Ελληνικα
Speakers
Mr. Jørn Askvik, Managing Director, Shortsea Promotion Center Norway
Jørn Askvik is the Managing Director of the Shortsea Promotion Centre, working across the entire value chain to strengthen sea transport through greater accessibility and transparency.
He has held senior roles in strategy, business development and marketing across logistics, aviation and technology, and brings a broad perspective on how industries transform. His guiding philosophy is to always start with the customer experience and work backwards towards the product in all development processes.
Jørn also serves as a board member of the European Shortsea Network, contributing to the promotion of sustainable and competitive shortsea solutions on a European scale.
Mr. Marien van den Berg, Policy Advisor, ESPO
Marien van den Berg is currently working for the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) in Brussels, where he focuses on logistics, funding, and port governance. ESPO acts as the principal interface between European seaports and EU institutions, representing port authorities, associations, and administrations from seaports across Europe. In addition to this ESPO role, Marien van den Berg has been working for the past two years as a European affairs advisor at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, within the External Affairs department. He holds a Master’s degree from Erasmus University Rotterdam, with a specialization in business administration and public policy.
Dr. Maria Boile
Dr. Maria Boile is Professor of Port and Intermodal Terminal Policy and Management, and Director of the Quantitative Analysis in Shipping Laboratory, at the Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus. She is Coordinator of the European Waterborne Technology Platform, shaping research and innovation priorities for the European waterborne transport sector. She is member of the Port Infrastructure and Operations Committee of the Transportation Research Board of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. She also leads the Shipping and Ports Group at the National Center for Research and Technology Hellas and is affiliated faculty with the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, at Rutgers University, U.S. Dr.
Boile has over 30 years of international academic, research, and policy experience in the United States and Europe. Her expertise spans freight intermodal and maritime transport systems, transport policy, port logistics and management. She has led and evaluated numerous high-profile European and U.S. projects, developed curricula at multiple academic institutions, and taught at universities and executive programs across Europe, the U.S., Asia and Africa. Widely published, she is the author of over 300 technical papers and reports, 18 book chapters, and five books and monographs. She has received several prestigious awards and distinctions for her contributions to the transport sector.
Mr. Marios Bougioukas, Director of Logistics & SCM, BCA COLLEGE
Mr. Marios Bougioukas is a Chief Officer of the Merchant Navy and Director of the Department of Logistics & Supply Chain Management at BCA College. He is a graduate of the College’s Business Administration Department and holds two Master’s degrees (an MA in Management and an MBA) from the Business School of London Metropolitan University.
He later graduated from the Mediterranean Maritime Academy in Limassol. He also holds the European Certification in Logistics, in accordance with the standards of the European Logistics Association.
At an institutional level, he has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Chios Marine Club since April 2022, and of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Logistics Company (EEL) since February 2023, and as of February 2025 serving as a VP of Operations.
His academic career in higher education began in 2012 at BCA, initially in the Department of Marketing and Communication. Since 2016, he has been part of the Shipping Department, where he currently serves as Director of Development, and since 2022, he has assumed his current duties in the Department of Logistics & Supply Chain Management. He also coordinates the Academic Boards of the College for the Departments of Shipping and Supply Chain Management. Additionally, since November 2024, he has been a lecturer in the course «Leadership and Teamwork» at the Mediterranean Maritime Academy.
His career in the shipping industry began as a Deck Cadet at Aeolos Management S.A. and Neptune Lines, serving on a VLCC and a Car Carrier, respectively. He later worked as Second Officer on cruise ships operated by Variety Cruises. Since August 2024, he has been active in the coastal shipping sector, serving as Chief Mate on vessels of Saronic Ferries and Kerkyra Lines.
Mr. Stavros Chatzigrigoris, Advanced Engineering Services & Technical Director, Zodiac Maritime
Stavros Hatzigrigoris started his career in the shipping industry in 1977 in the design department of Eleusis Shipyards, where he stayed for one year. He served in the Greek Navy on a minesweeper vessel from 1979 to 1981. In 1981, he was employed by Anangel Shipping Enterprises S.A. (part of the Angelicoussis group) as a junior superintendent engineer. He was quickly
promoted to fleet manager and assumed the role of Managing Director at Maran Tankers Management in 1992. He stayed with Maran Tankers Management until 2014, when the fleet had expanded to more than 50 VLCC and Suezmax tankers. In 2003, he was also appointed as the Managing Director of the newly established Maran Gas Maritime Inc. He remained with Maran Gas Maritime Inc. until July 2020, when the company’s fleet reached a total of 45 LNG vessels, including steam, DFDE, MEGI, and XDF-powered ships. He joined Zodiac Maritime in November 2020 as the Technical Director. He is now responsible for the newbuilding program of Zodiac Maritime, which included more than 37 ships, including DF LPG and DF LNG vessels.
During his career with Maran and Zodiac, he has been responsible for the construction of more than 200 ships. In 2021, he started his own consulting company (Advanced Engineering Services), which is still operating. He mainly provides technical assistance on LNG vessels.
He holds a B.Sc. degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from University College London, as well as an M.Sc. in Marine Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens. He has also studied Management of Ship Operations at the University of Strathclyde.
Ms. Iro Doumani, General Manager, Hellenic Federation of Road Transport (OFAE) Greece I Vice President, International Road Transport Union (IRU)
Iro Doumani is General Manager of the Hellenic Federation of Road Transport (OFAE) and President of the Goods Transport Council of the IRU, serving on the IRU’s global Board. She is a member of the Hellenic Logistics Council and teaches postgraduate courses in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Piraeus and a Master’s in Marketing from the University of Portsmouth.
Mr. Konstantinos Economou, Head of Shipping Finance at Credia Bank I General Secretary Association of the Banking & Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping
Mr. Konstantinos Economou has a substantial and diverse experience in the Banking field with specialization in shipping / transportation finance projects for more than 25 years in the national and international environment having worked in positions of trust, in international banking institutions such as the Bank of Nova Scotia, EFG Eurobank, Bank of Cyprus, Piraeus Bank S.A. and currently as head of Shipping Finance at Credia Bank.
He holds a Bsc degree in Economics and Operations Management from Lancaster University of England, and a Msc in Marine Policy (shipping & Trade) from Cardiff University of Wales. He is also a certified economist of the Finance Chamber of Greece and has served the Greek Army as a reserve officer of Finance Troops with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He is a member of the Hellenic Ship Financiers Association since 2002 and currently is the General Secretary of the Board. He is married with three kids.
Mr. Jaap Gebraad, Secretary-General, Waterborne Technology Platform
Jaap has worked for about 10 years as Board Secretary and Senior Project Manager of the «Bureau Innovation Research & Development» of the Foundation STC Group. He was also the Daily Secretary of the European Association EDINNA (Education in Inland Navigation). From 2018 to March 2022, Jaap was Director Research and Development Affairs at SEA Europe and Executive-Director of the Waterborne Technology Platform. Jaap holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics and Economics of the University of Applied Sciences (HES) in Rotterdam.
Dr. Guido Grimaldi, Corporate Commercial Director of Short Sea Shipping Services, Grimaldi Group
Guido Grimaldi, born in London in 1983, is married and father of three children. He graduated with honors in Economics from the University of Naples Federico II in 2005 and completed the MBA in Automotive Logistics at the ECG Academy and he immediately embarked on his career within the Grimaldi Group, where he is currently Corporate Short Sea Shipping Commercial Director and heads the Hotel Management and Claims Departments of Grimaldi Short Sea.
He is President of the Port of Igoumenitsa.
He is President of the Grimaldi Agencies of Sardegna, Catania and Brindisi.
In addition, he serves on the Boards of Directors of several Group companies, including Finnlines, Valencia Terminal Europa, Grimaldi Marangolo Terminal Catania, Grimaldi Logistica Genova, Grimaldi Morocco, Grimaldi Tunis, Grimaldi Shipping Agency Shanghai, and the Port of Heraklion.
He is President of ALIS (Logistics Association for Sustainable Intermodality) and of Interferry.
He holds key roles within Confitarma (Italian Confederation of Shipowners) as Vice President, Chairman of the Technical Group on Ecological Transition and member of the General Council.
He is a member of the Boards of Directors of SIMEST, the Grimaldi Onlus Foundation and the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli.”
Among other roles, Grimaldi is Honorary President of the “Un Calcio per Tutti” Onlus Association, has been named “Cavaliere del Mare” by the Marevivo Onlus Association.
He is founder of the Italian Champions Tour and a certified FISE instructor, as well as winner in 2025 of the Abu Dhabi World Cup Grand Prix, a world record for a non-professional rider.
He is Brand Ambassador of Fieracavalli Jumping World Cup and member of the Scientific Committee of the Tommaso Dragotto Foundation, as well as a member of Aspen and of the Advisory Board VolaNapoli Onlus.
Mr. Marcel Hansemann, Vice President-Relationship Manager, International Shipping Department, BERENBERG
Marcel Hansemann, born 1989 in Bremen (Germany) serves as Vice President and Relationship Manager at Berenberg Hamburg, as member of the Greek and Western Europe Shipping Team. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economic Law from Euro-FH Hamburg, and a LLM in Maritime Law from City St George’s, University of London.
He is a seasoned banker, who started his career in 2009 at “Bankhaus Neelmeyer AG”, at that time a private banking-focused subsidiary of UniCredit Bank AG. In November 2012 he joined Germany’s oldest private bank servicing domestic and Cyprus-based customers in the maritime industry in the bank’s International Shipping Department.
Since 2016, he is looking after Greek and UK-based shipping clients. In his current role he provides a broad range of commercial banking services to the international shipping industry, including cash management and risk advisory. With over 15 years of experience, he offers in-depth sector knowledge and a long-standing commitment to client relationships across core European shipping markets.
Mr. Jorinus Kalis, Development Manager, Damen Shipyards
Strategic and technically adept Development Manager with nearly two decades of experience at Damen Shipyards. Specialized in maritime innovation, naval architecture, and EU-funded research initiatives. Proven leadership in steering complex development programs and fostering cross-functional collaboration across engineering, sustainability, and R&D domains. Skilled in modular ship design, EU project coordination, sustainability and LCA reporting, emission reduction technologies, and technical leadership. Recognized for driving digital transformation and aligning development efforts with EU Green Deal and IMO targets.
Vice Admiral HCG Christos Kontorouchas, First Deputy Commandant, Hellenic Coast Guard
Master of Laws (LL.M) in EU Law (University of Essex, UK)
Hellenic Naval Academy, Diploma in Nautical studies
University Degree (LL.B), University of Athens, Faculty of Law
Mr. George Koumoutsakos, Permanent Delegate of Greece to UNESCO
The Permanent Representative of Greece to UNESCO, Georgios Koumoutsakos, is a diplomat and politician.
A. In his diplomatic career he served in the following positions:a) As Secretary of the Embassy:
– At the diplomatic office of the President of the Hellenic Republic (1995-1997)
– To the Permanent Representation of Greece to the Western European Union
and to the European Union (1997-2001)
b) As a Counselor of Embassy:
– Embassy of Greece in Tirana (2001 – 2003)
– Associate and Advisor to the Shadow Foreign Minister of the Main Opposition party (2003 – 2004)
– Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2004 – 2009)
B. In his political career he was elected:
– Member of the European Parliament (2009 – 2014)
– Member of the Hellenic Parliament (2014 – 2023)
– During this period he was a member of the Greek Government as Alternate Minister of Citizen Protection and as Alternate Minister of Immigration and Asylum (2019 – 2021). While he was a member of the Greek parliament, he served as a member of the National Council on Foreign Policy and the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs.
C. Studies:
– He has studied Political Science and International Relations at Panteion University of Athens
– He is an owner of:
-Diploma of advanced studies (DEA) in Political Science and Strategy and Defense of the University of Strasbourg
– Diploma of advanced studies (Master of Arts) in International Politics of the University of Brussels (Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB) from where he graduated with distinction (Magna cum Laude)
Panos Kourkountis, Technical Director, Sea Traders SA; Chairman, MARTECMA
Panos Kourkountis is the Technical Director of Sea Traders SA. He studied Naval Architecture and Mechanical Engineering in the National Technical University of Athens. Since 1994 he worked as Superintendent, Site manager of new building projects, Technical Manager and Technical Director of Andriaki Shipping Co Ltd. In January 2018 he joined Procopiou Group of companies as Technical Director of Sea Traders SA.
He is chairman of Marine Technical Managers Association (MARTECMA), and member of Hellenic Technical Chamber (TEE), ABS Europe Technical Committee, Lloyd’s Register Hellenic Technical Committee, DNV Greek Technical Committee, RINA Technical Committee, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers SNAME, Naval Architects Association of Greece, Mechanical Engineers’ Association of Greece, Hellenic Institute of Marine Technology (ELINT).
Mr. Emmanouil Koutoulakis, Secretary General of Aegean and Island Policy, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
Manolis Koutoulakis serves as a General Secretary of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy responsible for the Aegean and Insular Policy. He holds a Degree in Spatial & Urban Planning and Regional Development (Dip. Eng.) and has a MSc in Spatial Planning and Regional Policy. He is PhD candidate in International and European Relations at the University of Piraeus specialized in the research and analysis of the spatial and economic impacts of selected European policies in Greece.
He served as a Special Advisor at the Ministry of Development and Competitiveness (2010-2012) on issues related to the evaluation of Public and Private Investments, preparation of special funding schemes for entrepreneurship and monitoring of implementation of Public Investments Program.
During the period 2014-2015 he was a Special Advisor at the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Welfare in the field of policy analysis and planning of Social Economy Programs, design of specific measures on the promotion of employment, formulation of Sectoral funding policy on Lifelong learning and Youth Guarantee Action Plan.
He has participated as an expert in International and European Organizations on public sector reforms projects with an emphasis on Local Development and Public Administration. He has also participated or coordinated the implementation of numerous development studies and programs for Municipalities, Regions and has acquired specialization in European funding, strategic and operational planning for public authorities regarding blue growth, insularity and localization of EU cohesion policy.
He was the head of the Liaison and Innovation Office at the University of Piraeus (2017-2019) and coordinator of the European Information Centre of European Commission Initiative “Europe Direct” for Piraeus and the Islands of Attica.
From July 2019 until April 2021 served as a Special Advisor to the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy on the management of European Policies for the sectors of shipping, maritime transport, maritime security and surveillance along with blue economy, insularity and management of the digital transformation of the Ministry. He was the head of the team responsible for the drafting and final presentation of the new legal framework on the Integrated Maritime Policy in the Insular Territory (Law 4832/2021).
During his tenure as Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy, he deals with critical issues concerning the holistic management of water resources, the promotion of the European dimension of insularity in cooperation with European stakeholders, the protection of the built environment, the improvement of connectivity between islands, the strengthening of social cohesion and the cultural identity of the islands, etc.
Mr. Nigel Lowry, Greece Correspondent for Lloyd’s List
Nigel Lowry is a journalist and creator of events for the shipping industry. He is the resident expert on Greek shipping for Lloyd’s List, the maritime information provider since 1734. He is a regular participant in maritime industry events as chairman, presenter, moderator or guest speaker and has often been interviewed for television and other media on shipping topics. He has won an Efkranti Award for his coverage of the Greek shipping industry and was awarded the Cavaliere del Lavoro Guido Grimaldi prize for his career as a journalist at the 2023 Mare Nostrum Awards, becoming the first non-Italian to win the award. Nigel wrote the book ‘Onassis and his Legacy’, published by the Onassis Foundation in 2003, reprinted from a serialisation in Lloyd’s List.
Since 2004, he has directed and hosted the annual Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards. In 2023, he wrote and edited the commemorative hardback book ‘20 Years of the Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards’. Independently, Nigel is also founder and director of the Greek Shipping Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognising outstanding individuals in Greek shipping’s history and is a hub of information for new generations. The Hall of Fame resides at www.greekshippinghalloffame.org
Ms. Gesine Meissner, European Coordinator for the European Maritime Space
Gesine Meissner is a renowned expert on European maritime policy and a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP). As an MEP from 2009 to 2019, she was a key figure in shaping policies on transport, fisheries and environmental sustainability, particularly in the maritime context. She chaired the European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands, and Coastal Areas (SEARICA), a platform that brought together policy makers, industry representatives and NGOs to promote sustainable maritime development.
Ms. Meissner has played a key role in numerous legislative efforts, including the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the Port Reception Facilities Directive, which aim to improve maritime safety and environmental protection in European ports. Her expertise also led to her appointment as Special Envoy of the President of the European Parliament on maritime policy in 2018.
Following her time in the European Parliament, Ms Meissner remained deeply involved in maritime policy, serving on the EU Mission Board on Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters and chairing of German National Committee for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Since September 2024, Ms. Meissner has been the European Coordinator for the European Maritime Space under the revised Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Regulation. In this role, she draws on her extensive maritime policy experience to improve the integration of maritime transport infrastructure into the wider EU transport network, with a focus on decarbonisation, sustainable development of European ports and promotion of short sea shipping.
Prof. Angelos Pantouvakis, Dean, School of Maritime and Industry, University of Piraeus, Greece
Angelos Pantouvakis studied Civil and Transport Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, (M. Eng.) He continued his studies at the UK, M.B.A. and Ph.D. at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
He spends more than twenty-five years from the bottom to the very top managerial positions at the professional arena in Greece and abroad in the manufacturing sector ( Food and Pharmaceutical ) and services sector industries (Leading consulting firms, Banking and Health Care, Maritime sector) and is at the present Professor and Dean of the School of Maritime and Industry of the University of Piraeus.
He has extensively published at top tier outlets in the fields of Shipping and Transport Logistics while his work has gained international recognition and received numerous research awards (e.g. Emerald Literati, Springer etc.). Finally, he has been included in the 2% list of top scientists from Stanford and Elsevier for the fields of Logistics and Transport.
Mr. Konstantinos Papageorgiou, President, Hellenic Logistics Association (EEL)
Konstantinos Papageorgiou is the Co-Owner and General Manager of PTL, as well as the President of the Hellenic Logistics Association (EEL). He is a PhD candidate at the University of Piraeus, focusing on intermodal transport and sustainability.He holds academic credentials from top institutions, including the University of Cambridge (Sustainable Supply Chain), Yale University (Business Ethics), and is currently pursuing further studies in Supply Chain and Transportation at MIT.He was recognized as Top Manager of the Year in 2021 by the IRU for his commitment to green transport, having invested in alternative fuels such as CNG—making PTL one of the few transport companies in Greece to do so. He has calculated his company’s carbon footprint and has participated in innovative research projects such as E-CMR and E-CALL.He is also an active member of the National Council for Supply Chain Development and Competitiveness in Greece, contributing significantly to the advancement of sustainable and technologically driven logistics nationwide.
Prof. Stratos Papadimitriou, Dept. of Maritime Studies & Director of the Transportation Systems Laboratory, University of Piraeus
Stratos Papadimitriou has over 40 years of experience in Transportation Systems Planning and Logistics, is a Professor of Transportation Systems at the University of Piraeus and director of the Transportation Economics Laboratory. He has served as CEO of the Organization of Urban Transportation and Chairman of the Board of the International Athens Airport. He has also served as an advisor to Ministers of Transport for national and European affairs and has acted as a consultant in various entities including the World Bank. For the past 12 years he is advisor to the founder of a major Greek shipping group, listed in the NYSE. He has been involved in managing and participating in more than 20 European Union funded research projects regarding transport planning, logistics, and maritime transport. He serves regularly as an evaluator for the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA). He has published more than 100 research papers, and according to Google scholar his work has been cited more than 6250 times.
Ms. Eleni Polychronopoulou
Ms. Eleni Polychronopoulou is President of HEMEXPO and Chairperson of ERMA TECH GROUP, a global pioneer in sustainable maritime technologies. A visionary leader, she drives innovation in environmental protection and the decarbonization of the shipping industry. Known for her strategic foresight and ability to lead complex, multinational organizations, Eleni plays a key role in shaping the future of maritime sustainability. She also holds prominent positions in SEA EUROPE, and HELMEPA, actively promoting collaboration, technological advancement, digitalization, and environmental responsibility across the global maritime community.
Antonio Preckler
Antonio Preckler holds a degree in Naval and Oceanic Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, as well as a master degree in marine Equipment from the same institution. With cross-sector professional experience in industries such as energy and civil works, he joined PYMAR in 2009 as the Market Analysis Manager. Since then, he has held various executive positions within the organization and currently serves as Technical and Control Director.
Ms. Maria Sarafoglou, Journalist/Anchor
Maria Nefeli Sarafoglou is Antenna Television’s news anchor and first female co-host of the acclaimed current affairs program, Special Report. She has conducted interviews with a wide range of subjects including world leaders such as British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Emmanuel Macron.Maria Nefeli has interviewed scientists, politicians, and leading newsmakers including Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, former US Senator Robert Menendez, former ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet, former Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she traveled to the United Kingdom where she interviewed Britain’s lead COVID scientist, Imperial College Professor Robin Shattock. Her programing on COVID elevated the public understanding and debate on vaccination acceptance. She did groundbreaking work on exposing Greek society to Autism, with her highly acclaimed interview of Professor Tony Attwood, a British-Australian world class authority on autism spectrum disorder. For more than two decades her range and expertise have played a pivotal role in Greek broadcast media. In 2016, Maria Nefeli joined Antenna Television, a leading Greek broadcast network with a national and international audience. Prior to that, she presented the daily evening news at Mega TV and hosted news programs in Greek and English at Hellenic Public Television (ERT). Maria Nefeli has had international placements in London with Associated Press Television News (APTN) and BBC World Service, as well as in Atlanta with CNN. Maria Nefeli received her Master’s in International Journalism from City University London, England, and she holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Besides her native Greek, she speaks English, French, and Spanish. Maria Nefeli is the proud mother of a teenage son, Dimitris.
Amaia Sarasola, Marketing & Commercial Manager at Port of Bilbao Authority
I am responsible for the Marketing and Commercial Department at the Port Authority of Bilbao, where I coordinate strategies for promotion, business development, and relationships with both domestic and international clients. My work focuses on boosting the competitiveness of the Port of Bilbao, attracting new services and traffic, strengthening relationships with the port community, and positioning the port as a key logistics hub on the Atlantic axis.
Mr. Ralf-Charley Schultze, General Manager and Chairman of International Union for RoadRail Combined Transport (UIRR)
Mr. Ralf-Charley Schultze is 62 years old and lives in Germany with his family, after moving from Vienna. Before going to Austria, he was responsible during five years within the freight department of the Swiss railways (SBB Cargo) for the combined traffic, the automotive business and the partner management. In this time he had the opportunity to practice liberalization and to experience so-called coopetition. He has an international background, speaks fluently five languages and studied law in Germany, France and England. 10 years in different logistics and forwarding companies in Europe gave him a solid logistics background and enabled him understanding, organizing and implementing logistic processes, meeting the real needs of the market. From 2009 to 2013 he was Director for multimodal logistics within the GEFCO group, responsible for the development of multimodal business all over Europe, with a strong focus on Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia. Since 1 January 2014, Mr. Ralf-Charley Schultze is Director General of the UIRR, the international union for road-rail combined transport in Brussels.
Professor Angelos Syrigos, Member of Greek Parliament I Professor of International Law and Foreign Policy at the Department of International and European Studies at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences.
Angelos Syrigos (Athens, 1966) is a member of the Greek Parliament (elected in July 2019, May and June 2023 General Elections in the 1st District of Athens with the New Democracy Party). He is also Professor of International Law and Foreign Policy at the Department of International and European Studies at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens.
He is a graduate of the Law Schools of the National University of Athens and of the University of Bristol, England where in 1994 he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the field of public international law.
He has served as Deputy Minister for Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs (January 2021-May 2023), Secretary General of Population and Social Cohesion of the Greek Ministry of Interior (August 2012-May 2015) and Secretary of the Ministry of Education responsible for Intercultural Education (September 2007- January 2009)
He has published eight books and several articles on Greek-Turkish relations, the law of the Sea, the Cyprus issue, the Balkans, minorities, migration, the Minor Asia Catastrophe and the Restoration of Democracy. His latest book “50 questions and answers for the Restoration of Democracy” with Professor Evanthis Hatzivassiliou was published in March 2024.
He is married with Dr. Eirini STAMATOUDI, Law Professor at the University of Nicosia and they have three children.
Mr. Ioannis Tsakiris, Vice President, European Investment Bank
Yannis Tsakiris is a Vice President in the European Investment Bank.From 2019 to 2023 he was Deputy Minister for Development and Investments in Greece, responsible primarily for the public investment programme, the European funds and the national development bank.
He was also Alternate Governor of the EBRD and the World Bank and in the Board of Directors of the Black Sea Trade and development Bank. Until 2019, he held several senior positions in the European Investment Fund, involved in European venture capital markets that were under development phase, in particular in the South-eastern Europe and EU Neighbouring Countries, where he had also set-up and developed several investment and financing initiatives and platforms.
He holds a BSc and an MSc in Mining Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and an MBA degree from the Management School of the Imperial College in London.
Themis Vagiakos
Themis Vagiakos brings a wealth of experience from corporate finance, management consulting, and digital strategy to the maritime sector. He launched his career as a Financial Controller at Allianz, later moving to Deloitte in both Greece and Germany to advise clients on M&A, value creation, and complex regulatory projects, with notable engagements in the maritime sector.
Following his MBA, Themis took on senior leadership roles at Wipro and Microsoft, directing major digital transformation and innovation programs across Europe, Asia, and the US. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, he also founded a Digital Innovation Hub in Greece dedicated to advancing the goals of the EU Green Deal.
His pivot to the maritime industry two years ago led him to ABS, where he currently leads services encompassing Energy Transition/ Management, ESG Excellence, Sustainable Finance, and Performance Advisory. He also actively contributes to the development of ABS’s strategic services where green finance, regulation, and innovation converge.
Themis holds an MBA from INSEAD, an MSc in Finance from Warwick Business School, a BSc in Management Science and Technology from AUEB, while he is also CIMA-qualified.
Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, CEO, Skaramangas Shipyards
Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has graduated from Athens College and the Athens Law School. He holds a Masters degree from Harvard University. He has worked as a shipping and business lawyer. Since 2000 he has been elected 11 times as a member of Parliament. He has served twice as Minister of Shipping, as Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs, and as a vice Foreign Minister for international economic relations. He has served in several parliamentarian position including twice as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Standing Committee.
In 2024 he resigned from parliament and now he is the vice president and CEO of the Skaramangas Shipyard under the new ownership after privatization.
Dr. Angelos F. Vlachos, CEO of the Port of Kavala (OLK SA)
AV is a public policy expert with strong managerial competence focusing on sustainable development, also with a heavy academic background; BA and PhD / Univ. of Athens; MA Univ. of Sussex.
His experience lies at multi-levels, initially with a wide-ranging research performance and at a later stage on numerous strategic ventures related initially to the tourism phenomenon and later to the port industry.
Throughout the last decade he has concentrated multifariously on infrastructures” management and above all «Blue Growth» Projects. Coped with several matters at the edge (between corporate and government), he has shaped a hybrid professional identity – combining solid business knowledge with soft skills.
AV has taught at the Univ. of Peloponnese, at Panteion and at the University of Piraeus; currently he is lecturing at the Hellenic Open University (EAP).
He has worked in the international tourism industry; senior Policy Consultant in the Ministry of Tourism; director of the Greek National Tourism Organization(China); independent expert in tourism policy; initiator of a European co-funded research scheme (P-P Project).
One of the longer-lasting Directors of Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (BoD of HRADF-aka TAIPED); BoD member at Thessaloniki Port Authority (ThPA) in charge of the privatization; later, also held a seat at the BoDs of Kavala Port SA and Alexandroupolis Port SA accordingly. Since 2024 he is an elected BoD member at MedCruise, representing the small ports of Eastern Mediterranean.
Mr. George Xiradakis, President, Association of the Banking & Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping I Founder & Managing Director, XRTC Business Consultants
George Xiradakis was born in Athens and grew up in Volos. He graduated from the Nautical Marine Academy of Aspropyrgos-Athens and he holds a diploma in Commercial Operations from City of London Polytechnic and an MSc in Maritime Studies from University of Wales. He served as Senior Manager in the French bank Credit Lyonnais both in Athens and Paris. In 1999 he founded XRTC Business Consultants which acts as a commercial representative of foreign banks and institutions in Greek Shipping Market. Since 2009 XRTC acting as Advisor to Chinese Finance market and in 2010 awarded in Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards as “Financier of the Year 2010” for the completion of the first bilateral loan between a Chinese bank that was a milestone transaction in the world of ship financing being the first transaction of the new Chinese market. He is a Banker of reference for Chinese financing in the international business cycles due to his long-lasting relationship with Chinese financial institutions. XRTC recently signed a cooperation with China’s leading maritime services provider, Huayang Maritime Center Co Ltd, while Mr. Xiradakis holds the position of Senior Advisor for Greece.
He is President of the Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping, Member of the Board of Directors of AB Bank, and Deputy Director of the 2nd Shipping Finance Committee of the China Institute of Navigation. In addition, he is Vice President of the Heraklion Port Authority and a Board Member of the Nasdaq-listed companies Imperial Petroleum Inc., C3is Inc. and Rubico Inc. He also serves as a Board Member of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Piraeus Marine Club and is a member of both the Hellenic Maritime Museum and the Hellas Liberty Floating Museum. Moreover, he is Vice President of the Hellenic Chinese Chamber, Board Member of the Greece–China Association, and member of the Mediterranean Committee of the China Classification Society (CCS). He is also member of the Hellenic French and British-Hellenic Chambers of Commerce and holds the honorary title of President Emeritus of the International Propeller Club – Port of Piraeus.
Ms. Carola Yiannouli, General Manager, Oceanking
Carola is General Manager and Board Member at Oceanking Technical & Trading SA, leading operations and business development efforts. A Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, she also holds an MBA, combining technical expertise with strategic business insight. Over the course of her career, Carola has transitioned from technical roles in ship design and marine engineering to senior positions in project management, business development and strategic planning. She is actively involved in the advancement and implementation of technologies and strategies that support the decarbonization of maritime operations, including alternative fuels, energy efficiency solutions, and digital innovation.
Mr. Panos Zachariadis, Technical Director, Atlantic Bulk Carriers
Panos Zachariadis is a Mechanical Engineer (BSc) and Naval Architect and Marine Engineer (MSE) from the University of Michigan with 42 years of experience in shipping.
He served for 13 years as Marine Superintendent in New York, after periods of shipbuilding supervision in Japan and sea service in bulk carriers and oil tankers.
Since 1997 he is Technical Director of Atlantic Bulk Carriers in Greece and, from 2004 to 2020, a member of the Greek Delegation to the U.N’s International Maritime Organization (IMO), having contributed to the development of several well-known international shipping regulations (e.g. GBS, PSPC, FSA) and the prevention of others (e.g. double hull bulk carriers).
In cooperation with major Korean shipyards he has applied numerous energy-saving ideas, some of which have become industry standards.
He is a Fellow member of the American Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), member of Technical Committees of several shipping Classification Societies and the Union of Greek Shipowners, Acting Chairman of BIMCO’s Marine Environment Committee and elected in the Board of Directors of HELMEPA, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and MARTECMA.
He has written numerous technical guides, papers and articles and is the recipient of several international shipping awards including the 2017 HSSA award for “Shipping Personality”.