George
Pagoulatos
Ambassador of Greece, OECD
George Pagoulatos is the Ambassador of Greece to the OECD, Chair of the OECD Friends of South East Europe Group. Professor of European Politics and Economy at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) (on leave) and Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges. Pagoulatos has served as Director General of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) (2019-23), advisor on European affairs to the President of the Hellenic Republic (2020-23), and senior advisor to the PM and director of strategy at the PM Office under Greece’s two non-political prime ministers (2011-12). He is Council member of the European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR) and was a member of the Governing Board of the Brussels-based European Policy Centre (EPC) (2015-20), the High Council of the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence (2010-13), and President of ECSA-Greece (2013-14). Author of several books and many articles, he has been a regular columnist in the Sunday edition of the main Greek centrist newspaper Kathimerini (2007-23). Pagoulatos holds a Law degree from the University of Athens, M.Sc. and D.Phil. in Politics from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes scholar. He was a delegate for Greece in the Conference on the Future of Europe (2021-22) and a member of the Prime Minister’s High-Level Advisory Committee for Artificial Intelligence (AI) (2024-25).
Ioannis
Mastrogeorgiou
Special Secretary for Strategic Foresight Presidency, Hellenic Government
Giannis Mastrogeorgiou has been the Special Secretary for Long-Term Planning at the Presidency of the Hellenic Government since March 2022. From 2019 to 2022, he served as Secretary General for Communication and Information at the Presidency of the Government. Previously, he was Director of the Scientific Council of the Konstantinos Karamanlis Institute of Democracy (2018-2019) and Director of the think tank “DIKTYO for Reform in Greece and Europe” (2013-2018). He has also served as Director of Communications and Special Advisor to the Minister at the Ministry of Education, as well as Special Advisor at the Ministry of Development and the Hellenic Parliament. Earlier in his career, he worked in major companies in the fields of advertising and political communication. Additionally, he was a Marshall Memorial Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). He studied History at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and International Relations, European Political Economy, and European Law at the University of the Aegean and the Athens University of Economics and Business. He is a PhD candidate in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Athens.
KS Pua
Founder & CEO of Phison Electronics
KS Pua, founder and CEO of Phison Electronics, is a pioneer in NAND Flash controller technology. Under his leadership, Phison developed the world’s first single-chip USB flash drive controller and continues to drive innovation in SSD, eMMC, and UFS solutions. With over 25 years of expertise, Phison is dedicated to enhancing NAND storage solutions, delivering added value, and co-creating success with global customers. Phison invests heavily in R&D, holding 2,000+ patents and shipping over 600M NAND controllers annually, solidifying its position as a trusted partner in the global storage industry. Phison Electronics Corporation Profile. Established in 2000 and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Phison Electronics Corp. is a global leader in NAND Flash controller IC and storage solutions. The name Phi-son comes from “Five-Persons” since there were five founders who started the company as fresh graduates. In 2000, Phison developed world’s first single-chip USB flash drive controller, and successfully launched the USB-based product called Pen Drive. The term Pen Drive had since become symbolic in the realms of flash memory. For 24 years, Phison created of a wide range of innovative solutions over SSD, eMMC, UFS, SD and USB interfaces. Moreover, Phison provides system integration and total solution services across consumer, industrial, automotive, gaming, embedded ODM, and enterprise markets. As an active member in industry standards, Phison is on the Board of Directors for SDA, ONFI, UFSA and a contributor for JEDEC, PCI-SIG, MIPI, NVMe and IEEE-SA.
Afrodite Sevasti
Chief Technology Officer, Growthfund SA
With over 25 years of experience in the ICT sector, she has built a strong track record in telecommunications, digital transformation, and the design and deployment of advanced infrastructures and services. Since 2014, she has served as an Independent Expert for the European Commission. Prior to joining Growthfund, she held several key leadership positions: IT Operations Director at MRHT, a subsidiary of Munich Re (2020), Chief Technology Officer at GRNET (2017–2019), and Senior Project Manager at GÉANT, the pan-European research and education network (2005–2017). She holds a PhD and a degree in Telecommunications from the School of Computer Engineering and Informatics, University of Patras, Greece, as well as an MSc in Information Networking from Carnegie Mellon University, USA.
Alexandros
Bechrakis
Managing Director of Digital Realty in Greece
Alexandros Bechrakis is the Managing Director of Digital Realty in Greece. He is responsible for broadening the reach of the company’s data center platform in the region of Southern Eastern Europe and more specifically, in Greece including the recent development of the Heraklion Campus, Cyprus, Albania and Malta. A major focus of his responsibility is to help Greece transform into a digital hub and a major digital gateway to Europe, being situated at the crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean, Africa & the Middle East. Alexandros was the Chief Commercial & Technology Officer of Lamda Hellix for 11 years contributing to the tremendous growth of revenue and customer satisfaction that led to the acquisition of the company from Digital Realty. Prior to joining Lamda Hellix, Alexandros worked for thirteen+ years at Cisco as Regional Sales Manager for Enterprise, Financial and Commercial Sectors, leading a team of senior professionals in multiple SEE countries following a leadership role in Technical engineering management and marketing at the same company. He started his career in Computer Technology Institute of Patras as a networking specialist focusing on the emerging Internet and Intranet technologies of the time and on knowledge transfer projects from the academic field to the enterprise sector. Alexandros has graduated from Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, School of Engineering, University of Patras.
Anastasia
Krithara
Researcher at the Institute of Informatics and Telecommunications of the National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos" and the head of the Biomedical and Health Informatics Team (BioHIT).
Dr. Anastasia Krithara is a researcher at the Institute of Informatics and Telecommunications of the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” and the head of the Biomedical and Health Informatics Team (BioHIT). Her team focuses on machine learning, data mining, knowledge representation, and the integration of heterogeneous data sources for biomedical applications. In the past, Dr. Krithara was a researcher at the Xerox Research Center Europe in Grenoble, France, where she conducted research in the field of machine learning. She holds a degree in Informatics from the Athens University of Economics and Business, a Master’s in Machine Learning and Data Mining from the University of Bristol, and a PhD in Machine Learning from Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris VI). Her research interests include Machine Learning and Knowledge Representation in Health Sciences. She actively participates in international scientific conferences, both as a program committee member and as an author, with her work published in international journals, conferences, and books. She has significant experience in European and national research projects, in which she actively participates, and in some cases, she plays a coordinating role. She is a member of the Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence of the National Bioethics & Technoethics Commission. She has also served as the General Secretary of the Hellenic Artificial Intelligence Society (EETN) during the periods 2018–2020 and 2023–2024
Antonia
Vogt
Founder and President, Cambridge University Society of Robotic Surgery, President - Cambridge Neurological Society, Vice-Chair - MCR Committee of Cambridge University
Antonia Vogt, a leading Greek scientist, has been recognized on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for 2025. At 27, she is a scholar at the University of Cambridge, specializing in Regenerative Medicine and cartilage treatment. She has received numerous awards, including the Hypatia 2025 Award, and has held leadership roles in medical societies, while also founding the Cambridge University Robotic Surgery Society.
Carmina
Ion
European Affairs Policy Officer | Phd Candidate #AIregulation & #AIethics
Carmina-Ruxandra Ion is a European Affairs Policy Officer specializing in AI regulation, ethics, and digital governance. As part of Romania’s working group on AI regulation, she collaborated with EU institutions and represented Romania at the OECD Working Party on AI Governance. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. on AI ethics and regulation, she focuses on the intersection of AI governance, fundamental rights, and the ethical challenges of emerging technologies. Her research explores the limits of AI’s role in human life, the implications of AI decision-making, and how regulatory frameworks can balance innovation with accountability and responsibility.
Chengetai
Masango
United Nations Secreteriat of the Internet Governance Forum
Chengetai Masango serves as the head of the United Nations Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), created following the World Summit on the Information Society to encourage global public policy dialogue on key Internet governance issues. The IGF’s mission is to support the sustainability, security, stability, and development of the Internet through inclusive and open discussions. Mr. Masango holds a master’s degree in International Relations with a concentration in Global Information Policy, as well as degrees in Information Management and Computer Programming. His PhD research focused on transnational collective action and effective practices for globally distributed, multicultural teams.
Christos
Rizos
CTO of Software and ICT Solutions at Intracom Telecom
During his 25 years career, he led several Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Orchestration projects, introduced significant innovations on AI and Big Data technologies and managed several large-scale projects. Christos holds an Executive MBA from AIT (GR), a MSc in Computing & Telecommunications from University of Dundee (UK) and a BSc in Mathematics from National & Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR). Moreover, he is certified specialist in various technologies and methodologies, including Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Network Transformation.
Clay
Shirky
Vice Provost for AI and Technology in Education at NYU
Clay Shirky is Vice Provost for AI and Technology in Education. In this role, he designs, develops, and enhances all academic aspects of technology-based teaching and learning, University-wide; oversees the development of NYU’s instructional technology strategy, working with deans, faculty, NYU IT, and other university offices; maintains an inventory of online education offerings; and helps schools use educational technology to recruit new students, help existing students learn and progress, and generate costs savings or new revenues. He chairs the University’s Future of Technology-Enhanced Education Committee. Shirky is Associate Professor at the Arthur L. Carter Center of Journalism in FAS and Associate Arts Professor in Tisch School of the Arts’ Interactive Telecommunications Program. From 2014 to 2017, he served as Chief Information Officer at NYU Shanghai. Before joining NYU’s full-time faculty in fall 2004, he was a partner at an international investment company, and was the original Professor of New Media at Hunter College, where he helped design its MFA in Integrated Media Arts program. Currently, Shirky is a faculty associate at Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, and was the 2010 Edward R. Murrow Visiting Lecturer at Harvard’s Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy. Shirky holds a B.A. in Fine Art from Yale University. A leading voice on the social and economic impact of internet technologies, he is the author of Little Rice: Smartphones, Xiaomi, and the Chinese Dream (2015), Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age (2010), and Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations (2008). In 2010, he was named one of Foreign Policy’s “Top 100 Global Thinkers.” He has had regular columns in Business 2.0 and FEED, among other publications, and his writings have appeared in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Wired, Computerworld, and Foreign Affairs.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Vouros
Professor in the Department of Digital Systems in the University of Piraeus and head of the AI-Lab in this Department
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.
Haris
Kastanas
Managing Director, Technologist & Enterpreneur
Haris Kastanas is the General Manager of P3 Greece, a subsidiary of P3 Group GmbH, providing comprehensive digital transformation, energy management, and e-mobility solutions to the Greek market. An Electrical Engineer with over 25 years of international experience, he has led telecom network development, technical program management, and strategic consulting across 15 countries and 4 continents. Passionate about empowering businesses, he drives technology-driven solutions that align with corporate goals, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success in competitive markets.
Konstantina
Nathanail
Chair and Co-founder of the Digital World Summit Greece and Lawyer specializing in New Technology Law and Artificial Intelligence.
Konstantina Nathanael is a lawyer specializing in New Technology Law and Artificial Intelligence. She has worked at international law firms, the German Parliament’s Committee on Digital Affairs, and the European Commission. She served as the European Union’s representative at the Y7 meeting of the G7 Summit 2023 in Japan. Since 2023, she has been the Chair and co-founder of the Digital World Summit Greece, the Greek initiative within the United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum. Her research interests focus on the democratic and effective governance of Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies, as well as the promotion of Technological Innovation. She has also co-edited two books on the regulation of digital platforms.
Katarzyna
Kwak
Founder & Principal Consultant, Data Value Solutions
Katarzyna Kwak is a dynamic entrepreneur and certified data governance expert with over 15 years of experience helping organizations turn data chaos into business value. Based in Athens, she founded Data Value Solutions, a consultancy firm dedicated to delivering pragmatic, results-driven data governance solutions that empower energy and financial services leaders to unlock the full potential of data and AI. She has worked with industry giants such as EDF Energy, Siemens Energy, and BSI, implementing tailored governance frameworks that bridge the gap between business and technology while driving measurable impact.
As strategic problem solver and data program manager, Katarzyna specializes in guiding organizations through sustainable data-driven transformation. As a sought-after industry speaker, she shares insights on best practices in data governance, ROI from data, change management challenges, and overcoming cultural resistance in data initiatives.
Lars
Rasmussen
Co-Founder, Google Maps
Lars Rasmussen is an angel investor in Athens, Greece with a computer science Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. In 2004, Lars and his brother Jens sold their mapping startup to Google, and lead the team that created Google Maps. Lars’s favorite investments include Canva, Astranis, Chiaro, Neara, PhosPrint and ResQ biotech. Recently, Lars co-founded the ambitious future Panathēnea festival. He enjoys boating the Greek islands, kite surfing, and coffee.
Lefteris
Katsiadakis
Co-founder and CEO, Panathēnea
Lefteris Katsiadakis is the Co-founder and CEO of Panathēnea, a visionary platform dedicated to fostering creativity and innovation. With a background in economics from the Athens University of Economics and Business, Lefteris has been instrumental in building communities that drive meaningful change. Before founding Panathēnea, he served as President of ThinkBiz, Greece’s first student entrepreneurship organization. Leading a team of 48+ individuals, he helped organize 15+ events and projects that reached and inspired over 12,000 people, strengthening Greece’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. He is committed to bringing people together, providing opportunities, and supporting creators—ultimately building a hub in Greece where they can collaborate and change the world
Loukas
Karalis
Group Chief Strategy and IR Officer | AKTOR GROUP
Loukas is a senior professional with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of financial strategy, mergers and acquisitions both in Greece and abroad. Currently, Loukas holds the position of Group Chief Strategy and IR Officer at Aktor Group and he serves as a Vice Chairman of Aktor. Prior to Aktor Group, he was at Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (‘HFSF’) for almost 10 years, while from 2018 he held the position of the Chief Investment Officer, having under his responsibility the Division of Investments and Divestments for systemic banks as well as HFSF’s investor relations, while he was also a member of HFSF’s Executive Committee. Throughout these years, he has been actively involved in the majority of the transactions carried out by systemic and non-systemic banks, in which the HFSF maintained an equity relationship, while until recently he was responsible for the formulation of the HFSF’s strategy regarding the preparation of its divestment from its holdings in the systemic banks. He has also been a Portfolio Manager at Piraeus Bank and an Observer, on behalf of the HFSF, in the Board of Directors and Board Committees of Piraeus Bank. Before that, he held critical positions at EY and Eurobank both in Greece and Southeast Europe. He has also worked in the UK in the M&A and Capital Markets sectors, mainly covering financial institution transactions in Central and Southeast Europe. Loukas holds a BA in Economics from University of Piraeus, an MSc in Banking and International Finance from Bayes Business School (former City Business School) and an MBA from ALBA Graduate Business School.
Luca
Morena
CEO, Nextatlas
Luca Morena holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Bologna and has served as a Postdoc at the Laboratory of Ontology at the University of Turin. His primary research interests now lie in the philosophy of technology, algorithmic culture, and AI. Luca is Co-Founder and CEO of Nextatlas, and a frequent speaker at events centered around AI and future trends. His work at Nextatlas has garnered recognition in prestigious outlets such as Wired US, BBC, Mashable, WWD, Vogue, Vogue Business, Forbes, Mail Online, Glamour, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Corriere della Sera, La Stampa, Repubblica, and Il Sole 24 Ore. Nextatlas AI-powered trend forecasts help shape the direction of world respected brands, including Lavazza, Mondelez, Adidas, Luxottica, Ferrero, Reckitt, Barilla, Weber Shandwick, and Stellantis, among others.
