alexandratos

George Sp. Alexandratos, General Manager, Apollonia Lines; General Secretary, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association

George Sp. Alexandratos was born in Athens in 1973. He had studied at Moraitis School and graduated with a Bsc in shipping business from Plymouth University and Msc in Maritimime Policy from Cardiff University. He is the director of Apollonia Lines sa which was founded in 1974 from his father Spyros who unfortunately passed away in September 2004.
In 2013 he established together with co-partners the shipping fund called Blue water Maritime Capital with the main activity to invest in dry bulk shipping.
George is now the General Secretary of Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association, and amongst other activities he is mainly involved with the tasks of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping giving emphasisis as being one of the steering committee members to the first Greek maritime cluster the so called MARITIME HELLAS which was founded by UGS, GCS and EVEP.
He keeps also the position of the Deputy Chairman of Marine Club of Piraeus and he is a member of the Committee of External Affairs of UGS as well as of SYNENOSIS.
Since February 2014 he was the President of the Hellenic Hull Mutual. When in 2017 his term was concluded, George is interested to promote the benefits of shipping in the international economy and loves the word Hellenic and believes very much to Hellenes, to Europe as soon as all the parties are united.


stratos apergis

Efstratios Apergis, Managing Director, Levante Ferries

Efstratios Apergis studied Computer Engineering in the Polytechnic Faculty of the University of Patras. He is one of the founders of Levante Ferries and from 2013 he holds the position of Managing Director.
During the rebuild period 2012-2014 of the vessel Fior Di Levante, in Cosco Shipyard Zhoushan China he has contributed decisively in the overall project management and the timely delivery of the vessel. The company now owns (4) four RO/PAX vessels active in the Ionian Sea.
Since 2019 he is a board member of SEEN.


CURRICULUM PROFESSIONALE

Francesco Benevolo, Managing Director of RAM –Logistica, Infrastrutture e Trasporti S.p.a; Professor of Transport and Infrastructure Economics, European University of Rome

Economist, Director of Economic Studies at Censis – Study Centre for Public Investments and Director of Communications and Public Relations at Confitarma – Italian General Confederation of Ship Owners, Francesco Benevolo was Programming and Development Director of Italia Navigando Spa and, since July 2005, he is Managing Director of RAM –Logistica, Infrastrutture e Trasporti S.p.a., company that works, as in-house structure, to plan and coordinate measures for the development of the “Motorways of the Sea” Program as well as to support freight and logistics planning and policy-making as implementing body of the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. He is Professor of Transport and Infrastructure Economics, at the European University of Rome.
Since May 2015 he was appointed as expert to the Digital Transport and Logistics Forum , set up by the European Commission.
He has published several texts and books related to the transport system and local development in collaboration with other authors (Giuseppe De Rita, Aldo Bonomi, etc.), coordinating the implementation of the First and Second Report on the Economy of the Sea (Edizioni Franco Angeli ) in collaboration with Federazione del Mare –Italian Maritime Cluster Organization.
He drew up the Plan for the Development of navigation on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. He has also worked in synergy with several institutions, including the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the CNEL and the GRTN.
He carries out cultural and dissemination activities on the issue of his competence, through lectures, publications and participation in seminars and conferences.


corres SHORT CURRICULUM VITAE

Alkis John Corres, Maritime Economist

• Executive Advisor on European Affairs : Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners” Association, Shortsea Promotion Centre of Greece
• Professorships: Aegean University, Department of Shipping Studies and Business School; City Law School, London; ABAT OLIBA CEU, Barcelona, Spain; ALBA Graduate Business School, Athens, Greece
• Public Power Corporation: Advisor on Shipping
• CEO positions in tanker and chemical tanker companies for three decades
• Member of the Board of Directors in Passenger liner companies for twelve years
• Non Executive Member, Board of Directors, Port of Piraeus
• Policy Advisor, Ministry of Merchant Marine, Greece
• Advisor to Naftotrade – Newbuilding Program
• Developer of the novel ship construction method “PlatformShips”.


PHILIPPOS COSTOPOULOS

Philip Costopoulos, Managing Director, Arkas Hellas S.A.; President, International Maritime Union

Philip Costopoulos is the Managing Director of Arkas Hellas S.A, a family shipping agency established in 1999 from Arkas Group in Piraeus. Today the company represents eight Container Shipping Lines, from Global Carriers to short sea carriers and feeder operator.
He was elected in March 2018 as President of International Maritime Union, an association with a history of 97 years that is acting collectively on behalf of its members who are agents of International Container Shipping Lines, Car Carriers and Cruise companies.
He is a Graduate of Cardiff University with a master degree in International Transport and holds a BSc Degree in Economics from Kapodistrian University of Athens.


vasilis-dimoulas

Vassilios Dimoulas, Technology & Innovation Manager Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Bureau Veritas

Vassilios Dimoulas is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer with an experience of over 20 years in providing classification and technical consulting services to the marine and offshore industry. He graduated from the National Technical University of Athens and subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Marine Engineering from University College London. After internship periods in Hellenic Shipyards and Troodos Shipping, he has worked for ABS Consulting for 8 years. He joined Bureau Veritas in 2005, where he was in charge of the technical consulting services and subsequently of the plan approval department at the Piraeus office, responsible for the Hellenic and Black Sea region.
Throughout his career he has been involved in numerous projects including new construction and major conversion, which he has followed both at design and implementation phases.
His current position at Bureau Veritas is Technology & Innovation Manager, Greece Cyprus & Malta. His task and major focus is on assisting clients to meet the growing challenges posed by new and upcoming regulations, by applying novel and often innovative technologies with which they may not be fully familiar. To achieve this goal he is promoting the available Bureau Veritas services and solutions but also encouraging discussion and exchange of experience between vessel operators, equipment manufacturers and Class. Finally, using the vast pool of competencies and knowledge within Bureau Veritas, he is assisting owners with handling new construction projects and major modifications, especially when these involve ship types and technologies not yet familiar to them.


Stamatis-Fradelos

Stamatis Fradelos, Director Business Development, ABS

Stamatis Fradelos is Director in ABS’ Business Development team. The Business Development team is responsible for formulating and implementing business development strategies to help ABS meet its strategic objectives and providing insight into future business initiatives and market drivers for inclusion in local and corporate business plans. Stamatis represents ABS on the IACS Environmental Panel.
Prior to joining ABS, Stamatis worked as a marine field surveyor for five years at the Hellenic Register of Shipping and spent six years at Lloyd’s Register as a Plan Approval Surveyor.
Stamatis has a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, a M.Sc. in Marine Technology and Science and a M.Sc. in Engineering – Economic Systems.


Ηatzigrigoris

Stavros Hatzigrigoris, Managing Director, Maran Gas Maritime Inc; Chairman, MARTECMA

Stavros Hatzigrigoris is the current Managing Director of Maran Gas Maritime Inc., a position which he has held since 2003. For the years 1992 to 2012 he held the position of Managing Director of Maran Tankers Management Inc. Stavros joined Anangel Shipping Enterprises S.A. in 1981 as a Superintendent Engineer.
He holds a B.Sc. degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from University College London, an M.Sc. degree in Marine Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and has studied Management of Ship Operations in the University of Strathclyde.
He is Chairman of MARTECMA, a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineers and has served as one of the SNAME International Vice Presidents. He is a member of the ABS Technical Committee, the Chairman of the DNV-GL Technical Committee and a member of the Greek Technical Committees of LRS, KR and CCS.


F_Kalligas

Fernando Kalligas, Member of the BoD, DESFA; Country Manager for Greece, Enagas

Fernando Kalligas is currently a member of the Board of Directors (BoD) of DESFA and Country Manager of Enagas for Greece. His responsibilities in Enagas include overlooking participated companies in Greece, DESFA and TAP, and further opportunities in the region.
Born and raised in Greece, with working experience in over 20 countries, mainly in infrastructure projects in Europe, South and Central America and Sub-Saharan Africa, he also holds an MBA from Hult International Business School.
Before working for Enagas, he was in Borealis, developing Extra High Voltage Transmission Systems in Europe and the US. He has worked for several years with the Spanish company Comsa Emte in constructions and infrastructure. Fernando has also consulting experience, working for funds on international business development in London. He started his carrier in Greece in MJ Mailis in the Oinofyta plant.
He is native in Spanish and Greek and speaks excellent English.


Antoine Kedzierski web

Antoine Kedzierski, Policy Officer Shortsea Shipping, DG Move

Antoine Kedzierski works in the Maritime Policy and Logistics unit of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, where he focuses in particular on sustainability of shipping and the promotion of short sea shipping in Europe.
Previously, Antoine worked on the establishment of the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking, the public private partnership, which has been established in order to manage rail-related research and innovation projects as part of Horizon 2020.
Antoine holds a Master degree in political sciences from the Freie Universität in Berlin as well as a Master in EU Affairs from Sciences Po Paris.


keres

Tanja Vujnović Kereš, Cluster Manager, Intermodal Transport Cluster

Ms Tanja Vujnović Kereš is a Cluster Manager at Croatian Intermodal Transport Cluster (KIP) which is founded in 2005 as a Croatian Shortsea Shipping Promotion Centre. Since she joined KIP 8 years ago, Tanja successfully managed more than a dozen of national and international projects mainly aimed at development and promotion of intermodality including boosting informatization in the transport sector. Her special field of expertise are EU-funded projects supporting transport services and intermodality including promotion and communication activities. Tanja participated as a speaker to numerous international conferences with the topics of her interest. After receiving her master’s degree from the University of Rijeka, she continued her education with a postgraduate specialist study in doing business with the EU at the Faculty of Economics.


Panos Kirnidis

Panos Kirnidis, CEO, Palau International Ship Registry

Panos Kirnidis is the Chief Executive Officer of Palau International Ship Registry with its European HQ in Piraeus in Greece. He was appointed CEO of one of the fastest growing ship registries in the world and he has a wealth of maritime and shipping experience having spent four years as Managing Director of the International Shipping Bureau.
Panos Kirnidis has been championing the drive towards smart technology in the shipping world for many years and he believes the transition from paperwork to electronic operations and management has transformed the maritime sector and shipping in general.
Among Panos Kirnidis’ core interests are marine engineering, naval architecture, strategic maritime planning, international crew welfare, smart technology and its use in the maritime world, security and anti-piracy issues, risk management in shipping, regulatory issues and safety.
Mr Kirnidis is member of the advisory board of Bluegrowth Piraeus and the YES Forum.


john kokarakis

John Kokarakis, Technology & Business Development  Director Hellenic, Black Sea & Adriatic Zone, Bureau Veritas

Dr Kokarakis a 1979 graduate of National Technical University of Athens, holds PhD (1986) and Masters degrees in Naval Architecture (1983) and Mechanical Engineering (1984) from the University of Michigan.
He worked for over ten years as a consultant undertaking technical problems worldwide. His specialization was in the area of technical investigation of marine accidents. In his capacity as a forensic engineer he participated in the technical investigation of the Exxon Valdez grounding, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, the drillship Sea-Crest capsize, the Piper Alpha fire and explosion, the Aleutian Enterprise foundering in Alaska as well as many other accidents of less notoriety.
The last twenty years he works in Greece, in the area of classification. He is today the Technical Director of Bureau Veritas in the Hellenic and Black Sea & Zone, responsible for the smooth technical operation in the Zone as well as in the harmonic cooperation with the BV offices worldwide to the benefit of the BV clients.
He is a member of SNAME since 1976 and a Fellow of the Society. He served in various capacities, being currently the Chairman of the Greek Section since 2014.


Alex Kouros

Alex Kouros, General Manager, Studio Navale Maritime & Technical Ltd

Alex Kouros runs the Studio Navale national and international operations for more than 30 years! Masters from NTUA, naval architect and marine engineer, he carries a quite significant experience, starting his ships’ related carrier back in 70s, walking the line between the traditional Perama shipyards’ mode, towards the up-to-date processes of the very large and pioneering shipyards of the planet.
He has led, large shipbuilding projects, modifications and conversions of numerous types of ships, apart from tankers and bulkers, special types like tugboats, supply vessels, mega yachts and floating structures, like skid barges, platforms, crane ships and more. Among his professional services, the Country Manager position at ABS Consulting and Technical Manager of a first-class shipping company.
His primal focus nowadays, at Studio Navale, is standing with the oil and gas tank ships, their efficacious operation and repairs, as well as the way of implementation of the very demanding current legislation, fluctuating between the mooring items arrangement and strength aspects, handling of the ballast waters and manipulating the exhaust gases of the diesel engines.


maria lekakou

Maria Lekakou, Professor, University of the Aegean

Dr Maria Lekakou is Professor in Maritime Economics in Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, and Dean of the Business School in University of the Aegean. She has a longstanding experience in shipping and maritime policy, as Advisor to the Minister of Mercantile Marine (1996-2000), member of the National Regulatory Authority for Internal Maritime Transportation (2001-2004) and as a maritime expert in many national or European bodies.
Maria Lekakou is co- author of books examining European Maritime Policy, Greek shipping competitiveness, island transports and cruise tourism and she has studied blue Growth, short-sea shipping policy developments, maritime tourism, maritime governance, cruise industry, passenger shipping, labour affairs as well as European policies related to liner shipping, maritime competition and regional development.
She has contributed over 60 peer reviewed papers to international scientific conferences or journals, and has participated in numerous R&D projects.
She runs the initiative BlueGrowth@aegean.gr for the promotion of ocean literacy and blue entrepreneurship by organizing European Maritime Days, BLUEHACATHONS (for students) AEGEAN BLUEGROWTH COMPETITION (for startuppers) and Living Labs in various islands for developing business ideas.


PMITROU PIC

Panos Mitrou, Technology & Innovation Manager, Marine & Offshore Business Development, Lloyd’s Register

Panos Mitrou has been with LR for more than 13 years and currently holds the position of Technology & Innovation Manager for Marine & Offshore in South Europe. His primary focus is on uptake of technology, alternative fuels, forthcoming legislation, innovation and compliance and commercial challenges.
During his seven year service with Lloyd’s Register Piraeus Technical Support Office, he has dealt with series of statutory and other reviews, ranging from BWM to MARPOL and the IBC and IGC Codes. In this context he has supported and lead the implementation of several pieces of new legislation. Since 2007 he has represented Lloyd’s Register in a number of international forums, conferences and projects. He has been deeply involved in the setup and materialization of funded projects in the maritime sector, initiating this activity in the Eastern Mediterranean. In 2016 he lead elemed, the first ever maritime funded project in the European Union, under the cohesion fund envelope.
Panos holds a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer Diploma from NTUA and an MBA in Shipping from ALBA Business School. He is currently a PhD candidate in Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, at University of Strathclyde.


noelke

Markus Noelke, Managing Director, Short Sea Shipping Inland Waterway Promotion Centre (SPC)

Markus Noelke (49) was born in Bremerhaven, Germany. As the son of a captain it was not a big surprise for him to choose a profession in the environment of the maritime business. After finishing his apprenticeship as a forwarding agent with the traditional international forwarding and logistics company Karl Gross in Bremen and Bremerhaven he changed to the Panalpina Group Germany in Hamburg. From 1995 to 1997 he attended the Deutsche Außenhandels und Verkehrsakademie , DAV, in Bremen, to study for industrial and business management. Following this he changed to the international Gondrand Group, worldwide transport and logistics providers. In their offices Frankfurt, Hamburg and Bremen he concentrated mainly on the overseas sector, sales ocean freight, combined with multimodal transport matters.
After about 20 years of business experience he was appointed as managing director of the German ShortSeaShipping Inland Waterway Promotion Center (spc) in Bonn. The spc is a Public-Private-Partnership to promote the potentials of shortsea and inland waterway shipping and is located in the offices of the German Ministry for Transport in Bonn.


pateras

Dr. George Pateras, Deputy Chairman, Contships Management Inc; President, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping

George D. Pateras, born in London, UK and the father of 3 adult children, is the Deputy Chairman, Contships Management Inc. and since 2016 the President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping.
He Studied Engineering and Economics and holds a BSc in Marine Engineering from Newcastle University, MS in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from MIT and a PhD from Plymouth University.
He is a Board member of the Hellenic War Risks Association and the Bahamas Shipowners Association, Chairman of the Hellenic Shipping War Risks Insurance S.A., Vice Chairman, NATO, PBOS now TG(OS) (2000-) and permanent advisor (AMSCC) of the Hellenic Ministry of Defense.
Dr. Pateras has also served as the Chairman of the Bahamas Shipowners” Association (2011-2015) and as a Board member of the Hellenic Seamen’s Pension Fund (1984- 1993), Olympic Aviation (1991-1993), the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (1986-2015), the Union of Greek Shipowners (1983-2004), HELMEPA (1996-1998), the BSA representative on International Chamber of Shipping (2011-2015) and Managing Director of Aegeus Shipping S.A. (1981-2018).


angelos phokas

Angelos Phokas, Member of the Board of Directors, Multimarine Services Ltd

Angelos Phokas holds a BEng and MSc in Civil Engineering and an MBA gained from London Metropolitan University in 2001. Angelos started his career as a Civil Engineer in construction companies in London, Greece and Cyprus.
He joined Multimarine in 2008 and brings with him a wealth of experience as a Project Manager. Angelos’ current role is the management of the Civil & Mechanical Engineering onshore projects of Multimarine Services Ltd.


alexander-prokopakis

Alexander Prokopakis, CEO, probunkers

Alexander Prokopakis is the CEO of probunkers Holding and the architect of the probunkers project. Prior to founding probunkers, he served Mamidakis Brothers Group as a senior executive, leading all the Group’s Shipping, Bunkering and Aviation activities, through its respective companies: JetOil, JetTank and STYGA Compania Naviera. Mr Prokopakis has over 20 years of professional experience in commercial leadership positions, over which he has attained deep knowledge and expertise, mainly in the industry of shipping and bunkering. He is a Graduate of St. John’s University with MBA in Executive Management and holds a BSc Degree in Business Management from the State University of New York.


sotiris-raptis

Sotiris Raptis, Senior Policy Advisor for Environment and Safety – EcoPorts Coordinator, ESPO

Sotiris Raptis joined ESPO in 2016 as senior policy advisor for environment and safety. He is also the coordinator of the EcoPorts network at ESPO. Previously, he worked as shipping and aviation officer at the NGO Transport & Environment being responsible for the clean shipping campaign at IMO and EU level and as MEP policy advisor on environment, transport and legal affairs at the European Parliament. He studied at the University of Thessaloniki, the University of Athens and the King’s College London Centre of European Law. He was awarded European Citizens’ Prize 2008 of the European Parliament as member of “G700” blog for promoting intergenerational justice.


Lucio_Rubini

Lucio Rubini, Project Manager, CFLI – Intermodal Logistics Training Consortium

Lucio Rubini is a transport and urban planning expert. His multi-faceted experience includes strategic national, regional and urban transport planning, assessments of transport projects, regulatory framework design for the public transport sector (competition and service contracts), planning and coordination of traffic surveys; building and managing of geographic database (GIS), multi-modal transport assessments. Over the last years, he managed more than 15 EU projects concerned with the sustainability of the transnational transport policies under the Interreg Cooperation and Horizon 2020 Programs. He is lecturer at Iuav University of Venice and researcher at VIU Venice International University. With VIU is also the scientific coordinator of the international PhD Academy “Mobility challenges for future society”.


MS-PHOTO

Michalis G. Sakellis, President, Association of Passenger Shipping Companies (SEEN); Vice President, Attica Group

Michalis Sakellis was born in 1947. He studied Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business. He graduated his studies in London, specialized in Shipping.
Since 1975 he has been engaged in Shipping and particularly in Coastal Shipping.
In 1979 he took over the position of Commercial Director in the company “Strintzis Lines” and later “Blue Star Ferries”, until the year 2004.
Since then (2004), he took over the position of Managing Director until February 2016.
Michalis Sakellis is Vice-Chairman of “ATTICA Group”, Member of the Board of Directors of “Blue Star Ferries”, Chairman of the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies (SEEN), Member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, of the Seaman Pension Fund (NAT), of the Greek Tourism Federation (SETE) and also member of the Council of Coastal Transportation of the Ministry of Shipping.


babis-siaflas

Βabis Siaflas, Logistics & Commercial Director, SARMED SA

Born in Athens in 1973. He has studied packaging in Athens and holds a postgraduate degree in Marketing and Logistics from Coventry University (UK). He is a graduate customs agent and in 2016 he obtained a postgraduate degree from the Athens Innovation University (Retail Innovation). She has been working for SARMED for almost twenty years as Logistics & Commercial Director, while he is a shareholder and a Board member in several companies. During the period 2015-2017 he was a member of the BoD at Hellenic Logistics Company (EEL) and today he holds the position of Vice President of Finance.


simantonis

Charalampos Simantonis, Managing Director, MedFerry Co; President, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association

Charalampos Simantonis is the Managing Director of MedFerry Co and since 2012 the President of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association.
He studied maritime economics in the Instituto Univeritario Navale di Napoli and has commenced his career in his family company engaged into passenger cost lines since 1965. In 1989 he established his first company with passenger vessels.
Since 1992 he has been active in tramp shipping with shortsea vessels. He has been Treasurer of H.S.S.A (2007-2012), Board Member of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (2010-present) and the House of Seafarers (2007-2013).
He is also Member of the ship-owners committee of “ RINA” (2014-present), member of the BCA’s Academic committee and Managing Director of Silver Maritime (2004-2014).


spyridakis

Dimitris Spyridakis, CEO, European Co-Operation S.A.

Capt. Dimitris Spyridakis is Board Member of the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and President of the European Co-Operation S.A. Mr. Spyridakis is active in the shipping industry since 1968, initially as Officer and Captain of Merchant Marine and later as shipowner. He has long experience in the Black Sea market, and inland and Multimodal Transport (Danube and Rhine) with corporate branches in Romania, Russia and Bulgaria. Moreover, he is active in the field of marine tourism and catering. He is member of the International Society of Logistics (USA) and Head of the Navigation & Sea-River Trade Sub-Commission of the Mediterranean Community of Transport (CO.ME.TRA)


Stanca

Costel Stanca, President, European Shortsea Network

April 2012 – present: Dean, Navigation and Waterborne Transport Faculty, Costanta Maritime University – Management of academic and research activities.
February 2014 – present: President, Romanian Intermodal Association – SPC Romania – Coordination of promotion and stakeholders interconnection activities.
October 1995 – present: University Teacher (currently Professor), Constanta Maritime University – Delivery of academic courses (Maritime and Inland Waterways Navigation, Port Systems Management, Integrated Management Systems, Environmental Management Systems Audit, Quality Management in Transport); Research in the maritime, inland waterways and multimodal transport.
March 2004 – April 2012: Scientific Secretary, Constanta Maritime University – Management of research activities.
May 1994 – October 1995: Maritime Officer, Navrom Shipping Company, Constanta Port, Romania – Navigation and cargo operations on cargo ships and bulk carriers.


George Teriakidis

George Teriakidis, Regional Business Development Manager, DNV GL

George Teriakidis is a naval architect and currently holds the position of Regional Business Development Manager in DNV GL Greece.
He studied in the university of Newcastle Upon Tyne in UK, naval architecture (B.Eng.) and continued his studies with a master degree (M.Sc.) on Ship Production Technology in the university of Strathclyde, in Glasgow.
Upon completing his studies he started working for the classification society DNV as a trainee surveyor in Dubai, U.A.E.. Till 2008 he became a senior surveyor and got specialised in the surveys of various ship types. He also became responsible for the CAP service in Middle East and India as well as a deputy manager for the DNV Maritime Service Centre of Dubai. During August 2008 he moved to Greece and started dealing with business development and customer service management for shipping as well as oil & gas. Since the merger of DNV and GL (2013) he has been working as the Regional Business Development Manager, responsible for the region of east Mediterranean, black and Caspian Sea. He has delivered various presentations and participated in various conferences.
He is married and has one daughter. Beyond his family, he loves music, movies and photography.


Theotokas Ioannis

Dr. Ioannis Theotokas, Professor, Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus

Dr. Ioannis Theotokas is Professor of Shipping Management. His research interests lie in the fields of Management, Human Resource Management and Strategic Management applied to shipping business.
He is the author of seven books (with five as co-author) published in Greece and the UK and of 44 papers published in international journals and in edited books. He has presented over 60 papers at international scientific conferences. He is member of International Association of Maritime Economics and of the Association of Greek Maritime Economists.
He has participated as scientific coordinator or as principal researcher in research projects related to employment, entrepreneurship, strategy and competitiveness in shipping, to maritime training and e-learning, to image of shipping and in consultancy studies. He had served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece (2015-2017).


MARIA TZOUMANIKA

Maria Tzoumanika, Advisor, European Investment Bank

Maria Tzoumanika is an Advisor at the European Investment Bank (EIB), based at the Athens office, covering, among other things, the transportation sector. She joined EIB in 2017 and has 9 years of blended experience in financial services including banking and financial consulting. Maria holds a M.Sc. in Finance & Accounting from London School of Economics and a B.Sc in Banking and Finance from University of Piraeus. Maria is a CFA charterholder.


Vaggelas pontium

Dr. George Vaggelas, Lecturer, Department of Shipping, Trade & Transport, University of the Aegean

Dr. George Vaggelas is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport of the University of the Aegean and partner and Managing Director of Ports & Shipping (P&S) Advisory, an innovative consultancy company. George has spent four years as an advisor to the President and CEO of Thessaloniki Port Authority (ThPA) SA dealing, among others, with the strategic planning of the port. During 2014-2016 he served as BoD member of the Greek Regulatory Authority for Ports, until 2016, when he resigned in order to devote more time in consultancy and research of ports and maritime transportation systems.


Nikolaos Ventikos

Dr. Nikolaos Ventikos, Associate Professor, Laboratory for Maritime Transport, National Technical University of Athens

Dr Nikolaos P. Ventikos is an Associate Professor in the Laboratory for Maritime Transport at the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Dr. Ventikos is heading the Naval Engineering Specialisation Committee of the Technical Chamber of Greece. Dr Ventikos’s expertise is in marine safety; risk engineering; (oil) marine pollution; human reliability (incl. human centered design); marine casualty investigation and salvage engineering; resilience engineering; systems engineering; offshore and environmental risk; and statistical and propabilistic modeling. He has published and presented his work in many highly esteemed scientific journals such as Ocean Engineering, Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Marine Pollution Bulletin etc. and in more than 110 scientific conferences. Dr Ventikos was awarded the G.P. Livanos Grand Prize on Environmental Issues sponsored by the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping (2000).


Xylas

John A. Xylas, Treasurer, Union of Greek Shipowners

John A. Xylas is the President and CEO of Ariston Navigation Corp, and Melissa Shipping Company.
He graduated from Athens College in 1982 and from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986, where he also attended a number of courses at Wharton School. In 1987 he completed, a 9-month Executive Account Officers” program at Citicorp’s training center in NYC.
Following his father’s sudden passing, in 1987 he returned to Greece assuming the running of Astron Maritime SA, a family business managing 20 bulk-carriers.
In 2002 he founded Ariston Navigation Corp., specializing in dry bulk-carriers and containers, and in 2003 Melissa Shipping Company, specializing in Pneumatic Cement Carriers. Today the Group manages a fleet of 15 vessels.
He is a member of the ABS, LR’s Hellenic National Committee, Treasurer of the Union of Greek Shipowners and of Syn-Enosis, VP of the board of Helmepa and has served two terms as President of the Piraeus Marine Club.


Ahmed Youssef

Dr. Capt. Ahmed Youssef, Director, International Forum for Maritime Transport, Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Dr. Capt. Ahmed Youssef is the Director of the International Forum for Maritime Transport in AASTMT (Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport). Moreover, Ahmed is a Master Mariner that worked onboard different types of vessels. He obtained his Ph.D. form Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom. While, Master Degree in Quality Management and Productivity, Post Graduate Diploma and B.Sc (Hons), from the AASTMT, Egypt.
Since 2003, he has been a Faculty in AASTMT of Maritime Transport topics and Management. He also taught as a visiting professor in Maine Maritime Academy, United States of America.
During his career, he participated as a Guest Speaker in many International conferences. Ahmed has also published papers pertaining to the field of Educational Technology, Maritime H.R and methods of maintaining a sustainable development of the Maritime caliber. He introduced the intelligent/interactive Maritime education and training application (iMET) that is beyond e-Learning concept, as he holds the intellectual copyrights property certificate of this application.
He is currently involved in strategic planning and business development to develop the cooperation of the AASTMT and the maritime stakeholders at regional and international level.
Ahmed’s experience includes management, business development, strategic planning, maritime education management and educational technology.


ZACHARIADIS

Panos Zachariadis, Technical Director, Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd

Panos Zachariadis is a Mechanical Engineer (BSc) and Naval Architect (MSE) from the University of Michigan with a 35-year experience in shipping, having served for years as Marine Superintendent in New York, after periods of shipbuilding supervision in Japan and sea service in bulk carriers and oil tankers.
He is Technical Director of Atlantic Bulk Carriers since 1997 and a member of the Greek Delegation to IMO since 2004, having contributed to the development of several well-known 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 member of Technical Committees of several classification societies, UGS and Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO Marine Committee, BoD HELMEPA and MARTECMA.
He has been honored with the 2011 Efkranti award for his contribution to Greek shipping, the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association 2017 Maritime Personality award, the 2017 Lloyd’s List «Achievement in Safety or Environmental Protection» award and the 2019 Green4Sea «Personality» award.


Zisimopoulos web

Dimitris Alexandros Zisimopoulos, Marine Southern Europe & Africa Area Business Development Manager, RINA Hellas Ltd

Dimitris-Alexandros Zisimopoulos is a Mechanical Engineer and obtained a M.Sc. in Marine Technology and Science from NTUA. After internship periods in Asprofos Engineering S.A. and INSB Class, he has worked for MAN Energy Solutions for 6 years in the After Sales Service.
Presently holds the position of Business Development Manager at RINA Hellas Ltd. He joined RINA early 2019, where he is in charge of the Marine Digital Solutions responsible for Southern Europe & Africa Area.


Spyridon Zolotas

Spyros Zolotas, Marine Southern Europe & Africa Area Director, RINA

Spyros Zolotas is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, graduate of the National Technical University of Athens.
After some post-graduate academic experiences in Greece and abroad, as well as a period of employment with a major engine manufacturer, back in 1996 he joined RINA classification society as exclusive marine surveyor. At this position and after a training period at RINA Head Office in Genoa, Italy, he followed various projects of ships in service, as well as newbuildings in Greece and worldwide.
Later he served in various positions within RINA, as Technical Manager of Piraeus Marine, Country Manager for Greece, Area Manager for Greece and Cyprus, up to current role of Marine Director for Southern Europe & Africa, an area with center of gravity in Piraeus but extending from Spain and Portugal to the Black Sea, Greece, Cyprus and the whole Africa.
Zolotas is the author of two technical books and regular writer of articles, Member of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects and Chartered Engineer, as well as European Engineer with FEANI.
In 2017 he was elected as Honorary Secretary in the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Joint Branch of RINA/IMAREST.
In 2019 he was elected in the Board of Directors of the Greek Union of Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members.
Spyros Zolotas is married and father of two children.