Prem Bhawnani is a seasoned technology leader with over 20 years of executive experience spanning digital transformation, cybersecurity, and AI strategy. He spent eight years in the global events industry driving innovation and technology adoption, including the development of award winning systems. Today, Prem leads AI with Prem, a strategic technology and AI consultancy, serves as AI Practice Director at Alkemiz, and acts as Fractional CIO – Digital Strategy at ActivateUTS, helping organisations align technology initiatives with measurable business outcomes.
Theodore Vokos joined Posidonia Exhibitions SA in 2003 and has been the company’s Managing Director since 2017. He is responsible for the international shipping exhibition Posidonia and launched the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum in 2011, which has become the most important event for the cruise industry in the East Med region.
Since 2022, Mr. Vokos has served as the President of SOKEE, the Greek Exhibition Industry Association, representing exhibition organisers, stand contractors and exhibition centers in Greece.
Mr. Vokos holds an M.A. in International Relations and European Studies from the University of Kent at Canterbury and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the Athens University of Economics and Business. Prior to joining Posidonia Exhibitions he served as a Special Advisor to the Secretary General for Industry at the Ministry of Development and as the Public Relations Manager at Unisystems SA Information Technology. Mr. Vokos was a member of the team that launched the “Panorama of Entrepreneurship and Career Development” exhibition and conference in 2008, at Zappeion Megaron, in cooperation with the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB).
He is fluent in Greek, English, and German.
Η Ζένια Κερασίδου γεννήθηκε στην Αθήνα, όπου ζει και εργάζεται. Είναι παντρεμένη και μητέρα ενός παιδιού. Σπούδασε στο Ιόνιο Πανεπιστήμιο, στο Τμήμα Ξένων Γλωσσών, Μετάφρασης και Διερμηνείας, και συνέχισε τις σπουδές της στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Surrey στην Αγγλία, στον τομέα της Γλωσσολογίας και των Διεθνών Σπουδών, με ειδίκευση στη μετάφραση και διερμηνεία τριών γλωσσών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης: Αγγλικά, Γαλλικά και Ελληνικά.
Από το 2005 κατέχει τη θέση της Διευθύντριας Πωλήσεων & Συνεδρίων στο Μέγαρο Μουσικής – Διεθνές Συνεδριακό Κέντρο Αθηνών, όπου δραστηριοποιείται στην οργάνωση συναυλιών, πολιτιστικών και εταιρικών εκδηλώσεων, καθώς και συνεδρίων.
Το 2016 εξελέγη Αντιπρόεδρος του HAPCO (Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers), και διετέλεσε επί σειρά ετών μέλος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου του HAPCO & DES. Κατά την περίοδο 2020–2021 διετέλεσε Πρόεδρος του Ροταριανού Ομίλου «Διόνυσος».
Διαθέτει περισσότερα από 20 χρόνια εμπειρίας σε ανώτερες διοικητικές θέσεις στον τομέα του συνεδριακού και τουριστικού κλάδου. Έχει διατελέσει Διευθύντρια Πωλήσεων & Μάρκετινγκ στον Όμιλο Μαμιδάκη (Πολυχώρος Πολιτισμού Αθηναΐς), καθώς και στα ξενοδοχεία Arina Sand Hotel και Minos Palace Hotel & Suites στην Κρήτη, ενώ παλαιότερα εργάστηκε στο Andromeda Athens Hotel (5*).
Επιπλέον, έχει εργαστεί σε διευθυντικές θέσεις σε γραφεία ταξιδίων και συνεδριακού τουρισμού. Το 2004, κατά τη διάρκεια των Ολυμπιακών και Παραολυμπιακών Αγώνων της Αθήνας, υπήρξε Υπεύθυνη Υπηρεσιών Τροφοδοσίας για αθλητές και θεατές στο Κέντρο Άρσης Βαρών στη Νίκαια.
Vangelis Marinakis is President of Develop Athens S.A. and Assistant Professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).
He previously served as President of the City of Athens’ Development Company for IT and Operational Units of Local Government, contributing to digital transformation and operational modernization initiatives.
Dr. Marinakis holds a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a PhD in Decision Support Systems for sustainable energy planning. His research centres on designing and developing advanced methodologies and decision support systems that leverage the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data analytics, and Data Spaces to enable intelligent energy management across smart homes, buildings, districts, and grids.
His expertise also encompasses energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and climate resilience strategies for urban and regional systems. With more than 20 years of professional experience, he has served as Project Coordinator or Principal Investigator in over 45 European and nationally funded research projects.
He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the international scientific journal Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning and Policy, and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. His books include Energy Management and Environmental Policy and Artificial Intelligence for Energy Systems: Driving Intelligent, Flexible and Optimal Energy Management, along with numerous book chapters and conference papers.
Efi Koudeli is the Senior Regional Director for Europe at ICCA, where she leads the association’s activities across a dynamic and highly interconnected regional community. Representing over half of ICCA’s global membership, Europe plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the international association meetings industry—bringing together diverse markets, perspectives, and expertise across 57 countries and six chapters.
In her role, Efi drives ICCA’s strategic priorities in Europe, fostering high-level partnerships and advancing initiatives that strengthen collaboration, innovation, and long-term impact across the business events ecosystem. Working closely with chapter leaders and members, she supports a “super network” of industry influencers—empowering the community to set new benchmarks in sustainability, inclusivity, and excellence.
With a career spanning tourism, destination development, and international meetings, Efi operates at the intersection of strategy, policy, and industry engagement. She has held key roles at the Greek National Tourism Organisation, International Air Transport Association (Spain), This is Athens – Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau.
Her leadership is defined by a strong commitment to collaboration, innovation, and human-centred impact. She is particularly passionate about building inclusive ecosystems, enabling destinations to thrive, and shaping future-ready frameworks for the global meetings industry.
Dimitris Ganitis is a seasoned professional in the Meetings and Events industry, with a strong background in Economics and Marketing. As Managing Director of the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau, he plays a pivotal role in positioning Thessaloniki and the Region of Central Macedonia as leading destinations for international conferences, events, and business tourism.
In 2025, Dimitris received two prestigious distinctions at the Meeting Star Awards in Ljubljana, being honored as “Influencer of the Year in the Meetings Industry” and “Leading Meeting Architect 2024 (Tourism Organization & Convention Bureau category)”. This remarkable dual recognition—awarded for the first time to a Greek professional—highlights his significant contribution to the international growth of the meetings industry and the elevation of Thessaloniki’s global conference profile.
Since 2023, he has been actively engaged with the ICCA Mediterranean Chapter, serving as Deputy Chair and, from 2025, as Chair, contributing to the strategic development of the meetings industry across the region.
With extensive experience in events, international relations, and strategic partnerships, Dimitris has collaborated with leading organizations such as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, and TEDx Thessaloniki. He is committed to driving innovation and advancing tourism development at both local and global levels.
Dimitris Fragakis is the President of the Development Organization of
the Region of Attica “New Metropolitan Attica SA”. Born in 1972 in
Athens, he holds an MSc in Law and Political Science from the University
of Athens and is a graduate of the Athens School of Philosophy.
Throughout his professional career, he has held key positions in the public sector He served as an Advisor to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the Hellenic Parliament (2004–2013) and at the Ministry of Administrative Reform (2013–2014). From 2014 to 2019, he served as Secretary General for the Municipality of Chania, and in 2019, he ran for office in the National Elections as a candidate for Member of the Parliament. From 2019 to 2024, he served as Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).
He is the owner of a family tourism business, speaks fluent English and Italian, and has one son.
Evgenios Vassilicos was born in Athens, Greece in 1984 to a Greek father, a self-made hotelier and businessman, and a French mother, a homemaker and active member of the French community in Greece.
Due to his French heritage, he attended the Lycee Franco-Hellenique Eugene Delacroix in Agia Paraskevi and continued his studies in Paris, majoring in Hotel Management before returning to Greece to join the family business, the Airotel Group of Hotels.
Evgenios officially entered the family business in 1999 rotating across multiple departments and hotel functions to gain a comprehensive understanding of hotel operations.
He assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2000 and by the age of 25 he became Vice President of the Airotel Group of Hotels.
In 2021 he also became Co-CEO of CapitalH Hospitality, a hotel Management Company.
Beyond his executive responsibilities, Evgenios has been an active member of the Athens Hoteliers’ Association (AHA) since 2012, contributing to strategic discussions, industry developments and sectoral initiatives. He has been serving as President of AHA since 2024, where he continues to represent and support the Hospitality community.
Kiara Konti is a Partner at EY, leading Sustainability Services for EY Greece since 2008. She has subject-matter knowledge and more than 20 years of experience in sustainability consulting and assurance services, across a series of ESG aspects, including decarbonization, the circular economy, social impact and sustainable finance.
More specifically, she has led over 500 projects on climate change and sustainability strategy and target setting, sustainability governance and management systems, ESG risk and opportunities identification and assessment (including impact analysis/double materiality methodologies), stakeholder engagement, community investment, measurement of non-financial KPIs, socioeconomic outcomes measurement, measurement of social return on investment (SROI), climate/green and sustainability liked bond/loan frameworks, ESG reporting, ESG training and non-financial assurance services.
She is a BoD Member of the UNGC Network in Greece, a committee member of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce’s (AmCham) Corporate Responsibility Committee, as well as a committee member of AmCham’s Circular Economy Committee. She also represents EY as a founding member of the Climate Governance Initiative Greek Chapter. Kiara is a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional, a GRI Certified Trainer, an AccountAbility Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner, she holds the ACCA Certificate in Integrated Reporting, she is a Certified Net Zero Carbon Emissions Leader (CNZTM) and has successfully completed the Social Value UK SROI training.
Since 2006, Kiara has published a number of articles on sustainability, has contributed to international book publications, is a regular speaker in sustainability conferences and events, and has provided a series of open and in- house training courses on the subject.
Η Αλεξία Παναγιωτοπούλου είναι έμπειρη σύμβουλος στρατηγικού σχεδιασμού με εξειδίκευση στη βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη τουριστικών προορισμών, τη διαχείριση προορισμών και τις ολοκληρωμένες στρατηγικές μάρκετινγκ. Με δεκαπενταετή πορεία στον δημόσιο και ιδιωτικό τομέα, έχει διαδραματίσει ηγετικό ρόλο ως Επικεφαλής Στρατηγικής στην Εταιρεία Ανάπτυξης και Τουριστικής Προβολής του Δήμου Αθηναίων (ΕΑΤΑ Α.Ε) , Επικεφαλής Μάρκετινγκ Προορισμών για την ίδρυση του Mythical Peloponnese DMO και Διευθύντρια MICE στο πρώτο Γραφείο Συνεδρίων της Ελλάδας. Η επαγγελματική της εμπειρία επεκτείνεται στις Βρυξέλλες, όπου συνεργάστηκε με τη Γενική Διεύθυνση Επικοινωνίας της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής και την Qwentes Kantor Communication Consultancy σε έργα στρατηγικής επικοινωνίας. Είναι απόφοιτος Νομικής Σχολής (Γαλλία) και κάτοχος Μεταπτυχιακού Τίτλου σπουδών στο Ευρωπαϊκό και Διεθνές Δίκαιο (Βέλγιο). Μέλος της Ένωσης Συντακτών Ημερησίων Εφημερίδων Αθηνών (ΕΣΗΕΑ). Μιλάει Αγγλικά, Γαλλικά και Ισπανικά.
Ο Δρ. Πρόδρομος Μοναστηρίδης έχει πτυχίο Marketing από το Τμήμα Marketing του ΑΤΕΙΘ, ενώ είναι κάτοχος μεταπτυχιακών από το University of Sunderland (UK) στο Marketing (ΜΑ) και στην καινοτομία (Master of Philosophy) με θέμα “A best practise for New Product Development for the Greek Banking Sector”. Το διδακτορικό του από το Τμήμα Δημοσιογραφίας και Μ.Μ.Ε. του ΑΠΘ ασχολείται με την καινοτομία, το marketing και τους μη κερδοσκοπικούς οργανισμούς.
Διδάσκει θέματα marketing, event management, fundraising και επικοινωνίας. Η αρθρογραφία του σε συνέδρια και επιστημονικές εφημερίδες περιλαμβάνει ζητήματα όπως αυτά της καινοτομίας, των Μέσων Μαζικής Ενημέρωσης, του πολιτισμού και του marketing. Έχει συμμετέχει στη συλλογική έκδοση Innovation Policies in the European News Media Industry: A Comparative Study, Media Business and Innovation με το κεφάλαιο Market Structure and Innovation Policies in Greece" (Springer editions, 2017). To 2021 εκδόθηκε από τις εκδόσεις του Πανεπιστημίου Μακεδονία, το βιβλίο του «Μάρκετινγκ, πολιτισμός και καινοτομία».
Έχει διατελέσει Σύμβουλος Marketing της Τράπεζας Μακεδονίας – Θράκη, ενώ έχει συνεργαστεί σαν έκτακτος καθηγητής στο Τμήμα Marketing του ΑΤΕΙΘ, στο CITY COLLEGE, στο Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης και στο Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών).
Είναι διδάσκων στο μεταπτυχιακό πρόγραμμα του Τμήματος Διοίκησης Επιχειρήσεων και Οργανισμών του ΕΚΠΑ και στο μεταπτυχιακό πρόγραμμα του Anatolia American University. Είναι επίσης Visiting Researcher στο Data Analytics for Finance and Macro (DAFM) του King’s College στο Λονδίνο. Τέλος είναι Διευθυντής Marketing στο Μέγαρο Μουσικής Θεσσαλονίκης και Πρόεδρος στο Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο του Thessaloniki Convention Bureau.
Ο Αθανάσιος Παναγούλιας διατελεί ως Πρόεδρος / Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος της FORUM AE από τα τέλη του 2020. Ξεκίνησε στην εταιρεία το 2006 και σε σύντομο χρονικό διάστημα προήχθη στη θέση του Διευθυντή Πωλήσεων – Εμπορικού Διευθυντή (2008). Με την πώληση της εταιρείας στο γερμανικό όμιλο Nurnberg Messe Group, αναδείχτηκε ως Πρόεδρος / Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος της FORUM AE. Είναι υπεύθυνος για όλο το χαρτοφυλάκιο των εννέα εκθέσεων, αλλά και των τεσσάρων εκδόσεων της εταιρείας.
O κ. Παναγούλιας κατέχει Master στο Marketing & Management από το Πανεπιστήμιο Manchester Metropolitan της Μ. Βρετανίας και Πτυχίο Bachelor από το Εθνικό & Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών (τμήμα Οικονομικών Επιστημών). Πριν την ένταξή του στη Forum AE, εργάστηκε για σειρά ετών στη Μεγάλη Βρετανία ως επικεφαλής αλυσίδας καταστημάτων λιανικής πώλησης.
Μιλά απταίστως ελληνικά και αγγλικά.
Είναι έγγαμος με δύο παιδιά.
Alexis Lagoudakis has been working in the trade fair industry since 1998 as managing director of ROTA S.A. During that time, he has overseen the company’s expansion in new markets and geographies – including the development of two exhibition venues – as well as a manifold growth in revenues and profits. He is a member of the board of the Greek Association of Exhibition Organisers. Alexis is 60 years old and holds a degree in Mathematics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Master of Science in Information Systems Management from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. He speaks Greek, English and German.
SimpleG (Γιώργος Δημουλάς) είναι εικαστικός καλλιτέχνης με σπουδές στη γλυπτική, το σχέδιο και την αγιογραφία στην Ανωτάτη Σχολή Καλών Τεχνών της Αθήνας. Τα τελευταία δεκαεπτά χρόνια δημιουργεί μεγάλες τοιχογραφίες σε δημόσιους και ιδιωτικούς χώρους, συνεργαζόμενος με δήμους, πολιτιστικούς φορείς και εταιρείες στην Ελλάδα και το εξωτερικό.
Το έργο του συνδυάζει ρεαλισμό με έντονη ανθρωποκεντρική διάσταση, ενσωματώνοντας σύγχρονα και βυζαντινά στοιχεία. Έχει συμμετάσχει σε εκθέσεις και φεστιβάλ σε Αθήνα, Τήνο, Παρίσι, Ρώμη, Βουδαπέστη και αλλού.
Παράλληλα, διανύει εκατοντάδες χιλιόμετρα στα ελληνικά βουνά και μονοπάτια, ως αθλητής ορεινού τρεξίματος και μέλος της ομάδας The North Face. Έχει συμμετάσχει σε αγώνες υπεραποστάσεων όπως το Spartathlon (245 km, 2023,2024,2025) και ο Ολύμπιος Δρόμος (180 km, 2023), καθώς και σε κορυφαίους ορεινούς αγώνες όπως το Olympus Marathon, το Zagori Race και το Ursa Trail. Έχει επίσης αγωνιστεί σε διεθνείς διοργανώσεις όπως το Transgrancanaria, συνδέοντας την τέχνη του με την πειθαρχία, την αντοχή και τη βιωματική εμπειρία του φυσικού τοπίου.
Βρείτε τον στο Instagram: @george.dimoulas και στο simpleg.net.
Sports Excellence – Sports Director
Aπόστρατος Αξιωµατικός του Π.Ν. (27 έτη υπηρεσίας).
Έχει ολοκληρώσει το βασικό σχολείο Υποβρυχίων Καταστροφών (ΟΥΚ), την επιχειρησιακή εκπαίδευση καθώς και το αντίστοιχο Αλεξιπτωτιστών (ΣΒΕΑ).
BSc Sports Science από το Κρατικού Πανεπιστηµίου του Στρασβούργου, MScc «Μεγιστοποίηση Αθλητικής Απόδοσης» .
Προπονητής µεγάλων αποστάσεων δρόµου, ορεινού τρεξίµατος και τριάθλου. Έχει διατελέσει ΚΦΑ της Σχολής Υπαξιωµατικών της Πολεµικής Αεροπορίας και της Σχολής Νοσηλευτών Αξιωµατικών Σωµάτων (ΣΑΝ).
Παγκόσµιος κυπελλούχος ορεινού τρεξίµατος – 1ος 2018 & 2ος 2016.
Bαλκανιονίκης και Παν/νιος Πρωταθλητής στον Μαραθώνιο δρόµο.
Μέλος της Εθνικής οµάδας Μαραθωνίου, ανωµάλου δρόµου και ορεινού δρόµου.
Νικητής στον Μαραθώνιο του Σινικού Τοίχους (2013), µε ρεκόρ διαδροµής (έως και σήµερα).
5 φορές νικητής στον διεθνή Olympus Marathon, κάτοχος του ρεκόρ διαδροµής επί σειρά ετών καθώς και των περισσοτέρων ορεινών αγώνων της χώρας, αποστάσεων από 5 έως 80χλµ., επί 11 συναπτά έτη.
Πρωταθλητής Ελλάδος στην κωπηλασία και µέλος της Εθνικής οµάδας επί σειρά ετών.
Dimitris Dimitriadis is Co-Founder & CIO of TheFutureCats Advisory S.A., an award-winning AI company he founded in 2018. With academic roots in Design Innovation (BA, University of the Arts London; MA in Design Interaction, Royal College of Art) and specialization in Strategic Foresight from the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, he bridges cutting-edge technology with real-world application in regulated environments.
TheFutureCats developed Cogniveil.ai – a policy-aware intelligence layer that ensures compliance, transparency, and full auditability for enterprises operating under strict regulatory frameworks.
As a Researcher at the Special Secretariat for Strategic Foresight of the Greek Government Presidency, Dimitris helps shape long-term public policy informed by mega-trends, weak signals, and technology convergence. He has taught Data Analytics & AI at CITY College, University of York Europe Campus for several years.
Author of 2049 – Instructions for the Futures of Humanity (KEY BOOKS), he challenges readers to embrace uncertainty as a catalyst for progress.
A keynote speaker active across 74 countries and 4 continents, he has spoken for Fortune 500 brands including HP, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, L’Oréal Paris, Philip Morris International, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as institutions such as the U.S. Department of State, the European Commission, and TEDx stages across Europe and North America. His work has been featured in the Herald Tribune, El País, Fortune Global, and Esquire.
For 12 years, he has been training a personal AI model to one day advise his niece when he’s no longer around – a living proof that technology should serve human relationships and the transmission of knowledge across generations.
Philipp Deutscher is an External CTO and CTO Coach working with technology leaders and executive teams on strategic transformation, organizational alignment, and AI-driven operating models. He previously served as Vice President of Engineering and Managing Director at TeamViewer, where he led large-scale international engineering organizations and drove technology-enabled business growth.
Today, Philipp advises companies and public–private initiatives on how to translate technological change into structured execution and measurable impact. His work focuses on leadership, governance, and building high-performing organizations that connect strategic ambition with operational clarity. Through his international engagements, he bridges the gap between innovation, decision-making, and sustainable transformation.
Alexandros Thanos is the Executive Director of SETE. Prior to this position, he was the Deputy Governor of the region of Central Macedonia 2022 – 2023, Head of Tourism Sector of the Region of Central Macedonia (2019-2021), Deputy Governor of Tourism and Culture of Central Macedonia (2016 – 2019) and the Regional Adviser of Central Macedonia for education, development, environment and European programs (2011 – 2016).
He is a graduate of the Department of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology. Mr. Thanos is also a graduate of the University of Macedonia in Business Administration and holds an MBA in Business Administration from Kingston University, specializing in Strategic Company Development.
I was born in Ioannina in 1962
I grew up in Ioannina and graduated from the High School of Zosimaia School.
In 1980 I started my university studies at the School of Mechanical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens.
After completing my studies I worked as a freelancer in the construction industry.
I actively participated as an elected member in the Technical Chamber of Greece.
Coming from a family with a deep love for local-government, as the son of the late mayor Constantinos Bega, the first elected mayor of Ioannina after the Post-colonization in 1974, I participated in the municipal elections of 2010 as a candidate for municipal councilor on the ballot of the faction “Enotita Politon – Nea Giannena” .
I was elected a municipal councilor and then assumed the duties of deputy mayor until the end of the specific municipal term.
In 2014, I was elected mayor of Ioannina for the first time as the head of the ballot of the faction ” Enotita Politon – Nea Giannena “.
From 2019 to 2023 I was the leader of the faction and a member of the municipal council of the municipality of Ioannina.
From 2024 I am the elected mayor of Ioannina.
I was born in Ioannina in 1962
I grew up in Ioannina and graduated from the High School of Zosimaia School.
In 1980 I started my university studies at the School of Mechanical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens.
After completing my studies I worked as a freelancer in the construction industry.
I actively participated as an elected member in the Technical Chamber of Greece.
Coming from a family with a deep love for local-government, as the son of the late mayor Constantinos Bega, the first elected mayor of Ioannina after the Post-colonization in 1974, I participated in the municipal elections of 2010 as a candidate for municipal councilor on the ballot of the faction “Enotita Politon – Nea Giannena” .
I was elected a municipal councilor and then assumed the duties of deputy mayor until the end of the specific municipal term.
In 2014, I was elected mayor of Ioannina for the first time as the head of the ballot of the faction ” Enotita Politon – Nea Giannena “.
From 2019 to 2023 I was the leader of the faction and a member of the municipal council of the municipality of Ioannina.
From 2024 I am the elected mayor of Ioannina.
Angela Varela has been appointed as the new President of the Board of Directors of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), effective July 30, 2025 (Government Gazette 962/YODD/30.07.2025).
This appointment follows her successful completion of the required examination process under Law 5062/2023.
Ms. Varela graduated with a degree in Public Administration from the Panteion School of Political Sciences in 1983. She expanded her expertise through the Postgraduate Program “Tourism Business Administration” at the Hellenic Open University (2006) and later earned a second postgraduate degree in “New Media and Journalism” from the School of International Studies, Communication and Culture at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (2016).
Her career has been shaped by her long-standing commitment to the Greek National Tourism Organization, which she joined in 1983. Since then, she has held several key positions both in Greece and abroad, with a primary focus on tourism marketing.
She is fluent in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.
Maria Gatsou began her extensive career in the communications sector in 2000. She joined V+O Communication in 2005, where she gained experience in various fields, including tourism, shipping, real estate, and retail. She has a proven track record in designing and implementing strategic communication plans (media relations, public/local affairs, etc.), managing communication during emergencies and crises, as well as organizing events of both small and large scale.
Maria joined SETE in 2018 as Director of Communication and in September 2020 she became General Manager of the Confederation. She is Board member and inspirational mentor at the non-profit organization JA Greece – Junior Achievement Greece, as well as mentor for the egg – enter•grow•go programs of Eurobank and ExcellenSeas – Seas of Excellence, actively supporting youth entrepreneurship.
She studied Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing Management at Deree College and earned a master’s degree in Tourism Marketing from the University of Surrey.
Born August 6, 1970, in Athens.
Mr. Harry Theoharis was first elected in 2015 and on December 18, 2018, he joined the New Democracy party.
Mr. Theoharis holds an MEng (Hon) in Software Engineering from Imperial College, London, and has held high-ranking positions in private sector companies in Greece and abroad. He has also worked in start-up companies.
During 2011-2012, Mr. Theoharis served as Secretary General for Information Systems and is known for introducing new digital services to assist the public, helping to reduce bureaucracy and its associated costs.
He later (2013-14) served as Secretary General for Public Revenues at the Greek Finance Ministry. There, he succeeded in meeting budget revenues and producing a fiscal surplus. He is also known for launching the www.publicrevenue.gr platform to increase transparency in public administration.
From 2019 to 2021, he served as Minister of Tourism, where he focused on rejuvenating Greece’s tourism sector, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting sustainable practices and digital transformation. He was also the Parliamentary Spokesperson for the New Democracy political party from 2021 to 2023.
In the national elections of May and June 2023, he was re-elected Member of Parliament with the New Democracy political party. On June 27, 2023, Mr. Theoharis was appointed by Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis as Deputy Minister of Finance of Greece for taxation matters, a position he held until June 2024. During his tenure, he prioritized transparency, efficiency, and fairness in the tax system, while fostering an investment-friendly environment.
In the fall of 2024, he was nominated by the Prime Minister of Greece as a candidate for Secretary-General of the UN Tourism, leading a successful and internationally praised campaign.
On June 30, 2025, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for economic diplomacy and promoting Greece’s global outreach.
He is married to Dimitra Rigogianni and is the father of four children.
1. Destination Strategy & Global Positioning
SYNC: Προορισμοί με διεθνή απήχηση
2. Industry Collaboration & Ecosystem Alignment
SYNC: Συνεργασίες που ενώνουν ολόκληρο τον κλάδο
3. Digital Transformation & Human-Centered AI
SHIFT: Τεχνολογία και AI που μεταμορφώνουν τα συνέδρια και τις εκδηλώσεις
4. Venues, Hospitality & Event Experience
SHIFT: Χώροι, υποδομές και φιλοξενία που δημιουργούν αξέχαστες εμπειρίες
5. Business Models, Industry Operations & Innovation
SHIFT: Νέα μοντέλα και λειτουργίες για στρατηγική ανάπτυξη.
6. Talent Development, Personal Impact & Future Leaders
SHAPE: Δεξιότητες και ηγετικά ταλέντα για το μέλλον του κλάδου.
7. Risk Management, Policy & Industry Resilience
SHAPE: Ανθεκτικότητα, ασφάλεια και βιωσιμότητα στo Meetings Industry.