Scientific Committee 

Panayiotis G. Carydis is Professor Emeritus of Earthquake Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and an internationally distinguished authority in seismic engineering. Over a long and eminent academic career, he has made fundamental contributions to the understanding of structural response under seismic loading, as well as to the assessment, strengthening, and protection of structures and monuments against earthquakes.

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As founder and director of the Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering at NTUA, he played a pivotal role in advancing research, education, and innovation in the field. Notably, he led the reconstruction of approximately 1,200 independent houses using an innovative earthquake-resistant foundation system that he invented, designed, and experimentally validated.

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He has also carried out large-scale pre-earthquake assessment of approximately 5,000 office and school buildings across Greece, including both historic and contemporary structures. Appointed by the Greek State, he has participated in numerous post-earthquake missions worldwide, undertaking on-site damage assessment and seismic risk evaluation, while also serving as a technical advisor to governments and international organizations.

 

Author of an extensive body of scientific publications and reports, his work has had a lasting impact on research, policy, and engineering practice worldwide.

Ioannis (John) Prousalidis is a Professor at the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), specializing in Marine Electrical and Electronic Engineering and ship energy systems. He received his diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from NTUA in 1991 and his PhD in Electric Power Engineering in 1997.

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His research focuses on ship electrical energy systems, marine power systems, and advanced ship energy technologies, including shore-side electricity supply (cold ironing). He is a member of the international committee responsible for developing global technical specifications and standards for cold ironing systems for ports and ships.

He is the author and co-author of several textbooks and more than one hundred scientific publications in international journals and conference proceedings.

 

His work has received significant international citations, and he serves as reviewer for major scientific journals and as a member of editorial boards in the field of marine and transportation power systems.

Prof. N. Nikitakos is a graduate of Hellenic Naval Academy (1980) and holds a B.Sc. in Economics (University of Piraeus 1986) and 2 M.Sc. from Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA (M.Sc. Electrical. Engineering. and M.Sc. in Appl. Mathematics).

 

He spent 25 years as Naval Officer (Captain H.N. ret.) when he participated in several NATO and EU committees, He received a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from National Technical University of Athens (1996). He was Professor of Shipping Informatics and New Technologies (2001-2023) and Head of the Dept. of Shipping Trade and Transport in the University of the Aegean (2005-2009). From 2023 to 2024 he was the Head of Dept. of Maritime Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Sharjah Maritime Academy – UAE. He has participated in more than 50 European research projects and studies (as coordinator, principal researcher) on ports and shipping.

 

He holds 3 international patents on renewable energies at sea and he was awarded from Lloyd’s List on Maritime Technological Innovation in 2006. He has published 5 books and many articles in international referred journals and conferences. He is Visiting Professor at Shanghai Maritime University, World Maritime University (WMU) Sweden, Hangzhou Dianzi University – China (Honorary Doctorate). He holds ISPS, PMP and PMI-RPM, Prince2 certifications.

Dr. Alexandros K. Pananis is a senior international business executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across the energy, real estate, tourism, and education sectors. A PhD‑qualified professional, he has a strong track record in operations, finance, change management, and global business transformation, consistently delivering growth, profitability, and strategic expansion for multinational organizations.

 

He is recognized for building high‑impact partnerships, leading complex cross‑border teams, and driving major restructuring, turnaround, and new‑market initiatives. Alongside his consulting work in the UAE, Europe, and MEA regions, he teaches executive programs in business strategy, project management, and corporate governance at leading international institutions.

Dr.Ioannis Christakis is an Electronics Engineer (BSc, MSc, PhD) with a long-standing academic and research career in electronic systems, measurement technologies, and smart sensing applications. He serves as Laboratory Teaching Assistant at the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering of the University of West Attica, where he teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in electronics, educational technology, and sustainable development. Over more than two decades, he has combined technical expertise with hands‑on engineering work, contributing to the design and implementation of advanced telecommunications, VoIP, wireless networking, and IoT‑based monitoring infrastructures.

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His research activity spans electrical circuits, sensor calibration, IoT environmental monitoring, air‑quality systems, and integrated measurement platforms, with active participation in major European and national projects, including Horizon Europe initiatives such as iPhotoCult and SOPRANO. He has authored numerous scientific publications in electronics, sensing technologies, smart‑city systems, and environmental monitoring, and is a member of the Electronic Devices and Materials Lab (EDML). His work bridges applied engineering, academic research, and innovative technological development.

Athanasios Konstantopoulos is a senior energy executive with nearly 25 years of experience in Natural Gas, LNG, power generation and energy trading markets across Greece and Southeast Europe. He currently serves as Senior Advisor and Business Originator at AOT Energy, focusing on business development, gas trading strategies and regional market expansion.

 

Previously, he was General Manager of TIBIEL Greece, leading the establishment and growth of the company’s Greek operations. He holds a PhD in Environmental Geo-Chemistry from the University of London and has extensive expertise in energy contracts, pricing strategy and risk management.

Thomas Kollias is a senior Environmental Scientist with over 25 years of experience advising on biodiversity and environmental strategy for complex energy and infrastructure projects. As founder of ECOMED E.E., he provides high-level expertise across Natura 2000 sites, renewable energy, natural gas and large-scale developments.

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He is recognized for his work in biodiversity strategy, ecological risk assessment (TNFD/LEAP) and environmental compliance, with deep knowledge of EU legislation and international standards (IFC, EBRD, EIB). His portfolio includes flagship projects such as TAP, IGB and Microsoft data center developments, supporting sustainable investment and responsible growth.

Konstantinos Koutsogiannis is a senior business development and engineering professional with 18+ years of experience in the energy, oil & gas, and engineering consultancy sectors. As Business Development Director at Asprofos Engineering, a member of HELLENIQ ENERGY, he leads strategic growth initiatives, high‑level partnerships, and market expansion efforts, combining strong technical expertise with executive‑level business insight.

 

His background spans business development, project management, contract administration, and procurement, supported by an MEng in Mechanical Engineering, an MSc in Marine Engineering, and an Executive MBA. He has managed multidisciplinary teams, delivered complex infrastructure and energy projects, and contributed to major studies and developments in areas such as CCUS, refinery upgrades, and natural gas interconnections.

Avtandil Vakhtangishvili is a Georgian legal professional with over 25 years of experience across judicial, banking, governmental, and defense-sector institutions. A graduate of Tbilisi State University’s Faculty of Law, he has served in roles ranging from Supreme Court secretary and banking legal specialist to law firm director, Parliament Secretariat head, and Deputy Head of the Lawmaking Division at Georgia’s Ministry of Defense.

 

His career includes extensive legislative work, drafting laws, preparing legal analyses, and contributing to the development of the Defense Code of Georgia. He is a member of the Georgian Bar Association and has completed numerous professional trainings in criminal, civil, administrative, and business law, as well as regulatory and energy-sector frameworks. He is fluent in Russian, English, and German and currently practices as a lawyer in civil, administrative, and criminal law.