WELCOME TO THE 2ND EDITION OF THE ATHENS CIRCULAR FORUM

SPEAKERS
AGENDA
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MONDAY
WELCOME
3 PM
Andrei Geica, President of ACF
EU Green Week, a broad coalition towards Zero Pollution
Gerasimos Routzounis, Kapa Research
The role of SMEs, consumers, and citizens in the Circular Transition: evidence from Greece
MONDAY
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
3.30 PM
Maria Damanaki, frm European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
The Decade of Oceans for Sustainable Development: Why protecting our Seas and biodiversity is a driver for prosperity
MONDAY
PLENARY SESSION
4 - 5:30 PM
Moderator: Prof. Plutarchos Sakellaris, Honorary Vice-President, EIB
Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Athens University of Economics and Business; Director of Sustainable Development Unit and EIT Climate-KIC Hub Greece, Athena RC; Fellow World Academy of Art and Science; President-Elect of the EAERE; Co-chair UN SDSN Europe,
General overview of EU and national policy framework for the Green transition
Ioannis Tsakiris, Deputy Minister for Public Investments and the Growth Pact, Ministry of Development & Investments
How Green Investments can boost competitiveness, regional growth and new jobs
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Governor of Central Macedonia Region
Smart and Circular Regions: the way forward for EU integration
Ioannis Kaltsas, EIB, Head of Division for Greece and Cyprus
ESG as the new norm: the role of Institutional Investors for a sustainable & just transition
Dr. Yannis Tzortzis, President, Legal Experts Committee of the Greek Just Transition Development Plan
The Greek Way to decarbonisation: a success law story
Q&A
MONDAY
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Prof. Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece
Sustainable Finance for Climate Neutrality: Bank of Greece initiatives
5:45
MONDAY
PANEL I – GREEN & RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS
6 - 7:45 PM
Moderator: George Kremlis, Principal Advisor to the Greek Prime Minister on energy, climate, environment & circular economy
Prof. Yannis Maniatis, frm Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change
The geopolitics of Green investments and climate neutrality as a historic opportunity for Greece
Theodora Antonakaki, Coordinator of BoG Climate Change Committee
NGFS’s role in the greening of the financial system and the need for climate adaptation
Dimitris Koufos, Director, EBRD
EBRD’s initiatives in boosting the Circular Economy and climate resilience in the area of EU Taxonomy and ESG Investments
Teresa Farmaki, Partner, Astarte Capital Partners
The role of Forests towards a Net Zero Economy
Andrei Geica, Partner, Sporos Platform
Empowering the Circular Transition: The Sporos Approach
Q&A
TUESDAY
WELCOME ADDRESS
Dr. Konstantinos Antonopoulos, President of Symbiosis
2 PM
TUESDAY
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Dr. Christos Dimas, Deputy Minister of Development and Investments
Flagship Initiatives shaping a sustainable ecosystem
2:05 PM
TUESDAY
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Anna Diamantopoulou, President of DIKTIO Think Tank, frm European Commissioner
The global swift towards Green and Digital Growth: Opportunities for Greece and the Region
2:15 PM
TUESDAY
PANEL II – YOUTH PARTICIPATION FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE
2:30 - 3:45 PM
Moderator: Dr. Evangelia Stefanidaki, University of the Aegean, explaining the scope of the Students social innovation project and presenting the ACFII central message produced bottom-up.
Lydia Papadaki, General Manager, EIT-Climate KIC, presenting Greek Climate-KIC funded startups/spinoffs
Christos Nikoloudis, CEO, Mantis Business Innovation
Elevate Greece driving innovation and growth
Ioannis Lymperopoulos, CEO, ENEXAN
AI for climate resilience and sustainable electromobility – a smart best practice
Lydia Polychronopoulou, Head of Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility, Matrix Pack Group
Sustainability in Single Use Products - exporting a new culture
Q&A
TUESDAY
PANEL III – BLUE ECONOMY & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
4 - 5:30 PM
Moderator: Prof. Maria Lekakou, Dean of the School of Business Studies, University of the Aegean
Setting the New Blue Growth Agenda
Suzanna Laskaridis, Director, Laskaridis Shipping – Founder, BlueCycle
Why Sea protection can drive local value creation
George Vernicos, President of ESC, General Secretary of SETE
A resilient Maritime Tourism sector post-COVID19 Pandemic
Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, EIT Climate-KIC
Presentation of ClimAccelerator – EIT Accelerator for the Maritime sector
Eleni Polychronopoulou, President of HEMEXPO
Maritime Equipment: Circular Remanufacturing boosting exports & jobs
Kyriakos Gialoglou, Director of Government Affairs, Seawind Ocean Technology
Floating Wind Energy Generation: a best practice for regional Blue Growth
Q&A
TUESDAY
KEYNOTE SPEECH
Kostas Skrekas, Minister of Environment and Energy
5:45
TUESDAY
PANEL IV – CIRCULAR AND BIO AS BUSINESS PRACTICE
6 - 7:30 PM
Moderator: Dimitris Homatidis, Circular Economy Officer, Green Fund, LIFE-IP CEI-Greece
Circular Economy & the role of the Green Fund: The Integrated LIFE project CEI-Greece and its key actions
Prof. Konstantinos Aravossis, Secretary General of Natural Environment & Water, Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy
The new Greek Circular Economy Roadmap as a driver for creative entrepreneurs
Effie Lazaridou, CEO, New Agriculture for a New Generation
Funding the local bioeconomy to empower young farmers
Athanasios Potsis, President, Hellenic Association of Space Industry
Integrating innovation, digitalisation and downstream space applications in existing business practices for the green transition of Greek SMEs
Vasilis Pyrgiotis, LIFE GAIA Sense, a Circular Best Practice
Innovative Smart Farming services supporting Circular Economy in Agriculture
Elias Demian, External Monitoring Team of the LIFE Programme, Close-2-Market contact point, SEE
The role of LIFE for SMEs sustainable growth
Q&A
TUESDAY
CLOSING REMARKS
Alexandros Karydis-Karandreas, Co-founder, Partner, Sporos Platform
7:30 PM