Climate change has now become a decisive factor in the restructuring of international politics, energy strategy, and regional security. Mrs. Fay Selimi, Attorney at Law, Economist, Deputy Director of EPLO Circular Economy & Climate Institute.
Join us for the Annual International Conference
Circular Gaia Symposium 2026
9 october 2026
Athens Conservatoire, Athens, Greece
10 october 2026
EPLO premises in Plaka, Athens, Greece
11 october 2026
Ministry of Environment, Cairo, Egypt
Our Aim
PIONEERING THE FUTURE OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Our Circular Gaia Symposium is a transformative annual international gathering dedicated to advancing the circular economy as a cornerstone of sustainable development. Aligned with the EU Green Deal, UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, our mission is to reshape the global economic model to boost energy transition and climate resilience towards climate neutrality. We promote holistic circular solutions across sectors, including circular cities, innovation, tourism, energy transition, and the blue economy, while integrating cultural heritage and civil society into sustainability strategies.
Our focus spans the Mediterranean, Black, and Red Sea regions, uniting efforts to address production, consumption, renewable energy, ecomobility, and circular AI. By fostering circular diplomacy and championing green projects, we aim to mainstream circular principles into policies and businesses, creating a resilient, sustainable future for all.
pillars
Circular Cities
Energy Transition
Green Growth
Circular Blue Economy
Circular Digital Economy & AI
Circular ESG
Circular Tourism
Circular Diplomacy
Climate Mitigation & Climate Adaptation & Resilience
Green Financing
Protection of Cultural & Natural Heritage From Climate Change
Circular Aviation & Shipping
Civil Society & Humanitarian Action
Meet the
Speakers
Rumen Radev
Prime Minister of Bulgaria
Rumen Radev
Prime Minister of BulgariaRumen Radev is the fifth democratically elected President of the Republic of Bulgaria. He was born on June 18, 1963 in Dimitrovgrad. He graduated with a gold medal from the Mathematical High School in Haskovo. He graduated as the top of his class from the Air Force School in Dolna Mitropolia. In 1992 he graduated from the Maxwell Squadron Officer Course, USA, and from 1994 to 1996 he was a student in the command and staff profile of the G. S. Rakovski Military Academy. He graduated as the top of his class. In 2000 he became a Doctor of Military Sciences in the field of improving the tactical training of the air force and simulating air combat. In 2003 he graduated with honors from the Maxwell Air Force College in the USA with a Master's degree in "Strategic Studies". His name is inscribed on the Walk of Fame of the Air Force College. He has over 1400 flight hours in his career as a fighter pilot. Demo pilot of the MiG-29. He reached the rank of Major General, and in the period 2014 - 2016 he was the Commander of the Air Force of the Republic of Bulgaria. In November 2016. he was elected President of the Republic of Bulgaria by direct vote and nearly 60% of the votes. In November 2021. he was re-elected for a second term as President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Christos Dimas
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Hellenic Republic
Christos Dimas
Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Hellenic RepublicChristos Dimas is a lawyer and a Member of the Hellenic Parliament with Nea Demokratia, representing the district of Corinthia. He was born on 29 May 1980. He graduated from the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as from Queen Mary University of London. He obtained his Master's degree in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He also completed his PhD in European Politics from LSE, with a scholarship from the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. The title of his PhD thesis is: "National institutional contexts and domestic discourse during proposed transformative policy change. The case of the telecoms' privatization in Greece and the Republic of Ireland." In parallel to his studies, he worked as a London correspondent for the newspaper “Apogevmatini” and did a journalism internship at the BBC. At the age of 25, he was an assistant lecturer at LSE, teaching first-year students the course "Introduction to Comparative Politics". He has also taught the course "Mass Media and Social Regulation" at ICON College, University of Leicester to postgraduate students and was a research fellow at the Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence. He has scientific publications in Greek and international scientific journals. Before entering politics, he worked in the private sector as a business consultant for "The Boston Consulting Group (BCG)", a strategic consulting firm. He was elected as Member of Hellenic Parliament for Corinthia with New Democracy in the May and June 2012 elections, and has been continuously elected since then.
- From July 2019 to May 2023, he served as Deputy Minister of Development and Investments, responsible for Research & Innovation.
- From June 2023 to June 2024, he was Deputy Minister of Culture, responsible for Contemporary Culture.
- From June 2024, he was Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance.
- From March 2025 until today, by decision of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he has been Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.
Dimitris Papastergiou
Minister of Digital Governance, Hellenic Republic
Dimitris Papastergiou
Minister of Digital Governance, Hellenic RepublicHe graduated from the Polycladic Lyceum of Trikala and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of NTUA (National Technical University of Athens). At the same time, he attended journalism courses, while he maintains strong ties with technology and the internet, a relationship that was strengthened at the Multimedia Laboratory of NTUA. In 2001 he built and presented, together with a group of his colleagues, the first integrated website for the Prefecture of Trikala, 3kala.gr.Since 2002 he has been practicing the profession of Electrical and Computer Engineer in the city of Trikala. He was involved in studies and construction of private electromechanical projects and the creation of software programs. In 2007 he entered the field of renewable energy and has constructed more than 300 private renewable energy projects. His involvement in the community began in 2002, with his election to the City Council. He was re-elected in 2006, and in 2014 he was elected Mayor of Trikkaion and member of the Board of Directors of KEDE. He was re-elected Mayor in 2019 and, in the same year, he was elected President of the KEDE. He is married to the engineer Soula Brakis and is the happy father of Faye, Kostas and Nikos. From June 2023, he is Minister of Digital Governance in the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Stavros N. Papastavrou
Minister of Environment & Energy, Hellenic Republic
Stavros N. Papastavrou
Minister of Environment & Energy, Hellenic RepublicStavros N. Papastavrou is the Minister of Environment and Energy. He served as Minister of State from June 2023 to March 2024. He is a lawyer with postgraduate studies at Harvard Law School. He worked as a legal advisor at the law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP in Washington and practices law in Athens, in matters of capital market and corporate law. He was the central negotiator of the Greek state with European partners and the International Monetary Fund during the period 2012-2015, as head of the Prime Minister's Office of European Affairs and International Relations. He served as Secretary of International Relations and European Union of the New Democracy (2004-2012). He has been elected President of the Student Organization of the European People's Party (EDS), President of the European Youth Organization of EDU, was a founding member of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP) and a member of the Political Council of the European People's Party.
Panagiotis Theodorikakos
Minister of Development, Hellenic Republic
Panagiotis Theodorikakos
Minister of Development, Hellenic Republic
Member of Parliament Athens B3 Constituency (South)
Personal Info
Place and Date οf Birth:
Born in 1964 in Keratsini, he graduated from the Ionideios Model High School.
Marital Status:
He is married, with two children.
Profession:
Strategy Consultant and Political research analyst.
Studies:
Doctor of public policies at the University of the Peloponnese.
Master's degree in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration in political science and sociology with specialization in electoral sociology at EKPA.
He graduated from the Faculty of Primary Education of the Νational and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA).
Foreign Languages:
English
Political/Social Activities
Scientific associate and president of the GPO SA, from 2000 to 2016.
Strategy Advisor of the President of the New Democracy party since October 2015 and Strategic Planning and Communication Coordinator of the party since October 2016.
In July 7, 2019 he was elected as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament (State Constituency) with the New Democracy Party.
He served as Minister of Interior from July 9th 2019 to January 4th 2021 and Minister of Citizen Protection from August 31st 2021 to May 26th 2023.
In May 21, 2023 he was elected as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament with the New Democracy Party in the 2nd place in the B3 Constituency (South). In June 25, 2023 he was re-elected Member of the Parliament in the B3 Constituency (South).
Iva Petrova
Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria
Iva Petrova
Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria
Iva Petrova has extensive professional experience in the energy sector, with a background in both public administration and the corporate environment.
She began her professional career in 2000 at the Ministry of Energy, where she advanced to the position of Director of “Energy Markets and Restructuring” in 2008. Subsequently, from February 2009 until the end of June 2010, she served as Director of “Projects and Investments” at the Bulgarian Energy Holding.
Ms. Petrova has also worked in the private sector as a partner in a management consulting company advising energy and utility companies in the region. Since September 2021, she has served as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Energy, responsible for markets, strategy, reforms, and investments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan in the areas of integration and utilization of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, infrastructure, and market liberalization.
As Deputy Minister, she oversaw the participation in the decision-making process at EU level and chaired Working Group 14 “Energy.”
Since 2000, Ms. Petrova has been a part-time Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, where she currently teaches courses on the management and marketing of energy and utility companies within Master’s degree programs.
Holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Management from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
She has also completed a postgraduate qualification program at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. In addition, she has completed specialization programs in Hungary, Japan, and Belgium.
Fluent in English and speaks Italian.
Fluent in English, has good knowledge of Italian language.Costas Kadis
European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
Costas Kadis
European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
Professor of Biodiversity Conservation, Deputy President of University Council, Head of Nature Conservation Unit, Frederick University
2023–present
Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
2018–2023
Minister of Education and Culture
2014–2018
Minister of Health
2007–2008
Associate Professor, Head of Nature Conservation Unit, Dean of School of Education, Frederick University
2005–2014
Head of Unit and Deputy Director General, Research Promotion Foundation of Cyprus
1998–2005
PhD in Conservation Biology, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens
1991–1995
Bachelor’s degree in Biology, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens
1987–1991
Karmenu Vella
Member
Karmenu Vella
MemberKarmenu Vella graduated in Architecture and Civil Engineering from the University of Malta and later obtained a Master of Science in Tourism Management from the University of Sheffield. During his political career, he has been appointed Minister for Public Works, Minister for Industry, and Minister for Tourism twice. In 2014, he was appointed European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries. During his term in office, Mr. Vella addressed some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time and thus helped improve the well-being of our citizens and our planet. Under his leadership, the European Union adopted and implemented in full the Circular Economy Action Plan, adopted new rules to reduce single-use plastic products, updated the EU’s waste legislation, and stepped up action to improve air quality across Europe and to make concrete progress in halting the decline of the EU’s biodiversity. During his mandate, Karmenu Vella also developed a leading international role for the European Union in the field of ocean governance, promoted the blue economy through increased investment, and worked to improve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of fisheries in Europe and around the world.
Jan Dusik
Deputy Director- General, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission
Jan Dusik
Deputy Director- General, Directorate-General for Climate Action, European Commission
Mr Jan Dusík has spent his entire career in the environmental and climate policy and law. He worked at the Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic for 12 years, including as the Minister of Environment in 2009-2010. In 2011, Mr Dusík became the Deputy Regional Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and was subsequently appointed as UNEP’s Regional Director for Europe, followed by serving as UNEP’s Principal Adviser on Strategic Engagement for the Arctic and Antarctic. In 2020, he joined the WWF Global Arctic Programme, leading the work on Arctic Sustainable Development and Governance. In 2022-2024, he held the position of the Czech Government Envoy for International Climate Negotiations. In September 2024, he was appointed Deputy Director-General in DG Climate Action of the European Commission.
Mr Dusík holds a doctorate in law from Charles University in Prague and a Master of Science degree from the University of Oxford (Environmental Change Institute).
Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea
Director of Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea
Director of Directorate-General for Environment, European CommissionSince May 2022 he is director in charge of Circular Economy in the European Commission's Directorate General for Environment. Between January 2014 and April 2022 he worked as director in charge of enforcement, cohesion and the European Semester, in the same DG. Before that he was director for Equality in the Directorate-General for Justice since April 2011, in charge of equality and fight against discrimination, after having been director for Fundamental Rights and EU Citizenship within the same DG and in DG Justice, Freedom and Security since June 2009. He joined the European Commission in 2009. He holds an LL.M. from the University of Illinois (US) and a Ph.D. from the University of Bucharest (RO).
George Chatzimarkos
Governor of South Aegean and President of the Association of Greek Regions
George Chatzimarkos
Governor of South Aegean and President of the Association of Greek RegionsGeorge Chatzimarkos is the Regional Governor of the South Aegean. He was re-elected for a third term in the 2023 regional elections, following two consecutive terms (2014–2019 & 2019–2023). Since 2020, he has served as President of the “Development Organization K2” of the South Aegean Region and of the South Aegean Solid Waste Management Authority, responsible for implementing waste management, recycling, and circular economy initiatives. In 2024, he was elected President of the Spatial Planning, Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the Union of Greek Regions (EN.P.E.). He also participates as a regular member in the Monitoring Committee of the TA.M.E.Y. 2021–2027 Programs and the Monitoring Committee of the OP–YMEPERAA 2014–2020, while during the previous term (2019) he served as President of the EN.P.E. Tourism Committee. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Hellenic National Delegation to the European Committee of the Regions, serving on the CIVEX (Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs) and NAT (Natural Resources) Commissions until 2025. Earlier, from 2016 to 2017, he served as President of the CRPM (Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe).
Ioannis Tsakiris
Vice President at the European Investment Bank (EIB)
Ioannis Tsakiris
Vice President at the European Investment Bank (EIB)Yannis Tsakiris is a Vice President in the European Investment Bank. From 2019 to 2023 he was Deputy Minister for Development and Investments in Greece, responsible primarily for the public investment programme, the European funds and the national development bank. He was also Alternate Governor of the EBRD and the World Bank and in the Board of Directors of the Black Sea Trade and development Bank. Until 2019, he held several senior positions in the European Investment Fund, involved in European venture capital markets that were under development phase, in particular in the South-eastern Europe and EU Neighbouring Countries, where he had also set-up and developed several investment and financing initiatives and platforms. He holds a BSc and an MSc in Mining Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and an MBA degree from the Management School of the Imperial College in London.
The full speakers list is available in the agenda.
Agenda
Explore an inspiring three-day program
Discover the Circular Gaia Symposium 2026 agenda, featuring three days of keynote speeches, panel discussions and sessions exploring circular economy, energy transition, green growth, AI and digital innovation, climate resilience, cultural and natural heritage, and more.
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The Circular Gaia Symposium was successfully concluded, marking the culmination of an engaging and impactful gathering dedicated to advancing circularity and sustainability on a global scale.
Participants attending the Circular Gaia Symposium in person (Athens, October 2–3, 2025) will receive an official Certificate of Attendance—available at the registration desk or via email, upon request.
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Join us at the forefront of the circular economy revolution. Together, we can build climate-resilient societies, create thriving circular economies, and inspire the world to achieve effectively climate neutrality.