Speakers 2026
Stavros Papastavrou
Minister of Environment and Energy
Stavros Papastavrou
Minister of Environment and Energy
Stavros N. Papastavrou is the Minister of Environment and Energy.
He served as a 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, specialized 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 the Student Organization of the European People’s Party (EDS), 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 Party.
He was born on 23 July 1967, to Nikos and Fani Papastavrou. He is married to Mari Agaliotou and has two children, Nikolas and Fenia.
Nikolaos Tsafos
Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy
Nikolaos Tsafos
Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy
Nikos Tsafos serves as Deputy Minister of Energy in the Ministry of Environment and Energy of the Hellenic Republic, a role he assumed on March 15, 2025. He previously spent almost three years as the chief energy advisor to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Mr. Tsafos has worked in energy since 2006, primarily in the United States, and is a widely recognized expert in market analysis, due diligence, and the intersection of energy and geopolitics.
He spent over a decade as a consultant specialized in natural gas, working with major energy companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Total, Eni, and many others. He also spent around four years advising the Alaska State Legislature on the landmark Alaska LNG project.
From 2016 to 2019, he was an adjunct lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Between 2018 and 2022, he worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, one of the world’s premier think tanks. In 2021, he was appointed to the James Schlesinger Chair for Energy and Geopolitics, a position he held until returning to Greece in 2022.
Mr. Tsafos has testified before the U.S. Senate on natural gas issues and the Canadian House of Commons on critical minerals. In 2021, he was selected for the Climate Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, on which he served until his return to Greece.
For several years, he has been one of approximately 100 peer reviewers for the World Energy Outlook, the most authoritative assessment of the global energy market, published annually by the International Energy Agency.
He has written widely on energy, including for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, EURACTIV, the National Interest, and the Australian Financial Review; he has been quoted in The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Economist, Bloomberg, and The Washington Post; and he has appeared on CNN, Al Jazeera, the BBC, and other leading outlets.
He holds a B.A. in international relations and economics from Boston University and an M.A. in international relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS.
Petros Varelidis
Secretary General of Natural Environment & Water, Ministry of Environment and Water
Petros Varelidis
Secretary General of Natural Environment & Water, Ministry of Environment and Water
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.
Manolis Grafakos
General Secretary for Waste Management Coordination,Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece
Manolis Grafakos
General Secretary for Waste Management Coordination,Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece
Manolis Grafakos is an economist and the General Secretary for Waste Management Coordination of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece. He studied economics at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. He holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of the Aegean, in Banking from the Greek Open University and in "Design, Management and Tourism Policy" from the University of the Aegean. He is a PhD candidate at the University of the Aegean.
During 2012 - 2019 he was the Secretary General of the Municipality of Metamorphosis.
From 2010 to 2011 he was the President of the Inter-municipal Association for the Sustainable Development "21 Local Authorities" of the northern Attica municipalities.
During 2007 - 2010, he was the Mayor of Melissia Attica.
In the period 2004-2006, she was a Deputy Commander at the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica.
He worked in the private sector from 1994 to 2004, as a business consultant in finance.
Petros Kampouris
Secretary General for Recovery and State Support- Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
Petros Kampouris
Secretary General for Recovery and State Support- Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
Petros Kampouris is a Geologist-Geophysicist, a graduate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), holding postgraduate degrees in Applied Geophysics-Seismology (MSc) and Business Administration (MBA). He began his career as a freelancer, participating in major geotechnical and microzoning studies for large-scale projects, such as the Egnatia Odos and the Olympic Stadium. In 2001, he joined the General Secretariat for Civil Protection as a Special Scientific Advisor, having completed further training in crisis management in the USA. Subsequently, he served in positions of responsibility at the Ministry of Interior, and from 2013 at the Presidency of the Government, where since 2021 he held the position of Head of the "Natural Resources, Rural & Urban Development, and Transport" Sector. He possesses extensive experience in coordinating public policies for energy, the environment, and infrastructure, as well as in implementing reforms under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan "Greece 2.0". He is married and the father of two children.
Despoina Paliarouta
Secretary General for Energy & Mineral Resources, Ministry of Environment and Energy
Despoina Paliarouta
Secretary General for Energy & Mineral Resources, Ministry of Environment and Energy
Mechanical Engineer with extensive experience in project management, primarily in the fields of manufacturing and supply chain operations.
She graduated from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in 2011 and holds a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering and Business Management from Imperial College London, as well as an MBA from the Athens University of Economics and Business.
She has led the design, development, and implementation of projects within a strategic portfolio comprising 11 pillars at one of Greece’s largest industrial companies, developing expertise in negotiation, change management, team leadership, and resource management. She has also served as an Operations Manager at Amazon UK distribution centers.
Combining her professional experience with her entrepreneurial mindset, she founded her own company operating in the healthcare sector.
She served as Secretary General for Transport at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, overseeing a portfolio that included urban transportation, electromobility, road safety, interconnectivity of transport systems, and, more broadly, sustainable and safe mobility policies.
Since July 2025, she has been serving as Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Raw Materials at the Ministry of Environment and Energy.
She is married and has two children.
Angela Varela
President of the board Greek Tourism Organization
Angela Varela
President of the board Greek Tourism Organization
Angela Varela is the new President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic National Tourism Organization (GNTO) as of July 30, 2025 (Government Gazette 962/YODD/30.07.2025), following the completion of the required competitive procedure, in accordance with Law 5062/2023.
She studied Public Administration at the Panteion School of Political Sciences, from which she graduated in 1983.
She continued her studies with the Postgraduate Program "Tourism Business Administration" of the Hellenic Open University (2006) and, later, with a second postgraduate degree at the School of International Studies, Communication and Culture - Department of Communication, Media and Culture - Postgraduate Program New Media and Journalism - Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (2016).
Her professional career is inextricably linked to the Hellenic Tourism Organization, to which she was appointed in 1983.
Since then, she has served in positions of responsibility both in Greece and abroad, with her main focus on tourism marketing.
She speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Marianthi Anastasatou
Executive, Department of Geochemistry & Environment, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Marianthi Anastasatou
Executive, Department of Geochemistry & Environment, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Dr. Marianthi Anastasatou is a Geologist, Executive of the Department of Geochemistry and Environment of the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Metallurgy, EAGME, with a Master's degree in Applied Environmental Geology and a PhD in Mineral Raw Materials (MR) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). Her professional/research interests include the identification and utilization of MR (metallic and industrial), environmental impact research, materials recycling and industrial uses of MR. Ms. Anastasatou works at EAGME and during her research/professional career she has collaborated with the National University of Athens, the University of Southampton (England), the University of West Attica and Expertise France (French Public Limited Company). Ms. Anastasatou has participated in a multitude of European and national research programs (e.g. HORIZON, LIFE, Interreg, NSRF-Thalis, I Research - I Innovate), has taught as a Visiting Lecturer at the National University of Athens in the subject of Economic Geology, since 2019 she has participated as a Guest Special Scientist in the working groups that compile the European list of Critical Mineral Resources and is a national key expert in the implementation of the United Nations Framework for Resource Classification (UNFC - United Nations Framework Classification). In addition, he has authored >40 papers in international conferences and 10 papers in scientific journals (SCI) on topics related to WFD and the geoenvironment.
Asimina Antonarakou
Chairman of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, NKUA
Asimina Antonarakou
Chairman of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, NKUA
Chairman of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, NKUA
Nikos Arvanitidis
Dr. Nikolaos Arvanitidis, Economic Geologist
Dr. Nikolaos Arvanitidis is an Economic Geologist with a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. from Stockholm University. He has more than 45 years of experience in research positions, in the management of mineral resource projects, as Regional Director at IGME, Special Advisor at the Geological Survey of Finland, Department Director and Project Coordinator at the Geological Survey of Sweden, and as an Expert at the Ministry of Entrepreneurship of Sweden.
At the European level, he served as Chairman of the EuroGeoSurveys Minerals Expert Group, Executive Secretary of ETP SMR, member of the Raw Materials Procurement Group (representing Greece and EuroGeoSurveys), and participated in working groups on critical raw materials, rare earths (ERECON) and Horizon 2020. He is a Special Evaluator and Technical Supervisor of Horizon Europe and EISMEA projects, a Special Evaluator of Strategic Projects under the CRMA Regulation, and a member of the SET Plan Task Force “Circularity and materials substitution”. He is also Chairman of the Minerals Committee of the Association of Greek Geologists.
He has participated in more than 40 European research projects since 1984 and has been evaluating proposals and monitoring projects as an EU expert for over 30 years. He has been honored by RawMat2023 and NTUA for his pioneering contribution to the development of mineral raw materials in Europe.
He is active in geoscience journalism, article writing and communication with the general public through media and social networks. His philosophy focuses on the sustainable and responsible development of mineral resources, combining economy, society and environment.
Apostolos Arvanitis
Dr. Head of the Department of Geothermal and Thermal Natural Resources, H.S.G.M.E
Apostolos Arvanitis
Dr. Head of the Department of Geothermal and Thermal Natural Resources, H.S.G.M.E
Apostolos Arvanitis was born in Serres. He studied at the Department of Geology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), from where he graduated in 1992. In 1998 he received the Master of Science (MSc) in “Applied and Environmental Geology” from the Department of Geology of the AUTH with a grade of “Excellent (10)”. In 2003 he successfully completed his PhD thesis entitled “Geothermal Study of the SW Section of the Strymon Basin” at the same Department and received the PhD with a grade of “Excellent” (10). He was a scholar of the State Scholarships Foundation (I.K.Y.) for 3 years (November 1993-November 1996) with a 6-month extension. During the years 1996-2004 he participated in various Research Programs of the Research Committee of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, implemented by the Department of Geology, with the objectives of research for the identification of geothermal resources and the utilization of geothermal energy. After completing his PhD thesis, and from June 2003 to December 2006, he collaborated with the Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IGMR) under a fixed-term employment contract for the “Assignment of Studies in the Context of Geothermal Research”. The collaboration, which was implemented at the Regional Unit of Central Macedonia of the IGMR in Thessaloniki, concerned the research and study of various geothermal fields in Northern Greece and was integrated into the framework of the Operational Program “Competitiveness” of the 3rd CSF.
From March 2007 to March 2019, he worked as a scientist - researcher at the Geothermal and Thermometallic Waters Directorate (DI.GE.THM.Y.) of the Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IGME) in Athens. From April 2019 to the present, he is the Head of the Department of Geothermal and Thermal Natural Resources (GEOTHE) of the Hellenic Authority of Geological and Mining Research (EAGME). The main subject of his scientific work is Geothermal. He has participated as a scientific associate and scientific manager in many European and national Geothermal Projects of the former IGME and EAGME. During the period 2007-2015, he worked, either as a member of a research team or as a scientific manager, in European-Competitive Projects of the I.G.M.E. regarding the Geological Storage of CO2 and Energy.
He participates in international Associations, national Associations and Scientific Groups related to Geothermal Energy. He has served as a member of Committees for the formation of the institutional framework for the research and exploitation of the country's geothermal potential as well as in Competition Committees of the Decentralized Administrations of Macedonia-Thrace and the Aegean for the leasing of exploitation rights and management of geothermal potential in areas of local interest.
He has participated as an invited speaker in dozens of Conferences and Workshops in Greece and abroad and has given numerous interviews to various Mass Media (radio and television stations, online channels, information websites, newspapers, magazines) on Geothermal issues.
To date (June 2025) he is the author or co-author of dozens of scientific papers, technical reports, articles and other scientific publications, which in total exceed 180.
Kyriakos Asimakopoulos
Director of Quarries and Raw Materials, Heracles Lafarge Holcim
Kyriakos Asimakopoulos
Director of Quarries and Raw Materials, Heracles Lafarge Holcim
Kyriakos Assimakopoulos is a Mining Engineer holding a Master's degree in Rock Mechanics. He has extensive professional experience in the mining and industrial sectors, having served the Heracles Group in a series of positions of increasing responsibility and managerial authority.
He currently erves as Director of Quarries and Raw Materials for the Group. His primary responsibilities include the strategic management, development, and utilization of raw materials, as well as the planning and operation of quarrying activities. At the same time, he actively contributes to the promotion of proposals and initiatives aimed at optimizing the institutional and regulatory framework, as well as the licensing and exploitation procedures for Mineral Raw Materials, with the objective of enhancing competitiveness, fostering sustainable development, and ensuring the efficient utilization of natural resources.
In addition to the above, he has been actively involved for many years in the sector’s representative bodies as a member of the Association of Mining Enterprises (SME). He has also served for several years as a member of committees of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) and, previously, of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), actively contributing to the development of positions and proposals on issues concerning the extractive and industrial sectors.
Eleni Athanasiou
Head of Department of Flood Risk - Water Scarcity Management & Management of Water Demand, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Greece
Eleni Athanasiou
Head of Department of Flood Risk - Water Scarcity Management & Management of Water Demand, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Greece
Dr. Eleni Athanasiou serves as the Head of the Department of Flood Risk Management, Water Scarcity & Demand Management (Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy) and as a Lecturer at the National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government. She holds a BSc in Geology and MSc, PhD in Applied Geophysics (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). She has over twenty years’ experience in natural disasters management and she was previously employed by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection and the National Observatory of Athens. Her position entails monitoring the implementation of Directive 2007/60/EC "on the assessment and management of flood risks" in Greece and establishing flood risk, drought and water scarcity management policy. She is representing Greece in European and International Expert Group meetings for water / flood related issues.
Constadinos Athanassoulis
Geologist – Mineralopetrologist Hellenic Suevey for Geology and Mineral Research (E.A.G.M.E.) Directorate of Water Resources and Geothermal Energy Head of the Department of Analytical Laboratories Department of Geothermal and Thermal Natural Resources
Constadinos Athanassoulis
Geologist – Mineralopetrologist Hellenic Suevey for Geology and Mineral Research (E.A.G.M.E.) Directorate of Water Resources and Geothermal Energy Head of the Department of Analytical Laboratories Department of Geothermal and Thermal Natural Resources
I graduated from Uppsala University in Sweden in 1984 from where I received a degree in geology with a specialization in Mineralo Petrography.
Professional Experience: From 1981 to 1985, I worked periodically at the Swedish Geological Research Institute (SGU). I also worked at the Institute of Mineralogy – Petrology of Uppsala University as an assistant. From 1986 until today I have worked as a geologist at EAGME-IGME in the Directorate of Geothermal Energy and Thermal Mineral Waters. At present I am the Head of the Department at Analytical Laboratories of EAGME.
Both in Sweden and in Greece, I have been involved in geological, geothermal and mineralogical research as well as research in Thermal Natural Resources.
Additional experiences: Participation in the Thermal Natural Resources Committee of the Ministry of Tourism.
Publications: Participation in many exhibitions – studies – conferences and announcements in the context of the projects I have participated in.
Foreign languages: Very good knowledge of Swedish and good knowledge of English, Danish and Norwegian.
Dimitris Avarlis
Journalist, Energygame
Dimitris Avarlis
Journalist, Energygame
Dimitris Avarlis is a journalist.
He has been covering energy reporting for the last 5 years, while previously he had also been involved in freelance reporting.
He has been working at the radio station "Sto Kokkino" since 2015, as a news announcer.
In the past, he worked at Energia.gr.
Dimitris Avarlis writes about energy reporting issues at Energygame.
Christos Balaskas
President, Hellenic Gold
Christos Balaskas
President, Hellenic Gold
Christos Balaskas joined the Eldorado team in October 2017. Today, he is Vice President, Commercial, Growth and External Relations of Eldorado Gold, while he also holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of its 100% Greek subsidiary “Hellenic Gold”. He has also held the positions of Chairman and CEO of “Thrace Mining” and “Thrace Mines”. Prior to joining Eldorado, he was General Manager of Attica Gas Supply Company, a position he held since 2009. He has over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, working mainly with the Royal Dutch Shell Group of companies and BG Group, in which he held management positions in Greece and the UK. He is a Naval Architect and Mechanical Engineer with studies at the corresponding school of the National
Technical University of Athens. He also holds an MSc in Informatics from the University of Birmingham and an MBA in Engineering Management from Bayes Business School - City,
University of London (formerly Cass Business School). He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Canada-Greece Chamber of Commerce.
Efi Barbatsi
Journalist, ALPHA TV
Efi Barbatsi
Journalist, ALPHA TV
Journalist, ALPHA TV
Spyridon Bellas
Principal Investigator, Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH)
Spyridon Bellas
Principal Investigator, Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH)
Principal Investigator, Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH)
Θάνος Βερέμης
Ιστορικός - Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, ΕΚΠΑ
Θάνος Βερέμης
Ιστορικός - Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, ΕΚΠΑ
Ιστορικός - Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, ΕΚΠΑ
Μενέλαος Γαρδικιώτης
Πρόεδρος, ΓΕΩΤΕΕ
Μενέλαος Γαρδικιώτης
Πρόεδρος, ΓΕΩΤΕΕ
Ο Μενέλαος Γαρδικιώτης είναι Γεωπόνος, ως απόφοιτος του Γεωπονικού Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών,
τμήματος Γεωπονικής Βιοτεχνολογίας.
Έχει εργαστεί στον ιδιωτικό τομέα και από το 2011 διευθύνει την πρώτη του επιχείρηση. Σήμερα
συμμετέχει σε τρία επιχειρηματικά σχήματα τα οποία αφορούν τον κλάδο της παροχής υπηρεσιών
στον Αγροδιατροφικό τομέα και έχει ιδρύσει δίκτυο συνεργαζόμενων επιχειρήσεων από τον Έβρο
μέχρι την Κρήτη που αριθμεί πάνω από 15 επιχειρηματικά σχήματα.
Έχει υπάρξει σύμβουλος του Υπουργού Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Τροφίμων με αρμοδιότητα την
προετοιμασία του ΠΑΑ 2014 -2020. Ενώ υπήρξε και συνεργάτης του Υποδιοικητή του ΟΓΑ.
Υπήρξε μέλος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου του Περιβαλλοντικού Οργανισμού της Νομαρχίας
Πειραιά.
Έχει διατελέσει Γενικός Γραμματέας του ΓΕΩΤ.Ε.Ε. για δύο συνεχείς θητείες.
Είναι παντρεμένος με την Κυριακή Παπαδάκη και έχει μια κόρη.
Olga Chalkiadaki
Chemist MSc, PhD Executive of the Department of Analytical Laboratories (T.ANE.) Hellenic Geological & Mining Research Authority (E.A.G.M.E.)
Olga Chalkiadaki
Chemist MSc, PhD Executive of the Department of Analytical Laboratories (T.ANE.) Hellenic Geological & Mining Research Authority (E.A.G.M.E.)
Dr. Olga Chalkiadaki is a Chemist specializing in environmental chemistry and analytical methods. Since June 2023, she has been working at the Analytical Laboratories Department of the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME). She holds a PhD with honors from the Department of Chemistry at NKUA (funded by the "Heraclitus II" fellowship) and possesses three Master’s degrees in Oceanography, Environmental Management, and Operational Objectives Management.
She has extensive research and professional experience, having worked at the Benaki Phytopathological Institute (2018–2023) focusing on the environmental fate of plant protection products, in the chemical industry (OIKOCHIMIKI S.A.), and as an adjunct lecturer at the Technological Institution of Crete. Furthermore, she has participated in numerous European and national research projects (HIMIOFOTS, INVALOR, MEDCIS, etc.) at NKUA's Environmental Chemistry Laboratory. Her scientific work includes publications in peer-reviewed international journals and conference proceedings.
Maria Daniel
General Director of Technical Services and Projects of the Municipality of Athens
Maria Daniel
General Director of Technical Services and Projects of the Municipality of Athens
Architect engineer specializing in the management of cultural heritage, with focus on the protection of historic buildings.
In this field, she obtained a Specialization Diploma in “Protection of Monuments” from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA, 2000) and completed (2017) her doctoral dissertation at the School of Architecture of NTUA.
Since 1990, initially as a staff member of the Department of Traditional Buildings and Monuments and today as General Director of Technical Services and Projects of the Municipality of Athens, she has been systematically engaged with the history of architecture and the urban morphology of the city of Athens.
Actively involved in the preservation of cultural heritage, she is a member of Greek ICOMOS.
As a founding member of V.ID.A., she works towards the documentation and preservation of Greece’s industrial heritage, with emphasis on the city of Athens.
Panagiotis Daoultzis
Director of Geological Survey, Hellas Gold
Panagiotis Daoultzis is a Geologist and Greece Exploration Manager at Hellas Gold. He has 14 years of experience in Economic Geology, Μineral Εxploration and Mineral Resources Evaluation in Chalkidiki, Thrace, and more broadly across Northern Greece, and contributes to the strategic planning of geological exploration programs for the discovery of new mineral deposits. He actively participates in European research programs that promote innovative technologies for the sustainable management of critical mineral raw materials. Panagiotis graduated from the Department of Geology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds an MSc in Environment with a specialization in “Ecological Water Quality and Management at a River Basin Level”.
Argyris Demertzis
Journalist, Ecopress
Argyris Demertzis
Journalist, Ecopress
Journalist, Ecopress
Dimitris Dermatas
Professor of Geoenvironmental Pollution, Director of the Department of Water Resources & Environment, School of Civil Engineering, NTUA
Dimitris Dermatas
Professor of Geoenvironmental Pollution, Director of the Department of Water Resources & Environment, School of Civil Engineering, NTUA
Dimitris Dermatas is Professor of Geoenvironmental Pollution and Director of the Water Resources and Environment Department at the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, having obtained his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley in 1992. He has served as President of the European IMPEL Network (2018-2019) for the implementation and enforcement of environmental legislation, Special Secretary of Inspectors and Auditors of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (2017-2019), executive member of the Board of Directors of the Panhellenic Network of Solid Waste Management Bodies (2007-2013) and of the Board of Directors of the Pan-European Network (2010-2013) Municipal Waste Europe (MWE), General Manager of Solid Waste Management Agency of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace (2007-2010), Director of the W. M. Keck Laboratory of Geoenvironmental Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology in the USA from 1994 to 2006, with more than 200 publications in prestigious international scientific journals and conferences and is among the 2% of researchers with the greatest scientific influence worldwide. He is Associate Editor of Waste Management and Research, SAGE Publishing, from 2016 to present. He has also served as editor, co-editor, chairman and member of the editorial board of proceedings of international conferences and prestigious international scientific journals, has been elected as a member of the New York Academy of Sciences
and has been awarded several awards for his research and academic activities in relation to the geoenvironment. The practical applications of his scientific activity
focus on pollution and remediation of soil and water contaminated by industrial and other wastes, with emphasis mainly on heavy metals, such as lead, hexavalent chromium, arsenic, mercury, tungsten, but also on organic pollution and emerging pollutants such as the “evergreen chemicals” PFAS, as well as on the management of municipal and hazardous waste.
Born in Thessaloniki in 1964 and raised there. He has three children, Anastasia, Christina and Giannis, and has lived in Athens since 2010. He strives to be an active citizen, primarily as a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Earth Organization, an internationally awarded non-profit organization founded in 2010.
Michalis Diakakis
Assistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in Extreme Events and Natural Disasters
Michalis Diakakis
Assistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in Extreme Events and Natural Disasters
Dr Michalis Diakakis is Assistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in Extreme Events and Natural Disasters. His research and teaching focus on natural hazard analysis, flood risk management, wildfires, critical infrastructure vulnerability, disaster impacts, and civil protection. Since 2010, he has participated in more than 30 applied research projects in Greece and abroad and has collaborated with multiple academic institutions, international organizations (Joint Research Centre, Expertise France and others), and national authorities (Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection). He teaches in several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. His scientific work includes more than 120 publications, including 60 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, with publications in high-impact international journals. He holds a PhD on flood risk assessment from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, an MSc in Geoenvironmental Engineering from Cardiff University, and a degree in Geology from NKUA.
Salomi Diakrousi
Education Manager Education/Marketing Department AFIS
Salome Diakroussi holds a BSc in Geography from Harokopio University of Athens and a MSc in Waste Management. Her professional background combines expertise in geospatial sciences, environmental management and sustainability education. She began her career in cartography and geospatial applications, focusing on the processing, analysis and visualization of geographic information.
For more than seven years, she has worked at AFIS - Battery Recycling, the collective battery recycling scheme for portable batteries in Greece. She currently serves as Education Manager within the Marketing Department, where she is responsible for the design, development and implementation of educational and awareness-raising initiatives targeting students and educators across all levels of education.
Her professional and research interests focus on environmental education, sustainable resource and waste management, circular economy principles, and the application of innovative educational methodologies to foster environmental literacy and responsible citizenship among younger generations. She is particularly interested in strengthening the links between environmental education, sustainability and civic engagement.
Niki Evelpidou
Professor, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Niki Evelpidou
Professor, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Niki Evelpidou is a Professor in the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her research focuses on geomorphology, sea-level change, palaeogeography, and natural hazards, with particular emphasis on adaptation and mitigation strategies
She has authored more than 400 scientific publications and 40 books, organized numerous educational workshops and conferences, and founded the “Women in Geomorphology” initiative. She is also the founder and director of the postgraduate programme Geographic Information Systems at NKUA.
Her work has received significant recognition, including two awards from the Academy of Athens: one for promoting geological knowledge across the Greek regions and another for her monograph Sea-Level Changes. She has also received first-place innovation awards in four competitions for a green coastal erosion management method. In 2026, she was honored with NKUA’s Award for Outstanding University Teaching (2024–2025), and since 2022 she has been a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Charalampos (Babbis) Fassoulas
LTS/ Curator of Geological - Paleontological Collections NHMC, Uni. Crete
Charalampos (Babbis) Fassoulas
LTS/ Curator of Geological - Paleontological Collections NHMC, Uni. Crete
Dr C. Fassoulas is curator of the Geological and Paleontological collections at the Natural History Museum of Crete and Special Teaching staff of the University of Crete, Heraklion Greece. He holds a diploma in geology and a PhD thesis in structural geology and neotectonics. C.F. is the President of Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark, vice-chair of UNESCO Global geoparks Council, and member of the Geoparks Committee of the Greek National Commission of UNESCO. He is member of many International and Greek geological and environmental Associations and Societies. He has contributed as coordinator or researcher in more than 35 scientific and applied projects, and also in many studies related with geology, geoconservation, geomorphology, geo-hazards and rural development. He is author or coauthor in more than 65 articles in peer reviewed journals and publications and has participated in many congresses and meetings with about 120 abstract presentations.
Ioannis Zafiratos
Director of Metallic, Energy and Industrial Minerals Directorate, General Directorate of Mineral Raw Materials, General Secretariat of Energy and MRMs MOEE Greece
Ioannis Zafiratos
Director of Metallic, Energy and Industrial Minerals Directorate, General Directorate of Mineral Raw Materials, General Secretariat of Energy and MRMs MOEE Greece
Ioannis Zafiratos is currently director of Metallic, Energy and Industrial Minerals Directorate (DMEVO) at the Ministry of Environment and Energy. In the past he has served as a Mining Inspector and Head of Mining Inspectorate- MOEE Corps for Inspection of Southern Greece, Head of Department of Metallic Minerals of DMEVO MOEE, consulting engineer to mining and metallurgical companies and researcher at the Laboratory of Metallurgy of NTU Athens, specializing in hydrometallurgy, biohydrometallurgy and Non-ferrous and Precious Metals metallurgy. He has obtained his Diploma in Mining Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering and PhD in Hydrometallurgy from the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Technology of the School of Mining Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering of NTU Athens.
Vasilios Gaganis
Associate Professor at the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
Vasilios Gaganis
Associate Professor at the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
Dr. Vassilis Gaganis received his B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering (1995) from University of Patras, Greece, his M.Sc. in Computer Science (1997) and Ph.D. in Petroleum engineering (2006) from the Technical University of Crete, Greece. Since 1997 he has been providing consultancy work for the petroleum industry through collaboration with major international players such as Exxon Mobil, Schlumberger, ADNOC, Oilphase, Petroleum Experts and Kappa Engineering.
He was appointed a Professor in Reservoir engineering at the National Technical University of Greece, Athens, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, since 2017.
He has been actively involved in the CCS business by contributing to the development of methods for screening and optimizing the CO2 storage process in subsurface reservoirs. He has acted as a reservoir engineering expert for the evaluation of EnEarth’s 1Mtpa storage permit. He was also led the project that ended with the development of the Hellenic CO2 Storage Atlas, in collaboration with HEREMA and Sintef (Norway).
His research interests include application of machine learning methods for reservoir simulation and optimization of geothermal and CCS projects, computational methods for the acceleration of subsurface flow simulation runs, machine learning methods for the modeling of reservoir fluids PVT properties and reservoir engineering problems. Dr. Gaganis has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and international conferences papers.
Dimitrios Galanakis
Director of Natural & Technological Risk Management,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Dimitrios Galanakis
Director of Natural & Technological Risk Management,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Geologist, PhD: Thessaloniki University
Specializations: a) "Active Faults and Paleoseismology" Luxembourg b) European Advanced School on Structural Geology and Tectonics. ERASMUS Italy c) European School on “Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards” Munsbach d) Quaternary deposits and Tectonic Active Areas. International post-graduate course on Foundamental and Applied Quaternary (I.F.A.Q Greece).
Scientific & Professional Activity:
a) Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration HSGME. Head of Natural & Technological Hazards Management Directorate (present),
b) Institute of Geology & Mineral Exploration IGME (1986-2019).
c) Associated teacher (lαw 407) of Patras University (2002 to 2012)
d) Associated teacher at the Military Engineering School of Athens 2001-2013.
Principal researcher or participant in many geological technical projects related to geological hazard, and European projects BRITE/EURAM, GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE, GSEU, RASTOOL etc.
Author or co-author of more than 50 scientific papers in international conferences and journals, and geological maps.
• Member of the Seismic/Tectonics Committee and Seismic Hazard Assessment Committee
Member of Greek Geological Society (EGS) and Geotechnical Chamber of Greece
Lia Galani
Professor, Head of Education in Geography and Geosciences, EKPA
Lia Galani
Professor, Head of Education in Geography and Geosciences, EKPA
Professor, Head of Education in Geography and Geosciences, EKPA
Loukas Georgalas
Head of the Water Services Planning & Management Directorate, Ministry of Environment & Energy
Loukas Georgalas
Head of the Water Services Planning & Management Directorate, Ministry of Environment & Energy
Head of the Directorate of Water Services Planning and Management at the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE) since 2019. Geologist at the University of Patras and PhD at the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering of the National Technical University of Greece in the field of hydrogeology. Former General Director of Mineral Resources at MEE. Ministry official since 1995. Since 2007, Head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Directorates. Former member of the Board of Directors of EDEY (now EDEYEP). He has worked as a geologist in geothermal and hydrogeological research and drilling programs and has many years of experience in the field of water resources. Author of numerous articles and proposals.
Evangelos Goundoufas
Director General of Forests and Forest Environment, General Secretariat for Forests, Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy
Evangelos Goundoufas
Director General of Forests and Forest Environment, General Secretariat for Forests, Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy
Evangelos Gkountoufas is a qualified Forester, graduate of the School of Forestry and Natural Environment of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, holding an integrated master’s degree. He has served in the Hellenic Forest Service since 1991, following a long-standing professional career in senior administrative and policy positions in the fields of forest ecosystem management, protection and restoration.
Since 2020, he has held the position of Director General of Forests and Forest Environment at the General Secretariat for Forests of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy. In this capacity, he is responsible for the strategic planning, coordination and implementation of national forest policy, as well as for supervising the Regional Forest Services across the country.
His work is closely linked to the design and implementation of major interventions for the protection, sustainable management and restoration of forest ecosystems, with particular emphasis on natural disaster prevention, forest fuel management, post-fire restoration and strengthening forest resilience to the impacts of climate change.
He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA).
Dionysios Goutis
General Manager,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Dionysios Goutis
General Manager,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Dionysios Goutis is a graduate of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a Master's Degree (M.Sc.) in "Geotechnical Engineering" from the School of Civil Engineering of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. He has many years of professional experience in England and Greece as a Surveyor of Public and Private Engineering Projects, specializing in geotechnical and geological studies, as well as the broader geotechnical design and supervision of geotechnical projects. He has also participated as a member of scientific teams in the preparation of applied research programs on natural disasters, with emphasis on the identification and analysis of risks from the occurrence of soil failures, landslides, rockfalls, subsidences, etc., as well as their impacts on structural and technical elements and the geoenvironment. He is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOT.EE.), from 2014 to the present, he has participated as a representative of the chamber in numerous ministerial working groups, legislative committees, etc., while he has also been appointed as a representative of the chamber in the Advisory Studies Committee (G.E.M.) of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Since October 2019, he has held the position of Deputy General Director of Projects of HSGME, supervising and coordinating all the Authority's research projects, with a total budget of 24.8 million euros. He currently holds the position of General Director of the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME).
Julie Hollis
Secretary General, EuroGeoSurveys
Julie Hollis is the Secretary General of EuroGeoSurveys – the not-for-profit association representing the Geological Survey Organisations of Europe where her primary focus is delivering EuroGeoSurveys' vision of establishing a sustainable Geological Service for Europe. She is a geologist with more than 25 years experience in government geoscience in Australia, Denmark, Greenland, and Belgium. She has a PhD in Geology and Master of Science Communication and Public Engagement from the University of Edinburgh.
Δημήτρης Καλιαμπάκος
NTUA Professor, Member of NTUA’s Administrative Board
Δημήτρης Καλιαμπάκος
NTUA Professor, Member of NTUA’s Administrative Board
Dr. Dimitris Kaliambakos is a Professor at the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). He has served as Dean of the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering for two terms (2016-2023). He is a member of the Administration Council of the National Technical University of Athens and Vice President/CEO of the Asset Management and Development Corporation of NTUA, which manages the Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park. He has served as President of the international organization Associated research Centers for the Urban Underground Space (ACUUS) between 2013 and 2024, a major international body which, since 1980, has been dealing with the systematic utilization of underground space in urban centers and especially in megacities, aiming to improve the quality of life within them. His research interests include the relationship between mining activity, society, and the environment, the development of special underground projects, environmental and development issues concerning mountainous areas etc. He has been the Scientific Responsible in more than 90 research projects. He has published over 200 scientific papers in international journals and conferences and has co-authored 20 books. He has been invited to deliver lectures on his research fields in more than 50 conferences and international fora.
Βασίλειος Καραστάθης
Διευθυντής Γεωδυναμικού Ινστιτούτου (ΓΕΙΝ), Εθνικό Αστεροσκοπείο
Dr. V. K. Karastathis is the Director of the Institute of Geodynamics of the National Observatory of Athens. He was elected to the position in December 2024. Between 2020 and his appointment as Director, he held the position of Deputy Director of the Institute.
He studied Physics in the University of Athens and he holds M.Sc. and Ph.D degrees in Geophysics (University of Birmingham and University of Athens). At the Institute of Geodynamics, he was first elected in 1999 as Researcher having the subject of knowledge "Seismology - Physics of the Earth's Interior with emphasis on the seismic survey methodologies and interpretation" and after three successive promotions with a unanimous positive decision, in 2010 he was elected to the highest rank of Research Director.
Over recent years, his research activities have been primarily focused on the application and development of the innovative earthquake risk mitigation technologies, including earthquake early warning systems and rapid damage assessment methodologies. He has specialized in geophysical investigations using seismic techniques, microseismicity studies, and research on earthquake precursory phenomena, particularly the correlation between variations in soil radon concentration and seismic activity. He has conducted extensive research on active geological structures employing advanced geophysical methods and has led major scientific projects in the fields of geothermal and energy resource exploration, non-destructive testing of large-scale engineering structures, foundation investigations for dams, hospitals, skyscrapers, natural gas transmission networks, extension of the Metro, archaeometry etc. His pioneering work on the non-destructive testing of dams in 2000 contributed significantly to the establishment of methodologies that subsequently became standard practice. More recently, his research has expanded toward the monitoring of active volcanic systems through the observation and analysis of geophysical parameters. Dr. Karastathis has coordinated more than 45 research projects on behalf of the Institute of Geodynamics, including European, national, and contract research projects, securing substantial research funding for the Institute. He has also participated in numerous additional research projects, assuming key scientific and managerial responsibilities in many of them. In 2002, he received the First Award of the Academy of Athens for a publication concerning the identification of the Ancient Canal of Xerxes. This work attracted extensive international media attention and was featured by major outlets including The New York Times, The Times, the International Herald Tribune, Die Zeit, and World Archaeology, among others.
Letta Kalamara
Journalist, Maritime Affairs
Letta Kalamara
Journalist, Maritime Affairs
Letta Kalamara is a journalist specializing in Economic and Business Reporting for the newspaper Naftemporiki. She holds a postgraduate degree from the Department of Journalism and Mass Media of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in “Global Journalism” and a diploma thesis in Investigative Journalism. She works for the newspaper Naftemporiki, Naftemporiki TV and the website Naftemporiki.gr. She has previously worked for the weekly newspapers Ependytis, O Kosmos tou Ependytis, Real News, Metochos and the financial news website Euro2day. For 12 years, she was Editor-in-Chief of “SEPE News”, the magazine of the Association of Information and Communications Companies of Greece (SEPE), and was one of the pioneers of its electronic publication, sepe.gr. She has worked for the subscription channel GBC, presenting an hour-long show focusing on Technology, Information Technology and Telecommunications, as well as for the channel SBC with a daily live hour-long political and economic show. She is the creator of two blogs with international and domestic economic and political content. She speaks English and German. She is married and has two children.
Christos Kanellopoulos
Executive, Department of Mineral & Mining Research, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Christos Kanellopoulos
Executive, Department of Mineral & Mining Research, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
(B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.)
Dr. Ch. Kanellopoulos obtained a Bachelor's degree, two Master's degrees and a PhD in geology with a specialization in environmental geochemistry/geology, the study of mineral occurrences/deposits, geothermal systems, and environmental, disaster and crisis management strategies, with an emphasis on volcanic hazard, from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). Part of his research was conducted at the Natural History Museum of London and Sussex University, England. He subsequently completed two Post-Doctoral studies: (i) on hydrothermal deposits of critical and precious metals, at the Université de Genève, Switzerland and (ii) on geothermal systems of Greece and their potential for exploitation, at NKUA. During his professional activity as a geologist, he has collaborated with the Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IGME), the Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mining Research (EAGME) and the National Centre for Research & Technological Development (CERTH) in projects on the study of volcanoes, geological mapping, geothermal field research and CO2 capture and storage. He then assumed the duties of Special Scientific Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Energy on issues of Mineral Raw Materials, Geothermal Energy and the Environment. At the same time, for a number of years he taught, at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment and at the University of Patras, Department of Geology, a series of courses such as Industrial Minerals, Mineral and Rock Research Methods, Mineral Analysis Methods and Fluid Inclusions, Environmental and Applied Geochemistry. In the last period he has assumed the duties of permanent geologist at the Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mining Research (EAGME), in the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Mining.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2024 – Present Geologist
• Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mining Research (EAGME, former IGME), in the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Mining.
Main tasks: research and study of deposits.
2024 Scientific Associate
• Hellenic Geological and Mining Research Authority (EGMR, formerly IGMR) Main
tasks: study of volcanoes and seismotectonic data, assessment of volcanic
risk.
2019 – 2023 Scientific Associate
• Hellenic Geological and Mining Research Authority (EGMR, formerly IGMR) Main
tasks: mineralogical – petrographic study, as well as study of tectonic elements,
comparative tectono-stratigraphic classification of lithologies, field mapping at
various scales, evaluation of results from field and laboratory research.
In addition, digital processing of geological data using GIS.
2016 – 2022 University Scholar, Program “Acquisition of Academic Teaching Experience for Young Scientists with PhDs”.
• University of Patras – Department of Geology
Teaching undergraduate courses:
❖ Environmental and Applied Geochemistry
❖ Industrial Minerals
❖ Mineral and Rock Research Methods
❖ Earth Materials (Department of Materials Science - co-taught with Industrial Minerals)
2019 – 2021 Participation in the Scientific Committee for Monitoring Compliance with the Environmental
Terms of the projects a) “Mining – metallurgical installations of Kassandra mines”
and b) “Removal, cleaning & restoration of the old tailings deposit site of Olympiada” of the company “Hellenic Gold A.E.M.B.H. (ADA: ΨδΕΜ4653Π8-8ΕΣ).
2019 Participation in the Working Group for the drafting of regulatory decisions under Law 4602/2019 on Geothermal Energy and the modernization of the Geothermal Works Regulation (ADA: Ψ5Ω14653Π8-Μ12).
2018 Participation in the working group for the proposal of required legislative interventions for the protection and characterization of geosites (ADA: Ψ43Α4653Π8-75Δ).
2018 – 2019 Special Scientist- Advisor in the Office of the Minister of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEER).
Special scientific advisor to the Minister on Geology issues, focusing mainly on Mineral Raw Materials, Geothermal Energy and Environment issues.
2016 – 2018 University Scholar, Program “Acquisition of Academic Teaching
Experience to Young Scientists with PhDs”.
• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – Department of Geology and Geoenvironment
Teaching the undergraduate course:
❖ Mineral Analysis Methods and Fluid Inclusions
2016 – 2017 Post-Doctoral Researcher, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens,
Department of Geology and Geoenvironment. Scholar of the State Scholarships Foundation
(IKY Excellence Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies in Greece – Siemens Program).
Study and possibilities of utilization of geothermal energy potential in selected
regions of Greece.
2013 – 2015 Scientific Associate
• Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IGME)
Main duties: Responsible for the geochemical study of geothermal samples (hot waters) and
creation of thematic maps with
Aikaterini Kavoura
Executive of the Department of General Geology, Geological Survey
Aikaterini Kavoura
Executive of the Department of General Geology, Geological Survey
Aikaterini Kavoura is an Engineering Geologist, holding an MSc and a PhD, and joined the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME) in 2024, where she actively contributes to projects related to landslide hazard and risk assessment.
In 2013, she obtained her Master's Degree in Applied, Environmental Geology and Geophysics, and in 2017 she completed her PhD at the Department of Geology of the University of Patras. Since then, her main research interests have focused on landslide risk assessment and management, including both monitoring activities and the development of risk evaluation models.
From 2017 to 2024, she worked as a self-employed consulting geologist and scientific associate with universities and research institutions. During the period 2018–2022, she also taught at the Department of Geology of the University of Patras, delivering courses on "Elements of Geotechnical Engineering" and "Landslide Phenomena in Terrestrial and Marine Environments". Since 2023, she has been co-teaching the course "Engineering Geology" at the School of Engineering Officers Training (STEAMX) of the Hellenic Army.
She was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Greek National Group of Engineering Geology of the Geological Society of Greece.
Athanasios Kefalas
Chairman, IMERYS GREECE S.A. & Vice President, Hellenic Volunteer Managers Center (KEMEL)
Athanasios Kefalas
Chairman, IMERYS GREECE S.A. & Vice President, Hellenic Volunteer Managers Center (KEMEL)
Athanasios Kefalas is Chairman of IMERYS Greece S.A. and Vice President of the Hellenic Volunteer Managers Center (KEMEL).
He has studied Mining Engineering-Metallurgy at the National Technical University of Athens and has completed an Executive MBA at INSEAD.
He started his career in operations and gradually moved to more strategic roles with high international exposure, building more than 45-year experience in the minerals exploration, extractive industry, minerals processing, business development and corporate governance as well as in building long-term and sustainable local community relations.
Among other activities, he is a member of the General Council of SEV and BoD member of SEV Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Paschalia Kiomourtzi
Dr,Subsurface Lead, EnEarth
Paschalia Kiomourtzi
Dr,Subsurface Lead, EnEarth
Paschalia Kiomourtzi has been working on the Energy sector for the last 25 years. She is currently working for Energean and EnEarth as Subsurface Lead on Prinos Asset (offshore Greece), in charge of the oil & gas production activities (the only one in Greece), and the last couple of years as Subsurface Lead in EnEarth, managing the geoscientists and reservoir engineers’ team on all studies, development planning, and associated risk management. Paschalia has also been heavily involved in all CO2 permitting processes under the Greek and EU legislation framework.
Before that, she had been Prinos Exploration Manager responsible for all oil field development activities within the Prinos Basin, including the operations of all wells drilled since 2000.
Paschalia Kiomourtzi has also been a Petroleum Geology Lecturer at the Petroleum Engineering MSc Course of the Technical University of Crete, and the Department of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering of the Eastern Macedonia & Thrace Institute of Technology, enjoying interaction with the next generation geoscientists and engineers.
Paschalia Kiomourtzi holds a Degree in Geology and a PhD from the Department of Geology, University of Patras.
Sotirios A. Kokkalas
Professor of Neotectonics-Microtectonics-Geotectonics, Department of Geology, University of Patras
Sotirios A. Kokkalas
Professor of Neotectonics-Microtectonics-Geotectonics, Department of Geology, University of Patras
Sotirios A. Kokkalas is a Professor of Structural Geology (Neotectonics, Microtectonics, and Geotectonics) in the Department of Geology at the University of Patras. He brings over 25 years of international teaching and research experience in Geosciences, having held positions in Greece and abroad, including Stanford University (USA) as Visiting Researcher, the Petroleum Institute at Khalifa University (UAE), and in Schlumberger-MLC (UAE) international training center. His research integrates fundamental principles of structural geology with field data and modern analytical methods to investigate upper crustal brittle deformation and fracturing.
As a researcher his scientific contributions include over 120 peer-reviewed papers in international journals and conference proceedings (Scopus h-index: 25, with 1,541 citations). Furthermore, he has organized and led numerous research and educational field trips across diverse geological and geotectonic settings in Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Spain, and the Arabian Peninsula. His primary research interests focus on fracture network analysis for reservoir characterization (with applications in hydrocarbon exploration and underground geo-energy storage), the relationship between tectonics and ore genesis, and the analysis of seismically active structures.
For more detailed information regarding his research and publication record, please refer to his OrcID profile (QR-code).
Konstantinos Kontodimos
General Secretary of the IGME Trade Union H.S.G.M.E
Konstantinos Kontodimos
General Secretary of the IGME Trade Union H.S.G.M.E
Msc Seismology. National representative of Water Resources in EGS. Hydrogeologist
Nikolaos Koukouzas
Director of Research CERTH/CPERI
Dr. Koukouzas holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Industrial Mineralogy from the University of Leicester (UK), supported by a State Scholarship, and graduated from Leontios High School and the University of Athens. He has over 30 years of experience in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, economic and industrial geology, energy technologies and storage, geochemistry, applied petrology, wastewater treatment, and rare earth minerals. Since 2007, he has served as Director of Research at the Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH-CPERI), as a member of the Scientific Council and Head of the Environment Section, and as Scientific Coordinator of numerous European and national projects. He is Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on CCS and Hydrogen Storage (European Federation of Geologists) and President of the Committee on Economic Geology, Geochemistry and Mineralogy of the Greek Geological Society. He has more than 350 publications, over 5,190 citations, and h-index of 39.
Konstantinos N. Laskaridis
Dr Geologist, Head of the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Mining-DOPME, Technical Manager of LITHOS Laboratory, National Representative of EuroGeoSurveys National Delegate EuroGeoSurveys
Konstantinos N. Laskaridis
Dr Geologist, Head of the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Mining-DOPME, Technical Manager of LITHOS Laboratory, National Representative of EuroGeoSurveys National Delegate EuroGeoSurveys
Dr. Konstantinos Laskaridis is a geologist and researcher with more than 35 years of professional experience in mineral resources, industrial minerals, and dimension stones. He graduated from the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen–Nuremberg, Germany, where he earned both his Degree in Geology and his PhD in Applied Geology with distinction. Since 1991, he has been serving at the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) and subsequently at the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME), holding senior scientific and managerial positions, including Director of Mineral Resources and Mining and Technical Manager of the accredited “LITHOS” Laboratory for Dimension Stone Testing. Throughout his career, he has coordinated and participated in numerous national and European research projects focusing on mineral resources, dimension stones, critical raw materials, and sustainable development. He represents Greece and HSGME in several European expert groups and international organizations, including EuroGeoSurveys, dealing with mineral resources and critical raw materials. With an extensive publication record and active participation in international conferences, Dr. Laskaridis has made a significant contribution to the research, evaluation, and sustainable utilization of Greece’s mineral wealth.
Ο κος Λασκαρίδης. Δρ Γεωλόγος προΐσταται από τον Απρίλιο του 2019 της Διεύθυνσης Ορυκτών
Πόρων και Μεταλλευτικής (ΔΟΠΜΕ) η οποία διαρθρώνεται σε πέντε (5) Τμήματα και είναι
αρμόδια για: την έρευνα και τον εντοπισμό ορυκτών πρώτων υλών, τις έρευνες και τις μελέτες
για ραδιενεργά μεταλλεύματα και ακτινοβολία πετρωμάτων, τις εφαρμοσμένες ορυκτολογικές,
πετρολογικές, γεωχημικές και περιβαλλοντικές μελέτες, τις μελέτες τεχνολογικών και
περιβαλλοντικών εφαρμογών ορυκτών πρώτων υλών και των παραπροϊόντων τους, καθώς και
τις τεχνικο-οικονομικές μελέτες εμπλουτισμού μεταλλευμάτων, τη σύνταξη γνωμοδοτικών
εκθέσεων και την παροχή τεχνικών συμβουλών, για τα αντικείμενα και τα θέματα αρμοδιότητας
της Αρχής, την παροχή υπηρεσιών στην Ειδική Γραμματεία Σώματος Επιθεωρητών και Ελεγκτών
του Υπουργείου Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας, για την επίλυση προβλημάτων, που σχετίζονται με
τη μεταλλευτική δραστηριότητα.
Από το Νοέμβριο του 2012 είναι Εθνικός εκπρόσωπος του Ι.Γ.Μ.Ε. και νυν της ΕΑΓΜΕ, στον
Οργανισμό των Γεωλογικών Ινστιτούτων της Ευρώπης (EuroGeoSurveys) και μέλος της ομάδας
εμπειρογνωμόνων ορυκτών πρώτων υλών (ΟΠΥ) των ΕuroGeoSurveys.
Έχει εμπειρία πάνω από 30 χρόνια στον συντονισμό εθνικών προγραμμάτων (Δημοσίων
Επενδύσεων, ΕΣΠΑ, κ.λπ.) και συμμετοχή σε διακρατικά προγράμματα έρευνας και τεχνολογικής
ανάπτυξης, με αντικείμενο την εφαρμογή καινοτόμων, φιλικών στο περιβάλλον τεχνολογιών
διαχείρισης και αξιοποίησης αποβλήτων εξόρυξης, την ανάπτυξη νέων τελικών προϊόντων
υψηλής προστιθέμενης αξίας και τεχνολογίας, δημιουργίας ψηφιακών βάσεων δεδομένων για
την ανάδειξη των φυσικομηχανικών χαρακτηριστικών των δομικών υλικών (διακοσμητικών
πετρωμάτων) της χώρας, κ.λπ.
Antonis Latouros
President, Aggregates Europe
Antonis Latouros
President, Aggregates Europe
Antonis Antoniou Latouros is the President of Aggregates Europe, the European association representing the aggregates industry. Elected in June 2021 and re-elected in June 2024, he became the first President in the association’s history to serve a consecutive second term.
In this role, he represents Aggregates Europe and the European aggregates sector both across Europe and globally, engaging with policymakers, industry stakeholders and international partners to promote the sustainable supply of essential raw materials that underpin infrastructure, housing, energy transition and economic development.
He is also the Managing Director of M.S.C. Latouros Investments Ltd, the largest aggregates group in Cyprus, operating three aggregates quarries, a gypsum quarry, a construction and demolition waste recycling facility, and a chemical laboratory.
Since 2013, he has served as President of the Cyprus Quarries Association, and since 2020 as President of the Cyprus Association of Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Companies.
He is also a Board member of Several private and public companies as well as of the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Efthimios Lekkas
Professor of Dynamic Tectonics, Applied Geology & Natural Disaster Management, NKUA
Efthimios Lekkas
Professor of Dynamic Tectonics, Applied Geology & Natural Disaster Management, NKUA
Efthimis Lekkas is Professor of Dynamic Tectonics, Applied Geology & Natural Disaster Management at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
He has served as President of the Research Committee of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Institute of Geophysics and Geophysics, President of the Hellenic Geological Society and President of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment.
He is President of the Organization for Earthquake Planning and Protection, President of the European Commission's European Centre for Earthquake Prevention and Forecasting, President of the Standing Scientific Committee on Seismic Hazard Assessment and Risk.
President of the Permanent Scientific Committee for Monitoring the Greek Volcanic Arc, President of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Local Government and has served as National Representative at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan. He has led research and operational disaster response missions in more than 60 incidents in Greece and abroad. He has organized a large number of International Scientific Conferences. He has published a large number of scientific papers and articles in the press and is the editor of the scientific journal Newsletter of Environmental, Disaster, and Crisis Management Strategies and has given hundreds of lectures in Greece and abroad.
Alexandros G. Liakopoulos
Geologist – Geochemist, Head of the Department of Geochemistry and Environment,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Alexandros G. Liakopoulos
Geologist – Geochemist, Head of the Department of Geochemistry and Environment,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Dr. Alexandros G. Liakopoulos is a Geologist–Geochemist with more than 30 years of professional and research experience in environmental geochemistry, contaminated land investigation and remediation, and geochemical mapping. Since 2019, he has served as Head of the Geochemistry and Environment Department at the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME), having previously held the position of Director of the Geochemistry and Environment Division of IGME.
He holds a Ph.D. from Pierre and Marie Curie University (France) and has coordinated and participated in numerous national and European projects focusing on environmental risk assessment, contaminated site management, and land and water remediation.
As a member of the Greek Ministry of Environment delegation, he participated in the European CARACAS and CLARINET networks, contributing to the development of risk assessment methodologies and sustainable management strategies for contaminated sites across Europe.
He represents HSGME in the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) Global Geochemical Mapping Commission.
His scientific output includes more than 20 papers in peer-reviewed international journals , more than 30 publications in international conference proceedings and more than 50 technical reports and studies.
Fay Makantasi
Director of Research, diaNEOsis
Fay Makantasi is the Director of Research at the research organization diaNEOsis. She has taught Microeconomic Theory and Game Theory at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and Principles of Economic Theory at the Hellenic Open University (HOU). Her Ph.D. thesis was completed at AUEB with the title “Trade Policy under Imperfect Competition”.
She was a Post-Doctoral Fellow on issues of public sector reform in Greece, the country’s export performance and the measurement of its human capital. Throughout her studies, she received awards/scholarships from the Greek National Bank, the Bank of Cyprus, the George and Victoria Karelia Foundation, the Athens University of Economics and Business and the European program “HERACLEITUS II”. He recently received a research award from the Hellenic Observatory of the London School of Economics on intelligent modeling of e-government in Greece. He has presented papers at international conferences, published in international journals and has authored and edited scientific socio-economic studies concerning Greece, its exit from the crisis and its modernization.
Kyriaki (Kiki) Makri
Dr Geoscience Education. Vice President of the Board of the Geological Society of Greece / Council Member in the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO)
Kyriaki (Kiki) Makri
Dr Geoscience Education. Vice President of the Board of the Geological Society of Greece / Council Member in the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO)
Dr. Kyriaki (Kiki) Makri is an experienced Geologist and a permanent secondary education teacher with an extensive academic, research, and teaching background. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), a Master’s degree in Chemistry Didactics and New Technologies, and a PhD with honors from the Department of Geology at AUTH. She has worked as a postdoctoral researcher and scientific associate at the National Observatory of Athens. She has conducted teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels at the Department of Geology, AUTH, and currently teaches Geoscience Education at the Department of Physics, AUTH. Dr. Makri possesses significant experience in developing and implementing educational projects (IEP, Erasmus+). Furthermore, she is highly active in the scientific community, serving as a reviewer and editor for international journals and conferences. Since 2026, she serves as Vice President of the Geological Society of Greece and Council Member for Greece in the International Geoscience Education Organization (IGEO), while contributing to the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) panels of experts on Education
Spyridon Mamalis
Professor,Chairman of the Board
Spyridon Mamalis
Professor,Chairman of the Board
Spyridon Mamalis is President of ELGO-DIMITRA and Professor of Marketing at the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Democritus University of Thrace. He holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from the Department of Agriculture of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a Master’s degree in International Agricultural and Food Marketing from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and a Ph.D. in Food Service Marketing from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. He also served as Director of the Marketing Research and Development of Food Products Lab at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne from 2015 to 2025 and Director of the Executive MBA in Tourism.
He has taught at the universities of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Macedonia, the University of Thrace and the University of Western Macedonia at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition, he is a visiting professor at the University of Neapolis Pafos and a member of the Hellenic Open University, while he has taught at over 5 foreign universities and is a member of 2 University networks. He has worked in the private sector in agri-food companies as a Marketing and Sales consultant.
He has authored 55 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and collective volumes, 95 articles in international conferences and 7 books. He has also participated in 15 research projects, 5 of which as scientific director.
He has served for 12 years as president of the Geotechnical Chamber of Greece 2011-2023, while he is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Geotechnical Chamber of Greece from 2003 to the present. He also served as a member of the Governing Board of the International University of Greece from 2020 to 2023. He also participated in the Board of Directors of ELGO DIMITRA and the Board of Directors of CRES, from 2013 to present, while he served as an alternate member of CHIEAM. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of ARIADNE INTERCONNECTION and served as a member of the Board of Directors of ELGA from 2006 to 2009.
Emmanuel Manolis
Secretary of the Committee of the Federation of Miners of Northern Greece (OME)
Emmanuel Manolis
Secretary of the Committee of the Federation of Miners of Northern Greece (OME)
Secretary of the Committee of the Federation of Miners of Northern Greece (OME)
Vasilis Marinos
President of the International Association of Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG) & Associate Professor of Engineering Geology and Rock Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, School of Civil Engineering.
Vasilis Marinos
President of the International Association of Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG) & Associate Professor of Engineering Geology and Rock Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, School of Civil Engineering.
Vassilis P. Marinos is President of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (IAEG) and Associate Professor of Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics at the National Technical University of Athens, School of Civil Engineering. With more than 25 years of professional and academic experience, he has worked on major infrastructure projects worldwide, including tunnels, metro systems, highways, dams, pipelines, and hydropower developments. His expertise focuses on engineering geological characterization, rock mass classification and behavior, mechanized tunnelling (TBM), geohazards, landslides, rockfalls, and underground construction. He has contributed to more than 26 research and consulting projects and has authored over 160 scientific publications, receiving more than 3,000 citations. Prof. Marinos has delivered over 50 invited and keynote lectures in more than 30 countries and has received international recognition for his contributions to rock mass characterization, tunnelling engineering, and the integration of geological understanding into geotechnical design.
Vasilios Melfos
Professor of Economic Geology-Geochemistry School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Vasilios Melfos
Professor of Economic Geology-Geochemistry School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Vasilios Melfos is Professor in the School of Geology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he teaches Economic Geology (Ore Deposits) and Geochemistry. He also teaches courses on the Protection, Conservation, and Restoration of Ancient Monuments and Cultural Heritage Materials in international and national interdisciplinary postgraduate programs. His research focuses on the study of rare and critical metal deposits in Greece and the Balkan region. He collaborates with numerous international research groups from the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Poland. Together with Professor Panagiotis Voudouris of the University of Athens, he has published a significant number of papers in international scientific journals on the genesis of metallic ore deposits in Greece, and their work has been recognized with an award from the Academy of Athens. Vasilios Melfos has authored and co-authored more than 200 research papers published in international and Greek scientific journals and conference proceedings. In addition, he has delivered numerous lectures, seminars, workshops, and courses, promoting the dissemination of geological knowledge and the public outreach of Earth Sciences.
Ioannis Michalakis
Head of the Crete Regional Unit, Hellenic Geological and Mining Research Authority (HSGME)
Ioannis Michalakis
Head of the Crete Regional Unit, Hellenic Geological and Mining Research Authority (HSGME)
Ioannis Michalakis is a hydrogeologist with experience in applied hydrogeology and water resources in both mainland and island regions of Greece. He has served at the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME, formerly IGME) since 2006 and, since 2021, has held the position of Head of the Regional Branch of Crete. His work focuses on applied hydrogeology, hydrogeochemistry, groundwater dynamics, aquifer overexploitation, monitoring networks, geospatial analysis, and hydrogeological geohazards, with particular emphasis on land-subsidence risk, groundwater contamination, and seawater intrusion. He is also a member of the HSGME Rapid Response Team.
George Mytilineos
Director, Critical Raw Materials & Circular Metals, Metlen
George Mytilineos
Director, Critical Raw Materials & Circular Metals, Metlen
George Mytilineos leads Metlen's Critical Raw Materials & Circular Metals division, overseeing the production of metals from industrial waste through innovative recovery technology, as well as the commercial exploitation of specialty and rare metals, including gallium.
He joined Metlen in 2021 as a Business Analyst in the company's Strategy and M&A Division, where he contributed to various transactions in the energy, infrastructure and capital markets sectors. He then assumed the role of Head of Strategy & Performance at Protergia, managing major projects including two acquisition integration projects.
Prior to Metlen, he worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company. He holds a BA in History from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Anhtimos Xenidis
Professor, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
Anhtimos Xenidis
Professor, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
Anthimos Xenidis is Professor at the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), specializing in the processing of solid wastes and metallurgical raw materials. He joined the NTUA faculty in 2003, having previously served at the Technical University of Crete. From 2015 to 2018, he was Chief Executive Officer of LARCO G.M.M. S.A. His research focuses on the development of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes for the treatment of primary and secondary raw materials, industrial solid wastes and end-of-life products, computational methods in metallurgy and materials technology, contaminated soil characterization, risk assessment, and industrial waste management. He has served as principal investigator or lead researcher in more than 40 competitive research projects and has acted as an expert and national representative in the development of European legislation on waste management. He has authored more than 170 scientific publications, received over 2,000 citations, and contributed chapters to international scientific books.
Evangelos Nikolaou
Geologist-Engineer Head of Epirus Regional Unit Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Evangelos Nikolaou
Geologist-Engineer Head of Epirus Regional Unit Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Evangelos Nikolaou was born in Preveza and graduated from the six-grade Gymnasium of Thesprotiko in Preveza. He is a graduate (1983) and a PhD (1990) of the BABES-BOLYAI University of Romania, School of Geological Engineering and Geophysics.
In 1986 he was hired at the Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IGME) where he works to this day as a geologist and Head of the Epirus Regional Unit of IGME (now EAGME).
In his professional career he has implemented either individually or as a participant in a project team a number of research programs with subjects:
• Research on the potential of groundwater and the protection of the aquatic environment
• Management of water resources.
• Solving water needs in all the Local Authorities of Epirus, the Ionian Islands and Aitoloakarnania.
• Selecting suitable sites for the establishment of landfills, cemeteries and other polluting units-activities.
• Establishing drinking water bottling plants.
• Studying catastrophic phenomena (landslides, floods, earthquakes, etc.)
• Researching and exploiting geothermal fields, thermometallic and thermal springs.
• Isotope research and carrying out indentations.
• Highlighting geotopes and geological heritage, and in particular the Vikos-Aoos Geopark (UNESCO Geopark)
• Utilizing mineral resources and establishing quarry areas.
He has written a number of studies and reports and has announced a number of scientific papers at conferences, workshops, lectures and other scientific events.
He participated in a number of excursions, seminars and presentations of educational content for primary and secondary school students, K. P. E. and Geology students (of the University of Patras and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
He is a member of
the Association of Greek Geologists
the Association of Greek Mineralogists
the Hellenic Committee of Hydrogeology
the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE)
Paraskevi (Evi) Nomikou
Professor of Physical Geography and Geological Oceanography, NKUA
Paraskevi (Evi) Nomikou is Professor of Physical Geography and Geological Oceanography in the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
She has participated in more than 80 Greek and international oceanographic expeditions focusing on submarine mapping and the study of marine geohazards (submarine eruptions, faults, earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides).
Most recently, she played a leading role in assessing potential marine geohazards associated with tectono-magmatic activity northeast of the Santorini volcano (February 2025). She explores the seafloor using innovative marine technologies, including autonomous underwater vehicles
(AUVs) and robotic systems, and shares her expertise with students through her university teaching. She serves as an inspiring role model for young women aspiring to pursue careers in oceanography.
Her extensive research activity at both national and international levels is reflected in her substantial and high-impact publication record, as well as in her consistent participation in international conferences in Greece and abroad.
In recognition of her expertise in the study of submarine volcanic morphology and tectonic structures, she was awarded the Fisher Medal Award
2025 by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior.
In addition, she has been appointed as a new member of the Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN) of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans international program.
Elias Palialexis
Journalist, APE
Elias Palialexis is a journalist specializing in environmental and climate change reporting. He works at the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency. He has further experience in major online media outlets, at a series of conferences, and in the press offices of organizations. He holds a degree in Sociology and Media from City University London. He received a scholarship from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for further education at Columbia Journalism School in New York. Palialexis has been recognized for his contribution to environmental journalism, receiving the Environmental Awareness Award from the Ecocity organization and is also active in the Mediterranean environmental journalism community.
Konstantinos Papakonstantinou
Aggregates Operations Director, ΤΙΤΑΝ
Konstantinos Papakonstantinou
Aggregates Operations Director, ΤΙΤΑΝ
Aggregates Operations Director, Greece at TITAN, responsible for the operations of 14 aggregates quarry sites. He brings over 20 years of experience across a broad spectrum of mining activities in Greece and internationally, covering raw materials such as aggregates, bauxite, and magnesite. His experience spans the full project lifecycle, from exploration and permitting to extraction, processing, and strategic planning. He has coordinated programs aimed at optimizing the operational and financial performance of mining projects, as well as the integration of diverse technological innovations to expand and upgrade their scope.
Dimitrios Papanikolaou
Professor Emeritus of Dynamics, Tectonics and Applied Geology, National University of Athens
Dimitrios Papanikolaou
Professor Emeritus of Dynamics, Tectonics and Applied Geology, National University of Athens
Dimitrios I. Papanikolaou is an Emeritus Professor of Geology specialized in Structural Geology and Tectonics, Geology of Greece, Marine Geodynamics and Neotectonics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He studied Natural Sciences (Bsc 1971) and Geology (Bsc 1976) and obtained his PhD in Geological Sciences (1978) in the University of Athens. He was elected successively Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and in 1993 Full Professor of Geology at the University of Athens. He did his post doctoral research in the University of Lausanne (1979-1981). He acted as a visiting Professor in the University of Reims (1982-1983) and the University of MIT in Boston (2003) and provided lectures in several other Institutions worldwide for shorter periods. Throughout his carrier he was teaching structural geology and Tectonics as well as The Geology of Greece (for over 40 years) supported by fieldtrips. He was the Director of the post-graduate Msc programs «Prevention and Management of Natural Hazards» (2008-2016) and «Oceanography» (2007-2016). He was elected President of the Geological Society of Greece (1988-1996) and of the Carpatho-Balkan Geological Association (1993-1995). He was the Project Leader of IGCP 276 of UNESCO/IUGS «Paleozoic geodynamic domains and their alpidic evolution in the Tethys» (1987-1997). For several years he served as President of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization of Greece (1993-1998), as General Director of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (1994-2000) and as Secretary General for Civil Protection in the Ministry of Interior (2000-2002). He is associate editor in several international scientific journals and has edited several special volumes, particularly regarding the Geology of the Aegean. He has published more than 320 papers in various international and Greek scientific journals. Since 2009 he is member of the Scientific Committee for climate change at the National Bank of Greece and he has published the book “Geology of Greece” in Greek (Patakis, 2015) and in English (Springer, 2021).
Fanis Papathanasiou
Journalist, ERT NEWS
Fanis Papathanasiou
Journalist, ERT NEWS
Fanis Papathanasiou is a journalist for ERT, specializing in diplomatic and international affairs. He has been a correspondent in the United States for more than twenty-five years, covering international crises and other events, war zones in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East.
He has presented news programs, feature reports and exclusive interviews with international figures, such as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, George H. W. Bush, D. Trump, T. Erdogan, M. Cavusoglu A. Davutoglu, A. Gull, former Prime Minister of France and Director of Dominique. Christine Lagarde.
He is a contributing commentator for CNN International and has appeared on the BBC, Al Jazeera and other international networks. He has studied European Studies and holds a Master of Arts degree in Digital Media, Communication and Journalism from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Costas Papazachos
Professor of Seismology & Geophysics, Aristotle University
Costas Papazachos is Professor of Geophysics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he specializes in Physics of the lithosphere, Seismology, and Applied Geophysics. His academic career includes appointments as Senior Visiting Research Fellow at Princeton University and Meierjurgen Fellow at the University of Oregon, alongside research positions at the Institute of Engineering Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (ITSAK).
His research focuses on wave propagation, site effects, seismotectonics, and active crustal deformation, with a strong emphasis on applications relevant to infrastructure resilience. He has coordinated/contributed to national and European projects addressing seismic hazard for critical infrastructures such as dams, pipelines, and hospitals. He is the author of 200+ scientific publications, with ~8000 citations (h-index 50), and has delivered more than 80 presentations at international conferences, including invited lectures. He has authored a widely used textbook on the Physics of the Earth’s interior, macroseismic atlases, and technical reports, and is a member of the Editorial board of Pure and Applied Geophysics, as well as reviewer for 20+ international journals. He has also participated as a board member in several organizations, including the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, the Greek Geological Survey, etc. and contributed to the development of Greece’s seismic code.
Panagiotis Paschos
Executive of the Epirus Regional Unit,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Panagiotis Paschos
Executive of the Epirus Regional Unit,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Panagiotis Paschos was born in Paramythia, Thesprotia in 1959. He graduated from the Lyceum of Igoumenitsa. He is a graduate of the Geological Department of the University of Athens and holds a PhD from the Department of MMM of the NTUA. The topic of the doctoral dissertation was "Geodynamic evolution of the wider area of the Ambracian Gulf from the Upper Miocene to the present day".
In 1986 he was hired at IGME in the Directorate of General Geology and Mapping with the object of work being geological mapping and neotectonic study of neogenic and quaternary formations. During this time, he was involved in the elaboration of the Neotectonic map of Greece on a scale of 1:100,000 on the sheets "Arta", "Lefkada" and "Istiaia".
From 1990 until today he has been working at the Regional Unit of Epirus of EAGME based in Preveza.
The scientific activities concern the organization and implementation of projects such as:
□ Geological Mapping (geological map of Greece on a scale of 1:50000 and cartographic support in various projects)
□ Engineering Geology (Research, recording, monitoring, proposals for dealing with catastrophic phenomena)
□ Geoconservation and geoheritage (Recording and creating database of geotopes, preparation and scientific support at areas to become geoparks). He is an active member of the management committee of the global geopark Vikos – Aoos, of UNESCO.
Dimítris Pefánis 16 Dimitris Pefanis
Journalist, CNN Greece
Dimítris Pefánis 16 Dimitris Pefanis
Journalist, CNN Greece
O Dimítris Pefánis, vravevménos dimosiográfos kai stélechos me 20+ chrónia empeirías sta digital media, eínai Diefthyntís tou CNN.GR. Spoúdase Epikoinonía kai Mésa Mazikís Enimérosis sto Pánteio Panepistímio kai katéchei metaptychiakó títlo se New Media Journalism apó to Emerson College ton Inoménon Politeión. Échei ergasteí os dimosiográfos stin Elláda kai stis Inoménes Politeíes kalýptontas metaxý állon thémata technologías, oikonomías kai psifiakón méson. Xekínise tin kariéra tou to 1998 sto Dimosiografikó Organismó Lampráki kai to 2007 afieróthike sta psifiaká mésa xekinóntas os archisyntáktis tis psifiakís ékdosis tis efimerídas (tanea.gr)., gia na analávei to 2011 ti diéfthynsi tou in.gr, enós apó ta próta kai «thryliká» web portals stin Elláda. To 2015 méchri to 2020 anélave Genikós Diefthyntís tou Insider.gr, éna apó ta simantikótera oikonomiká sites tis chóras. Ascholeítai me to diadíktyo apó to 1992 kai pernáei perissótero chróno online pará offline. To 2012 vravéftike apó ton ómilo tis Citigroup me to Journalistic Excellence Award gia to kalýtero epicheirimatikó reportáz.
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Dimitris Pefanis, an award-winning journalist and executive with 20+ years of experience in digital media, is the Director of CNN.GR. He studied Communication and Mass Media at Panteion University and holds a master's degree in New Media Journalism from Emerson College in the United States. He has worked as a journalist in Greece and the United States, covering, among other things, technology, economics and digital media. He began his career in 1998 at the Lambrakis Journalism Organization and in 2007 dedicated himself to digital media, starting as editor-in-chief of the digital edition of the newspaper (tanea.gr)., to take over in 2011 the management of in.gr, one of the first and "legendary" web portals in Greece. From 2015 to 2020 he took over as General Manager of Insider.gr, one of the most important financial sites in the country. He has been involved in the internet since 1992 and spends more time online than offline. In 2012, he was awarded the Journalistic Excellence Award for best business reporting by Citigroup.
Anezina Solomonidou, PhD
Planetologist, Scientific Officer at HSC
Anezina Solomonidou, PhD
Planetologist, Scientific Officer at HSC
Dr. Anezina Solomonidou is a planetologist specializing in planetary geology, focusing her research on
the potentially habitable worlds of our Solar System. She is a Senior Scientist at the Hellenic Space
Center (HSC). She earned her PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the Paris Observatory in
France. She has worked for many years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Caltech in Los
Angeles, California, contributing to the Cassini-Huygens and Europa Clipper missions, as well as at the
European Space Agency (ESA) in Madrid, where she was involved in preparing ESA's new space
mission, JUICE. Dr. Solomonidou has authored numerous scientific articles in international journals
and book chapters. She has proposed a series of planetary experiments and contributed to the design
of future space missions. She is Greece’s national delegate to ESA’s Programme Board for Human
Spaceflight, Microgravity, and Exploration (PB-HME), as well as to the Science Programme Committee
(SPC). Finally, she serves as the President of the Planetary Sciences (PS) Division of the European
Geosciences Union (EGU) and is a member of international advisory boards and NASA committees
evaluating scientific proposals in planetary science.
Eleftheria Pogiatzi
Director of General & Applied Geology,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Eleftheria Pogiatzi
Director of General & Applied Geology,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Eleftheria Pogiatzi is a graduate of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a Master's Degree (M.Sc.) in "Tectonic Geology and Rock Mechanics" from Imperial College, University of London, United Kingdom.
This year she celebrates 40 years of full-time employment at the Hellenic Geological Survey (EGS-EGS). She is Head of the General and Applied Geology Directorate and is also Chair of the Earth Observation and Geohazards Expert Group (EOEG) of EuroGeoSurveys (EGS).
She has many years of experience in Technical Geology and Geohazards and has participated in numerous projects at national and European level. As part of its involvement in European affairs, it leads initiatives to provide evidence-based information to those responsible for formulating policies on issues related to addressing geohazards.
Lazaros Polymenakos
Head of the Department of Applied Geophysics, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Lazaros Polymenakos
Head of the Department of Applied Geophysics, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Head of the Department of Applied Geophysics, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Dafni Pontikou
Daphne Pontikou Geologist Museum Educator Coordinator of Educational Programs, National Geological Museum, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Dafni Pontikou
Daphne Pontikou Geologist Museum Educator Coordinator of Educational Programs, National Geological Museum, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Graduate of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, holding postgraduate degrees in Museum Studies and Educational Sciences. She has more than 15 years of experience in the design and implementation of educational programs, specializing in experiential learning, museum education, and education for sustainable development.
In 2016, she founded the lab “Viwnw Mathainw Dimioyrgw” and has since collaborated with major scientific, educational, and cultural institutions, including Technopolis City of Athens and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
She has contributed to the development of educational materials and implementation guides for teachers. She is a registered trainer in the Centre of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning. For the past two years, she has been working at H.S.G.M.E. as Coordinator of Educational Programs at the National Geological Museum, where she is responsible for the design and implementation of the museum’s educational programs and activities.
Dimitrios Primpas
General Manager, IBM Greece and Cyprus
Dimitrios Primpas
General Manager, IBM Greece and Cyprus
General Manager, IBM Greece and Cyprus
Dimitrios Psychoyios
Vice President at Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste & Water (Greece), Chairman of the Water Services Regulation Sector
Dimitrios Psychoyios
Vice President at Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste & Water (Greece), Chairman of the Water Services Regulation Sector
Dimitris Psychoyios is a Professor of Finance at the University of Piraeus. He was the First Vice President of the Regulatory Authority for Energy (R.A.E.) in Greece since 2020, and since 2023 is the First Vice-President of the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (R.A.A.E.Y.), and Chairman of the Water and Liquid Waste Services branch of R.A.A.E.Y. Dimitrios held various academic positions in Finance, and has taught in undergraduate and MBA programs of European and American universities. His expertise lies in energy economics, banking, financial economics, corporate finance and investments. His professional experience includes over 20 years of consulting, research, and training services for organizations in the private and public sector in USA, Europe and Greece
Lambros Pyrgiotis
Head of the Department of Technical Geology, EAGME
Lambros Pyrgiotis
Head of the Department of Technical Geology, EAGME
Holds a Degree in Geology (1990) and a PhD in Engineering Geology (1997) from the University of Patras. Highly proficient in English and specialized software including AutoCAD,
ArcGIS, Larix, and Dips.
Professional Experience
• H.S.G.M.E. (formerly IGME): Serving from 2005 to present, with roles as Engineering Geologist (drafting of 110 Engineering Geological and Geotechnical studies in collaboration or stand-alone), Acting Head of the Support and Engineering Geology departments. Received a Board Commendation for meritorious service.
• Infrastructure & Research: 4+ years as an Engineering Geologist on major railway
tunnel projects (Platamonas-Leptokarya, Kallidromo). Participated in 10 university research projects (1993–1998) and delivered 14 geotechnical studies for public and private sectors.
Academic Contribution
• Teaching: Instructed undergraduate courses in Engineering Geology and Geology of
Engineering Works at the University of Patras (1992–2002).
• Publications: Authored 16 scientific papers, 2 monographs, and 14 publications.
Νίκος Σέργης
CEO, Hellenic Space Center
Dr. Nick Sergis is a researcher in the field of Space Physics. From 2006 to 2020 he worked at the Office of Space Research and Technology of the Academy of Athens in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). His research work includes 80 scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals and many invited lectures-seminars in Greece and abroad. In 2009 and 2018 he received NASA awards for his participation in the Cassini-Huygens mission.
Dr. Sergis has experience in managing research programs. He has led/participated in research groups in the field of Space Science and Applications, in collaboration with institutes from Europe and the USA. Dr. Sergis has supervised/co-supervised doctoral, postgraduate and undergraduate theses in Greece and abroad.
Since 2020, he is serving as CEO of the Hellenic Space Center (HSC), the National Space Agency of Greece. His responsibilities include the coordination/supervision of the administrative and scientific staff of the HSC to ensure the effective operation and achievement of the Agency’s strategic goals, among which is the formulation of a National Space Policy-Strategy.
Charalambos Sachinis
CEO, EYDAP
Mr. Sachinis is the Chief Executive Officer of EYDAP, the largest water and wastewater company
in Greece. He has negotiated a favorable 20-year concession agreement with the Greek State and
is also focusing on executing a €2.5 billion 10-year investment plan, transforming the company to
achieve operational excellence and become a leader in ESG ratings.
He previously held the position of Business Development Officer at Aegean Airlines. He has also
been involved in private equity as a Partner at Global Finance, as an Operating Partner at Advent
International and independently.
Earlier he was the Chairman and CEO of DEPA Group, where he significantly improved
profitability, negotiated and completed major supply contracts worth $20 billion and contributed in
the shaping of alternative gas supply routes to Europe.
He has also served as President of the McGraw-Hill Companies’ Business Information Group,
which he made into one of the top global business-to-business information companies, specializing
in the energy, construction, aviation, aerospace and defense industries.
Prior to this, he was President of Platts, which he built into the world’s largest energy and
commodities price and information provider, and at the same time he actively promoted
transparency and integrity in the global energy markets.
He was also Group Vice President of Standard & Poor’s, where he grew key strategic businesses
in the financial information sector.
He has served as Vice Chairman of ATHEXClear and as a Member of the Boards of Directors of
ENEXClear. Currently he is a Member of the Boards of Directors of the Atlantic Council and οf the
Investment Committee of CNL Capital.
He holds an engineering degree from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece and an
MBA from Harvard Business School.
Konstantinos Saltas
Chairman of the Board, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Konstantinos Saltas
Chairman of the Board, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Konstantinos Saltas graduated from Megara High School in 1967. The same year he entered the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens and completed his studies in 1972. He was a scholarship holder of the State Scholarship Foundation. From 1972 to 1975 he served his military service as a Reserve Lieutenant Colonel in the Hellenic Air Force. From 1975 to 1993 he worked at the Skalistiri Mining Complex in the Mantoudio - Kozani - Kymi - Itea - Lamia - Elefsina Mines, gaining experience in the areas of mining and ore enrichment. In the same mining complex, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mining and Minerals Company "Mining - Maritime Works S.A." He voluntarily retired in 1993 with the title of Technical Director of Mine Operations. In 1993, he was hired by TITAN Cement Group S.A. where he worked until June 2019. In the same Group, since 1998, he has worked as Director of Quarry Products in the Greek Sector. He has also served as Managing Director of all TITAN Group subsidiaries dealing with aggregates in Greece and as an authorized advisor of "INTERBETON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS S.A.", a subsidiary of TITAN Group S.A. He retired in 2012 and remained with the Group as an advisor to the General Directorate of the Greek Sector until June 2019. From 2007 to May 2019, he was elected Vice President of the Association of Mining Companies, contributing to the formulation of Bills relating to quarrying legislation.
Konstantinos Samaras
Senior Information Security & Infrastructure Engineer
Highly accomplished Senior Information Security & Infrastructure Engineer with 25+ years of hands-on experience in securing enterprise networks, infrastructure hardening, and managing cybersecurity operations across critical industrial and public sectors. Proven track record in aligning complex IT environments with ISO 27001 and NIS2 principles, deploying advanced endpoint protection (EDR), and establishing corporate security governance. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional ICT teams to monitor, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats while ensuring high-availability systems. Continuous learner currently expanding core expertise through ISC2 CISSP certification.
Panagiotis Sampatakakis
Director of Water Resources and Geothermal Energy,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Panagiotis Sampatakakis
Director of Water Resources and Geothermal Energy,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Panagiotis Sabatakakis completed his university studies at the University of Bologna in the School of Geological Sciences, from where he graduated in 1979. In 1980, the "ALEXANDER ONASSIS" FOUNDATION granted him a two-year scholarship to continue his postgraduate studies at the Polytechnic University of Florence - School of Surveying Engineering in "Natural Resources Management". In 1985, with a new Scholarship from the Ministry of Research and Universities of the Italian Government, he continued and completed (1989) his Doctorate at the Universities of Bologna and Modena, in Groundwater "Hydrogeotectonic lines and movement of groundwater with the exploitation of isotopes in the Limestones of Laconian Mani". Returning to Greece, he was hired by the IGME where he works to this day. During his long tenure at the Institute, he has prepared more than 300 reports, studies and publications on water resources, both underground and surface. At the same time, he has participated in various thematic committees within the IGME, either as chairman or as a member. He has served in various positions of responsibility within and outside the
EAGME (formerly IGME), always in the field of water resources, such as: Head of European
Programs for Water Resources in various regions of the Country (1st CSF, 2nd CSF, 3rd CSF), Head of the "National Groundwater Monitoring Network",
Head of the "Countrywide Borehole Inventory Program", etc.),
member of the "National Water Council", representative of IGME in consultations with the
competent European Commission for the formulation of DIRECTIVE 2000/60 (2001-2010), reviewer of
scientific programs at the G.G.E.T., member of scientific committees of Conferences, etc.
He has participated in the preparation and implementation of transnational research programs on water resources within the framework of scientific collaborations implemented over time by the IGME and has taken part in joint missions abroad (e.g. Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Cyprus, Germany, Italy, etc.).
Πέτρος Τζεφέρης
Γενικός Διευθυντής Ορυκτών Πρώτων Υλών, ΥΠΕΝ
Peter G. Tzeferis is a PhD senior engineer and writer. He works at the Greek Ministry of the Environment and Energy (YPEN), where in recent years he has served in several managerial positions (currently as General Director of Mineral Raw Materials).
He has been involved in significant research projects fo¬cused on the utilization of Mineral Raw Materials (MRM) and the Environment. His PhD thesis (1986-1991) ex¬plored the field of Biohydrometallurgy. He taught at the Hellenic Naval Cadets Academy and at the Democritus University of Thrace in the Department of Environmental Engineering. His research interests encompass sustainable development and management of Mineral Raw Ma¬terials, technical and environmental licensing, the identification and provenance determination of marbles and stones and the preservation of National Mining Heritage.
The International Mineralogical Association recently honored him by naming a newly discovered supergene mineral “Tzeferisite” (CNMNC 71, Eur. J. Mineral., 35). Tzeferisite, (Tze) CaZn₈(SO₄)₂(OH)₁₂Cl₂(H₂O)₉, is one of the 25 Type Localities ever discovered in the Lavreotiki region.
Owner and administrator of www.oryktosploutos.net and www.elladitsamas.blogspot.gr.
Christos Skevas
Country Manager, Rockfire Resources plc
Christos Skevas
Country Manager, Rockfire Resources plc
I have studied Management, Marketing and I hold a Bachelor Degree, as well as a Master Degree (MBA) with a specialization in strategy.
I have worked in management positions in Greece and abroad in private companies as well as in the public sector as general manager, managing director and president.
Starlight rooms London
Tradimpex S.A. Geneva
Greenwich Resources plc
Recycling S.A.
OLA (Port Authority of Alexandroupolis) S.A.
Rockfire Resources plc
Michael Stamatakis
Professor Emeritus, NKUA, Industrial Minerals
Dr. Michael G. Stamatakis has been of the staff of the Geology and Geoenvironment Department at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens [NKUA] since 1980. He obtained his PhD from the NKUA in 1987 and was appointed Professor of Industrial Minerals in 2005. He was teaching the subjects “Industrial Minerals” and “Energy Resources”, and the “Materials Technology” in Master Courses in the NKUA. His main research interests are on the location characterization and evaluation deposits of pozzolanic tuffs, zeolites, diatomaceous rocks, borates, gypsum, phosphates, olivine, silica sand, marine aggregates and white carbonates of Greece. He is also working with ancient building stones and mortars, as well as metallurgical slags of copper and iron derived from the islands of Kea, Andros and Evia, Aegean Sea. Dr. Stamatakis has also worked in Turkey and f. Yugoslavia on borates and cryptocrystalline magnesite deposits, in Spain of filter & filler-quality diatomite, gypsum, Na-sulphates, sepiolite, sparry magnesite, bentonite and zeolite; in Denmark on Mo-clay; in Italy on zeolite tuffs; in Hungary and Romania on diatomaceous rocks, zeolitic tuffs, bentonite and perlite; in Canada on hydromagnesite-magnesite deposits; in Cyprus bentonite, gypsum and celestite, in the UK on ball clays and china clay. He is collaborating with the British Geological Survey, the US Geological Survey and IGME-Spain. His industrial experience includes work with a number of Greek companies [TITAN Cement Company, SIBELCO Hellas, Geohellas, f. S&B Industrial Minerals [now IMERYS], MEVIOR, MATHIOS Refractories, POLYECO, AEGEAN RECYCLING, Heracles-Lafarge-Holcim, OLYMPOS, Ionian Kalk, MIXANOCHIMIKI], and overseas companies [Rio Tinto, BHP Utah, HUDSON Resources, ECOREM, AMTEL, GORDES]. He is also contractor and/or coordinator of Domestic and EU-funded research & Development Projects. In the period 2009-2013 he was the Director of the Geology & Geoenvironment Department, and from 2013-2017 was the Vice-Director of the same Department. He has more than 200 publications in international and domestic journals and has been awarded three times from the Greek Academy of Sciences for his scientific research, the most recent was December 2017; the subject of the research was the archaeo-metallurgy of copper in Kea Island, Cyclades, Greece. Since 2022 Dr. Stamatakis is nominated Professor Emeritus in the NKUA, still working with industrial research projects on industrial minerals.
Aleka Stamatiadi
Communication Consultant, Dr. Media, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Aleka Stamatiadi
Communication Consultant, Dr. Media, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Aleka Stamatiadi is a journalist and communications consultant, specializing in digital social media strategy, politics and culture. Academically, she is a PhD candidate at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Journalism and Media, with a research focus on political communication and popular culture. Professionally, she has many years of experience in journalism, branding and organizing communication plans, working as a communications consultant for organizations and politicians.
Kostis Stambolis
President & Executive Director, South East Europe Energy Institute
Kostis Stambolis
President & Executive Director, South East Europe Energy Institute
Kostis Stambolis is the Executive Director of IENE. He has studied Physics and Architecture at Universities in Great Britain. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Architecture and Energy Studies (AA Dip. Grad) from the Architectural Association of London and a Master's from the Said Business School of the University of Oxford, where he studied "Strategy and Innovation". Mr. Stambolis has prepared numerous studies and projects on Renewable Energy Sources in developing countries. He has worked as a strategy consultant on natural gas, oil markets and energy security for large multinational companies, international organizations and governments. He has published a number of books, conference proceedings, research papers and studies on energy policy, solar energy, RES and energy markets. He is the publisher of "S.E. Europe Energy Outlook (2011, 2017, 2022, 2025)", which is considered a key reference point for energy in SE Europe. Since 2001, K. Stambolis has supervised and edited the most important energy website in Greece, www.energia.gr, on a daily basis. He is a founding member of the Southeastern European Energy Institute (SEEI), of which he is the current President.
Aristofanis Stefatos
CEO of the Hellenic Hydrocarbon and Energy Resources Management Company S.A. (EDEYEP).
Aristofanis Stefatos
CEO of the Hellenic Hydrocarbon and Energy Resources Management Company S.A. (EDEYEP).
Dr. Aristophanes (Aris) Stefatos is the CEO of the Hellenic Hydrocarbon and Energy Resources Management Company S.A. (EDEYEP). He holds a PhD in Geology and Geophysics, a Master’s in Environmental Oceanography and a Bachelor’s degree in Geology. For the last 17 years, he has worked in senior positions in private companies in the Energy and Hydrocarbon sectors in Norway. He is also a founding member of five Norwegian companies in the broader Energy sector, developing innovative solutions related to the environment and digital transformation. In his 26 years of work experience, Mr. Stefatos has worked on technical, mining and geological projects in Europe, North America, the Indian Ocean, Africa and SE Asia. Mr. Stefatos has five recorded oil and gas discoveries in Norway and the Barents Sea. In 2019, he had the honor of serving as Honorary Consul of Greece in Bergen.
Georgios Stoubos
Georgios Stoumpos, President of the Committee of Engineering Geology of the Geological Society of Greece & Head of the Department of Mechanized Tunnelling (Design Department) at ELLINIKO METRO S.A.
Georgios Stoubos
Georgios Stoumpos, President of the Committee of Engineering Geology of the Geological Society of Greece & Head of the Department of Mechanized Tunnelling (Design Department) at ELLINIKO METRO S.A.
Georgios Stoumpos is Head of the Department of Mechanized Tunnelling at ELLINIKO METRO S.A. and President of the Committee of Engineering Geology of the Geological Society of Greece since 2023. He holds a BSc in Geology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and an MSc in Engineering Geology from the University of Leeds. He has extensive experience in major infrastructure projects, particularly the Athens Metro, focusing on design, supervision, geotechnical assessment and geomechanical and structural monitoring. He has also worked as a researcher on slope stability, underground works safety and geohazard assessment in excavations and pipeline projects. His main research interests focus on mechanized tunnelling (TBM), conventional tunnelling and open excavations for infrastructure, with emphasis on engineering geological conditions and rock mass behaviour. He has a strong publication record and is an active member of scientific and professional organizations in Greece and internationally.
Κostas Synolakis
Professor of Natural Disasters, University of Southern California
Κostas Synolakis
Professor of Natural Disasters, University of Southern California
Professor of Natural Disasters, University of Southern California
Efthymios Tartaras
Dr, Head of Geosciences and Management Consultant, HEREMA
Efthymios Tartaras
Dr, Head of Geosciences and Management Consultant, HEREMA
Dr Efthimios Tartaras leads the Geoscience department at HEREMA, overseeing carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrocarbon exploration and production (E&P). With over 20 years of experience in senior management and business development positions within the natural resources exploration industry, he has worked across Europe, including the UK, France, Italy and Norway.
Throughout his career, Efthimios has managed large, multi-disciplinary teams focused on integrating and interpreting geoscientific data. He has also led global sales and marketing of geoscience software and multi-physics data acquisition, processing and interpretation.
He holds a BS in Geology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), and MS and PhD degrees in Geophysics from the University of Utah (USA). His research expertise focuses on subsurface characterization and data interpretation for hydrocarbon, mineral and geothermal exploration.
Stavros Tomazinakis
Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy
Stavros Tomazinakis
Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy
Stavros Tomazinakis is an Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece. He has professional experience in management consulting, specializing in energy strategy and green finance. He has also worked as a researcher in the field of sustainable mineral raw materials, with publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. He holds an MEng in Mining Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and an MSc in Energy Economics from University College London (UCL).
Kostas Triantis
CEO, Natural Environment and Climate Agency
Kostas Triantis
CEO, Natural Environment and Climate Agency
CEO, Natural Environment and Climate Agency
Yiannis Tzanopoulos
Journalist & CEO, Liberty Experience
Yiannis Tzanopoulos
Journalist & CEO, Liberty Experience
Yiannis Tzanopoulos is a journalist and CEO of Liberty Experience. He has
25 years of experience in the media and is a member of ESIEA. He has served as editor-in-chief of many
newspapers and magazines, has been a communications consultant to public bodies, and is
Press Officer at the Information Society MAE and the Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mineral Exploration.
Maria Tzima
President of Association of Greek Geologists
Maria Tzima, President of Association of Greek Geologists Maria Tzima is a Geologist and Water Management Expert (EurGeol #1635 – CNG) with over 24 years of professional experience. Currently serving as an Independent Consultant for the Hellenic Survey of Geological and Mineral Exploration, she holds an M.Sc. in Water Resources Science and Technology from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). A prominent leader in her field, Maria is the President of the Association of Greek Geologists and serves as the Coordinator of the EFG (European Federation of Geologists) Panel of Experts, where she contributes to the advancement of geoscience standards and professional development across Europe.
Mina Ralli
Journalist & News Presenter, ERTNews
Mina Ralli is a journalist and news presenter at ERT. She is also a professor of journalism. She is a graduate of the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a postgraduate degree from the Department of Communication and Media of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She speaks English and French.
Effrosyni Varvitsioti
Director of Development and Policy at the Directorate General for Mineral Raw Materials of the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy
Effrosyni Varvitsioti
Director of Development and Policy at the Directorate General for Mineral Raw Materials of the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy
Effrosyni Varvitsioti has been serving as Director of Development and Policy at the Directorate General for Mineral Raw Materials of the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy since 2019. She holds a Law Degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a degree from the National School of Public Administration, and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development from Panteion University.
With more than 15 years of experience in the regulation of extractive activities, she has worked extensively on mineral resources governance, geothermal energy policy, and the development of the regulatory framework for the extractive sector. In her current role, she is responsible for shaping policies and legislative initiatives related to mineral raw materials and geothermal energy, while also coordinating the implementation and reporting processes associated with the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act.
Dimitrios Voloudakis
Director of Programmes, New Agriculture New Generation Scientific Associate, Academy of Athens
Dimitrios Voloudakis
Director of Programmes, New Agriculture New Generation Scientific Associate, Academy of Athens
Dimitris Voloudakis is an Agronomist and holds a PhD from the Agricultural University of Athens, specializing in climate change and its impacts on agriculture. He has extensive experience in research, the management of European projects, and knowledge transfer within the agrifood sector.
He has worked at the European Parliament in Brussels as an advisor, at the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, at the National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance (EOPPEP), and as a researcher at the Climate Change Impacts Committee of the Bank of Greece.
In the public sector, he has been involved in the design and implementation of climate change adaptation projects. Since 2020, he has served as General Director of Programmes at the NGO New Agriculture New Generation, where he designs and implements training, entrepreneurship, and innovation programmes for the agrifood sector.
At the same time, he is a scientific associate of the Academy of Athens on issues related to agroclimatology and teaches in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes on climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and agricultural development.
Dr. Konstantinos Voudouris
Professor of Hydrogeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dr. Konstantinos Voudouris
Professor of Hydrogeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Ο Κωνσταντίνος Σ. Βουδούρης είναι Καθηγητής Υδρογεωλογίας στο τμήμα Γεωλογίας του Αριστοτελείου
Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης. Είναι πτυχιούχος του Τμήματος Γεωλογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών,καθώς και του τμήματος Μαθηματικών του ίδιου Πανεπιστημίου. Το 1995 ανακηρύχθηκε ΔιδάκτωρΥδρογεωλογίας στο Τμήμα Γεωλογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών με βαθμό «Άριστα». Υπήρξε υπότροφος
του Ι.Κ.Υ. για την εκπόνηση της διδακτορικής διατριβής του, καθώς και για μεταδιδακτορική έρευνα.
Διδάσκει στο Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ) από το 2003. Το 2016 επισκέφθηκε στο
πλαίσιο 6-μηνης εκπαιδευτικής άδειας το Πανεπιστήμιο της Avignon, Γαλλίας (Université d'Avignon et
des Pays de Vaucluse, Département d'Hydrogéologie). Το 2019 του απονεμήθηκε ο τίτλος του Επισκέπτη
Καθηγητή (Guest Professor) από το Πανεπιστήμιο Hubei της Κίνας.
Είναι Πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Επιτροπής Υδρογεωλογίας. Συμμετέχει στο Δ.Σ. του κέντρου UNESCO
Ολοκληρωμένης και Διεπιστημονικής Διαχείρισης Υδατικών Πόρων του ΑΠΘ (Category II Centre on
Integrated and Multidisciplinary Water Resources Management).
Είναι συγγραφέας τριών εκπαιδευτικών τόμων του εκδοτικού οίκου Τζιόλα, Θεσσαλονίκη:
1) Τεχνική Υδρογεωλογία-Υπόγεια νερά (2021),
2) Περιβαλλοντική Υδρογεωλογία (2025), και
3) Εκμετάλλευση & Διαχείριση Υπόγειου Νερού (2022).
Επίσης είναι εκδότης δύο τόμων του εκδοτικού οίκου: ΙNTECH Open Access Publisher:
1. Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment,
2. Ecological Water Quality - Water Treatment and Reuse
Ο Δρ. Κωνσταντίνος Βουδούρης έχει δημοσιεύσει περισσότερα από 230 άρθρα σε διεθνή επιστημονικάπεριοδικά και σε πρακτικά εθνικών και διεθνών συνεδρίων και έχει συμμετάσχει σε σημαντικό αριθμό
υδρογεωλογικών και υδρολογικών μελετών και μελετών διαχείρισης υδατικών πόρων. Το δημοσιευμένο
έργο του έχει δεχθεί περισσότερες από 2.500 ετεροαναφορές, όπως αναφέρονται στη βάση δεδομένων
Scopus με δείκτη απήχησης h-index=29. Τα έτη 2020 και 2022 συμπεριλαμβάνεται στον κατάλογο του 2%
των κορυφαίων επιστημόνων του κόσμου, σύμφωνα με την αξιολόγηση του Πανεπιστημίου Stanford.
Konstantinos Yazitzoglou
Chairman of the Board Greek Mining Enterprises Association
Konstantinos YAZITZOGLOU has over thirty-five years of C-level executive experience in the manufacturing industry, including food, feed, and mining. He has been a key player in the turnaround and transformation of several Greek companies. Since 2012, he has been the CEO of GEOHELLAS, an industrial minerals company exploiting the unique Greek deposits of Attapulgite around Grevena.
He has served on several Boards of Directors, both as an executive and as a non-executive member. He has also served on the boards of not-for-profit organizations and independent authorities, both nationally and internationally.
Currently, he is the chair of the Greek Mining Enterprises Association.
He is involved as an advisor and/or investor in various innovative entrepreneurial projects, including movie production, medical technologies, food and beverage, and real estate. He is co founder of Y-CUBE LP, a digital solutions boutique consulting firm.
Konstantinos holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management from the National Technical University of Athens, an MSc in Management Science (by Distinction) from Imperial College, University of London, and a Certificate in Global Management from INSEAD.
Eleni Zagana
Professor of Hydrogeology–Hydrochemistry in the Department of Geology at the University of Patras
Eleni Zagana
Professor of Hydrogeology–Hydrochemistry in the Department of Geology at the University of Patras
Eleni Zagana is Professor of Hydrogeology–Hydrochemistry in the Department of Geology at the University of Patras. She graduated in Geology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a Doctorate in Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) specializing in hydrogeology from the University of Würzburg, Germany, where she was awarded a scholarship for her doctoral research. She served as Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Science, Geosciences Programme, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and has been President of the Hellenic Committee of Hydrogeology. She is also a member of the International Commission on Karst Hydrogeology.
She has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the University of Patras, the Hellenic Open University, the Agricultural University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Institute for Geology and Paleontology at the University of Würzburg, and the Geosciences Programme at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. She has worked as a researcher at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and has participated in hydrogeological studies in Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Jordan and Brunei Darussalam. Her research over the last decade focuses on karst hydrogeology, seawater intrusion and aquifer salinization, and groundwater protection and vulnerability assessment. She has published a substantial number of scientific articles in international journals and conference proceedings.
Irene Zananiri
Head, Department of General Geology, Geological Mapping & Applications,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Irene Zananiri
Head, Department of General Geology, Geological Mapping & Applications,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Head, Department of General Geology, Geological Mapping & Applications,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Alexandra Zervakou
Executive of the Department of General Geology, Geological Mapping and Applications, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Alexandra Zervakou
Executive of the Department of General Geology, Geological Mapping and Applications, Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Alexandra Zervakou is a geologist with more than 20 years of professional experience in digital geological mapping, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and geospatial data management. She is a PhD candidate, holds a degree in Geology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and an MSc from the National Technical University of Athens, specializing in the application of Geographic Information Systems to geological sciences.
Since 2006, she has been working at the Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME, formerly IGME), where she serves as Head of the Digital Cartography, Geological Map Production and GIS Laboratory within the Directorate of General and Applied Geology. Her work focuses on the design, development and management of geological databases, the production of digital geological cartographic products, the development of GIS-based geological applications, and the harmonization of geospatial datasets with European standards and the requirements of the INSPIRE Directive.
Her professional activities include participation in nationally and European-funded research projects, scientific publications, and conference presentations in the fields of digital geological mapping, GIS, and geoinformatics. She has also contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching activities at the National Technical University of Athens and serves as HSGME representative in the SIEG and GMMEG expert groups of EuroGeoSurveys.
Konstantinos Zombos
Press Spokesperson of the Attica Region
Konstantinos Zombos was born in Galatsi, Attica, in 1980, where he continues to reside with his family.
He is a graduate of the “Business Organization and Administration” department of the A.S.O.E.E., having completed postgraduate studies in Applied Economics and Regional Development.
He is currently a PhD candidate with a thesis topic of “SMART CITIES: TECHNOLOGY IN
THE GOVERNANCE OF CITIES IN THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF CITIZENS”.
His professional career began at the age of 20 as an employee of a market research company.
From 2005 to 2007, he worked in the Securities Operations Department of a large banking group.
From 2007 to the present, he has been active in the field of Finance in both the public and private sectors. He assumed positions of responsibility in the School Buildings Organization, in Road Transport (OSY. S.A.) and in the operational planning of Building Infrastructure S.A. At the same time, from 2008 to 2009, he served as Deputy Mayor for Environment and European Programs of the Municipality of Galatsi, while from 2011 to 2013, he assumed the position of Deputy Mayor for Technical & Financial Services. In 2015, he founded the consulting company Add Advantage Accounting + Business Consulting, based in Galatsi. Since 2019, he has been Deputy General Manager at the Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mineral Exploration (EAGME). From January 2024 to September 2025 he served as Deputy Regional Governor of the Central Sector of Athens of the Attica Region.
From September 2025 to the present he is the Press Spokesperson of the Attica Region.
In his free time he plays basketball and loves running in the mountains.
He is married and has two children.
Vasilios Zorapas
Head of the Department of Hydrogeology and Hydrology,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
Vasilios Zorapas
Head of the Department of Hydrogeology and Hydrology,Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (HSGME)
I am a graduate of the Department of Geology of the University of Patras (1992) and hold a postgraduate diploma in "Waste Management" (2010), with an emphasis on waste treatment methods and environmental protection. I have many years of experience in the field of hydrogeology, specializing in projects and studies related to the research, management and protection of groundwater. I hold the position of Head of the Department of Hydrogeology and Hydrology of the Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mining Research (EAGME), where I am responsible for the NSRF project "Greece Groundwater Monitoring Network" (2017-2023 and 2024-2029). The "Monitoring Network" is an obligation of the country, in accordance with Directive 2000/60EC and supports the implementation of the River Basin Management Plans of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. In the context of my professional career, I have assumed positions of responsibility in European programs (CSF and NSRF), I have worked as a freelance researcher, preparing hydrogeological, geotechnical studies and environmental impact studies, while I have participated in conferences and scientific journals. I am an active member of the scientific community, participating in various associations and committees: Member of the Water Resources Committee of the Association of Greek Geologists, member of the Board of Directors of the of the Association of Greek Geologists (for several years), member of the Association of Scientific Personnel of the Hellenic Geological Survey (IGME) and its president during the period 2017-2020, member of the Governing Committee of the Geotechnical Chamber (GEOTEE) - Branch of Peloponnese and Western Mainland Greece.
Nikos Zouros
Professor of Physical Geography, Geomorphology, Geotectonics and Geodynamics at the Department of Geography of the University of the Aegean
Nikos Zouros
Professor of Physical Geography, Geomorphology, Geotectonics and Geodynamics at the Department of Geography of the University of the Aegean
Professor Nickolas C. Zouros
Dr. Nickolaos Zouros is Professor in Physical Geography, Geomorphology, Geotectonics and Geodynamics at the Department of Geography at the Aegean University.
UNESCO Chair on Geoparks and the Sustainable Development of insular and coastal areas.
Director of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, Ministry of Culture
Coordinator of the Lesvos island UNESCO Global Geopark, Greece
Member of the Board of the Hellenic National UNESCO Commission
President of the National Geoparks Committee
President of the Executive Board of the Global Geoparks Network Association (2014-2025)
General Secretary of the Executive Board of the Global Geoparks Network Association (2025-2029)
He is Professor in Physical Geography, Geomorphology, Geotectonics and Geodynamics at the Department of Geography at the Aegean University. He is President of the UNESCO Chair on Geoparks and the Sustainable Development of insular and coastal areas.
He served as Vice Chair of the University Council (2009-2015). He is Director of the Master Course Natural Hazards and Disaster Mittigation (2018-2026). His main research interests are Physical Geography, Geodynamics, Structural Geology - Neotectonics, Mapping, Applied and Environmental Geology, Geological and Geomorphological Heritage – Geosites and Geoparks.
He is Director at the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest since it’s foundation in 1995 with main duties the protection, research and promotion of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos, a National Natural Monument.
He worked for the management of the Lesvos Petrified Forest protected area, and the development of geo-conservation, geo-tourism and sustainable local development as well as geo-education with special emphasis on geohazard awareness raising and sustainable local development.
Since 2004 Nickolas Zouros has worked closely with UNESCO to promote and develop the Geopark concept in Europe but, increasingly, in other parts of the world as a member of the Bureau of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). He has undertaken many expert and evaluation missions in many countries.
He is author of more than 100 scientific articles in international journals and conferences proceedings. Many of his publications focus on geoparks, earthquake geology, neotectonis and geohazard awareness raising. He is author of 20 books on Geoparks, Geo-conservation and Geo-tourism.
Member of the Central Council of Antiquities of the Greek Ministry of Culture (2009-2019)
Member of the Local Council of Monuments in the North Aegean Region (2010-today)
Member of the Seismotectonic Commission of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (EPPO) of Greece (2012 - today)
Vice President of the Regional Council for Research and Innovation of the Region of North Aegean, Greece
N. Zouros is Secretary of the Board of the Geological Society of Greece / Commission on Geological and Geomorphological Heritage.