Speakers

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”outline” color=”black” active_section=”-1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Agis Papadopoulos” tab_id=”AgisPapadopoulos”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Professor Agis M. Papadopoulos

Process Equipment Design Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Aristotle University Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Tel. +30 2310 996015
Fax. +30 2310 996012
e-mail: agis@eng.auth.gr[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Agis M. Papadopoulos graduated from the German School of Thessaloniki with distinction. He obtained his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Aristotle University Thessaloniki in 1989, his Master of Science in Energy Conservation and the Environment from Cranfield University (UK), in 1991, and his Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, specializing on solar thermal systems, from the Aristotle University Thessaloniki in 1994.

Since 1998 he is Professor for Energy Systems at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Aristotle University Thessaloniki and since 2013 he is Director of the Process Equipment Design Laboratory. His main research interests lie in the fields of (a) Energy conservation and renewable energy resources, (b) Energy and environmental design of buildings and (c) Energy and Environmental economics and policies.

He has coordinated more than 65 national and international research projects and authored or co-authored more than 120 papers published in peer reviewed journals, 270 papers in conference proceedings and 23 chapters in books and textbooks. He is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Sustainable Energy and has edited / co-edited two books on energy-exergy and energy efficiency.

He has been a board member of the Regulatory Authority of Energy (2003-2005) and the AHEPA Hospital in Thessaloniki (2005-2007), as well as a national representative to the European Commission on Research and Innovation, Energy and Regional Potential (2006-2010). He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Cyprus (2012-2013) and at the International Hellenic University (2011-2019) and is since 2015 at the Technical University of Hamburg, Germany.

Between 2014 and 2018 he was Vice-Chairman of the Governing Board in charge of Academic Affairs of the Open University of Cyprus. Since 2018 he is member of the OYC’s Council.

Since August 2019 he is Chairman of the Board of EYATH S.A. – Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewage Company.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Radmil Polenakovikj” tab_id=”RadmilPolenakovikj”][vc_column_text]

Prof. Dr. Radmil Polenakovikj

E-mails: radmil.polenakovik@ncdiel.mk, radmil.polenakovik@mf.edu.mk, radmilpolenakovik@yahoo.com
Tel/Fax: +389 2 3099 481
Mob: +389 70 332 930
Skype: radmil.polenakovik[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Prof. Dr. Radmil Polenakovikj is a professor on Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Innovation Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, etc. at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. He has published more than 300 bibliographical units. His main activities are in the area of developing North Macedonian entrepreneurial and innovation eco-system with focus on entrepreneurial learning. Polenakovikj is also very active on the policy level where with his collaborators developed National Strategy for Entrepreneurial Learning, National Cluster strategy, Regional Innovation strategies for planning regions, Municipality level strategies for entrepreneurship, etc. Participated in more than 100 projects (50 projects as a team leader) funded or supported by: EU programs (transnational, cross-border, FP7, Tempus, COSME, Erasmus+, thematic calls, etc.), OECD, World Bank, ETF, ADA, USAID, GTZ, CEI, UNCTAD, SEECEL, UK Embassy, Denmark Embassy, North Macedonian ministries and agencies, etc. He is also a project evaluator on number of EU, Balkan and domestic calls in the area of Entrepreneurship and innovation. Polenakovikj is leading University Business Start-Up Centre (BSC) since 2006 and National Center for Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning (NCDIEL) since 2009 that supported establishment of more than 60 start-ups. He is a member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts in Salzburg, Austria and visiting professor at UNESCO Chair for Entrepreneurship (University of Novi Sad, Serbia).[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Aristotelis Spiliotis” tab_id=”AristotelisSpiliotis”][vc_column_text]Mr. Aristotelis Spiliotis

Secretary General

Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB)[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Mr. Spiliotis assumed his duties as BSTDB Secretary General on 16 March 2019. He started his professional career in the private sector as an Investment Director of the mutual funds company DIETHNIKI S.A., NBG Group. In 1999, he co-founded and managed a venture capital fund, 4E. He has served as Vice President of the Hellenic Venture Capital Association. He was board member in several Greek companies and banks. He was Director of Investment Participations of Omega Bank and Proton Bank, Chairman of the Board of the Omega Mutual Fund Management Company, Board member and Chairman of the Investment Committee of the business incubator Thermi S.A. and Board member of Panellinia Bank. In 2012, he joined the Economic Analysis and Research Department of the Bank of Greece. Before joining BSTDB, Mr. Spiliotis served as special Economic Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development of Greece. His areas of responsibility included the banking sector, financing tools, capital and money markets, investments and project financing, international economic relations.

He has taught in the universities of York and Leeds, U.K. and he is currently lecturing on banking and finance in Greek universities. He has published several articles in scientific and professional journals.

He holds a Ph.D. degree from the University of York, UK, in Money, Finance and Banking and a B.Sc. degree in Economics from the University of Piraeus, Greece. He also holds a Certified Investment Portfolio Manager certificate from the Hellenic Capital Market Commission, Greece.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Todor Mladenov” tab_id=”TodorMladenov”][vc_column_text]

Todor Mladenov has graduated in 1995 from University for National and World Economy – Sofia with Master’s Degree in International Economic Relations.

He is the current CEO of Sofia Tech Park JSC (www.sofiatech.bg), since May 2018. Previously, Head of “Projects and Innovations” Department. Sofia Tech Park is the first science and technology park in Bulgaria, opened in 2015. It was created with the goal to become a leading regional platform for exchange of knowledge and innovative ideas between academia, business, government and the society. Currently, all key elements of the park are set and functional – the Business Incubator, the Laboratory Complex (with 11 high-tech laboratories), Innovation forum “John Atanasoff“ and the Museum / Experimentarium, with the interactive children’s centre for science and technologies TechnoMagicLand; and multi-storey parking and sports complex.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Vladimir Velichkovski” tab_id=”VladimirVelichkovski”][vc_column_text]Vladimir Velichkovski is part of the department for support of business sector within Center for development of Pelagonija planning region in Bitola, where he works with entrepreneurs, company managers, farmers and business support organizations, to provide them with business related information and to help them use as most as possible of the available funding programs to support their businesses. After spending nearly a decade working with representatives from SME’s, Vladimir believes that in order to provide the service to the business sector, its necessary to establish direct communication and to create trust within the process. Vladimir has supported companies from different sectors from the whole Pelagonija region, helping them to find funding for their business ideas and to upgrade their capacities. Vladimir holds a BA in management from the SWU Neofit Rilski in Bulgaria. He is also certified in project cycle management and moderation of group events.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”George Emmanuel” tab_id=”GeorgeEmmanuel”][vc_column_text]GEORGE EMMANUEL

GENERAL DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY OF INTERIOR (Macedonia and Thrace Sector)
Designated after the 426/29-1-2018 call of Independent Authority ΑSEP

Date of Birth: 1958[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]STUDIES:
BSc in Economic and Social Sciences (University of Macedonia, Greece)
MSc in Agricultural Economics with specialization in International Trade (University of London, UK)
Graduate Diploma of School for teachers of Education (SELETE, Ελλάδα)
MA Course: EU Integration, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (University of Macedonia, Greece)

WORKING EXPERIENCE – Main positions held
2018-present: General Director of the Ministry of Interior (Sector Macedonia and Thrace)
2019-2020: Coordinator of the Balkan Forum
2016-2018: Representative of the Region of Thessaly in the European Network of PDO quality products AREPO
2011-2015: Director of Managing Authority of European Territorial Cooperation Programmes (Interreg) and member of the Monitoring Committees of the Cross-border and Transnational Programmes with European, Balkan and Mediterranean countries
1998-2007: Head of the Managing Authority of Regional Operational Programme in Thessaly and Economist Expert in the administration of European Union CSF Programmes
1984-1997: Commercial Manager of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Larissa- Tyrnavos-Agia and of the dairy products’ industry “Olympos”[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Jelena Stojovic” tab_id=”JelenaStojovic”][vc_column_text]Jelena Stojovic is Good Governance Advisor in NALED. She is a former State Secretary within the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia and National Authorising Officer (NAO) in charge of financial management of EU assistance provided to Serbia in the period 2016-2018. She also held the position of the Assistant Minister of Finance/Head of the Central Financing and Contracting Unit (CFCU). Since 2005, she has been improving her knowledge and upgrading her expertise in the area of regional cooperation and development, cohesion policy and European integration in the country and abroad, working in the Serbian public administration, European Commission (DG REGIO) and Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Brussels Liaison Office. She managed various EU programmes in the field of economic and social development, as well as technical assistance projects supported by the EU, GIZ, UNDP and other donors. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics at the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Economics, and obtained a Master degree in European Economic Integration at Vrije University in Brussels, Belgium.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Marija Kacarska” tab_id=”MarijaKacarska”][vc_column_text]Marija Kacarska

E-mails: marija.kacarska@gmail.com, Marija.Kacarska@feit.ukim.edu.mk
Tel/Fax: +389 2 3099 191
Mob: +389 70 379 061
Skype: mkacarska[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Prof. Dr. Marija Kacarska is an electrical engineer, expert in energy efficiency, energy and environmental policies, electromagnetic compatibility and large system analysis and modelling, author or co-author of more than 100 scientific papers published in reviewed national and international journals and conferences. She is a professor on Fundamentals of electrical engineering, Fundamentals of electrical circuits, Legislation in the area of environment, Professional Energy Skills in nZEB, Parallel processing, etc. at the Faculty of Electrical engineering and Information Technologies at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. Currently she is responsible for the Master study program “Energy efficiency, environment and sustainable development” at the Faculty and is a Head of Institute of Electroheat.

She is also active on the policy level where with collaborators developed “Rulebook on the indication by labelling of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products”. Kacarska has participated in or coordinated more than 20 research projects, mainly in energy efficiency, funded or supported by: EU programs (cross-border, IPA II, FP6, FP7, Tempus, HORIZON 2020, etc.), GTZ, SECO, North Macedonian ministries. She is a senior member of IEEE and MAKO CIGRE.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Georgia Ayfantopoulou” tab_id=”GeorgiaAyfantopoulou”][vc_column_text]Dr. Georgia Ayfantopoulou is Deputy Director and Research Director at the Hellenic Institute of Transport (ΗΙΤ) of CERTH with professional and research experience for over 25 years in transport systems management and optimization. She is the Head of Research Department of HIT “Intelligent Infrastructure and Networks, Sustainable Mobility and Logistics” and being assigned the scientific responsibility and the coordination of many research, consultancy and industrial projects in these topics. She has written numerous scientific articles and reports.

Always focusing on new technology implementation, as enabler for transforming transport and mobility systems, her work emphases on: a) ITS, C-ITS for transport demand and traffic management, b) Data sharing and Big Data analytics for knowledge creation, modelling and decision support in Sustainable Mobility c) Tools and Services development for supporting intermodality as well as users and actors visibility in passengers and freight transport chains operation.

Heavily involved in supporting policy formulation, implementation and policy assessment for sustainable mobility (Urban Mobility Package assessment – DG MOVE, Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators framework – DG MOVE, Greek Committee on SUMPs specifications, numerous SUMPs in Greece & Cyprus, author of thematic guides of SUMP 2.0, coordinator of CIVITAS projects) she has good knowledge of the cities challenges and of techniques for managing the change towards implementation of new mobility schemes.

She has migrated from industry to academia terrain in 2004 and she is committed to innovation creation and growth through collaboration. She is the Managing Director of the Thessaloniki Technology Park S.A., an innovation multiplier company with stakeholders all industrial associations and research organizations of Northern Greece promoting Mega Project for innovation in Greece (http://www.thestep.gr/), one of them being in mobility. Supporting ecosystems in 4helix collaboration towards city led innovation for mobility is an important part of her work the last ten years, in local ecosystems, H2020 and INTERREG projects. She is currently the coordinator of the Thessaloniki Smart Mobility Living Lab (https://smartmlab.imet.gr/), a member of the European Association of Living Labs ENoLL (https://enoll.org/) and is leading the initiative for the establishment of the national Cluster and Competence Center on sustainable mobility and city logistics. She is a member of the EU Digital Transport & Logistics Forum (https://www.dtlf.eu/), an expert group formulated by DG-MOVE for supporting interoperability of technologies platforms and services in transport and Logistics and with the mandate to deliver the proposal for the European Federated Network of platforms in transport logistics community.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Fokion Tzourdas” tab_id=”FokionTzourdas”][vc_column_text]Fokion Tzourdas
Chief Commercial Officer, Thessaloniki Innovation & Technology Center, Thess INTEC[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Fokion Tzourdas was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. He graduated from the German School of Thessaloniki in 1989 and he gained his undergraduate degree (BSc Mathematics and Management) from King’s College London in 1992. He received his MBA title from Athens University of Economics and Business in 2005.

During his professional career he worked in several positions in commercial and ICT companies, being responsible for business development, sales and marketing. Today he is the CCO of the 4th generation Science & Technology Park, Thess INTEC.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Nicolas Moussiopoulos” tab_id=”NicolasMoussiopoulos”][vc_column_text]Professor Nicolas Moussiopoulos, Dr.-Ing. habil., Prof. h.c.

Nicolas Moussiopoulos is since 1989 a Full Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering of the Aristotle University Thessaloniki (AUTh) and the Head of this University’s Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Environmental Engineering. He served as the Dean of AUTh’s Faculty of Engineering (2006-2010) and as the Vice President of the International Hellenic University (2010-2016). Since July 2018 he is an elected Scientific Council member of the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation.
Professor Moussiopoulos is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. In 2002 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. His research work addresses several issues in the broad field of energy and the environment. In the last 30 years he participated in numerous competitive, mostly EU funded research projects with a total budget exceeding 20 million €. He supervised 42 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers in Greece and five other countries and is the author of more than 900 scientific publications, including more than 220 papers in peer-reviewed journals (approx.. 8400 citations, h-index: 46).[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Kyriakos Loufakis” tab_id=”KyriakosLoufakis”][vc_column_text]Kyriakos Loufakis

Born in Thessaloniki in 1960, Dr. Kyriakos Loufakis holds a PhD and an MSc from Renselaer Polytechnic Inst. in N. York and a BSc from Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki in Chemistry. He has won the Fulbright and the Alexander von Humbolt scholarships. Research assistant and guest speaker in several Universities and Institutes in USA, China, Europe and Greece. More than 15 publications in Scientific Journals and 9 presentations in conferences. Since 1988 he works in the Chemical Industry.

Μember of American Association of Textile Chemists and Colourists (AATCC), American Chemical Society (ACS), New York Academy of Science, Textile Institute and Greek Association of Chemists.

Enlisted in “Who is who in science and engineering” (1988) and “Who is who in the world” (1995).
He has broad experience in implementation and management of projects, concerning product development and has worked extensively in the marketing, sales and contracting. He speaks English, German, French.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Nikol Kazantzidou” tab_id=”NikolKazantzidou”][vc_column_text]Nikol Kazantzidou

Nikol Kazantzidou is a journalist at the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, in charge of tourism reporting in Northern Greece. For the last five years she has been editing and presenting the news show “Kathimerina”, on the radio station PRAKTORIO 104.9 FM. She has worked in newspapers, magazines and television and holds a master’s degree from the School of Journalism of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She speaks English and French.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Maro Vlachopoulou” tab_id=”MaroVlachopoulou”][vc_column_text]Maro Vlachopoulou is a Professor of Digital Marketing & e-Business at the Department of Applied Informatics, Dean of the School of Information Sciences (2012-2017), Director of Information Systems & e-Business Laboratory ISeBlab at the University of Macedonia (iseb.gr), Greece. She has published over 100 papers in scientific journals (International Journal of Production Economics, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, International Journal of Business Information Systems, the European Journal of Operation Research) and organized numerous of conferences. Throughout the years, her work has exceeded in many academic associations and she has directed many European research programs. She has served as a consultant to private companies.

Email: mavla@uom.edu.gr[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Spyros Ignatiadis” tab_id=”SpyrosIgnatiadis”][vc_column_text]Spyros Ignatiadis is General Director of SEVE – Greek Exporters Association.
email: si@seve.gr

His career includes a series of positions in executive level in Management, Business Development, Marketing and Public Relations & Communication positions.

Spyros Ignatiadis for fifteen years was the Director of the Association of Information Technology Companies of Northern Greece (Thessaloniki).

Prior to that, he served for a period of six years as the Marketing Director and Public Relation Specialist for a Greek-Multinational Software company, “Singular International”.

His job experience is based upon his tenure at several information technology companies, other non-governmental associations and Consulting Services Companies in the field of ICT, Marketing, Logistics Services, Public Relations and Communications.
His research and professional interests focus on innovation issues in the ICT sector, as well as the creation of cluster for the development and promotion of entrepreneurship for the SMEs .

He has also experience in the organization and administration of national and European research programmes, having as target the development and the promotion of the research efforts in the ICT sector.

He has also been involved in many European Information Technology Projects and Congresses, funded by the European Commission and other institutions. He is also a member of the Greek National Society of Public Relations as well as of various other social bodies and organisations.

Finally, Mr. Ignatiadis was a Vice President of ELLINIKI ETAIREIA LOGISTICS (EEL) – (Greek Logistics Society) of Northern Greece.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Adrijana Bogdanovska” tab_id=”Bogdanovska”][vc_column_text]Adrijana Bogdanovska

Dr. Bogdanovska leads the Center for Knowledge Management, a research and educational center from North Macedonia – one of the three in the country recognised by EUROSTAT. In the period (2019-2022), CKM is a coordinator of network of Centres of Excellence in Innovations in 5 countries of the Balkan Mediterranean Area established under the project InnoPlatform of the Interreg BalkanMed program (2014-2020).

Dr. Bogdanovska holds a PhD in Strategic Management with focus on Knowledge Management. The focus of Dr. Bogdanovska’s work is placed on innovation and competitiveness of the Balkan countries explored at three levels: at macro level focused on policies for strengthening national innovation capacities; at micro level focused on R&D and clusters in the emerging industries, and at organizational level focused on the identification and support of Balkan innovative enterprises.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Dimitris Lakasas” tab_id=”DimitrisLakasas”][vc_column_text]Dimitris N. Lakasas
CEO of Olympia Electronics

Ο Δημήτρης Λακασάς το 2017 ανακηρύχτηκε «Καινοτόμος επιχειρηματίας της χρονιάς» στο διαγωνισμό της EY – ERNST & YOUNG.

Παράλληλα με την επιχειρηματική του δραστηριότητα ο κ. Δημήτριος Λακασάς έχει διατελέσει:

– Πρόεδρος ΣΕΒΕ – Συνδέσμου Εξαγωγέων Βορείου Ελλάδος 2010-2014
– Πρόεδρος ΑΖΚ Αλεξάνδρειας Ζώνης Καινοτομίας 2013 έως 2015
– Μέλος Γενικού Συμβουλίου ΣΕΒ 2004 έως 2019
– Μέλος Δ.Σ. του Συνδέσμου Βιομηχανιών Βορείου Ελλάδος (Σ.Β.Β.Ε.) από το 1999 έως σήμερα

Ιδρυτής της δεξαμενής σκέψης ThinkTankSEVE.

Έχει στο ενεργητικό του συμμετοχή σε διεθνή συνέδρια και δημοσιεύσεις σε οικονομικό και κλαδικό τύπο.

Είναι κάτοχος Μεταπτυχιακού Μ.Β.Α. στη Διοίκηση επιχειρήσεων (UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD) με προπτυχιακές σπουδές (Bachelor) στον τομέα των Οικονομικών και του Marketing (CITY COLLEGE – UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD).»[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Nikos Katsiadakis” tab_id=”NikosKatsiadakis”][vc_column_text]Nikos Katsiadakis has studied Electrical Engineering and holds a MSc in Industrial Management (Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki AUTH). He has worked for more than 23 years in innovation and technology transfer services with key innovation players of the local ecosystem in Thessaloniki, Greece: The Centre for Research & Technology and the Thessaloniki Technology Park. Among others he has designed and managed several projects in knowledge management, creative thinking and intellectual property as well as in research dissemination and science communication areas. Currently, he is a member of the Extroversion services unit of CERTH and works in topics such as regional innovation policies, RIS3, clusters and strategy tools in the framework of INTERREG projects. He is a passionate amateur beekeeper.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Mladen Perazic” tab_id=”MladenPerazic”][vc_column_text]Mladen Perazic, PhD

Mr Mladen Perazić, PhD in economic science, performs the duty of Director of Education and Quality Department since 2003 and Lecturer (Professor) at University ‘’Mediteran’’ in Podgorica since 2012. He is continuously engaged in managing educational activities and coordination of CEM role in reforming process of National educational system of Montenegro; Designing of low and sub-low regulations; Business education; International cooperation; Human resources development. Mr Perazić performed as project manager on TEMPUS DEVCORE; TEMPUS  ECESM; TEMPUS Dellco; TEMPUS DEBUT; EEN – SME assistance through the European Enterprise Network; Creation of the “Master’s Examination System in Montenegro” in cooperation with the WIFI Institute from Vienna.  He is member of project team MARDS and BLUEWBC (Erasmus + program/topic high education). Mladen Perazić, PhD, is author of a range of publications related to education system in Montenegro and its reform in accordance to EU standards, the structure and nature of EU institutions, negotiating process with EU and the obligations that Montenegro undertook, especially those related to education and VET system.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”George Kremlis” tab_id=”GeorgeKremlis”][vc_column_text]George Kremlis

Ο Γιώργος Κρεμλής είναι Σύμβουλος του Πρωθυπουργού της Ελλάδος σε θέματα ενέργειας, κλίματος, περιβάλλοντος και κυκλικής οικονομίας. Είναι Διευθυντής ε.τ. της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής, εντεταλμένος για θέματα κυκλικής οικονομίας και νησιωτικότητας και μέλος του περιβαλλοντικού και κοινωνικού συμβουλίου της Ευρωπαϊκής Τράπεζας Ανασυγκρότησης και Ανάπτυξης καθώς και μέλος του Δ.Σ. του Ευρωπαϊκού Οργανισμού Δημοσίου Δικαίου. Είναι Πρόεδρος του Bureau της Σύμβασης Espoo και του Πρωτοκόλλου SEA (Συμβάσεις UNECE) και θα προεδρεύσει στη Διάσκεψη των Μερών το Δεκέμβριο του 2020.

Διετέλεσε από το 1981 στέλεχος της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής:

Νομικός Σύμβουλος στην κεντρική Νομική Υπηρεσία της ΕΕ και αντίκλητός της στο Δικαστήριο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, με πάνω από πενήντα πέντε παραστάσεις στο τελευταίο.

Προϊστάμενος από το 1995 Διοικητικών Μονάδων της Γενικής Διεύθυνσης Περιβάλλοντος, όπως της “Νομικής Υπηρεσίας”, της “Περιβαλλοντικής Διακυβέρνησης”, της “Πολιτικής Συνοχής και Εκτίμησης Περιβαλλοντικών Επιπτώσεων” καθώς και της “Εφαρμογής της Κοινοτικής Νομοθεσίας, της Πολιτικής Συνοχής και του Ευρωπαϊκού Εξαμήνου”. Επίσης διετέλεσε Διευθυντής ad interim  της Διεύθυνσης “Εφαρμογής της Κοινοτικής Νομοθεσίας, Διακυβέρνησης και Ευρωπαϊκού Εξαμήνου” καθώς και Εκτελών χρέη Διευθυντής της Διεύθυνσης “Νομικών Υποθέσεων και Συνοχής”. Άσκησε επίσης καθήκοντα επικεφαλής Μονάδας για θέματα συμμόρφωσης και εφαρμογής του περιβαλλοντικού κεκτημένου, διασφάλισης της ενσωμάτωσης των περιβαλλοντικών απαιτήσεων στο σύνολο των πολιτικών της ΕΕ, ιδίως στο Ευρωπαϊκό Εξάμηνο και αξιολόγησης των συγχρηματοδοτούμενων έργων της ΕΕ καθώς και εφαρμογής των οδηγιών EIA/SEA (Environmental Impact Assessment/Strategic Environmental Assessment) για την εκτίμηση των περιβαλλοντικών επιπτώσεων, τη Σύμβαση Espoo και το Πρωτόκολλο SEA. Παράλληλα είχε την ευθύνη για την περιβαλλοντική ενσωμάτωση στα Διευρωπαϊκά Δίκτυα Ενέργειας και Μεταφορών.

Διετέλεσε Πρόεδρος των Δικτύων κρατικών εμπειρογνωμόνων: ΕΝΕΑ (European Network of Environmental Authorities) και EIA/SEA. Διετέλεσε επίσης Συμπρόεδρος (Co-president) του διακρατικού ευρωπαϊκού δικτύου περιβάλλοντος IMPEL (Implementation network: Environmental Law), Εκπρόσωπος της ΕΕ στο Παγκόσμιο δίκτυο περιβάλλοντος INECE, καθώς και Μέλος του ΔΣ του ΕΚΠΠΑ (Εθνικό Κέντρο Περιβάλλοντος και Αειφόρου Ανάπτυξης).

Είναι Επίτιμος Πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Εταιρίας Δικαίου του Περιβάλλοντος, της οποίας και υπήρξε ιδρυτικός Πρόεδρος.

Διετέλεσε επίσης μέλος της Ρυθμιστικής Αρχής Ενέργειας στην Ελλάδα.

Μέλος του Δικηγορικού Συλλόγου Αθηνών και δικηγόρος στον Άρειο Πάγο από το 1995. Έχει διατελέσει επίσης Επιστημονικός ερευνητής του Κέντρου Διεθνούς & Ευρωπαϊκού Οικονομικού Δικαίου στη Θεσσαλονίκη και, κατά την περίοδο μεταξύ 1991 και 1993, στην Ελλάδα, διετέλεσε Σύμβουλος του Υπουργού Εθνικής Οικονομίας, Εθνικός Συντονιστής σε θέματα εσωτερικής αγοράς, Μέλος της Επιτροπής ανταγωνισμού, Συντονιστής της Επιτροπής για θέματα ΕΟΚ παρά τω Πρωθυπουργώ (Κωνσταντίνος Μητσοτάκης), καθώς και Γενικός Γραμματέας σχέσεων με Ευρωπαϊκές Κοινότητες και Διεθνείς Οργανισμούς στο ΥΠΕΘΟ.

Έχει κατά καιρούς διδάξει σε διάφορα Πανεπιστήμια στην Ελλάδα και στο εξωτερικό, σε μεταπτυχιακά κυρίως προγράμματα.

Είναι συγγραφέας βιβλίων (στα ελληνικά, αγγλικά και γαλλικά), καθώς επίσης και πολυάριθμων άρθρων και μελετών σε ελληνικά και ξενόγλωσσα νομικά περιοδικά.  Όπως και ένας από τους συγγραφείς (και συντονιστής έκδοσης) του τετράτομου έργου «Ερμηνεία κατ´άρθρον των Συνθηκών της ΕΕ» (Συνθήκη της Νίκαιας), στις εκδόσεις Αντ. Ν. Σάκκουλα, Αθήνα.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Matthias Kuenzel” tab_id=”MatthiasKuenzel”][vc_column_text]Matthias Kuenzel

Matthias Kuenzel has 20+ years’ experience in innovation support measures. He had worked for more than 10 years in regional innovations systems. Together with European partners, he was involved in the development of benchmarking and auditing methods for innovation clusters. Today he is an accredited lead auditor for the Gold Label of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative. He has been the program director for the German Digital Hub Initiative since Mai 2020. Being a fellow of the in-house Institute for Innovation and Technology he manages studies on technology, innovation and research policy and was involved in the development and application of methods for analysing future trends in technology and innovation.

Matthias Kuenzel holds a PhD in Metrology. Technical focus areas are advanced manufacturing, digital economy and sensor technologies. As a member of the jury he has been involved in the decision process on RT&D projects of the Berlin innovation funding project ProFIT for more than ten years. He has widely written scientific studies about innovation, evaluation, commercialisation impact measurements and related policy issues.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Aleksandar Stevanovic” tab_id=”AleksandarStevanovic”][vc_column_text]Aleksandar Stevanovic

Mobile Phone: +381 11 3244010
Phone: +381 63 8329403
Email: a.stevanovic@cef.org.rs
Facebook: aleksandar.stevanovic.98499
Skype: zli.zeleni.zec[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][vc_column_text]WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Jun 2016 – August 2020: MP in Serbian Parliament
    Drafting the laws and economic analysis of laws. Analysis of harmonization of Serbian legal system with EU legal system as the member of EU Integration Committee. In particular analysis of laws related to SMEs, innovations and other directly economy related laws. In addition member of Committee on Finance, State Budget and Control of Public Spending, Committee on Spatial Planning, Transport, Infrastructure and Telecommunications, Committee on the Economy, Regional Development, Trade, Tourism and Energy. Delegate in Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe 2017-2019.
  • January 2005 – present: CEFE Serbia, Secretary General
    Contacts with clients. Fund raising. Key expert in labor market and social dialogue issues.
    Policy of employing and firing. Development of projects. Contacts with decision-makers in Serbian and municipal institutions.
    Consulting.
  • February 2013 -present: Serbian Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Belgrade, Serbia, Advisor and President
    Strategic management, LED, program development, fund raising, international cooperation.
    Association of employers.
  • September 2013 – January 2014: Ministry of Economy, Belgrade, Serbia Advisor of Minister of Economy
    Advising minister on industrial democracy, collective bargaining, tourism, LED, SMEs and entrepreneurship. Drafting the Labour law, Law on Bankrupcy and Law on Privatization.
    Public administration.
  • September 2014 – February 2015: Israeli Embassy in Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, Advisor
    Monitoring and reporting about Serbian economy. Writing the reports about Serbian, Montenegrin and Macedonian economy. Consulting of Israeli firms in Serbia. Organization of Israeli Business forums.
    Consulting & public administration.
  • December 2000 – January 2008: Free Market Center, Belgrade, Serbia, Researcher
    Fund raising and development of project proposal. Part-time and honorary engagement Predicting and commenting current economic issues and international cooperation in measuring the macroeconomic variables in Serbia.
    Researching.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

  • 2005-2008: International academy for leadership of Friedrich Nauman Stiftung & Teodor Hojs, Germany – Three certificates of Academy (Property rights; Globalization issues 1 and 2)
  • 2001-2002: Alternative Academic Education Network, Belgrade, Serbia – MA in Political Practice and Democracy Theory
  • 2000-2001: Alternative Academic Education Network, Belgrade, Serbia – MA in Transition and Reconstruction
  • 1994-2000: Faculty of Economics, Belgrade, Serbia, MA and BA in Domestic and International Trade

Organisational / managerial skills
Started own consulting company CEFE Serbia in 2006 and managed dozens of up to 400.000 EUR projects with up to 40 consultants subordinated in the projects. Managed Serbian Association of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as managed parliamentary political organization as vicepresident.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Zhulieta Gjurkova” tab_id=”ZhulietaGjurkova”][vc_column_text]Zhulieta Gjurkova, MSc

Head of the Centre for development of the South-East planning region
zulieta.gjurkova@rdc.mk


Ms. Gjurkova twelve years represents and manages the Centre for development of the South-East planning region, one of the eight planning regions in Republic of North Macedonia. With her long wide experience, she efficiently organizes, directs, coordinates the work of the Centre and proposes to the Council for development of the South-East planning region, programs, projects, reports and other documents prepared by the Centre which is consisted of ten Municipalities. Her expertise lies in creating different strategies to realize successful cooperation with other regional, national and international organizations and institutions for implementing regional policy in order to improve the welfare of the inhabitants of the South-East planning region.

During her career, Ms. Gjurkova worked in a private sector, Local Self-government and as a Consultant in different programs in the field of local self-government, NGO’s development and as Assessor for the 3rd Call for Project Proposals within the IPA Cross Border Cooperation Programme between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania 2007-2013.

Among others, Ms. Gjurkova contributed or still contributes as: Member of JMC – Joint Monitoring Committee for Republic of Greece – Republic of North Macedonia IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020; Member of JMC – Joint Monitoring Committee for Republic of Bulgaria – Republic of North Macedonia IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013; Member of JMC – Joint Monitoring Committee for Republic of Greece – Republic of North Macedonia IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013; Member of JTF – Joint Task Forces for new programming period for Republic of Greece – Republic of North Macedonia IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 and she was one of the founders and member of Association of citizens “Regional Economic Development of Bregalnica – Strumica region.

Although the numerous awards for economic and regional development that Centre has received in the time of her management, Ms. Gjurkova with her creative spirit and diligence together with her team still creates success stories through the implementation of projects in various fields, which will continue to encourage balanced regional development, better living standards of citizens and will provide faster and more stable economic development of the South-East planning region in the Republic of North Macedonia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Eleni Kallinikou” tab_id=”EleniKallinikou”][vc_column_text]Eleni Kallinikou is a senior official of the Ministry of Interior, having provided her services since 2006, as graduate with excellence of the National School of Public Administration. As of June 2020, she has taken on the task of Director in the Office of the Executive Secretary – General of the Ministry of Interior, maintaining at the same time, her post and tasks at the Independent Department of International and European relations within the Ministry of Interior. She has dealt with and been involved in the international dimension of the local government and the policies of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labor, where she had provided her services for one year. She participated and represented the Ministry and the country in a great number of Committees and Working Groups, both in Greece and abroad, such as Committees and Working Groups in the European Union, the Council of Europe and the OECD (Organization of economic cooperation and development) on issues related to the democratic governance, the proper administration and the dimension of the social inclusion of the Roma population. She is the National Contact point of the country in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. She worked for the European Commission at the Directorate General of Justice.

She has a degree on Communication and Media from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She is awarded two master degrees “Southeastern Europe Studies” (2004) and “International and European Studies” (2011), both from the Section of Political Science and Public Administration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

She speaks English, French and Spanish.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Georgia Valatsou” tab_id=”GeorgiaValatsou”][vc_column_text]Georgia (Yiola) Valatsou has been the Executive Secretary -General of the Ministry of Interior since March 2020. She joined the Greek public sector as a graduate of the National School of Public Administration. Between January 2018 and March 2020, she was the Head of the Directorate- General of Financial Services and Administrative Support, within the Ministry of interior; between September 2014 and January 2018, and between January 2012 and September 2014, she was the Head of the Directorate General of Financial and Administrative Services, within the Ministry of Administrative Reconstruction, and between 15/03/2007 and 31/12/2010 the Secretary General of the Prefectural Administration of Magnisia. During the period between 20/03/2012 and 31/08/2012 she provided her services as a Special Consultant in the General Secretariat of the Prime Minister. Until then, she was holding important positions of responsibility. She dealt with a wide range of issues in the former Ministry of Administrative Reconstruction as well as in the Ministry of Interior. She represented the Ministry in national, European and international meetings. She is the author of important written works on law and public administration.

She graduated from the School of Law / Section of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and she holds a post graduate degree on Public Law, from the School of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She is a PhD candidate from the University of Peloponnese “The social right to participate in the information society and the contribution of technology to the transformation of the contemporary model of governance”.

She speaks English and French.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Antonis Karvounis” tab_id=”AntonisKarvounis”][vc_column_text]

Ο Δρ. Αντώνης Καρβούνης γεννήθηκε στον Πειραιά το Μάιο του 1972 και σπούδασε Πολιτικές Επιστήμες, Διεθνείς Σπουδές και Δημόσια Διοίκηση στο Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο Κοινωνικών και Πολιτικών Επιστημών (διδακτορικό, 2019) και στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Newcastle Upon Tyne (διδακτορικό, 2003). Επιπλέον είναι κάτοχος του Μεταπτυχιακού Διπλώματος Εξειδίκευσης (MSc) ‘Διοίκηση Πολιτισμικών Μονάδων’ από το Ελληνικό Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο (2019). Είναι αριστούχος απόφοιτος της Εθνικής Σχολής Δημόσιας Διοίκησης και Αυτοδιοίκησης και από το 2003 στέλεχος του Υπουργείου Εσωτερικών. Από το 2006 έχει οριστεί Εθνικό Σημείο Επαφής του Ευρωπαϊκού Προγράμματος «Ευρώπη για τους Πολίτες» και των Ευρωπαϊκών Ομίλων Εδαφικής Συνεργασίας (ΕΟΕΣ). Από το 2005 μέχρι σήμερα, αρχικά ως Γραμματέας και στη συνέχεια ως Πρόεδρος, συμμετέχει ως εκπρόσωπος του Υπουργείου Εσωτερικών στη Διυπουργική Επιτροπή του άρθ.4 παρ.2β του ν.3345/2005 για τις διεθνείς συνεργασίες των ΟΤΑ, ενώ είναι υπεύθυνος και συγγραφέας των σειρών ‘Διπλωματία Πόλεων’ και ‘Διεθνή και Ευρωπαϊκά Θέματα Τοπικής Αυτοδιοίκησης’ του Υπουργείου Εσωτερικών. Είναι μέλος του Συνεργαζόμενου Εκπαιδευτικού Προσωπικού του Ελληνικού Ανοικτού Πανεπιστημίου (ΕΑΠ) στο Προπτυχιακό Πρόγραμμα Σπουδών ‘Ελληνικό Διοικητικό Σύστημα’, ενώ διδάσκει Περιφερειακή Ανάπτυξη και Τοπική Αυτοδιοίκηση στο Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών ‘Εθνική και Ενωσιακή Διοίκηση’ του Τμήματος Δημόσιας Διοίκησης του Παντείου Πανεπιστημίου. Η πολύπλευρη αρθρογραφία στον ημερήσιο Τύπο και η συγγραφική του δραστηριότητα εστιάζεται κυρίως στις διεθνείς συνεργασίες της τοπικής αυτοδιοίκησης και τη διπλωματία πόλεων, στη δημόσια διοίκηση, στα ευρωπαϊκά προγράμματα και στην πολιτική επιστήμη. Μεταξύ άλλων έχει συγγράψει τις εξής μονογραφίες: Εισαγωγή στην Οργάνωση και Λειτουργία του Κράτους (Αθήνα 2004)· Η Βρετανία και το Ευρωπαϊκό Ζήτημα 1961-2000 (Αθήνα 2005)· Κοινωνικά Κινήματα και Συλλογική Δράση. Τα Κείμενα των Λαϊκών Κινημάτων της Αγγλικής Επανάστασης (Αθήνα 2010)· The Labour Party and the European Question, 1961-2000 (Berlin 2010)· Σύγχρονες Μορφές Διακυβέρνησης (Αθήνα 2006)· CREATIVE CITIES. Innovation in Greek Local Government (Saarbrücken 2012)· ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΑ ΠΟΛΕΩΝ Ι: Οι Αδελφοποιήσεις των Ελληνικών Δήμων, 2006-2016 (Αθήνα 2016)˙ ANΤΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΙΚΑ ΕΥΡΩΠΑΙΚΑ ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ 2014-2020: Η Διατομεακή Προσέγγιση (Αθήνα 2016)˙ ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΑ ΠΟΛΕΩΝ ΙΙ: Τα Διεθνή Δίκτυα Πόλεων των Ελληνικών Δήμων, 2006-2016 (Αθήνα 2017)˙ ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΑ ΠΟΛΕΩΝ III: Οι Ευρωπαϊκοί Όμιλοι Εδαφικής Συνεργασίας των Ελληνικών Δήμων, 2007-2017 (Αθήνα 2017)˙ ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΑ ΠΟΛΕΩΝ ΙV: Η Πολιτιστική Διπλωματία των Διεθνών Δικτύων Πόλεων (Αθήνα 2017)˙ ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΑ ΠΟΛΕΩΝ V: Η Γαλάζια Διπλωματία των Διεθνών Δικτύων Πόλεων (Αθήνα 2017)˙ ΕΥΡΩΠΑΙΚΟΙ, ΟΜΙΛΟΙ ΕΔΑΦΙΚΗΣ ΣΥΝΕΡΓΑΣΙΑΣ (ΕΟΕΣ) (Αθήνα 2018)· ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΑ ΠΟΛΕΩΝ VΙ: Η Πράσινη Διπλωματία των Διεθνών Δικτύων Πόλεων (Αθήνα 2019) ˙Η Ποιότητα της Δημόσιας Διοίκησης. Μια Εργαλειοθήκη για τους Επαγγελματίες της Δημόσιας Διοίκησης (μτφρ), (Αθήνα 2019).[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Stella Kostopoulou” tab_id=”StellaKostopoulou”][vc_column_text]Stella Kostopoulou is Associate Professor of Regional and Tourism Development at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Department of Economics. She has published on regional economics and planning, tourism, cultural industries and local development in international scientific journals, and participated in international conferences also as a keynote speaker. She has taught at Cyprus University of Technology, Hellenic Open University, International Hellenic University, Democritus University of Thrace, University of Thessaly, and gave lectures at Universities and International Organisations abroad (Peking University, La Trobe University, York University, Moscow State University of International Relations, OTIE-Observatory on Tourism).

Dr. Kostopoulou is President of the European Interdisciplinary Silk Road Tourism Centre, Director of the Interdepartmental Master Program Tourism and Local Development, Departmental Erasmus Coordinator, and Institutional Coordinator for the Agreement of Scientific Cooperation AUTh-Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Member of the Board of Directors of the Mediterranean Association for the Sociology of Tourism, Member of the Scientific Board of the Centre for European Legal Culture. She participated as Lead Partner and Partner Coordinator in competitive EU funded projects.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row]