in 2017, helping grow its portfolio sevenfold. After APLUS was acquired by Howden in 2021, she became a Senior Account Manager.
She works with major Greek and international corporate clients, mainly in the energy sector, providing tailored insurance solutions across global markets and managing long term relationships.

Professor Dr. Emmanouil Kakaras is Senior Advisor at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President, GX Solutions. Prior to this, he led the MHI EMEA Dusseldorf branch and held the role of Senior Vice President for New Products and Energy Solutions at Mitsubishi Power Europe. His R&D focuses on flexible operation of thermal plants, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and large-scale energy storage. Since 1991, he has been a Professor at the National Technical University of Athens and lectures at the University of Duisburg-Essen. He participates in various European Commission working groups and advisory committees.

Ioannis Kaltsas holds a Ph.D. in Economics and an MSc in Applied Economics from Virginia Tech (USA),
an MA in Industrial Economics from the University of East Anglia (UK) as well as a bachelor’s degree in
Agricultural Science from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece).
He is Head of the Investment Team for Greece & Cyprus at the European Investment Bank (ΕΙΒ). Prior
to that, he worked in various managerial positions within the EIB and as a Senior Advisor to the EIB’s
Management Committee, as well as an expert for the evaluation of industrial and agricultural projects
financed by the Bank. Before joining the EIB, he worked as an Economist in a UN Commodity Board
and the World Bank, as well as an engineer in the champagne industry in France. His academic
publications include papers in urban land values, futures markets as well as technical efficiency. He
speaks fluently Greek, English, French and Spanish.

Dr. Othon Kaminiaris is an Expert in Environmental and Climate Change Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic. He is also a Research Associate of the UNESCO Chair on Climate Diplomacy. He has previously worked as an independent researcher for public and private organizations in Greece, including the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), the National Centre for Social Research (EKKE), the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA/IEEP), and The Green Tank, focusing on climate change, energy, just transition, and open governance matters. Also, he has extensive experience in the management and implementation of multi-stakeholder projects. He regularly contributes to public discourse through conferences and events, and maintains an active publication record on climate and environmental policy and governance. He received his PhD with honours from the NKUA, for which he was awarded a scholarship by the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration and a Master’s degree in International and European Studies. He speaks English, French, and Spanish. Finally, he serves as the President of the Alumni Association of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration.

Dr. Sotiris Kapellos is a Chemist and holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Athens. He has extensive executive and management experience in large energy organizations.

He held senior management positions at BP Hellas from 1993 to 2010 and served as Managing Director of BP Solar Greece.

Since 2010, he has been working for the HELLENiQ ENERGY Group and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of HELLENiQ RENEWABLES.

The company’s renewable energy portfolio comprises 552 MW of operating and another 726 MW under-construction projects, with a strategic target of reaching 2 GW by 2030 in Greece and Southeastern Europe.

He plays an active institutional role in the energy sector, having served for many years as President of the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies (HELAPCO). As of 2026, he is Vice President of the Hellenic Association of Energy Storage Systems (HAESS) and Chairman of the Energy Committee of the Hellenic–German Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Nikolaos Kolyvodiakos is, since 2018, the General Manager of ENERTA AE, a
commercial and technical company active in the energy and infrastructure
sector in Greece, Romania and Cyprus. With more than 35 years of experience in
the energy industry, he has held key leadership positions in multinational
corporations, including Siemens AE and Landis & Gyr.
During his career, he has managed complex operations across Greece, Albania,
North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Cyprus, with expertise in power generation (both
fossil and renewable), high-voltage transmission, and medium-voltage
distribution. He has overseen large-scale technical projects, implemented
strategic transformations, and led successful market expansions.
Mr. Kolyvodiakos holds a Diploma in Electrical Engineering from the National
Technical University of Athens and a postgraduate degree in Automation from
ETH Zurich. He has also completed advanced leadership and management
training through the Siemens Learning Campus.
Known for his strategic thinking, customer orientation, and strong leadership, he
combines technical depth with a talent for building high-performing teams and
navigating complex business environments. He is fluent in Greek, English, and
German.

George Kremlis is the Chairman of the Greek Initiative at UN level on protecting cultural and natural heritage from climate change impacts. He is a member of the Board of the European Public Law Organisation and the Director of its climate and circular economy Institute. He is as well the Ambassador of the EPLO to Bulgaria. He was until 2023 a member of the environmental and social advisory council of the EBRD and is also currently the Chair of the Bureau of the Espoo Convention and of the SEA Protocol, Chair of the MoPs in 2019,  elected Chair for the MoPs in December 2020 and re-elected Chair for the period 2021-2023 and the period up to 2027. He is the Chairman of the AmCham circular economy committee. George Kremlis is Honorary Director of the European Commission, where he has spent the major part of his career as Advisor in the Legal Service and Head of various legal and policy Units in DGENV. 

He was until 2023 special Advisor to the Greek Prime Minister on energy, climate, environment and circular economy issues. He is doctor honoris causa of the Varna Free University, member of the Advisory Board of the Balkan Economic Forum, and the founder and president of the Circular Gaia Symposium. 

Gürkan Kumbaroğlu holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Türkiye. He is Professor of Industrial Engineering and Director of the Energy Policy Research Center at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Türkiye. He is President of the Turkish Association for Energy Economics, Eurasian Leader and Past President of the International Association for Energy Economics IAEE.

Dr. Kumbaroğlu worked as a post-doc researcher at the Center for Energy Policy and Economics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich during 07/2001–09/2002. He continued his post-doc in the United States at UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory during 10/2002–12/2002. He joined Boğaziçi University as assistant professor in January 2003, became associate professor in 2006 and full professor in 2013. He was vice rector of Boğaziçi University during 02/2021-09/2025.

Professor Kumbaroğlu held visiting positions at RWTH Aachen University, Germany; the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; the University of Campinas, Brazil; the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria; China University of Geosciences, Beijing; Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus and George Washington University, USA.

Professor Kumbaroğlu is Advisory Board member of the Helleniq Energy Center for Sustainability and Energy at Alba Graduate Business School. He is Editorial Board member of The Energy Journal, IAEE’s flagship publication. He was awarded the Energy Oscar Award for Scientific Contribution to Energy Markets at the 17th ICCI Conference in 2011. He has received the Senior International Scientist Award from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2012.

Ioannis Margaris, Dipl. Electrical Engineer and Computer Engineer (NTUA 2006), PhD dissertation with Power Systems Laboratory - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering NTUA in 2011.

He has worked in the Public Power Corporation (PPC) – at the Non-Interconnected Island Power Systems Department – on dynamic security of power systems and data management for Smart Networks and MicroGrid applications on Greek island systems.

He completed his Post-Doc research at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Wind Energy Department 2012), where he continued working as Researcher (eq. Assistant Prof.) and R&D project manager in North Europe.

In 2015 he became Executive Vice-Chairman of the BoD of Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator. In the past he has served as member of the BoD of OTE and as technology and policy advisor for projects in Europe, Latin America, Africa and China.

Since 2017 he is Vice-Chairman of BoD at IPTO (Independent Power Transmission Operator) and Chief Technology, System Planning and Strategy Officer.

Since 2018 he is also General manager of ARIADNE INTERCONNECTION and has been appointed Deputy Chairman BoD for Great Seat Interconnector.

Born in 1957 in Kavyli, Evros, Konstantinos Mitsiolides developed a deep interest from
an early age in agricultural production and the advancement of the Greek countryside
through innovation and entrepreneurship. In 1976, he began his professional journey in
the field of agricultural machinery and farming, forging a path that has made him one of
the most prominent figures in the sector today.
In 1984, he was one of the founding members of Agrotechniki in Orestiada, a company
that successfully operated in the trade of agricultural machinery. With continuous
presence and involvement in the industry throughout the years, in 2003 he co-founded
Agroline, a company with a similar focus and a leading role in the market.
In 2011, turning his attention toward green energy, he laid the foundations and guided
the creation of Green Line Energy, a company specializing in the construction of
photovoltaic parks. Since 2022, the company has also expanded into the trade of
photovoltaic equipment, significantly contributing to the country’s sustainable energy
transition.
In 2012, he co-founded and has since served as CEO of AGROTECH, a dynamic
company that initially secured the exclusive representation of John Deere in Greece and
Cyprus. In 2022, AGROTECH expanded its operations into the markets of Albania and
North Macedonia. The company specializes in the trade of agricultural machinery and
spare parts and is today one of the strongest links in the service chain for the modern
professional farmer.
Konstantinos Mitsiolides speaks English, is married to Vasiliki Mitsiolidou, and is the
father of two daughters, Olga and Maria. With decades of experience and dedication to
the agricultural sector, he continues to support the development of Greek agriculture
and green entrepreneurship. He is now joined by his two daughters, who carry on his
work with the same love and dedication.

Apostolos Panos is Chief Commercial Officer in Principia since March 2024. His previous role was Head of Energy Management in Enel Green Power Hellas. Also held various positions as an engineer in the O&M Department of the company.

Recently, he was elected President of the Hellenic Association of Energy Storage Systems (H.A.E.S.S.).

He is a graduate of the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Patras and holds a Master's Degree entitled "Energy: Strategy, Law & Economics" of the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus.

Papastamatiou Panagiotis holds Diploma in Electrical Engineering from NTU of Athens with PhD in
Operational Research and Energy Policy & Planning and postgraduate lessons in Economics and
Management in Athens University of Economics and Business. Since 1995 he has been active in the
wind energy sector and the rest Renewable energy Sources in Greece and abroad.
He is Chief Executive Officer of the Hellenic Wind Energy Association, ELETAEN, an elected member of
the Board of Directors of the Greek Association of RES Electricity Producers, GAREP, and elected
member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Electricity Association, H.EL.AS.
P. Papastamatiou is also Director of ENTEKA Group. He directs the development and financial sectors
of the Group, which since 1984 deals almost exclusively with wind energy projects, development,
ownership and operation of wind farms.

Stavros N. Papastavrou is Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece.
He served as Minister of State from June 2023 to March 2024.
He is an attorney-at-law, with postgraduate studies at Harvard Law School, Harvard
University.
He has worked for more than three decades as a legal advisor in the private sector,
specializing in corporate law and capital markets, both in Washington D.C. and Athens.
He was appointed as Head of the Prime Minister's Office of European Affairs and
International Relations and served as chief negotiator of the Greek state with the
European partners and the International Monetary Fund, in 2012-2015.
He served as Secretary of International Relations and the European Union of New
Democracy Party (2004-2012). He was elected Chairman of DEMYC (Democrat Youth
Community of Europe, 1997-2001), he was a founding member of the Youth of the
European People's Party (YEPP) and a member of the Political Council of the European
People's Part.

Yiannis Roumeliotis is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the energy sector,
specializing in key account management, business development, and project coordination.
He has extensive expertise in managing and coordinating large-scale renewable energy (RES) projects,
client relationship management, and tender/contract processes, with a strong background in
Substation infrastructure projects, photovoltaics, power systems, and smart transmission systems.
He is currently part of PROTASIS, serving as a Key Account Manager for EPC and Renewable Energy
clients, where he focuses on fostering strategic partnerships and supporting the execution of complex
energy projects.
He holds a B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester and an
M.Sc. in Engineering Control Systems and Instrumentation from the University of Huddersfield.

Michael Roussos is an Investment Director at Korkia, where he leads the company’s renewable energy development and investment activities in Greece and Romania. His work focuses on the origination, development and strategic advancement of utility-scale solar PV, battery energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects across Southeast Europe.

Prior to joining Korkia in 2022, he worked in the energy & sustainability engineering sector, with experience spanning renewable energy systems, decarbonisation strategies and sustainable infrastructure projects.

Michael is based in London, and holds an MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems from Imperial College London and an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Manchester.

John D. Saracakis is President of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce,
elected in July 2025, following 18 years of service to the Chamber as Vice President,
Chair of the Public Affairs Committee, member of the Executive Committee, and
member of the Board of Directors. He has also served as Chairman of the Hellenic
Swedish Chamber of Commerce for two consecutive terms (2013–2019).
He is Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saracakis Group of
Companies, a leading family-owned concern with a long tradition in the Greek
economy and operations in four countries, where he has served in various
capacities since 1998.
John studied Business Administration at Babson College, USA, and is a graduate of
the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Gianfranco is Italian, graduated in Mechanical Engineering with a PhD in Thermo-Mechanic Engineering
Systems.
Soon after his graduation Gianfranco became affiliate professor of Technical Physic and developed
many entrepreneurial initiatives.
In 2000 Gianfranco joint McKinsey & Co. where he held the position of Associate Partner in the industrial
sectors, mainly in Power&gas, Oil and Basic Material.
In 2010 Gianfranco joint Azimut|Benetti Group, world leader in luxury yachts production, as Central
Director.
After one and half year, Gianfranco decided to come back in the consulting, as Owner & Managing
Partner at 3HPartners. In parallel, Gianfranco came back to the academia as Affiliate professor of
Professor of Operations Management, Energy Markets, Digital Management and Entrepreneurship in
London, Milan and Rome.
At the beginning of 2016, Gianfranco was designed by the Health Ministry President of Instituto
Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, until 2021.
Between 2017 and today Gianfranco was designated member of many boards (Weltix, ReiWa Engine,
Envision, iStarter ltd, Hydraink) and supported Institutional and Private Funds in portfolio management.
Gianfranco's interests are also in management transformation. He is the author of numerous articles (as
“Management Matters” on Corriere della Sera, “I campioni della crescita” on Global Competition) and
case studies (as “reducing uncertainty through disciplined experimentation).
In October 2021 Forbes refers to him as “Il consulente del Cambiamento”.
Gianfranco is also author of many scientific publications in Energy sector.
Gianfranco speaks fluently English and Italian.

Alexandra Sdoukou was born in 1978 and raised in Thessaloniki, with family origins in Grevena and Ioannina. She holds a Law degree from the Democritus University of Thrace (2000), as well as postgraduate degrees in European Commercial Law from the University of Bristol (UK) and in International and Economic Studies from the Athens University of Economics and Business. She is a qualified lawyer and a permanent staff member of the Management Organisation Unit of Development Programmes (MOD S.A.), under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Since 2004, she has held key positions within the Greek public administration, including at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (2004–2007), the Ministry of Development (2007–2009), and the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (2009–2015).

She has extensive expertise in the design, management, and oversight of EU co-financed programmes and public infrastructure projects, as well as in the formulation of national energy policy.

From 2007 to 2015, she served as a senior advisor to various Ministers of Energy, providing strategic counsel on energy policy and regulatory matters.

From 2016 to 2017, she worked in the private sector before returning to public service in October 2017 as Special Advisor on energy and mineral resources to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President of the New Democracy party. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Resources.

On June 27, 2023, she was appointed Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, a position she held until March 2025.

On April 7, 2025, she was appointed Spokesperson for New Democracy, Greece’s governing party.

Maria Sferruzza joined the energy industry in 1995 and began her career in the Oil & Gas Division of General Electric as a compressors application engineer and subsequently assumed roles of increasing responsibility in sales, commercial, and operational functions in both the United States and Italy. In 2011, she became Global Sales General Manager for GE Oil & Gas Services and in 2017 she was appointed GE Officer. Following the 2017 merger between General Electric’s Oil & Gas Division and Baker Hughes, Mrs. Sferruzza took responsibility for the Global Service Business Unit and LNG segment strategy, reporting directly to the CEO of the Turbomachinery and Process Solutions division. In 2018, she moved to Asia as Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific within Baker Hughes’ Global Operations structure, before returning to Italy in 2021 to join the Snam Group. She has also served as a non-Executive Director on the Board of Italgas, Italy’s main gas distribution system operator, and as Chairwoman of Stogit, Snam subsidiary managing gas storages across Italy.

Enas Shabana is a communications-and-stakeholder-engagement specialist whose career has helped Egypt’s energy-sector speak clearly and strategically to the public, media, and regional-partners. As Strategic Stakeholders Engagement Officer at the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), she bridges governments, companies, and international-institutions, shaping narratives around gas-cooperation, energy-security, and regional-integration in the Eastern Mediterranean. Before joining EMGF, Enas spent over seven years rising through the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, where she served as Communications Department Head, Marketing Team Leader for the Egyptian Unified Gas Company (EUG), and Communications/Marketing Section Head, building coordinated-messaging for Egypt’s gas-strategy, infrastructure-projects, and retail-energy-offers. Earlier, as Media Specialist at the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), she honed her ability to translate complex-technical-and-policy-topics into accessible-press-releases, campaigns, and public-outreach-content. With a Bachelor’s in Communication and Media Studies from Ain Shams University and an MBA in Marketing from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Enas blends media-craft with business-strategy. Her skills in Microsoft Office, customer service, and briefing-writing, plus her background as a certified-presenter at Egyptian television and radio, make her a powerful-voice for turning Egypt’s energy-agenda into engaging, credible, and cohesive-stories for both national and regional-audiences.

Throughout her career, Enas has demonstrated the ability to connect diverse audiences, build meaningful relationships, and elevate organizational narratives in complex, fast-paced environments. Her work reflects a deep understanding of both corporate communication and community engagement, making her a valuable leader in fostering internal alignment and external brand presence.

Marios Fokas Tsamichas is a young economist and professional in climate and energy policy, with a particular focus on just energy transition, frontier technologies, and complex systems. He has worked on climate strategy, policy research, and innovation support, while currently serving as Vice Curator of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers London Hub. He is a member of the Youth Climate Diplomacy Forum of Greece and the Environment and Climate Change Committee of the Hellenic National Youth Council representing the youth of Greece at regional, national, and international levels in dialogues on climate action, energy policy, and sustainable development.

Katerina Tsirimpa is Group Head of M&A and Corporate Development at National Grid, driving large-scale transactions and portfolio transformation across Europe and the US. With over 20 years in energy and infrastructure, she focuses on deploying capital in complex systems and shaping the expanding role of grids in the energy transition.

Thalia Valkouma with more than two decades of experience in the infrastructure & renewable energy sector, is a passionate and experienced leader who combines environmental engineering, project and strategic management, sustainability and ESG expertise.

Running a PhD in Environmental Engineering Technology, she also holds an MBA in Business and Project Management, a Master’s in Science (MSc) in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology. She has been trained in the College of Europe on EU energy policy and Governance, Goals and Challenges of the EU Energy Market. She has several certifications in energy, sustainability, management, quality assurance and ESG & CSR.

She has worked for several years as Environmental Project Manager and Strategic Planning Director in the private and public sector and has also acted as advisor and consultant of the Greek Government/Ministries and other international bodies on environment, energy and sustainability. She has delivered various presentations and speeches in different international conferences, forums and trainings.

Since 2016 she is co-founder and owner of Faria Group and Faria Thess S.A, companies focused on investment, development, construction and operation of renewable energy projects.

As President and CEO of FARIA Renewables S.A. since March 2023, she leads a joint corporate formation between FARIA Group and Capenergie 5 Fund managed by OMNES Capital, with the vision to create a leading independent power producer using renewable energy sources [offshore & onshore wind, photovoltaics, hybrid & storage projects, green hydrogen, and innovative solutions] and with the mission to drive green innovation and sustainability, foster strategic partnerships and collaborations, and deliver high-quality and impactful results for stakeholders, partners, and the environment.

Dr Petros Varelidis is Secretary General Natural Environment and Waters in the Ministry of
Environment and Energy since February 2022.
He has studied Chemical Engineering in the National Technical University of Athens and has
a PhD on composite materials and recycling.
He has also graduated from the department of business administration of the Athens
University of Economics and Business.
Since 2009, he has served as a policy advisor of the political leadership in the ministry of
Environment.
Since December of 2019, is representing Greece on the Bureau of the European Environment
Agency.
From 2016 to 2021 he held the position of Director of the Organisation of Natural Environment
and Climate Change (formerly named National Centre for Environment and Sustainable
Development).
During 2005-2009 and 2013-2015 he served as an environment attache in the Permanent
representation of Greece in the ΕU.
From 2012 to 2013, during the preparation of and the presidency of Cyprus of Council of the
EU, he served as environment attache in the Permanent representation of Cyprus in EU.

Edward Wingenbach became the eighth president of The American College of Greece in 2025, bringing three decades of transformative leadership at liberal arts institutions dedicated to innovation and social impact.

 From 2019–2025, Dr. Wingenbach served as president of Hampshire College, a pioneering liberal arts institution and part of the Five Colleges Consortium with Amherst College, Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts. Under his leadership, Hampshire experienced historic renewal. He launched a strategic plan that drove significant enrollment growth—applications doubled and enrollment rose by over 50%—while introducing a groundbreaking curriculum centered on solving urgent 21st-century challenges. He revitalized fundraising, spearheading the Change in the Making campaign, which raised more than $53 million in operational support, including the three largest gifts in Hampshire’s history, and lifted alumni giving to 35%. Hampshire also became one of only 15 U.S. colleges to achieve full carbon neutrality.

 Previously, at Ripon College (WI), Wingenbach served as vice president, dean of faculty, acting president, and professor of politics and government. He led the creation of the Catalyst Core Curriculum, strengthened financial and academic planning, and expanded external support. Earlier, at the University of Redlands (CA), he held senior faculty and administrative posts, advancing internationalization, graduate program development, and accreditation.

A scholar of democratic theory, he is the author of Institutionalizing Agonistic Democracy (Routledge) and has published widely in leading journals and edited volumes in the fields of political science, philosophy, and cultural studies. Wingenbach earned his BA from Lake Forest College and his PhD from the University of Notre Dame. He lives in Athens with his spouse, Susan Rice, and their son.

Professor Dr. Kostas Andriosopoulos is the Academic Director of the HELLENiQ Energy Center for Sustainability and Energy at ALBA Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece, and an Affiliate Professor of Finance and Energy Management. He previously held academic positions at Audencia Business School (France) as a Full Professor and Founding Director of the Energy Transition & Sustainability Center, as well as at ESCP Business School, where he served as Academic Director of the energy management program.

He has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals such as Energy Economics, the Journal of Banking and Finance, and Energy Policy, and he is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Energy Markets. Kostas chairs the Energy Committee of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of the Global Gas Center (World Energy Council) and the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics (HAEE), which he founded. He has organized major international energy fora, including the flagship Energy Transition Symposium in Greece and the Southeast Europe Energy Forum.

He has served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of DEPA (2014–2015, 2019–2021), Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Environment & Energy, and Head of the Decarbonization Fund for the Greek Islands. He contributed to shaping national e-mobility legislation and represented Greece in climate diplomacy at COP28 and COP29.

In the business sector, he is the CEO of Akuo Energy in Greece (recently acquired by Ardian) and the Co-founder & CEO of Deeprunner.ai, an artificial intelligence solutions company headquartered in Silicon Valley.

KOSTAS AXARLOGLOU, Dean, Alba Association, and Professor of International
Business and Strategy (Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of
Greece; 2016-present), Visiting Professor (Shanghai University; 2015-present), Associate
Professor of International Business (Democritus University of Thrace; 2002-2016),
Michael Gerrits Term Chair Assistant Professor of Economics (Babson College; 1994
2002), Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics (Fuqua School of Business, Duke
University; 1993-1994), Instructor (University of Michigan; 1990-1993).
B.A. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, M.A. University of Michigan, Ph.D.
University of Michigan.
Dr. Axarloglou is doing research and consulting work in the areas of International
Business Strategy, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Agility and Adaptability and Blue
Ocean Strategy. His research has been published in leading management and economics
journals such as Management Science, the Journal of Business, the Journal of the
European Economic Association, World Economy and Managerial and Decision
Economics. He has received several research grants and also participated in numerous
international conferences. Recently, he completed a study for the Athens Academy of
Science on “FDI Flows in Greece”. Dr. Axarloglou serves in various company Boards in
Greece and abroad, and has done extensive training and consulting work in numerous
multinational corporations such as Eurobank, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen-Cilag, Novo
Nordisk, Sunlight, PepsiCo, Quest, Titan, Viohalco and Vodafone.
Dr. Axarloglou, a recipient of the Fulbright scholarship, has extensive teaching
experience in all levels of business education and has also received several teaching
awards.
He is a member of the American Economic Association.

Konstantinos Bergeles is Principal in Deloitte’s Strategy and Transactions practice and a member of the firm’s Energy and Sustainability team. With more than ten years of experience in both academia and industry, he specializes in monitoring and modeling energy markets and analyzing investments in the energy sector. His experience spans projects involving cost-benefit analyses of infrastructure, regulations, and investments; feasibility studies; energy and gas market studies; and energy transition projects.

He is a certified Sustainability and Climate Risk professional by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), and holds a Ph.D. from Imperial College London, a master’s degree in finance from the London School of Economics, and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Before joining Deloitte, Konstantinos worked at leading organizations such as Morgan Stanley, Grant Thornton (in the Energy sector), and the Hellenic Natural Gas System Operator (DESFA S.A.), gaining extensive experience in technological solutions, consulting services, and energy market analysis.

Prof. Thanos Bourtsalas works at the intersection of climate, infrastructure, resources, and investment strategy, helping organizations understand how the transition to more sustainable and resource-efficient economic systems affects long-term value, risk, and competitiveness.

With more than 15 years of international experience across the public and private sectors, he has led complex projects in climate resilience, clean energy, circular economy, critical minerals, and mining. His work combines engineering, systems thinking, advanced analytics, and economic assessment to support strategic decision-making in rapidly changing markets.

He has authored more than 50 scientific papers and technical reports and has contributed to major international climate and sustainability assessments, including IPCC-related work. He has also been recognized as a specialist by leading international organizations, including the United Nations, the IFC/World Bank, and Singapore’s Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

He is an Electrical and Computer Engineer and holds an MSc from Columbia University, a PhD from Imperial College London, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

He studied Physics in the Physics School of the University of Athens.

He has worked in newspapers, magazines and television, while also being chief editor of the newspaper "Ependytis".
Today he is the director of the specialized portal www.energypress.gr, while also supervising and presenting the weekly television show "Plug in to Green" for OPEN.

Apart from his work as a journalist, he has run several communication campaigns, organized more than 15 conferences, edited economic book publications and he has taken part in tens of business missions in Greece and abroad.

Spiros is a Professor at the School of Production Engineering and Management at the Technical University of Crete and Director of the Laboratory of Industrial, Energy and Environmental Systems. He is also an Affiliate Professor at ESCP Business School, London.

He specializes in Renewable Energy Sources, energy efficiency, and energy-saving applications. His research interests include various aspects of Renewable Energy Sources (assessment and advanced applications of technologies, particularly photovoltaic and solar thermal systems; implementation of national policies related to Renewable Energy Sources; heating and cooling applications using Renewable Energy Sources; Life Cycle Assessment and environmental impact analysis of large-scale technologies), sustainability and circular economy, energy-saving systems, smart materials technologies for energy-related applications, and energy performance of building components.

As part of his academic work, he has published more than 70 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and has been cited more than 3,500 times, with a current h-index of 35. In addition, he has actively participated in more than 60 research projects. He has presented papers at numerous international energy conferences and has served as a reviewer for international journals in the fields of Renewable Energy Sources, Energy Efficiency, and Energy Policy. He has also been a member of various professional and academic associations, including the International Association for Energy Economics and the International Solar Energy Society. Furthermore, he has delivered lectures and supervised postgraduate theses at various academic institutions, including ESCP London, EADA Spain, and Montpellier Business School.

Spiros is the President of the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics and has been ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide for 2022–2025 in the field of Energy, according to the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” ranking published by Stanford University.

Dimitrios Pefanis is the Manager of CNN Greece, folowing a media career that spans over 25 years in Greece and the United States. He studied Communication and Mass Media at Panteion University and obtained his Master’s Degree in New Media Journalism from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He has worked as a journalist in Greece and the United States, covering the fields of technology, finance and new media and for the last 15 years he holds administrative positions in Greece’s largest news-sites. In 2012 he received Citigroup’s Journalistic Excellence Award and for the last 15 years has been teaching Digital Marketing.

I have been working as a journalist since 1995, covering financial and economic issues, the energy market, as well as strategic and private investments. In the course of my career, I have worked for the «TA NEA» newspaper, then as a director at Liberal.gr and I currently work for Euro2day.gr  and Energypress.gr covering the energy sector and its geopolitical impact. I am a graduate of La Sapienza University School of Architecture, I speak English, and Italian. I am married and father of two children.