John
Georgoulas
Chairman ACEMPI - NED EcommBX
Ioannis (John) Georgoulas is a Certified Board Director in Banking from INSEAD and holds certifications in Professional Banking and Green & Sustainable Finance from the Chartered Banker Institute. With a diverse entrepreneurial background, John has founded companies in business advisory, marketing, and technology, and he has invested in multiple startups. He specializes in corporate governance, regulatory compliance in financial services, and technology. John has held prominent positions, including serving on the board of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, appointed by the Council of Ministers. For a decade, he was the General Manager of The Economist events in Cyprus. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at EcommBX, TFI Markets, Tradu (a subsidiary of Jefferies Financial Group), and Swissquote Capital Markets. As the President of the Cyprus Association of Electronic Money & Payment Institutions, John plays a pivotal role in shaping the fintech landscape in Cyprus. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of IMD Business School in Lausanne for the Banking Governance Program. At the American Chamber of Commerce in Cyprus, he serves as a board member and Chairman of the Economic Growth & Fintech Committee. John’s experience extends across multiple boards in both the private sector and non-governmental organizations. An alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) by the U.S. Department of State, John’s educational background is extensive. He holds an MBA from the European University, a BSc in Business Information Systems from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from Kingston University, and a Diploma of Higher Education in Computer Sciences from Portsmouth University.
Konstantina
Nathanail
Chair and Co-founder of the Digital World Summit Greece and Lawyer specializing in New Technology Law and Artificial Intelligence.
Konstantina Nathanael is a lawyer specializing in New Technology Law and Artificial Intelligence. She has worked at international law firms, the German Parliament’s Committee on Digital Affairs, and the European Commission. She served as the European Union’s representative at the Y7 meeting of the G7 Summit 2023 in Japan. Since 2023, she has been the Chair and co-founder of the Digital World Summit Greece, the Greek initiative within the United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum. Her research interests focus on the democratic and effective governance of Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies, as well as the promotion of Technological Innovation. She has also co-edited two books on the regulation of digital platforms.
Konstantinos
Geros
Head of Innovation Solutions at Found.ation
Konstantinos Geros is an innovation consultant with extensive experience in project management, business operations, and strategic development. As Head of Innovation Solutions at Found.ation, he works with large corporate organizations on projects that foster innovation, drive digital transformation, and strengthen collaboration between startups, enterprises, and the innovation ecosystem. Holding an Executive MBA and a BA in Business Communication — with an initial background in Digital Systems — Konstantinos brings a multidimensional experience across sales, operations, project management, and customer service, having built and led teams of various sizes. His entrepreneurial mindset is reflected in his experience as a startup founder, through which he gained deep knowledge in strategy, funding, and market entry. At the same time, as a core member of the TEDxAthens executive team, he curates content, selects speakers, and integrates technology, shaping experiences that inspire and provoke thought.
Konstantinos
Kotios
Ceo LABORA Career Counsellors, keynote Speaker
Konstantinos Kotios has been actively involved in the education sector, both scientifically and entrepreneurially, for the past 20 years. He is the founder of LABORA Career Counsellors, a firm specializing in Career Counseling, Career Strategy, and Lifelong Learning. He is the author of several books on career orientation and development, having integrated artificial intelligence into counseling tools and into the first hybrid study guide, titled “Spoudes me Mellon 2025”. With over 10,500 hours of lectures delivered across 4 different countries and throughout Greece, and more than 12,500 hours of individual counseling with students and university candidates, he shares his principles and best practices with new professionals through LABORA ACADEMY — the first academy for training career counselors in Greece. Over the past five years, he has dedicated himself to producing practical and informative social media content for students, parents, university candidates, and job seekers, establishing LABORA as the most influential educational brand on social media in the country
Katarzyna
Kwak
Founder & Principal Consultant, Data Value Solutions
Katarzyna Kwak is a dynamic entrepreneur and certified data governance expert with over 15 years of experience helping organizations turn data chaos into business value. Based in Athens, she founded Data Value Solutions, a consultancy firm dedicated to delivering pragmatic, results-driven data governance solutions that empower energy and financial services leaders to unlock the full potential of data and AI. She has worked with industry giants such as EDF Energy, Siemens Energy, and BSI, implementing tailored governance frameworks that bridge the gap between business and technology while driving measurable impact.
As strategic problem solver and data program manager, Katarzyna specializes in guiding organizations through sustainable data-driven transformation. As a sought-after industry speaker, she shares insights on best practices in data governance, ROI from data, change management challenges, and overcoming cultural resistance in data initiatives.
Lars
Rasmussen
Co-Founder, Google Maps
Lars Rasmussen is an angel investor in Athens, Greece with a computer science Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. In 2004, Lars and his brother Jens sold their mapping startup to Google, and lead the team that created Google Maps. Lars’s favorite investments include Canva, Astranis, Chiaro, Neara, PhosPrint and ResQ biotech. Recently, Lars co-founded the ambitious future Panathēnea festival. He enjoys boating the Greek islands, kite surfing, and coffee.
Lefteris
Katsiadakis
Co-founder and CEO, Panathēnea
Lefteris Katsiadakis is the Co-founder and CEO of Panathēnea, a visionary platform dedicated to fostering creativity and innovation. With a background in economics from the Athens University of Economics and Business, Lefteris has been instrumental in building communities that drive meaningful change. Before founding Panathēnea, he served as President of ThinkBiz, Greece’s first student entrepreneurship organization. Leading a team of 48+ individuals, he helped organize 15+ events and projects that reached and inspired over 12,000 people, strengthening Greece’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. He is committed to bringing people together, providing opportunities, and supporting creators—ultimately building a hub in Greece where they can collaborate and change the world
Leonidas
Christopoulos
CEO of EKKOMED - Creative Greece
Leonidas Christopoulos took over as Chief Executive Officer of EKKOMED-Creative Greece in September 2024 while from 2023 to 2024 he held the position of President and CEO of EKOME. He was the Secretary General of Digital Governance and Simplification of Procedures of the Ministry of Digital Governance, from July 2019 to July 2023, and had EKOME under his supervision. During this period, significant improvements were made to the cash rebate scheme for audiovisual works in Greece, while the Tax Relief incentive was reactivated, and the Fund of Guaranteeing Loan for Companies Producing Audiovisual Work was established, in collaboration with the Development Bank. Moreover, he was responsible for planning and implementing Greece’s digital strategy through the Digital Transformation Bible, the strategy for Artificial Intelligence and digital skills, the new Operational Program “Digital Transformation” of the NSRF 2021-2027, the upgrading of KEP and the policy for the simplification and digitalization of procedures through Gov.gr and the National Register of Mitos Procedures. He has worked in the Ministries of Development, Finance, Education and Religious Affairs, Environment and Energy and Interior, while in the period 2016-2019 he was an advisor to the President of the Official Opposition on issues of State, Public Administration and Education. He holds a BSc. in Political and International Studies from Panteion University of Political and Social Studies, Athens, and an M.A. in International Political Economy from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, where he studied Political Economy of Mass Media. He is, also, a graduate of the National School of Public Administration and Local Government of Greece. He speaks English and German.
Loukas
Karalis
Group Chief Strategy and IR Officer | AKTOR GROUP
Loukas is a senior professional with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of financial strategy, mergers and acquisitions both in Greece and abroad. Currently, Loukas holds the position of Group Chief Strategy and IR Officer at Aktor Group and he serves as a Vice Chairman of Aktor. Prior to Aktor Group, he was at Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (‘HFSF’) for almost 10 years, while from 2018 he held the position of the Chief Investment Officer, having under his responsibility the Division of Investments and Divestments for systemic banks as well as HFSF’s investor relations, while he was also a member of HFSF’s Executive Committee. Throughout these years, he has been actively involved in the majority of the transactions carried out by systemic and non-systemic banks, in which the HFSF maintained an equity relationship, while until recently he was responsible for the formulation of the HFSF’s strategy regarding the preparation of its divestment from its holdings in the systemic banks. He has also been a Portfolio Manager at Piraeus Bank and an Observer, on behalf of the HFSF, in the Board of Directors and Board Committees of Piraeus Bank. Before that, he held critical positions at EY and Eurobank both in Greece and Southeast Europe. He has also worked in the UK in the M&A and Capital Markets sectors, mainly covering financial institution transactions in Central and Southeast Europe. Loukas holds a BA in Economics from University of Piraeus, an MSc in Banking and International Finance from Bayes Business School (former City Business School) and an MBA from ALBA Graduate Business School.
Luca
Morena
CEO, Nextatlas
Luca Morena holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Bologna and has served as a Postdoc at the Laboratory of Ontology at the University of Turin. His primary research interests now lie in the philosophy of technology, algorithmic culture, and AI. Luca is Co-Founder and CEO of Nextatlas, and a frequent speaker at events centered around AI and future trends. His work at Nextatlas has garnered recognition in prestigious outlets such as Wired US, BBC, Mashable, WWD, Vogue, Vogue Business, Forbes, Mail Online, Glamour, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Corriere della Sera, La Stampa, Repubblica, and Il Sole 24 Ore. Nextatlas AI-powered trend forecasts help shape the direction of world respected brands, including Lavazza, Mondelez, Adidas, Luxottica, Ferrero, Reckitt, Barilla, Weber Shandwick, and Stellantis, among others.
Maayan
Sharon
Innovation & Business Creation Manager, EIT Israel Hub
Maayan leads innovation and business creation at EIT Hub Israel, fostering collaborations between the Israeli innovation ecosystem and the wider EIT community in Europe. She specializes in facilitating cross-border innovation programs and supporting startup growth through knowledge transfer and partnerships.
Marios
Dafnomilis
Adviser to the Secretary Special of Foresight Presidency, Hellenic Government
Marios Dafnomilis has been a Special Advisor at the Special Secretariat for Long-Term Planning in the Presidency of the Hellenic Government since 2023. He holds an MEng in Civil Engineering and an MSc (DIC) in Environmental Engineering. Previously, he worked as an ESG Risk Consultant at Ernst & Young (2022-2023), specializing in sustainability and responsible business practices. He has also worked as a civil engineer on major energy projects in the UK and North Africa. Since 2022, he has been appointed a European Climate Pact Ambassador by the European Commission. Additionally, he has served as an Executive Board Member and Head of Development (2021-2024) at WeFor, an organization addressing key political and social issues of Generation Z.
Margarita
Akritidou
Legal Officer at the European Data Protection Board
Margarita Akritidou is a Legal Officer at the European Data Protection Board, an independent European body composed of the heads of the national data protection authorities of the countries in the European Economic Area. She holds three masters in law, one in public law, one in international commercial law and an LL.M. in International Law from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, while she has been a cross-register student at Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School on cybersecurity and AI law participating in projects of the Berkman Klein Center. She is a qualified lawyer in Greece and she has extensive experience in the private sector and the EU institutions. Before joining the EDPB, she worked in the field of online safety for children and Large Language Models at the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) at the European Commission. Margarita specialises in AI and Large Language Models acting as the main contact point for the EDPB’s Taskforce on Generative AI Enforcement. In addition, she has been involved in the supervision of EU large-scale information systems connecting EU Member States’ authorities and EU bodies and law enforcement matters.
Maria
Koletsou
Founder of Blossom Ventures
Maria Koletsou is the founder of Blossom Ventures, one of Europe’s most dynamic and fast-growing female angel investor communities. Blossom Ventures is dedicated to supporting and investing in female-led ventures around the globe. Since 2005, Maria has built an impressive angel investing portfolio while successfully founding and exiting four companies across consulting, financial communication, and hospitality.Maria’s expertise extends to nearly a decade of working with pre-IPO and publicly listed companies on institutional fundraising, where she pioneered the sector in Greece with a remarkable track record of success. Before venturing into entrepreneurship and angel investing, Maria spent over 10 years in senior finance roles across the UK, USA, and emerging markets. She specialized in Fixed Income and Distressed Debt and contributed her strategic insights to emerging market governments through the TACIS program. Collaborating with the IMF and World Bank, she played a key role in shaping monetary policy initiatives.She holds a PhD in Econometrics from the London School of Economics.
Maria
Vytinidou
Founder & CEO | AthensFashionClub Fashion School & The Fashion Gate, 1st Athens Fashion Business Incubator
Maria Vytinidou is one of the most innovative and influential figures in the fields of fashion, education, and business, with a career marked by awards and groundbreaking initiatives. She studied Chemistry at the University of Crete and Fashion Design at the renowned Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion, and she holds an MBA from Cardiff Metropolitan University. She is the founder of the AthensFashionClub Group, which includes the fashion school “AthensFashionClub,” the incubator/accelerator “The Fashion Gate,” and the fashion brands “MV Conscious Brand” and “Mad Flax.” She established the “Grow Sustainable in Portugal,” fashion incubator supported by the Portuguese Embassy, and the Co-Incubation Programme in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy. International recognition came in 2013 when her company was selected by the global accelerator Startupbootcamp High Tech XL in Eindhoven as one of the top 20 high-tech fashion companies in the world for its Wearable Technology garments. In 2015, she was named the most innovative Fashion Designer in Greece for her work in Wearable Technology by Première Vision in Paris. Vogue Italia has featured her pioneering approach to supporting emerging fashion creators, establishing her as a leading figure in the industry. She is the Executive Producer and presenter of the “Fashion Fly TV Show,” and a keynote speaker in dozens of talks at international conferences on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Technology, and Fashion. She is an International Trainer at Modtissimo trade fair in Portugal, the European S4Fashion program and the global platform NEXT MBA. In 2023 she was awarded the 1st Prize at the Bravo Awards for her contribution to society through a groundbreaking entrepreneurship education program she implemented at Korydallos Women’s Prison.
www.athensfashionclub.com
Maria
Zervou
Machine Learning and AI Product Specialist
Maria Zervou is a strategic AI and Machine Learning leader specializing in Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and AI-driven product innovation. As the AI/GenAI Product Specialist and EMEA Lead at Databricks, she defines and drives Generative AI strategy, shaping product direction and guiding enterprise adoption. With over seven years of experience spanning Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI architecture, Maria has led cross-functional teams, scaled AI initiatives, and influenced C-level executives to secure multimillion-dollar investments. A recognized thought leader and keynote speaker, she is passionate about responsible AI, product personalization, and transforming consumer experiences through cutting-edge technology. Beyond her professional work, Maria co-runs a YouTube channel (@vectorlab) demystifying AI concepts and is the author of “Python for Data Cleaning and Preparation.”
Michalis
Kasimiotis
Managing Director Greece & Cyprus, HPE Greece
Michalis is the Managing Director for HPE Greece and Cyprus since January 2018. Michalis joined HP in 1994 as a Presales Manager in the Enterprise Systems Group. In 2002 he was appointed as the ESSN manager. During his 5 years engagement in this position he led HP’s x86 and UNIX Business in the first market share position
Mihalis
Kritikos
Secretary of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies
Dr. Mihalis Kritikos is the new Secretary of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) and Policy Analyst at the Ethics and Integrity Sector of the European Commission (DG-Research and Innovation) working on the ethical development of emerging technologies with a special emphasis on AI Ethics and Value Alignment. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Brussels School of Governance (VUB) on digital ethics and rights, digital transition, AI Governance and Values and responsible innovation and author of 2 books in the field of disruptive technologies (Ethical AI Surveillance in the Workplace, Emerald, 2023 and EU Policy-Making on GMOs: The False Promise of Proceduralism, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018) Before that, he worked at the Scientific Foresight Service of the European Parliament (STOA/EPRS) as a legal/ethics advisor on Science and Technology issues authoring more than 50 publications in the domain of new and emerging technologies and contributing to the drafting of more than 15 European Parliament reports/resolutions in the fields of artificial intelligence, distributed ledger technologies and blockchains, precision farming, gene editing and disruptive innovation. He has also worked as a Senior Associate in the EU Regulatory and Environment Affairs Department of White and Case, as a Lecturer at several UK Universities and as a Lecturer/Project Leader at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA). He also taught EU Law and Institutions for several years at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) where he obtained a PhD in Technology Law (London School of Economics-LSE) that earned him the UACES Prize for the Best Thesis in European Studies in Europe.
Michalis
Stangos
Partner – L-Stone Capital / Curator – Beyond Expo
Michalis is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder. Vice President and Partner of L Stone Capital, an impact driven seed and series A fund. Co-founder of Industry Disruptors Game Changers, a pioneer organization igniting innovation and growth in 64 countries; of Future Agro Challenge, a global leader in agrifood transformation and the empowerment of farmers, working also closely with FAO UN for ecosystem building in NENA region (Agrination Startup Cup); Co-founder and Vice President of SmartAgroHub, an innovative company for smart farming; Co-founder of SciCo, an organisation for scientific engagement; Founder of mscomm Group with presence in 10 countries and Head of EIT FOOD HUB GREECE.
Michalis
Zervos
BOD Chairman
Michalis Zervos is a skilled Electrical and Electronics Engineer with an MSc in Data Communication Systems. Over the past twenty years, he has gained valuable experience in the field of medical informatics. His career at IKnowHow began thirteen years ago, as a Principal Project Manager, later advancing to General Manager of the Healthcare IT Business Unit. In these roles, Michalis has overseen more than 30 major projects, contributing to the Group’s current market position. Currently, he holds the presidency of the Board of Directors at IknowHealth SA and is actively involved in furthering the expansion of IKnowHow Group as a board member. In his leisure time, Michalis enjoys autonomous diving, particularly in the serene waters of the Aegean, and teaching his children new skills. His favorite quote, “Do not look at the clock, be the clock, do what the clock does, move always forward,” reflects his forward-thinking philosophy.
Myladie
Stoumbou
Regional Director at Microsoft
Myladie Stoumbou is a distinguished digital executive and strategist with expertise in building and transforming global, high-performing teams. She leverages the opportunities of modern exponential technologies, and especially the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence to drive innovation and business success at scale. Starting as a systems engineer and programmer, developing later in a Sales and Business Development executive, Myladie advanced to her current role as Regional Director at Microsoft. She excels in leading multi-disciplinary projects and solving complex challenges within multinational environments. Myladie is also a dedicated mentor in the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting initiatives like the MIT Enterprise Forum in Greece, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub and lately Leadership for Positive Impact. As Chair of the Women in Business Committee at the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce and mentor for the Women Leadership Programme of the European Innovation Council, she champions women’s leadership. Recognized as one of the most influential Women Channel Leaders by CRN in 2022 and as one of the most impactful Inclusive Channel Leaders in 2023 and 2024, Myladie is an international keynote speaker on leadership, the future of work, diversity and inclusion, and AI. She has been twice a TEDx speaker, published articles on platforms like LinkedIn and HuffPost, and delivered numerous lectures at leading universities, with Oxford Saïd Business School being the most renowned.
Nasos
Koskinas
Organizer, Startup Universe Greece
Nasos Koskinas is the Organizer of Startup Universe Greece and the Founder & CEO of POS4work, a pioneering innovation hub in Patras. He has led several initiatives supporting early-stage founders, including the “RE-STARTUP Patras” incubator in collaboration with the University of Patras. With experience as a mentor, educator, and ecosystem builder, he plays a key role in strengthening Greece’s regional innovation landscape.
Nectarios
Koziris
frmr Dean, Professor of Computer Science at the National Technical University of Athens
Nectarios Koziris is a Professor of Computer Science and the former Dean of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). From 2023 he is a member of the Administrative Board of NTUA. His research interests include large scale/high performance computing systems and architectures. He has co-authored more than 180 research papers with more than 6500 citations (h-index:36). He is a recipient of several best paper awards for his research in parallel and distributed computing and had received an honorary recognition from Intel (2015) for his research and insightful contributions in transactional memory (TSX synchronization extensions) for the design of the Haswell processors. Nectarios has served as the Vice-Chair (2004-2014) and the Chair of the Advisory Board (2019-2023) for the Greek Research and Technology Network (GRNET). He is the founder of the ~okeanos project, a public Cloud IaaS infrastructure, among the biggest ones in the European public sector (topping out beyond 10.000 active VMs), powered by the open source Synnefo software (www.synnefo.org). From 2019, he is serving as the national delegate at the European High Performance Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), where he is a member of the Governing Board. In the past twenty-five years, he initiated and designed several large scale computing systems infrastructures in EU and Greece, including cloud, network and supercomputers, and recently the Daedalus supercomputer. From 2019 to 2023 he has been a core member in the design, architecture and deployment of several public large scale services under gov.gr. For more: http://www.cslab.ece.ntua.gr/~nkoziris
Dr Niki
Kousi
Managing Director of EIT Manufacturing South East
Dr Niki Kousi is serving as Managing Director of EIT Manufacturing South East, located in Athens, Greece and supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Previously, Dr Kousi served as Project Manager and Coordinator in numerous industry-driven international projects focusing on development and implementation of manufacturing innovation / business strategies. This has been accomplished in cooperation with universities, industry and research institutes and in the context of European R&D&I projects. She has been leading teams of professional staff engaging a broad array of stakeholders in industrial innovation projects as well as private cooperation with industry. She holds a Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineer diploma and a Doctor of Philosophy focusing on cutting edge enabling technologies for flexible and reconfigurable manufacturing systems. She was Finalist of the Innovation Radar Prize (2019) organized by European Commission, under the category Woman Led Innovation.
Niki
Tsouma
CEO – e-Government Center for Social Security (IDIKA)
Niki Tsouma – CEO, IDIKA S.A. Top Executive of the Public Administration in the Sector of Informatics. A graduate of the Department of Mathematics of the University of Athens, with specialization in Programming and Systems Analysis and a graduate of the National School of Public Administration with highest distinction. She is a lecturer at the National School of Public Administration on ITS Project Management and E-Government issues. She is an external expert in EU committees for the evaluation of innovative proposals in software technologies and cloud computing of the H2020 Program. She has participated in the design, analysis, development, implementation, and installation of large, complex, and critical IT projects of the Public Administration, serving as a member of Project Management Teams and as a Project Manager for 25 years in General Secretariat of Information Systems of the Ministry of Finance and the Information Society S.A. From 2010 to 2014 she was a consultant in reengineering and change management issues and in the project and risk management cases as well as co-financed projects of the General Secretaries of Information Systems of the Ministry of Finance. From 2015 to 2017 she served as a Director and General Manager of Projects in the Information Society SA. From June 2018 to August 2019, she was the Director of Informatics and Technical Operation of EKOME SA. From August 2019 to October 2020, she served as the Managing Director of IDIKA SA. From October 2020 to April 2024, she served as the Chairman of BOD & CEO of IDIKA SA. Since then, she serves as CEO of IDIKA SA. In October 2024, she was awarded with the first prize at the category «Women In Tech Awards» by the World Organization WITSA
