Committees
Meet the
Organizing Committee
George Kremlis
Co Founder, President
George Kremlis
Co Founder, PresidentGeorge Kremlis is the Chairman of the Greek Initiative at UN level on protecting cultural and natural heritage from climate change impacts. He is a member of the Board of the European Public Law Organisation and the Director of its climate and circular economy Institute. He is as well the Ambassador of the EPLO to Bulgaria. He was until recently a member of the environmental and social advisory council of the EBRD and is also currently the Chair of the Bureau of the Espoo Convention & SEA Protocol, Chair of the MOPs in 2019, elected Chair for the MOPs in December 2020 and re-elected Chair for the period 2021-2023 and the period up to 2027. He is the Chairman of the AmCham circular economy committee. George Kremlis is Honorary Director of the European Commission (EC) and has acted in this capacity as Active Senior responsible for circular economy in the islands. He was until recently special Advisor to the Greek Prime Minister on energy, climate, environment and circular economy issues. He is doctor honoris causa of the Varna Free University.
Fay Selimi
Co Founder, Program Manager, Public relations and communication manager
Fay Selimi
Co Founder, Program Manager, Public relations and communication managerFay Selimi is the Deputy Director of the Circular Economy & Climate Institute of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) and the Official representative of the EPLO at the Espoo Convention and the SEA Protocol of the UNECE. She is Attorney at Law, PhD(c)in the legal protection of Climate, MSc in Sustainable Development , with expertise in environmental law, climate law, energy law, financial and European public law and sustainable development policies. Sustainability expert. She is also a legal and sustainability - circular economy - counsel of municipalities, international organizations and public and private sector companies.
Elena-Foteini Psalti
Member of the Public Relations & Communication Team
Elena-Foteini Psalti
Member of the Public Relations & Communication TeamElena-Foteini Psalti holds a degree in International and European Studies, along with two master degrees: a Master in Business Administration (MBA) and a Master in the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Natural Monuments from the Effects of Climate Change. She has extensive experience in international relations, communication, project management, and business strategy. Currently, she serves as a Project Manager in the Technical Department of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) and has been collaborating with the UN-level Greek Initiative for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage from the Effects of Climate Change for the past four years.
Malena Komvokis
Member of Public Relations and Communication Team
Malena Komvokis
Member of Public Relations and Communication TeamHaving completed her education at an Italian school in Greece and being fluent in Italian, Greek, and English, Maria Elena has, since the beginning of her academic path, experienced multiculturalism as a defining element of her personal identity. Studying law in the Italian city of Bologna, renowned for its centuries-old academic excellence, later profoundly shaped her into a curious and ambitious individual, passionate about many legal fields, particularly those that transcend national borders. This curiosity was further strengthened during her exchange semester at the University of Ghent in Belgium, where she deepened her expertise in European Union law and refined both her academic and personal skills. In 2025, she completed a full-time internship at the European Public Law Organization in Athens (Greece), where she contributed to the organisation of the “Circular Gaia Symposium 2025” and presented the closing Awards Ceremony. For the purposes of her LLM thesis, she conducted research on EU Internal Market Law, examining the interplay between the national identity clause enshrined in Article 4(2) TEU and potential derogations to the fundamental freedoms underpinning the Internal Market. Motivated by her keen interest in European integration, she further enhanced her legal understanding through an internship at the Legal Department of the Permanent Representation of Greece to the European Union. Eager to deepen her insight into how the EU functions from within, particularly in the field of competition law, Maria Elena is confident in her aspiration to play an active role within the inspiring and unique legal system that is the European Union.
Anastasios Stavridis
EU Affairs & Strategic Partnerships Manager
Anastasios Stavridis
EU Affairs & Strategic Partnerships ManagerAnastasios Stavridis is a dynamic young professional with a robust academic foundation in international and European law, complemented by hands‑on experience in EU project management and policy development, inter alia, at top European institutions. In his role as EU Affairs & Strategic Partnerships Advisor, he leverages his expertise in coordinating EU-funded initiatives, fostering strategic partnerships, and navigating complex policy frameworks to enhance the symposium’s impact on sustainable and circular proposals and solutions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a double-major LL.M in International & European Law. Currently, serving as a Special Adviser to the Regional Governor of Remth, and at the same time, as a PhD (c) researching European Strategic Autonomy, he combines rigorous academic inquiry with real-world insights, cultivating a versatile skill set on a wide range of key topics & critical sectors, like project management, environmental protection, geopolitical analysis, regional governance, energy security & global competetion.
Juliet Borisova
Young Ambassador
Juliet Borisova
Young AmbassadorWe are delighted to present Miss Juliet Borisova, who exemplifies the future generation of refined leadership—one that is both academically diligent and profoundly committed to the public good—as our latest Young Ambassador at the Circular Gaia Symposium 2025. Through research, education, and strategic foresight, Miss Borisova is articulating a bold, inclusive vision for Balkan’s role in the evolving global order. Juliet Borisova, age 23, is a rising voice in international affairs and civic leadership, committed to advancing strategic studies in Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe. At just 22, she founded the Geostrategic Research Institute. The Institute goals for 2025-2026 is to pursues rigorous, impartial analysis of contemporary geopolitical complexities, while simultaneously nurturing a cohesive and enlightened civic spirit within the nation. Through a synthesis of global expertise and intellectual ambition, the Institute seeks to fortify Bulgaria’s academic landscape and to shape the contours of its future socio-political elite. Juliet is currently completing a Master of Arts in International Affairs with a specialism in Strategic Studies at King’s College London, building on a BA (Hons) in Business. In parallel, she is undertakinga traineeship at the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), where she contributes meaningfully to transnational legal and policy dialogues at European level.
Ambassador of the EPLO to Bulgaria, Director of the Circular Economy and Climate Institute of the EPLO
Meet the
Scientific Committee
George Kremlis
Co Founder, President
George Kremlis
Co Founder, PresidentGeorge Kremlis is the Chairman of the Greek Initiative at UN level on protecting cultural and natural heritage from climate change impacts. He is a member of the Board of the European Public Law Organisation and the Director of its climate and circular economy Institute. He is as well the Ambassador of the EPLO to Bulgaria. He was until recently a member of the environmental and social advisory council of the EBRD and is also currently the Chair of the Bureau of the Espoo Convention & SEA Protocol, Chair of the MOPs in 2019, elected Chair for the MOPs in December 2020 and re-elected Chair for the period 2021-2023 and the period up to 2027. He is the Chairman of the AmCham circular economy committee. George Kremlis is Honorary Director of the European Commission (EC) and has acted in this capacity as Active Senior responsible for circular economy in the islands. He was until recently special Advisor to the Greek Prime Minister on energy, climate, environment and circular economy issues. He is doctor honoris causa of the Varna Free University.
HRH Princess Dana Firas
Member
HRH Princess Dana Firas
MemberHRH Princess Dana Firas is a global advocate for heritage protection and preservation. She was designated a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in June 2017 in recognition of her commitment to heritage protection and preservation as pillars for sustainable development, and her contribution to responsible tourism and community participation. In September 2023 she was elected as Vice President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). She serves as President of ICOMOS-Jordan, which she established in 2019. She is the President of the Petra National Trust, Jordan’s oldest national nongovernmental organization for heritage protection and preservation. Internationally, Princess Dana serves as an Ambassador for the UK-based International National Trusts Organization since 2021, and in 2023, she joined the Board of Trustees of Turquoise Mountain. She served as Co-Chair of the Climate Heritage Network’s COP27 and COP28 Working Groups. Princess Dana received several awards in recognition of her contributions to cultural heritage in Jordan and internationally. She is the author of Unique and Outstanding: Jordan’s World Heritage Sites. She holds a BA degree in Economics and International Relations, an MSc in Development Studies and an MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where she was a Fulbright Scholar.
Prof. Rym Ayadi
Member
Prof. Rym Ayadi
MemberProf. Rym Ayadi - EMEA Founder and President, Professor at the Bayes Business School, City University of London, Co-Founder of the Brain Capital Alliance Professor Rym Ayadi is Founder and President of the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA), a Barcelona based regional Think Tank that serves as a leading independent and innovative policy research institution. Co-Founder of the Brain Capital Alliance, and founder and Director of the Euro-Mediterranean and African Network for Economic Studies (EMANES), Professor at the Bayes Business School (Former CASS) of the City University of London and Senior Advisor at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). She is the Chair of the European Banking Authority (EBA) Banking Stakeholders Group (BSG) of which she acted as elected Chair from February 2019 to present. Professor Ayadi is an Economist and international academic expert on international business and financial systems, financial markets and institutions, global financial regulation and governance, and socio-economic development and foresight in economies in transition. She is currently Member in several international high- level Academic, Advisory Committees and Editing Boards. For more information please visit www.rymayadi.com
George Behrakis
Member
George Behrakis
MemberGeorge Behrakis is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the AXIOS Project, a new initiative aimed at mobilizing the Greek diaspora in the U.S. and globally to tackle the climate crisis. A graduate of Tufts University and New England Conservatory, George has an array of varied professional experiences in climate advocacy, politics, civic engagement, and the arts. Currently, he serves as Chief Strategy Officer of the Climate Solutions Fund, where he works with conservative leaders across the U.S. to build and accelerate leadership on climate and energy issues. This work has been covered in media outlets across the country, including The Washington Post, NPR, Newsweek, Associated Press, The Hill, CNN, and Politico. George is also an Aspen Institute Future Climate Leader, and is the youngest ever board member at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life, the nation’s premier educational institution focused on the on civic education and engagement of young people. Born and raised in Massachusetts, George and his family are proud Greek-Americans, and are very active in a number of Greek organizations, including The Hellenic Initiative, Leadership 100 and the National Hellenic Society.
Dr. Buontempo Carlo
Member
Dr. Buontempo Carlo
MemberCarlo Buontempo is the Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) at ECMWF. He completed a PhD in physics at the University of L'Aquila in 2004 before moving to Canada for his post-doc and then joining the UK Met Office. Carlo worked at the Hadley Centre for Climate Science and Services for almost a decade where he led the climate adaptation team and the climate service development team. In this role, he led numerous projects involving climate change adaptation and regional modeling in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. Before becoming Director of C3S, Buontempo developed the sectoral information system of C3S, helping businesses and policymakers in sectors like finance, insurance, energy, etc. with customized and up-to-date environmental data services.
Mariya Gabriel
Member
Mariya Gabriel
MemberMariya Gabriel was Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2017. She served as European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society (2017– 2019) and European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth ( 2019- 2023). Mariya Gabriel was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria (2023-2024).
Kostis Geropoulos
Member
Kostis Geropoulos
MemberKostis Geropoulos is the co-founder and the Director for Energy & Climate Policy and Security at NE Global in the UK. A member of the Foreign Press Association of Greece, he is an experienced journalist, moderator and columnist covering energy and climate issues, geopolitics and security. He has covered and reported from many areas around the world, including Central Asia, Russia, Northern Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe. His weekly column Global Energy Insider analyzes energy and geopolitics, including interviews with European leaders, politicians and experts. He has also been a guest or contributor for BBC TV and BBC Radio, Austrian radio ORF, LBC Radio, and Sky News, UK.
Prof. Sasho Kjosev
Member
Prof. Sasho Kjosev
MemberDr. Sasho Kjosev is the President of the Balkan Economic Forum and a Full Professor in the Faculty of Economics at the University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. He holds a PhD in Development Economics and a graduate diploma programme in development planning techniques from the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands. His professional interests include macroeconomic (development) planning, development planning techniques, national accounting, sustainable development, regional and local economic development, economics of innovation, labour economics and agricultural policy.
George Konstantinopoulos
Member
George Konstantinopoulos
MemberGeorge Konstantinopoulos is a Lawyer at the Supreme Court of Athens with an MSc in environmental management. He has worked as a research associate at the European Public Law Centre and the National Technical University of Athens. He has also worked as a legal expert for the Ministry of Labor of Cyprus, responsible for the transposition of the whole EU legislation on air pollution and air quality. He was also a legal consultant of the European Public Law Center, working for the Attorney General of Cyprus on the transposition of the EU legislation on waste management. He possesses more than 20 years of experience as a senior legal expert for the European Commission, having worked until today on a vast number of conformity studies regarding the assessment of the transposition in the MS of EU Directives in the fields of environmental, energy and H&S legislation. From 1996 till today he has participated in a large number of national, international, World Bank and EU funded environmental and energy projects in Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Latvia, Georgia, Ukraine, Maldives and Azerbaijan. He has also been engaged as EU senior non-key legal expert for the Policy and Legal Advice Center (PLAC I and PLAC II) of the European Commission in Serbia on Chapter 27: Environment and Climate Change. He is considered an expert on environmental liability issues, having worked for a number of insurance companies on the drafting of insurance policies on environmental damage, as also for the Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies. George is considered an expert on Circular Economy and EPR, having contributed as legal expert to the drafting of the Greek National Waste Management Plan (2020-2030) and the National Waste Prevention Plan for the Ministry of Environment and Energy. He has worked on the drafting of EPR policy and legislation in Georgia, Azerbaijan and the Maldives and is currently engaged as a legal counsel for a number of PROs in Greece. He has also worked for various NGOs (ECOCITY, ARCHIPELAGOS, WWF GREECE) and is currently the Coordinator of the Scientific Committee and Head of Legal Affairs of the NGO ECOCITY, member of EUCOBAT Policy Working Group and member of the Working Groups for Law and Air Pollution of the European Environmental Bureau.
Prof. Maria Loizidou
Member
Prof. Maria Loizidou
MemberMaria Loizidou completed her studies in UK (BSc, MSc, PhD) obtaining her PhD in environmental engineering focusing on the field of environmental protection at the University of London. She followed an academic career being Professor at the National Technical University of Athens in the School of Chemical Engineering and Head of the Unit of Environmental Science & Technology (www.uest.gr). Her efforts are continuous in the field of the environmental protection and human health, enhancing education, research technology and innovation. She has been scientific responsible for more than 200 international, European and national environmental – renewable energy projects supporting governments, competent authorities, municipalities, private sector and others (http://www.uest.gr/index.php/projects) with emphasis on solid waste management including circular economy, biorefineries and bioeconomy, as well management of wastewater, water resources & brine. She is also the Head of WTERT-Greece (Waste to Energy Research Council, “SYNERGIA”) and elected member in the scientific committee of chemical engineers in the Technical Chamber of Greece. She has been a Founding Member of the European Topic Center on Waste and Material Flows of the European Environment Agency (EEA) based in Copenhagen and Member of its Management Committee for many years. She has more than 600 publications in international scientific journals (http://www.uest.gr/index.php/publications) and conferences and about 13,000 citations (h-index 63, i10-index: 163). She has been member of the Management Board of the Cyprus University of Technology (2003-2012), Dean of the School of Engineering & Technology and Chairman of the Environmental Engineering Department.
Grammenos Mastrojeni
Member
Grammenos Mastrojeni
MemberGrammenos Mastrojeni is Senior Deputy Secretary General at the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean since September 2019. Grammenos Mastrojeni is an Italian diplomat, professor and writer who has focused for the past 25 years on the societal, geo-strategic and economic impacts of environmental degradation, as well as on topics related to environmental protection, human cohesion, peace and security. He has taught sustainability and conflict resolution in various universities in Italy and abroad, and in 2009, the Ottawa University in Canada entrusted him with the first class by a University on the issue of Environment, resources and geostrategy. Formerly, until August 2019, he was the Coordinator for the Environment and Head of the Science-Policy Interface at the Italian Development Cooperation, heading Italian delegations on lands, water and oceans and joining negotiations on climate and biodiversity. Chair of the UN Mountain Partnership, and Co Chair of the Global Islands Partnership, he is President of the largest Italian association for sustainable development education “Isola della Sostenibilità” and member of the Scientific Boards of numerous university courses and entities. Author of numerous articles and official reports on the environment, he published 8 books including “Greenhouse effect, war effect”, written together with the climatologist Antonello Pasini (Chiarelettere, 2017), and “The Ark of Noah – Saving together our Common Home” that ranked as best-selling essays. Among his publications there are also “The indissoluble cycle. Peace, environment, development and freedom in the global balance” (Vita e Pensiero, 2002); “The necessary eco-revolution” (Italian Scientific Editions, 2008); “Now or never. A decade, and not beyond, to save ourselves and the Earth” (Amazon, 2016).
Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic
Member
Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic
MemberSecretary General Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic (RS/NL) Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic has dedicated her life to championing Europe’s shared values and shared cultural heritage, working for Europa Nostra for over three decades and assuming the role of Secretary General in 2000. She regularly interacts and works closely with all EU institutions, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and numerous public and private bodies committed to cultural heritage at all levels of governance, from local to global. A prominent figure in the European cultural and cultural heritage circles, Sneška is the leader of the pioneering EU-funded European Heritage Hub pilot project and serves as a spokesperson for the European Heritage Alliance. She also serves on the EC Expert Group on Cultural Heritage. Her multi-facetted activities extends to culture-based climate action as regional co-Chair of the Climate Heritage Network. She is a member of the EUYO Advisory Council and a member of the Council of the European Music Centre in Bougival. Before joining Europa Nostra, Sneška worked for the EU Institutions in Brussels and Belgrade. She was one of the founders and first Secretary-General of the European Movement in Yugoslavia. Sneška holds a graduate degree in International Law (Belgrade, former Yugoslavia) and a postgraduate degree in European Law and Politics (Nancy, France). In 2022, Sneška was elevated to the rank of Knight of the national order of the Legion of Honour for her “unreserved commitment to the preservation of heritage in Serbia and more widely in Europe” and “dedication and commitment to the cultural dimension of the European project”. In 2024, Sneška was appointed as a foreign member of the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, a prestigious academic institution that for almost 200 years has promoted science, humanities and the arts in Venice and Italy as well as in Europe and globally.
Prof. Roido Mitoula
Member
Prof. Roido Mitoula
MemberRoido Mitoula is Dean of the School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics and Professor at Harokopio University of Athens. She holds a BA in “Political Sciences and Public Administration” from National Kapodistriako University of Athens, an MA in “Architecture of Space” and a Ph.D in “Urban Planning and Spatial Design” from N.T.U.A. She has scientific publications and has participated in numerous Greek and international Conferences. She is researcher in the Laboratory of Applied Economics and Sustainable Development of Harokopio University and she co-operated with the Laboratory of Urban Design of N.T.U.A. She specialises in issues of “Sustainable Development”. He was Head of the Department of Home Economics and Ecology from November 2015 to November 2017. She is Editor of Sustainable Development, Culture, Traditions Journal (SDCT-Journal www.sdct-journal.com) (ISSN 2241-4010) and Editor of Greek Journal "Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη, Περιβάλλον, Πολιτισμός, Οικονομία, Κοινωνία (www.sdct-journal.gr) (ISSN 2241-4002). She is Director of the Graduate Program "Sustainable Development" of Harokopio University and is responsible for the "Local Development". She is a member of Scientific Committees and reviewer in scientific journals and Conferences. She has organized Scientific Seminars, Scientific Conferences and Scientific Meetings on Urban Environment and Regional Development. She is the national representative of Greece in European Union programs related to Sustainable Development.
Prof. Tonia Moropoulou
Member
Prof. Tonia Moropoulou
MemberPROFESSOR EMERITUS AT THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS CHIEF SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISOR OF THE REHABILITATION OF THE HOLY AEDICULE OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE TECHNICAL CHAMBER OF GREECE MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOANNINA Antonia Moropoulou Professor Emeritus at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, Vice President of the Technical Chamber of Greece, Μember of the Governing Council of the University of Ioannina. Chemical Engineer, PhD, Director Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory Studies Director Interdisciplinary NTUA MSc Master Program ‘’Protection of Monuments”. Contracted Professor in Instituto Universitario di Architectura a Venezia (IUAV) (1994), Visiting Professor at Princeton University - Civil and Environmental engineering (1995-1996) NTUA Vice Rector of Academic Affairs (2010-2014), Vice President of the European Society for Engineering Education – SEFI (2013-2016) President of the General Assembly of the Technical Chamber of Greece (2017-2019). Chief Scientific Supervisor of the Rehabilitation of the Holy Aedicule of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem by the Christian Leaders, leading the NTUA interdisciplinary team. Scientific coordinator of more than 100 National, European and International research competitive programs, h-index of 41, at Scopus more than 92.586 readings, three billion views of her work. acknowledged by Stanford University of the top 2% with the highest impact in the field of Cultural Heritage Protection. 2012 was awarded the “YPATIA” Award by the “Association of Hellenic Women Scientists”. Member of the Coordinating Secretariat and the first broadcaster in the democratic uprising in November ’73.
Dr. Dariusz Prasek
Member
Dr. Dariusz Prasek
MemberDr. Prasek is an independent consultant specializing in sustainable financing, circular economy and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas, with experience in over 4,000 investment projects across various sectors. He provides strategic advisory services on topics such as IFIs ESG Policies and Performance Standards, Circular Economy, Green Public Procurement, Sustainable Financing, and Corporate Social Responsibility. He previously served as the Director of Operations at the Environment and Sustainability Department of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), where he was one of the key contributors to the development and implementation of the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition Strategy. Dr. Prasek also worked as an Advisor for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) and held academic positions as Assistant Professor at the Warsaw University of Technology. He holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering and has published numerous articles on solid waste management, circular economy, and environmental management. Additionally, Dr. Prasek is a member of several professional organizations, including the Inter-American Development Bank Invest Advisory Panel, Georgian Society of Nature Explorers “Orchis” and the Association of Sustainable Development Experts (ASDE) in Ukraine.
Monika Stanisheva
Member
Monika Stanisheva
MemberFounder of the Green Transition Forum Chair of the Board of dir.bg Monika Stanisheva is a visionary leader and entrepreneur committed to advancing sustainability and fostering innovation across business and environmental landscapes. She currently serves as a Member of the Scientific Board at COP29, where she provides strategic climate insights to support global sustainability initiatives. In her role as Chair of the Board of Directors at Dir.bg, Monika leads high-impact initiatives that drive digital growth and innovation, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of technological advancement. She is also the Founder of the Green Transition Forum, Central and Eastern Europe’s largest platform dedicated to accelerating sustainability efforts. This prominent forum unites leaders and innovators from various sectors to address pressing environmental challenges through knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Monika is actively involved in Bulgaria’s innovation landscape as a Member of the Steering Committee of the Bulgarian Innovation Forum. Here, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of entrepreneurship and economic development, supporting a thriving ecosystem that nurtures creativity and growth. Additionally, as a Board Member of the European Female Forum, Monika advocates for gender equality and empowerment, championing diversity and inclusion to open pathways for women to excel in leadership. Her expertise further extends to European innovation as a Member of the European Sounding Board of Innovations, where she contributes valuable insights on emerging trends and transformative technologies. As an Angel Investor, Monika is dedicated to supporting startups and entrepreneurs who are working toward sustainable and equitable futures. With a multifaceted background in media, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, Monika’s work is driven by a vision of a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous world. She remains deeply committed to driving meaningful change, empowering future generations, and fostering a more sustainable global economy.
Christos Tsitouras
Member
Christos Tsitouras
MemberChristos Tsitouras is an environmental engineer with academic and professional expertise in circular economy, ESG, and sustainable development. He holds an M.S. in Sustainability Management and an MBA from Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ,USA), as well as an M.E. in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Crete. He has also completed a certificate in Sustainable Investing from Harvard Business School. Christos is the Founder of GeminiGrowth Advisors, a newly established advisory firm offering consulting services in ESG strategy, environmental innovation, green finance, and climate transition planning, while also engaging in traditional business consulting. He has gained experience across the consulting, infrastructure, and energy sectors, contributing to projects involving sustainability reporting, smart city development, energy systems, and environmental licensing. He has received recognition for capstone projects during his master’s studies on sustainable aviation fuels and strategic waste mitigation plans, while his academic work includes a thesis on microplastics in wastewater treatment systems. Christos actively engages in initiatives that promote circular economy practices, environmental resilience, and systems innovation.
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.
Prof. Antonis Zorpas
Member
Prof. Antonis Zorpas
MemberDr Antonis Zorpas is a Chemical Engineer, actively engaged with several Universities, Research Institutes in Europe. He is Associate Professor at Open University of Cyprus, Director of the Lab of Chemical Engineering & Engineering Sustainability, Director in Sustainable Environmental Engineering Postgraduate Master (MSc). He has more than 650 publications (books, contribution on books, papers in journals, international conferences). His Google h-index now 56, with more than 10000 citations. He has recognized since 2019 among the worlds to 1% in the list of the most influential researchers in the world in the section of Environmental Science and on <1% in the section of Chemical Engineering based on bibliometric data from the Stanford University (USA) and Elsevier Report. Hence, the data base from Google, Scholar-GPS places him 14th on the Planet in the era of Waste Management and among the 0.05% of the most Influential Scientist in the Planet in the Era of Chemical Engineering. In addition, his acting as Editor on behalf of several Scientific Journals (belongs to SAGE, Elsevier, Springer, etc), among them is the Chemical Engineering Journal (Elsevier, I.F15.1/Q1), Waste Management and Research (Sage I.F 4.2/Q1). His research background is in the area of Strategic Panning Development in the Framework of Circular Economy and Bioeconomy, Waste Management, Life Cycle Assessment, End-of Waste Criteria etc. He has participated in more than 30 EU research project the last 15 years. For more than 20 years, he was acting as Consulting Engineer on behalf of several industrial activities and governmental authorities. On 2019 he received honorary distinction for his long-standing contribution to the environmental issues of Cyprus from the President of the Republic of Cyprus. He collaborates with European Commission since 2008 (e.g Strategic Advisor for EURASHE 2016-2029, as Technical Expert on behalf of European Defense Agency since 2020, as technical expert/ethic advisor, moderator etc).
Hossam Allam
Member
Hossam Allam
Member
Dr. Allam is an international sustainable development expert with over 33 years of experience across global, regional, and national projects. He specializes in integrating economic, social, and environmental aspects to improve quality of life and promote sustainable investment in natural resources and green jobs.
At the start of 2026, Dr. Hossam Allam serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SIHub - Sustainability and Innovation Hub. This consultancy firm specializes in supporting businesses and governmental organizations by converting sustainability goals into actionable and scalable solutions that achieve tangible environmental, social, and economic outcomes. SIHub delivers services across both the European and MENA regions, with established offices in Estonia and Egypt.
Dr. Allam served for 31 years at the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), an international diplomatic organization headquartered in Egypt. His most recent position was Programme Director and International Expert within the Sustainable Growth Programme. CEDARE was established at the request of Ministers responsible for environmental affairs in the League of Arab States.
Dr. Allam received his Ph.D. from Plymouth University in the UK, his M.Sc. from the University of New Haven in the USA, and his B.Sc. from the School of Engineering at Ain Shams University in Egypt.
Dr. Allam has overseen more than 40 national and international projects in the last decade across diverse fields, including resource efficiency, solid and electronic waste management, green and circular economies, sustainable transportation and tourism, energy, and ICT applications for sustainability. These initiatives were primarily conducted in collaboration with governmental bodies, the EU Commission, UN agencies, as well as Arab and European nations. Dr. Allam has delivered technical assistance to national, international, and civil society organizations to strengthen their institutional resources and capacities. Additionally, he has participated in numerous key meetings, conferences, and training programs, serving as both a participant and keynote speaker.
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