Chrysostomos
Stylios
Director of the Industrial Systems Institute, Athena RC, and Professor at the Department of Informatics and Telecommunication, University of Ioannina, Greece, and he was the founder and Director of the Laboratory of Knowledge & Intelligent Computing
Prof. Chrysostomos Stylios is the Director of the Industrial Systems Institute, Athena RC, and Professor at the Department of Informatics and Telecommunication, University of Ioannina, Greece, and he was the founder and Director of the Laboratory of Knowledge & Intelligent Computing. Based on his pioneering research on Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs), FCMs, an XAI methodology has been applied in discipline research areas. He has published over 300 journals, conference papers, and book chapters. The scientific community has acknowledged his research work, while he has received more than 9.000 citations and has an h-index 47. His main scientific interests include: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Data Mining, Soft Computing, Computational Intelligence Techniques, Industry 4.0 technologies, Biosignal processing & analysis, Modeling and Decision Support Systems, Knowledge-based systems, Open Innovation, Technology Transfer, Educational Methodologies and Tools, Virtual and Augmentative Reality.
Danae
Bezantakou
CEO Navigator Shipping Consultants Ltd / Concept Founder of Youth and Women Empowerment NGO
Danae Bezantakou holds the positions of CEO of Navigator Shipping Consultants , which exclusively represents a significant number of globally renowned Towing Companies and Shipping Agencies, operating in over 1,400 commercial ports worldwide with a fleet of more than 1000 tugs. Moreover she is a shareholder of KEFI S.A. & MATILDA HOTEL in Zakynthos Island. One of her biggest accomplishments is the organization of NAVIGATOR – THE SHIPPING DECISION MAKERS FORUM https://navigatorltd.gr/forums/ since 2001 aiming to enhance the open dialogue among the stakeholders of the Greek and International Maritime Clusters. She is the Concept Founder of Young Executives Shipping (YES) FORUM – the platform of open dialogue among principals, executives, school & university students, recent graduates and young executives in Shipping and Sea Tourism Sectors. She is also the author of “Destination Sea,” a captivating guidebook for children aged 8 and up, published by Dioptra Publications in Greece and Cyprus.She also serves as the 1st Vice President of International Propeller Club (Port of Piraeus). She is the President of iforU-Greek Mentoring Network, which empowers small and medium women entrepreneurs through mentoring & networking, Head of the Education Committee of ICC Women Hellas, Member of the Maritime Committee of French – Hellenic Chamber and President of the Hellenic U.S. Alumni Association of State Department Programs.
David
Wisner
Professor of International Relations and Executive Director of the Michael and Kitty Dukakis Center for Public and Humanitarian Service at the American College
David Wisner is Professor of International Relations and Executive Director of the Michael and Kitty Dukakis Center for Public and Humanitarian Service at the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT), the university division of Anatolia College. He has published on the French Revolution, neo-idealist epistemology, and neoclassical art in major academic journals; and is the author of an acclaimed monograph on the origins of the French Revolution in the series Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century (Oxford), and two books on contemporary democratic practices. He has two new books forthcoming in 2025-26, including a memoir on the legacy of the Greatest Generation. Since coming to Greece in the mid-1990s Wisner has been particularly active on such issues as civic education and US involvement in Southeast Europe, having participated in activities and projects organized by the World Bank, the Bertelsmann Foundation, the Stability Pact, the German Marshall Fund, and the Internet Governance Forum, among others. He appears regularly to discuss US and international politics on Greek radio and television, and has written occasional political commentary for two Greek newspapers. David Wisner has directed the Dukakis Center at the ACT since its inauguration in September 1999, in which capacity he has organized hundreds of public events in Thessaloniki and elsewhere in Greece. In matters of technology he has pioneered the use at ACT of various platforms, formats, tools, and approaches to event planning and management, has hosted a series of events on business and technology, and maintains a research profile in technology and democracy. The Dukakis Center is an independent, non-partisan, collegiate civic engagement hub in Thessaloniki, Greece, based on the campus of ACT. Named in honor of former Governor of Massachusetts Michael Dukakis, the principal mission of the Dukakis Center is to encourage young people to take an active interest in public affairs. The Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary season of public service initiatives in 2024-25. Some of the events hosted by the Dukakis Center may be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@politisthevoiceofthedukaki8998
Diamandis
Zafeiriades
Chief of the Digital Security Authority (DSA)
Mr. Diamandis Zafeiriades is a is a prominent expert in cybersecurity, currently serving as the Chief of the Digital Security Authority (DSA) in Cyprus. Under his leadership, key national cybersecurity entities, including the NIS Authority, the National CSIRT, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Center (NCC-CY), and the National Cybersecurity Certification Authority (NCCA), operate effectively to enhance the country’s digital resilience. With over 17 years of experience in cybersecurity and information security, Mr. Diamandis Zafeiriades has played a crucial role in advancing national and international cybersecurity initiatives. His expertise spans risk management, incident response, and strategic security planning, making him a key contributor to the evolving digital security landscape.
Demetris
Gerogiannis
co-founder and Tech Lead of AIandMe.io
Dr. Demetris Gerogiannis is an AI entrepreneur and ecosystem builder with a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Computer Science and a PhD in Computer Vision from the U. of Ioannina. He is the co-founder and Tech Lead of AIandMe.io, a deep-tech startup that offers a platform to enhance the trustworthiness of GenAI applications, focusing on security and regulatory compliance. A passionate advocate of the AI revolution, Demetris actively supports the growth of Greece’s AI ecosystem. He is a founding member and Chair of the Association of Artificial Intelligence (www.aicatalyst.gr) and organizes the AIandBeers meetup, a nationwide event to promote trustworthy AI and related skills in Greece. He also serves on the Steering Committee of the Joint Focus Group AI of the EIT AI Community and the Digital SME Alliance. Additionally, Demetris has released a collection of AI entrepreneurship tools under a Creative Commons license.
Dimitrios
D. Vergados
University of Piraeus, UNESCO Chair holder
Dimitrios D. Vergados is a Professor at the Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus, Greece, UNESCO Chair holder “Creative Cities in Motion: Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources”, Director of the M.Sc. Programme “Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies”, Director of the “Digital Culture, Smart cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies and Services Lab”. He is Chairman of the General Assembly of the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI -ELIDEK), Member of the Board of the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy (ADAE), Deputy Member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic National Academic Recognition and Information Center (Hellenic NARIC) – D.O.A.T.A.P.. He was Member of the Board of the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (Ε.Ε.Τ.Τ.-N.R.A.) (2013-2017). He has several publications in journals, books and conference proceedings. He has served as a committee member, expert, evaluator and reviewer in various National and International Committees, Organizations and Agencies. He has also served as a chair, technical program committee member (TPC) and reviewer in several international conferences and co-editor, member of the editorial board, and reviewer in several international journals.
Dimitrios
Katsouris
Founder & CEO of MentalityX and Co-CEO of Pillar Delta Al
Dimitrios is a serial entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, specializing in Al, venture building, and early-stage company creation. He is the Founder & CEO of MentalityX and Co-CEO of Pillar Delta Al. Pillar Delta builds Al products and tailor-made Al solutions, while integrating Al into existing business operations and workflows. With deep expertise in product ideation, startup incubation, and innovation culture, he has helped build and scale multiple ventures. Before launching MentalityX, Dimitrios was anaging Partner at Katsouris & Katsouris Law, as a startup and VC attorney. He also co-founded and chaired the Hellenic Alternative Finance Association (HAFA) and served as Vice-Chairman of one of Athens’ largest startup incubators.
Dimosthenis
Anagnostopoulos
Secretary General for Information Systems and Digital Governance, Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance EU AI Board Member
Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos is a professor of Information Systems and Simulation in the Department of Informatics and Telematics at Harokopio University of Athens. He served as a rector of the same University, during 2011-16 and as a dean of the School of Digital Technology. He served as National Representative of Greece for ICT in EU Horizon 2020 (2014-15). He held the position of Secretary General for Information Systems of the Hellenic Ministry of Finance and Economics (2004 – 09). During his service, he contributed to the development of the following Information systems: Real Estate Data Base and ETAK systems, ELENXIS, new TAXISnet, ICISnet and M-TAXIS (mobile TAXIS). During 2019-23, he served as Secretary General for information systems of Public Administration of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance, responsible – among other projects that contributed to the country’s rapid digital transformation development – for Interoperability across the Public Sector and Government Cloud. Since 2024, he has also been a member of the EU AI Board, representing Greece in shaping the implementation of the AI Act across the European Union.
Erich
Giordano
Head of Business Development, Nextatlas
Erich Giordano is Head of Business Development at Nextatlas, where he collaborates closely with leading clients in the FMCG, Automotive, and Consulting industries. With over 15 years of experience in project management and business development, he brings a deep strategic perspective to driving growth and innovation. Erich holds a degree in Linguistics, with a focus on complex systems, which informs his approach to understanding market dynamics and emerging trends. In addition to his role at Nextatlas, he is a lecturer at prestigious institutions such as POLI.Design, Lantao Design Academy, and IED, sharing his expertise in business strategy and trend analysis.
Evangelos
Charalampous
Owner & Managing Director, Be Best
Evangelos Charalambous was born and raised in Mytilene, Greece. He studied Business Administration in Athens and later specialized in Strategic Management and Marketing, gaining in-depth knowledge in strategic management and modern market trends. Additionally, he holds certifications in Business Administration and Marketing Strategy, enhancing his expertise with the latest and most innovative industry practices.
Faidon
Grigorios Kydoniatis
Publisher and the Vice President of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP)
Phaedon Gregorios Kidoniatis is a Publisher and the Vice President of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP). After serving in various academic roles, he became an entrepreneur and founded several companies, mainly in the creative industries. Having executed projects in more than twenty countries, he has experience in a variety of fields, from content production to curation. He is currently also active as an advisor to international organizations.
Dr. Foteini Salmouka
Project Manager at ahedd DIH and Smart Attica EDIH, NCSR Demokritos
Dr. Foteini Salmouka is a Project Manager at ahedd – the Attica Hub for the Economy of Data and Devices DIH and Smart Attica EDIH at the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos.” She specializes in fostering innovation and digital transformation through national and European funding programs, with a strong focus on the societal impact of AI and emerging technologies.
With an interdisciplinary background in Applied Mathematics, Cultural Management, and Humanities, Dr. Salmouka drives innovation at the intersection of digital technologies and social transformation. Her research explores how AI-driven solutions and digital technologies address societal challenges, and she has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and collective volumes in the field of digital humanities.
Fotis
Konstantellos
CEO, Aambience Services
Fotis Konstantellos is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Aambience Services. He has many years of experience from several multinational companies in Greece and abroad. Previously, he served as the Group Deputy CEO and BoD executive member of INTRALOT. During his career, he has served in various executive technical, commercial, and operational positions of multicultural international companies in the industries of telecoms, information technology and gaming. Mr. Konstantellos has extensive experience in managing change in B2C, B2B and B2G markets, that deliver value to all stakeholders by exploring and expanding technical and commercial potentials. Throughout his career, Mr. Konstantellos demonstrated strong leadership, strategic vision and technical expertise across various industries, contributing to the growth and success of the organizations he served. He holds a BA in Electrical Engineering with major studies in electrical power and control systems from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.
Fotis
Romoudis
Business Development Director of the EPSILON NET Group.
Fotis is an economist, a graduate of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) with postgraduate studies in Business Administration and Information Systems. As the Director of Business Development at the EPSILON NET Group, he is responsible for strategic planning, developing new partnerships, coordinating acquisitions, and overseeing the Group’s educational units. He is also in charge of the Group’s unit for informing about funding opportunities through the Recovery Fund and the NSRF 2021-2027. He is an Affiliate Member of the Association of International Auditors, a certified DPO Executive, a specialized instructor in financial matters, and the Secretary of the “Digital Economy” Committee of SEPE. He has served as CFO and board member in a significant number of companies and has successfully participated in major projects in the fields of information technology, industry, and healthcare services.
Fotis
Talantzis
CEO and Co-Founder of Novoville
Fotis Talantzis is the CEO and Co-Founder of Novoville, the first customer-care platform for local governments of any size. The company offers a portfolio of products that touch citizen-engagement, green mobility and sustainable housing. He is an engineer at heart with the belief that processing data can change the world. He has a PhD in Signal Analytics and his work in companies and academia has found applications in civic engagement, data mining and, most importantly, the gap between them.
Freiderikos
Raptopoulos
Co-Founder & Technical Lead, Robenso
Freiderikos Raptopoulos is a robotics engineer and product developer specializing in AI-powered robotic sorting systems for recycling. With a background in material science and robotics, his passion for the environment led him to develop advanced and innovative automation solutions for waste management. Before founding Robenso, he spent two years at the FORTH Robotics Lab, working on intelligent robotic systems. His work focuses on bridging technology and sustainability to drive innovation in recycling.
George Dritsanos
Secure Power VP South-East Europe at Schneider Electric
George Dritsanos is based in Athens, and he is Vice President for Secure Power Division of Schneider Electric in South-East Europe area. He started his professional career at Schneider Electric in 2008, as Enterprise Account Manager for Greece, Cyprus & Malta, and in 2010 he took over the position of Channel Sales Manager. He has also served as Commercial Director of the company’s Field Services Department. George Dritsanos has many years of experience in Business Development and Customer Relationship Management, while he brings to the position a successful track record of more than 20 years that includes high-profile leadership positions and recognized sales achievements in the Energy Management and Automation Business. Prior to joining Schneider Electric, George was working for Siemens AG, where he nurtured key relationships and engendered strategic partnerships that led to significant revenue growth. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Electrical Engineering, as also a MBA from Henley Business school.
George
Fotiadis
Software Engineer at Google | Forbes 30u30 | ex @ Amazon AWS, Oracle, Bloomberg LP
George Fotiadis is a software engineer and entrepreneur with experience at industry leaders like Google, Amazon AWS, Bloomberg, and Oracle. He is the creator of mbb.ai, an AI startup that helps users prepare for interviews and maximize their chances for success. In recognition of his contributions to AI and his overall career achievements, he was named to the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2025.
George
Markatos
Vice President of the Hellenic Association of Innovative Application Enterprises (SEKEE).
George Markatatos is an experienced professional in the field of technology and innovation, with a career that began in 1998. He was the founder and CEO of REGATE A.E. from 2004 and also served as the General Director of SoftOne in the Digital Commerce & CX department. Currently, he is an active investor, mentor, and entrepreneur, participating in advisory boards of startup companies focused on technology and innovation. He is also the Vice President of the Hellenic Association of Innovative Application Enterprises (SEKEE), having previously served as President from 2021 to 2023. His expertise lies in Digital Commerce and Enterprise Mobility, with specialized knowledge in B2B solutions, CRM, and Sales Force Automation. He has dedicated his career to helping businesses harness the power of mobile devices, the internet, and modern technologies to enhance efficiency and flexibility. He regularly writes articles for industry publications, analyzing developments and trends in mobility and business solutions. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Southampton, an MSc in Operational Research from Warwick Business School, and an MA in Innovation and Change from York University.
George
Vouros
Professor in the Department of Digital Systems in the University of Piraeus and head of the AI-Lab in this Department
He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the London School of Economics (Ph.D. econ. LSE). He is elected faculty member (Assistant Professor with tenure) at the University of Patras. He is Counsellor elected (member of the Board of Directors) of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), actively participating in a variety of activities to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and business and human resources development. Also, he is President of the Institute of Research & Studies of the Union of Hellenic Chambers (UHC), Chief Counsel, Mentor and Coach of The Athens Startup Business Incubator (THEA), Secretary General of ICC (Hellas), Member of the Attica Regional Research & Innovation Council, Member of the Board of Directors of the Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Development etc.
Giorgos
Pitsilis
Governor - Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE)
George Pitsilis was born in the USA in 1975.
He is a Supreme Court lawyer, with scientific specialty and significant professional experience in the entire range of Tax, Greek, International and European Law.
He is a graduate of Anavryta Classical High School. He graduated from the Law School of the University of Athens, from which he also received a Master’s Degree in Public Law. He also holds a DEA in Tax Law from Pantheon – Sorbonne University (Paris I).
Haris
Lambropoulos
President, Hellenic Development Bank of Investments SA (HDBI, ex TANEO) / Member of the Board of Directors, European Investment Bank (EIB) & European Investment Fund (EIF)
Prof. George VOUROS is a Professor in the Department of Digital Systems in the University of Piraeus and head of the AI-Lab in this Department. He has done research in the areas of Expert Systems, Knowledge Management, Collaborative Systems, Ontologies, and Agents and Multi-Agent Systems. He currently focuses on deep reinforcement learning and human-centric AI. He served/serves as program chair, chair and member of organizing committees of national and international conferences, workshops and has given several invited talks and lectures. George Vouros has served 5 times as chair of the Hellenic A.I. Society board.
Iasonas
Antonopoulos
Head, Vodafone Business Products & CEO, Vodafone Innovus
With 25 years of experience in IT and telecommunications, Iasonas Antonopoulos has worked in technology companies to create software products and value adding services. Overseeing the entire technology production cycle, he has helped the technological development of various sized and large organizations by creating efficient structures and processes, inspiring and training people in the context of product management and creating top notch digital experiences and services.
Ilias
Georgoulatos
Co Founder at GMM GLOBAL MONEY MANAGERS LTD
Mr. Ilias Georgouleas, is the founder of the GMM Group and CEO of the Global Group SA investment group. He has been actively involved in the mutual funds industry since 1989, with expertise spanning institutional, operational, and commercial aspects.
A longstanding leader in sales within the sector, he has earned numerous awards and prestigious honors from global organizations such as the M.D.R.T. (Million Dollar Round Table) and LIMRA (Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association). Additionally, he has been recognized as the top mutual fund sales leader in Greece by the Hellenic Association of Insurance Advisors (PSAS).
In 2013, he founded the GMM Group, which encompasses two mutual fund management companies overseeing more than 50 mutual funds (UCITS & AIFs), with assets under management (AUM) surpassing half a billion euros. Following a recent merger with Wealth Avenue, the newly formed company, Global Wealth Group, is now listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange, with plans to eventually list on the Athens Stock Exchange.
Ioannis
Bratakos
President, Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Ioannis Bratakos was born in Athens in 1968. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Production Engineering & Management and a Master’s degree in Political Economy from the London School of Economics & Political Science. In 1999 he co-founded DD Synergy, a company that offers software and hardware solutions. He has been actively involved in the SAP software services field, from 1995 to 2022.
Ioannis
Emiris
President of the BoD and Director General of Athena Research Center
Ioannis Emiris serves as President of the BoD and Director General of Athena Research Center, the sole Greek research center focused on digital science and technology, operating in Athens, Patras, and Xanthi, and including 4 Research Institutes, among which the recently founded Robotics Institute, and 7 Units, including the Corallia incubator and Archimedes unit on AI. As a professor of Theoretical Informatics at University of Athens, he has supervised 14 PhD and several Master’s theses, and has coordinated the grad program on “Data Science & Information technologies”. He has been a tenured researcher at INRIA Sophia-Antipolis, France, has received his PhD from UC Berkeley, and his BSc from Princeton University, both in Computer Science. He has been a visiting researcher at ENS Paris, ETH Zurich, City U Hong Kong, Plekhanov U Moscow, JRC Ispra, ETL Tsukuba (Japan). He has represented Math and Informatics on the Board of Hellenic Foundation of Research & Innovation (ELIDEK) . Honored twice with the best paper award at ACM International Symposium of Symbolic & Algebraic Computation, he is also Chief scientist of a deep-tech startup.
Ioannis
Giannakakis
co-founder of The Original Athens Walking Tours
Ioannis Giannakakis (Yiannis) is the co-founder of The Original Athens Walking Tours (2004), Greece’s first Tour Operator to offer small-group walking tours. Focused on history and gastronomy, these tours are led by expert guides and have earned outstanding reviews. In 2022, The Original Athens Walking Tours was recognized as the 9th top tour operator in Europe for review growth. A dynamic entrepreneur, Yiannis is the CEO and Co-Founder of City Contact (1996), a company that, apart from The Original Athens Walking Tours, enhances visitors’ experiences in Greece by providing essential travel information, tours, and activities. Through the Info Stand® network, City Contact publishes and distributes 2 million Maps & Guides each year in collaboration with top hotels across Greece. In 2014, he founded Tornos News, a trusted source of tourism news for professionals. Additionally, as the founder and MD of Egg Design Studio (1985), he has left his mark in design, having created logos for the Greek Parliament, the Hellenic Parliament Foundation, and the International Campaign of GNTO, among others. Yiannis holds a diploma in Executive Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. With his wealth of experience and expertise, he continues to make a positive impact in the tourism industry.
Ioannis
Karagiannis
President of the Board of Government Center for Social Security Services - HDIKA SA
Ioannis Karagiannis studied at the Faculty of Law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and went on to earn an LLM in “European Union Law” from the School of Law at the University of Essex. He also holds a postgraduate degree in “Environmental, Disaster & Crisis Management Strategies in the Administrative and Development Sectors” from the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. His political career includes serving as Mayor of Lagkadas for three terms, from 2003 to 2006, 2007 to 2010, and 2014 to 2019. He was the Chairman of the Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs from 2014 to 2019 and served as the Second Vice-President of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece during the same period. From 2020 to 2023, he held the position of General Manager of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece. Additionally, he played a key role as the Coordinator for the transfer of know-how between the ministries of Interior of Greece and Cyprus, focusing on the overhaul of the Regional Administration of Cyprus. He is also the Chairman of the Board of HDIKA S.A.
Ioannis
Mertzanis
CEO at Space Hellas and SingularLogic
Dr. Ioannis Mertzanis graduated from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens and holds MSc and PhD degrees from the University of Surrey, UK. He has extensive professional experience in Telecommunications and IT having worked in Greece and abroad. In 1999 he joined the workforce of Space Hellas, he has held senior executive positions within the Space Hellas group for many years having the responsibility of the commercial, technical, and business development activities. Dr. Mertzanis is the CΕO of Space Hellas group, he is also the Chief Executive Officer of SingularLogic and SenseOne Technologies.
Ioannis
Thanos
Associate Professor of Management at the Athens University of Economics and Business in Greece
Ioannis Thanos is Associate Professor of Management at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) in Greece. Previously, he worked for eight years in the UK as Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management at Lancaster University and as Lecturer in Management at the University of Glasgow. He has widely published in the areas of Strategy and Management and has substantial experience as consultant and trainer for organizations on topics related to management, strategy and future of skills. He has received the best teacher award at the following universities: Lancaster University, University of Glasgow, AUEB, national and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Ihsan
Elgin
Finberg Executive Board Member
İhsan Elgin transitioned from corporate life at Koç Group to entrepreneurship as the co-founder of Climateminder, an agricultural technology startup, and exited in the USA. Leveraging his insights from the American entrepreneurial ecosystem, Elgin identified key areas where Turkey’s startup scene could be enhanced and started to take actions. He created Girişim Fabrikası, Turkey’s first startup acceleration program. Afterwards he established & sold Core Strateji, a consultancy dedicated to guiding large corporations through their entrepreneurial transformation. With his team he played a pivotal role in shaping the entrepreneurship strategies for Turkey’s leading companies. Moreover, Elgin united these corporations by creating the Girişimci Kurumlar Platformu (Entrepreneurial Corporations Platform), fostering a collaborative network that bridges the gap between over 30 large corporations and emerging startups. Believing in the power and impact of education, Elgin has been teaching “Building a Business” at Özyeğin University for 10 years, where he also serves as the advisor to the rector on entrepreneurship. Elgin, who played a pivotal role in its founding, serves as an executive board member of Finberg. He led the transformation of Finberg from a CVC to a fund management company, and under his leadership, a total of 60 investments were made, bringing the AUM to $110m. In addition to this role, he serves as a board member in more than ten finance and technology companies including İş Girişim PE. By being a true ecosystem builder, his vision, knowledge and action create a thriving environment for entrepreneurs. Elgin’s articles on fintech, innovation, and startups can be found in Fast Company Turkey and Capital Magazine. Additionally, he is an active angel investor with over 35 personal investments. Recently he graduated from the Harvard Business School Owner/President Management program
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.
