OLGA KEFALOGIANNI

Minister of Tourism

Olga Kefalogianni was born in Athens in 1975.

She is a graduate of the School of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1997) and holds two postgraduate degrees, from King’s College, University of London (LL.M, 1998) and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston (GMAP, 2006).

She has worked in large law firms in Athens and New York, as well as in the Legal Service of the European Commission in Brussels.

From 2004 to 2006 she was an associate of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in legal matters.

She was elected Member of Parliament for the Prefecture of Rethymno (2007 and 2009), and, since 2012, she has been elected to the Athens A’ constituency (2012, 2015, 2019, 2023).

She served as Minister of Tourism in Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ government (2012 – 2015).

She has also served as Head of the Greek parliamentary delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (I.P.U), ambassador of the Greek Parliament to the Women Political Leaders (WPL) network, and member of the parliamentary committees of National Defense and Foreign Affairs, Production and Trade, Institutions and Transparency, European Affairs and Armament Programs and Contracts.

She is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center for Policy Studies on Gender and Equality – (KEMEFI) of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO).

She is married to composer Minos Matsas and they have two children.

STAVROS ARNAOUTAKIS

Regional Governor of Crete

Stavros Arnautakis was born in 1956 and grew up in Archanes, Heraklion, Crete. He is an Economist. From 1981 to 1991 he was an executive of a private company.

In the Local Government elections in 1990, at the age of 34, he was elected Mayor of Archana. He was the Mayor of Archana until 2004 and after his fellow citizens had re-elected him for four consecutive terms.

As Mayor of Archana, he started the implementation of a development plan, the philosophy of which was based on the close cooperation of local authorities and agencies and on the effective use of the human resources of the region.

In the implementation of this plan, the following played a catalytic role: the maximum utilization of European programs, the cooperation of the municipality with scientific bodies and university institutions and the practical utilization of the available know-how for the greatest effectiveness of the interventions.

During his tenure the Archanes conquer:

2nd Prize in the European Competition “Integrated and Sustainable Development of Exceptional Quality” in 2000, and
1st Prize in the Competition “Local development with respect for the natural environment and people” in 2002.

From 1991 to 2004 he was President of the Development Company of Heraklion S.A. From this position he managed the implementation of many European Programs whose results are particularly evident both in the Municipality of Archana and in the other Regional Municipalities of the Prefecture of Heraklion. On his own initiative, the Development Agency of Heraklion becomes the first development company in Greece to acquire its own office in Brussels with the aim of better claiming and more effectively implementing European programs. After a decision of the President of PA.SO.K. Giorgos A. Papandreou is placed in the 4th place on the European ballot paper of PA.SO.K. in the 2004 European Parliament elections.

From 2004 to 2009 as a member of the European Parliament he was a member of the Regional Development Committee, the Fisheries Committee as well as the Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China.

In the parliamentary elections of 2009 he was elected Member of Parliament of Heraklion of PA.SO.K. and assumed Deputy Minister of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping.

In the elections of November 2010, the first elected Regional Governor of Crete was elected.

He is a member of the Board of Directors. Union of Regions of Greece (ENPE).

It is a member of the Network of Coastal Regions of Europe (CPMR).

He is a regular member of the Committee of the Regions (Committee of the Regions).

He is married to Irini Tjortzakaki and has two daughters, Antonia and Maria.

ALEXIS KALOKERINOS

Mayor of Heraklion, Crete

He was born in 1964 in Heraklion and studied in Athens and Paris.

He is a professor of Linguistics at the University of Crete. He has published a number of scientific studies, articles and books, while for a number of years he wrote articles in newspapers of a pan-Hellenic scope.

For the last 30 years, he has been active, on a voluntary basis, in the A. & M. Kalokairinos Foundations and the Society of Cretan Historical Studies / Historical Museum of Crete (EKIM), and is the initiator of the “Social Space” of Kalokairino Foundations, which deals with the multifaceted support of people in vital need.

He is married to lawyer Asi Lygerou and they have two children, Louisa and Andreas.

KYRIAKOS G. KOTSOGLOU

Vice Governor for Tourism, Crete Region

Dr. Kyriakos Kotsoglou was born in Chania, in 1967, today the father of two children of Evangelia and Giorgos Kotsoglou. Since 1993 he is a graduate of the first class of the Department of Production Engineering & Management of the Technical University of Crete, holder of an MBA in the field of “Organization & Management”, from the same department and since 2012 a doctorate in “Electronic Government and its contribution to the fight against Corruption and the improvement of services to the Citizen”.

He has participated in numerous research programs and has written (2) scientific books, “Structured Programming Techniques” and “Operating Systems”, in the field of ICT. At the same time, he is an adult trainer with long-term experience since 1986 in collaboration with lifelong learning bodies such as the National Center for Public Administration, the National School of Public Administration, the Hellenic Society of Local Self-Government, in public and private KEK, IEK, etc. educational structures. For the last 15 years, she has been actively participating in the Local Government, from positions of responsibility. Today, he is the Deputy Regional Governor for Tourism of the Region of Crete while he is also the owner and manager of the alternative tourism hotel, EVGE Experience Boutique Hotel and at the same time Technical Advisor of the Cretan hotel chain, Caldera Group of Hotels.

He participates voluntarily with a number of important collectives of Chania and Crete, he is a member of the Steering Committee of ELEPAP Chania, Secretary General of TOEB Fourne, Vice-President of the Athletic Club KYDON of Chania, member of the Delegation of the TEE of Western Crete while he was also, for 15 years, General Secretary and Vice-President of the Association of Graduate Mechanical and Electrical Engineers of the Chania Department.

NICOS CHALKIADAKIS

President of the Heraklion Hotel Association

Nikos Chalkiadakis graduated in 1982 from Korai High School and continued his studies at a Tourism School in Munich, Germany

He is the CEO of the company “Theofilos Chalkiadakis S.A.” which has been active in the hospitality industry since 1980. The investments of all these years in the construction of new modern hotel units are many. It is worth noting that the company has invested in the construction of new hotel complexes in recent years, with Cactus Bay welcoming its guests in the summer season of 2018 and continuing with Cactus Mare in the summer season of 2019, while at the same time the renovations and the creation of additional infrastructure at Cactus Royal 5* & Cactus Beach 4*. The strong investment activity of the family business contributes significantly to the further increase in employment, as it is estimated that Cactus Hotels employs around 400 workers. Also, the choice of local suppliers and producers is a known competitive advantage of the business, thus contributing more to the economic strengthening of the local community. Offering a wide variety of accommodation types, Cactus Hotels are suitable for even the most demanding travellers. Cactus hotels are the ideal choice for holidays. The mission of the company and the main philosophy of the management is to provide high quality services, always in accordance with the policies that refer to the environment, the local community, human rights and national heritage. The company’s commitment to ensuring and maintaining sustainability is absolute and strengthened every year. It is worth noting that in the last 6 years, the company has won a series of awards of a local, national and global nature, for its special contribution to environmental protection, customer service and the services provided. Examples include: Travelife, Green Key, Greek Breakfast, We Do Local, TUI Umwelt Champion, TUI Top Quality Crete Mark, Tripadvisor excellence, World Luxury Spa Award 2019, Bravo Sustainability Award, Greek Hospitality Awards, Bizz winner award, Treasures of Greek Tourism , Holidaycheck award etc

His pro-environmental consciousness and his sensitivity to issues of social contribution, principles he has adopted from his father, Theofilos Chalkiadakis, have formed a model of management which is very close to the employee as a person, to the support of the local community through sponsorships, donations , in supporting vulnerable groups and in a series of actions of a social and environmental nature. In the last 7 years, his social work has been particularly intense with sponsorships to sports clubs and local teams, Donations of equipment to schools, parishes, regional clinics, Offering food items to vulnerable groups, Financial support and support with basic necessities to earthquake and fire victims as well as practical support to security bodies such as the Greek Police and the Fire Brigade as well as a series of other actions of a social nature.

He is actively and frequently active in the media in his capacity as President of hoteliers on issues of the tourism industry but also issues of various content such as sustainability, investments etc.

The hotel business in which he is the CEO has received a large number of awards and distinctions, especially in the last 6 years regarding Corporate Social Responsibility where he has shaped the business and the quality of its services provided. More information can be found at the link: www.cactushotels.gr His award from the “Nikos Kazantzakis” Rotary Club for his overall contribution to tourism in the Heraklion Regional Unit.

Since March 2013, he has been the President of the Hoteliers’ Union of Heraklion with the goals of uniting and registering more members in the Union, lengthening the tourist season and uniting the Primary sector (agricultural products) with the secondary sector (Hotel Businesses). Member of the Board of Directors of XEE in the 7th electoral group representing the 5-star hotels.

He speaks five languages (English, German, Dutch, Italian and French) and knows the tourism sector very well

SERAFEIM CHRYSSIKOS

Chief Corporate Officer - Executive Committee Member at PANCRETA BANK

Serafeim Chryssikos is Chief Corporate Officer of Wholesale Banking at Pancreta Bank since November 2021. His area of responsibility is both the development and management of Business relationships with Large and Medium size Enterprises as well as the creation of products and services, aiming to expand the Bank’s business portfolio.

He has extensive experience in Corporate and Commercial banking as well as in Shipping financing. During his professional career he held positions of responsibility in major financial institutions such as Alpha Bank, Citibank and Laiki Bank in the sectors of Commercial and Corporate Banking.

He holds a BSc in Business Administration and an MSc in International Economics, Banking and Finance from Cardiff Business School.

GEORGE PLIAKAS

Heraklion Airport Manager

Education

1984: Graduated from the University of Pavia, Italy, Faculty of Engineering, with the degree of BSc in Electrical Engineering.

Employment / Experience

Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA)

6/12/11 – Today: Airport Manager
2006-2011: Head of Airports Operations Section, Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), Heraklion International Airport “N. Kazantzakis”.
1988-2006: Airports Operations Officer, Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), Heraklion International Airport “N. Kazantzakis”.
Flight Operations Officer Licence holder, No 398.
“Safety Management System (SMS)” Instructor in HAA’s School of Civil Aviation (ΣΠΟΑ)/Athens,(HCAA Governor Decision ΥΠΑ/Δ14/A/16528/314/18-05-2010).
20 Training Course Group in the SAFA/EASA Programme 29/11/2010-02/12/2010, Athens/CAA’s School of Civil Aviation (ΣΠΟΑ).
“Aviation Security Inspector” Training Course, 03/11/2008-07/11/2008, Athens/HCAA’s School of Civil Aviation (ΣΠΟΑ).
“Airport-Airside Capacity Enhancement” Training Course, 17/10/2006-19/10/2006, Luxembourg

SOKRATIS KEFALOGIANNIS

Mayor of Anogeia Crete, CEO AKOM-M SA

Sokratis S. Kefalogiannis was born in Anogeia, Crete in 1975. He grew up in the town of Anogeia and finished high school in 1993. At the same time, he helped in the family business (Grocery).

In 2001 he graduated from the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the Kapodistrian University of Athens. At the same time, he worked at the company ALPHA COPY SA trading in office machines and digital organization. The highlight of his work was his award in the TOP 100 CLUB of MIINOLTA GbmH in 2000.

In the summer of 2002 he finished his military duties.

In September 2003 he was sworn in as an Informatics Teacher in Secondary Education after a successful ASEP written competition.

In 2004, he was transferred as a Special Advisor to the Minister of Merchant Shipping in matters of Digital organization of the Ministry and the implementation of European Programs with the aim of e-government.

In October 2006 he was elected Mayor of Anogeia and was re-elected in November 2010.

He is Chairman of the Development Company AKOM-M SA, Chairman of the Management Committee of the “Psiloritis Natural Park”, Chairman of the Mountain Municipalities Network “The Mountain Public” and since July 2012 Chairman of the Network of Martyrical Cities and Villages of Greece .

IRINI DIMOU

Head of the Dept of Business Administration & Tourism, Hellenic Mediterranean University

Dr. Irini Dimou is an Associate Professor of Strategic Tourism Management in the Department of Business Administration and Tourism, at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (H.M.U), as well as Adjunct Lecturer at the Hellenic Open University (M.Sc. in Tourism Business Administration). She is currently Head of the Department and Director of the MSc Program “Tourism and Hospitality Management”. She has previously worked as a Certified Online Instructor in the Online MBA of the University of Liverpool, a full-time professor at the American College of Greece (Deree College), while she has also taught as visiting lecturer at Ningbo University (China), as well as Vives University and Thomas More University (Belgium). Irini has graduated from the department of Business Administration of Athens University of Economics and Business and holds an M.B.A. degree from the same university. Having earned a scholarship from the State Scholarships Foundation of Greece, she studied for a PhD at the University of Surrey, U.K. Her PhD thesis focused on Strategic Management of International Hospitality Corporations.

She has published in various international journals, including Journal of Business Research, Journal of Marketing Channels, International Journal of Tourism Research, Industry and Higher Education and Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management, while she has also presented her research work in national and international conferences. Moreover, Irini acts as reviewer for some of the mainstream high impact peer review journals in the tourism field (Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, Annals of Tourism Research, Anatolia, EuroMed Journal of Business, Industry and Higher Education) and as a Reviewer Editor for Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism and member of the Editorial Board of the Journal on Tourism and Sustainability. Besides research, she has also participated in various EU-funded projects and worked as a freelancer for Greek and international consulting companies, conducting various industry reports.

Her current research interests focus on tourism destination management and strategy, cruise tourism and yachting, tourism education and human resource training, the effects of technology and robotics in hospitality and tourism

GEORGE ATSALAKIS

Assistant Professor of Technological Forecasting, School of Production Engineering & Management, Technical University of Crete

George S. Atsalakis is an Associate Professor at the School of Production Engineering and Management of the Technical University of Crete. He is an Economist graduate of the Athens University of Economics and Business (formerly A.S.O.E.E.). He holds a Master’s Degree in Organization and Management from the Technical University of Crete. He also holds a PhD from the Technical University of Crete in Stock Market Forecasting and is a member of the Data Analysis and Forecasting laboratory.

He is the author of over 120 scientific papers that have been published in prestigious international scientific journals, in international conferences, etc. and more than 400 newspaper & magazine articles.

He has written many hundreds of articles on new technologies, inflation, energy crisis, food crisis, money markets, stagflation, pandemic, cryptocurrencies, Silk Road, public debt, 4th industrial/technological revolution, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence algorithms, economic megacycles, innovative societies and economies, public finances, financial analyses, economic importance of the country’s energy reserves, public expenditures, state budget, global debt, cost of living, energy costs, trade deficits, economic development, tourism, etc., which have been published in pan-Hellenic circulation newspapers such as Kathimerini, To Vima, Ta Nea, Nautemboriki, a newspaper for pensioners 60+, Realnews, in magazines such as In-On, Cretan Business, Geopolitics, Epikira, GR DIPLOMATIC REVIEW, Insurance Marketing, Business Administration Bulletin and on various informative websites, i-efimerida, liberal.gr, Huffingtonpost.gr, hubnews.gr etc.

He has participated in over 500 television and radio interviews and discussions on the topics of economic outlook, economic growth, business cycles, tourism, Silk Road, new technologies, covid-19 forecasts, global economy, geoeconomics, etc.

He is the author of the books: a) Stock Market Forecasting Techniques, Klidarithmos, Athens, 2008, b) Simple Logics of Restructuring the Economy and Businesses, Klidarithmos, Athens, 2013, c) Forecasts in the Economy and New Technologies, Barbounakis Publications, Thessaloniki, 2024, d) Modern Silk Roads, Barbounakis publications, Thessaloniki, 2024, e) Analyzes and Forecasts of the coronavirus pandemic, Barbounakis publications, Thessaloniki. Also, together with 12 other professors, he is co-author of the book on Public Debt “Greek Debt the Perpetuation of the Problem”. Article entitled “The Causes of the Greek debt problem” has been selected as one of the 100 best articles worldwide, contributing to the long-term sustainable economic development of this century.

His research activity is the forecasting of new technologies, forecasts in the economy, forecasting-modeling of markets, using intelligent computing methods from the field of neural networks, fuzzy logic, neuro-fuzzy systems, genetic algorithms, sigmoidal curves and curves life cycles etc. His research areas mainly focus on predicting new technologies, analyzing data for decision making, predicting the prices of all kinds of markets, predicting innovative economies, predicting the evolutionary motivations of society, predicting the rise and fall of nations, business development forecasting, business and economic cycle forecasting, technology and economic cycle forecasting, tourism forecasting and trends, Covid-19 forecasting algorithms, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, geoeconomic and energy forecasting, analysis on public debt, and public finances. Analysis of data on taxation, tourism, the economy, public spending, investment, economic growth, etc. Analyzes and forecasts on Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, on the “Silk Road”-Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), international trade, and digital currencies. Analyzes of the effects of new disruptive technologies on the economy, the environment and society, strategies for adapting to new technologies, etc. Analysis of strategies for exploiting the opportunities and dealing with the threats of new technologies.

MINAS PAPADAKIS

CEO, Heraklion Port Authority S.A.

Minas Papadakis is the CEO of the Port of Heraklion since January 2020. Minas joined the port after a long career in the financial sector and has held various executive positions at EFG Eurobank Equities, where he served as head of private clients amongst others. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Minoan Lines and A.Papadakis-Technometal.

Minas holds an MBA from the Management School of Imperial College, London University and a degree in chemical engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has taught Project Management and Financial Management at the Technical Chamber of Greece, North College and the Hellenic Management Association.

He is fluent in English and German

ELENA RAPTI

Deputy Minister of Tourism

Elena Rapti was born, raised and lives in Thessaloniki.

She graduated from Arsakeio of Thessaloniki.

She is a graduate of the Greek Culture department of the Open University of Cyprus.

Holder of a master’s degree in Business Administration MBA (Master in Business Administration).
University of Winchester.

She worked as a freelancer in the field of audio-visual communication systems.

Elected for the first time as a Municipal Councilor of Thessaloniki in 1998.

Founding member of the Social Organization “Agapi” and the Information Center for Volunteering “Team Together”.

She was re-elected Municipal Councilor of Thessaloniki in 2002, first in preference crosses.

Elected for the first time as Member of Parliament of Thessaloniki with New Democracy in 2004.

Re-elected Member of Parliament of Thessaloniki with New Democracy in 2007, 2009, in the double parliamentary elections of May and June 2012, in January and September 2015, in July 2019 and in the double elections of May and June 2023 .

In 2011, she was appointed by the decision of the President of the New Republic as Secretary of Volunteering & NGOs of the New Republic.

In 2012 she was appointed a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

In the Council of Europe, she was appointed a member of the Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development Committee, the Equality & Non-Discrimination Committee, a member of the Network of Parliamentarians for the end of sexual abuse of children and coordinator of the “ONE in FIVE” campaign of the Council of Europe in Greece .

In 2015 she took over the Culture Sector of the ND.

In 2017 she was appointed a member of the expert group of the EPAS program of the Council of Europe and the European Union entitled: “PSS+ – Ending sexual harassment and abuse of children in sport”.

In 2021, she was appointed head of the National Action Plan for the Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.

In 2022, she was appointed by the decision of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, National Coordinator for the Prevention and Treatment of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Minors.

In June 2023, she was appointed to the duties of Deputy Minister of Tourism.

GEORGIOS STRATAKOS

General Secretariat of Rural Development and Food

Mr. Georgios Stratakos was born in Athens in 1978 and comes from Scoutari of Lakonia. He is married to Mari Ovakimian and they have one child.

He is a graduate of the Agricultural University of Athens and holds a Master’s Degree (MSc) in the field of “Genetic Improvement, Breeding and Feeding of Farm Animals” and a PhD in “Microclimate Conditions and Reproduction Physiology of Farm Animals”. He has been a scholar of the State Scholarship Foundation in the field of Bioclimatology.

Since 2007 he has been working as an agronomist. He also served as a Special Advisor of the Secretary General for Research and Technology of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs during 2013-2015 and as an executive in the office of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Petros Doukas during 2007-2009.

He has been a member of the Administration Council of the Hellenic Pasteur Institute and of the Board of Directors of the Patras Science Park. He has been elected as a regular member of the co-administration bodies of the Agricultural University of Athens (Council of the Animal Production Department and the General Department, Senate and Rector’s Council). He has also served as a member of the Governing Committee of the Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE) in the Regional Branch of Eastern Central Greece and as a Secretary General for the Agronomic Association of Attica. He has participated in numerous committees such as “Implementation of RIS3 within the framework of Smart Specialization for the Peloponnese and Thessaly Regions”, “National Action Planning for Research, Technology and Innovation 2014-2020”, “Drawing up the National Strategy-Road Map for the Country’ s Research Infrastructures”, “Strategic Planning of the Rural Development Program in the field of Agriculture and Agri-food”, “Evaluation of Research Centers’ Institutes in the field of Bioscience” . He has been a working group member to support the Secretariat General for Science and Technology in the preparation and organization of events for the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

EVELYN BAKINTA

President of the Cretan Women in Business Association

Business Communications Consultant with diverse experience in agri-food, innovation, tourism, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. Born in Crete, she returned after years of studying and working abroad to implement good business practices. A graduate of Business Administration, with studies in European Culture and a Master in Marketing, she has been active in entrepreneurship for 20 years, studying markets and looking for commercial partnerships, helping companies to promote their products abroad. The entrepreneurial spirit led her in 2015, during the years of the crisis, to the creation of the series of corporate cultural gifts with a Greek imprint, CHIC GREEK GIFTS, which received an award at the Tourism Awards.

She collaborates with the European Academy for Sustainable Development (ESA) supporting initiatives for the Environment (eg EU Green Week) and proposing sustainable development strategies for which she has spoken at TEDx on Sustainability: Nature VS Humans in Crete. She is a member of the European project group of the Region of Crete for the environment, circular economy, climate change, sustainable development and tourism.

As the President of the Cretan Women in Business Association, she voluntarily deals with networking and empowering women and raising awareness of social issues. She has experience in utilizing equal opportunity programs for the unemployed and women as well as ongoing staff training in technology, systemic psychology (NLP) and other personal and professional development tools. Supporter of Lifelong learning and Mentoring advises artisans, homemakers and startups. She is a certified mentor of the MENTECH International Network and coordinator of the Global Start-up Cities Initiative.

A mother of three children, she manages her time well, while her emotional intelligence and adaptability index are highly developed. Her model is the Minoan Woman who took care of her appearance, was close to nature and the arts.

NIKOS MILIARAKIS

President of the Board of Wines of Crete

Nikos Miliarakis is the co-owner of Minos Cretan Wines and President of the Board of Wines of Crete (from 2006 to 2018 and from 2021 till today).

He holds a Master of Sciences (M.Sc.) in International and Industrial Business from the University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Since 1998, he is active in the fields of Winemaking, Exports, and Wine Tourism. In the course of his career, he has been involved in the training of wine and food professionals.

He speaks English and French.

NEKTARIOS TAVERNARAKIS

Professor at the Medical School of the University of Crete, CEO Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), Research Director at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB)

Nektarios Tavernarakis is Professor of Molecular Systems Biology at the Medical School of the University of Crete, in Heraklion, Greece. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), and Research Director at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) of FORTH, where he is heading the Neurogenetics and Ageing laboratory.

He is the Founder and first Director of the Graduate Program on BioInformatics at the University of Crete. He is Chairman of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Governing Board, and has served as Vice President of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC), and Director of IMBB. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina), the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA), Academia Europaea, the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) and the Academy of Athens.

He earned his Ph.D. degree at the University of Crete, and trained as a postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. His work focuses on the molecular mechanisms of necrotic cell death and neurodegeneration, the interplay between cellular metabolism and ageing, the mechanisms of sensory transduction and integration by the nervous system, and the development of novel genetic tools for biomedical research.

He has published numerous scientific papers in top-tier, cross-discipline, international scientific journals, in addition to invited book chapters, and other publications, including editorials, commentaries, and science-popularizing articles. His research has been commended internationally, and is supported by highly competitive funding from the European Union, international organizations and the Greek Government.

For his scientific accomplishments, he has received several notable scientific prizes, including two ERC Advanced Investigator Grants, and an innovation-supporting ERC Proof of Concept Grant. He is one of the first in Europe, and the first in Greece, to have been awarded 3 such highly competitive and prestigious ERC grants. He is also the recipient of the EMBO Young Investigator award, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel research award, the Helmholtz International Fellow Award, the Galien Scientific Research Award, the BioMedical Research Award of the Academy of Athens, the Bodossaki Foundation Scientific Prize for Medicine and Biology, the Empeirikeion Foundation Academic Excellence Prize, the FORTH Research Excellence award, the International Human Frontier in Science Program Organization (HFSPO) long-term Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Honorary Education Business Award, and the Dr. Frederick Valergakis Post-Graduate Research Grant Program Academic Achievement Award of the Hellenic University Club of New York.

NIKOS CHATZINIKOLAOU

Publisher - Director Realnews and President of Athens Daily Newspaper Publishers Association

Nikos Chatzinikolaou was born on October the 9th 1962, in Alexandroupolis, Evros. He started working as a journalist in 1983 covering education topics in the newspaper “MESIMVRINI”.

In 1984, he received the “Botsi” award for journalism. He then started to cover political issues. Meanwhile, he started his collaboration with the Sunday edition of the newspaper “Akropolis”, the newspaper “Ethnos” and the magazines “ENA” and “STATUS”.

In 1987, he started working for the newly founded radio “ATHINA 9,84”. At the same time he became member of the founding committee of the station. He also temporarily worked at the radio stations “ERA”, “SKY 100,4”, “PLANET” and “STATUS FM”.

In 1989, he started his collaboration with MEGA TV station. From 1998 until 2003 he was General Director of News and Information department of the station.

From 2003 until 2007, he collaborates with ALPHA TV Station, as Executive Vice President and General Director of News and Information department and later, as Chairman and CEO.

From April 2007 until October 2011 he collaborates with ALTER TV station.

In September 2007 he founded along with Andreas Kouris the «Real Group», which owns the radio station “Real Fm 97.8” in Athens, “Real Fm 107.1” in Salonica, “Ellinikos 93,2” in Athens, the weekly (every Sunday) newspaper “Real News” and the news portal “Real.gr”.

In 2012 Nikos Chatzinikolaou created his own personal site-blog “Enikos.gr” and the financial news blog “Enikonomia.gr”.

From September 2013 until June 2016, he collaborates with STAR Channel TV Station.

Since January 2017, he is the anchorman of the main news edition of ANT1 TV Station.

Nikos Chatzinikolaou is board member of European Newspaper Publishers Association (ENPA).

MARIANA PIRGIOTI

Co-founder DOME CONSULTING FIRM & Communication Expert

She studied Political Sciences at the Department of Law of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and media training at the BBC Academy. She is a journalist, political analyst, TV anchorwoman until 2011 and General Manager of the think tank Institute of Democracy, Konstantinos Karamanlis until 2014.

She is an experienced and distinguished media trainer for “tradional” and cyber crisis management in companies such as: PETROLA HELLAS, HELLENIC PETROLEUM (ELPE), LAFARGE BETON, HALYPS BUILDING MATERIALS, ITALCEMENTI GROUP, REGENCY CASINO THESSALONIKI, HSBC, CREDIT AGRICOLE LIFE, DELTA, KATSELIS, GOODY’S, EVEREST, CARREFOUR, GENESIS FARMA and others.

MARIA SPYRIDAKI

Director of Thema Kritis 103.1

Maria Spyridaki was born in Heraklion, Crete and studied Political Science and History at the Panteion University of Athens

She is the manager of the news radio station Thema Crete 103.1, where she holds the daily morning news slot from 8.00-10.00 with her co-presenter, Maria Giamboulaki.

From 2003-2010 she started working as a freelance reporter on the channels Geronymo Groovy, Channel 9, Earth 1 (Eurovision Junior presentation), Sky TV.

Since 2010, she has been presenting the show “Colors of Greece”, where it is shown on all regional television networks.

At the same time, she works as a freelance report editor for the newspapers Eleftheros Typos and The article.

Since 2014 she lives and works in Crete.