CV

Nikos Papathanasis

Alternate Minister of National Economy and Finance of Greece

Nikos Papathanasis presently holds the office of the Alternate Minister of Economy and Finance and was also elected (elections 2023), as a member of the Parliament. From August 2020-May 2023 held the office of Alternate Minister at the Ministry of Development and Investment (portfolio of private and strategic investments, PPP’s & the Just Transition Fund). From July 2019-August 2020 held the office of the Deputy Minister at the same ministry with the responsibility of the portfolio of Industry, Commerce and Consumer’s Protection. During his 35year career, he served as a C-level executive for large corporations with a successful track record in developing business plans, reorganizing and streamlining operations that led to significant positive economic outcome. He received his B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and his M.A.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering (University of Toronto), followed by a Masters in Management Science (University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada). He commenced his career at the DeHavilland Aircraft Company (Bombardier Aerospace) in Toronto while later he served as a member of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry BoD and executive Vice President of Olympic Aviation. During his professional years, he worked mainly in the private sector in high executive and C level managerial positions in companies in Greece and abroad. He managed companies in the fields of construction, real estate development to public transportation as he served as CEO in the Athens Line 1 metro rail system and subsequently Chairman and CEO in the Athens Metro and Light rail system for 8 years. From 2008-2010 he served as a President-elect of the Greek branch of the CEEP providing Public Services (CEEP). From 2017 holds the Chair of the President of the Institute of Democracy “Konstantinos Karamanlis”, a scientific non-profit organization. He served from 2016 until the national elections of 2019 as Director General of the presently governing political Party of “Nea Democratia”.

CV

Christos Dimas

Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance

Christos Dimas is a lawyer and a Member of the Hellenic Parliament with Nea Demokratia, representing the district of Corinthia. He was born on 29 May 1980. He graduated from the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as from Queen Mary University of London. He obtained his Master's degree in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He also completed his PhD in European Politics from LSE, with a scholarship from the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. The title of his PhD thesis is: "National institutional contexts and domestic discourse during proposed transformative policy change. The case of the telecoms' privatization in Greece and the Republic of Ireland." In parallel to his studies, he worked as a London correspondent for the newspaper “Apogevmatini” and did a journalism internship at the BBC. At the age of 25, he was an assistant lecturer at LSE, teaching first-year students the course "Introduction to Comparative Politics". He has also taught the course "Mass Media and Social Regulation" at ICON College, University of Leicester to postgraduate students and was a research fellow at the Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence. He has scientific publications in Greek and international scientific journals. Before entering politics, he worked in the private sector as a business consultant for "The Boston Consulting Group (BCG)", a strategic consulting firm. He was elected as Member of Hellenic Parliament for Corinthia with New Democracy in the May and June 2012 elections, and has been continuously elected since then. From July 2019 to May 2023, he served as Deputy Minister of Development and Investments, responsible for Research & Innovation. From June 2023 to June 2024, he was Deputy Minister of Culture, responsible for Contemporary Culture. From June 2024 until today, he has been Deputy Minister for the National Economy and Finance.

CV

Konstantinos Kyranakis

Deputy Minister of Digital Governance

Konstantinos Kyranakis (born 19/4/1987) is a graduate of the Law School of the University of Athens with postgraduate studies in Strategic Communication at the American College of Athens. He has worked as a freelancer in the field of digital marketing, creating websites and applications. He was a co-founder of the BrainGain initiative for the return of young people to Greece. He was elected president of the Youth of the European People's Party, from May 2013 to May 2017. In January 2017, the international magazine "Forbes" selected him among the 30 most influential young people under 30 in Europe, in the Law & Policy category. In the National elections of 2019, he was elected for the first time as a Member of Parliament in the South Sector of Athens, where he was re-elected in the elections of June 25, 2023 and on June 27 he was sworn in as Deputy Minister of Digital Governance.

CV

Giorgos Pitsilis

Governor, Independent Authority for Public Revenue

George Pitsilis was born in the USA in 1975. He is a Supreme Court lawyer, with scientific specialty and significant professional experience in the entire range of Tax, Greek, International and European Law. He is a graduate of Anavryta Classical High School. He graduated from the Law School of the University of Athens, from which he also received a Master's Degree in Public Law. He also holds a DEA in Tax Law from Pantheon – Sorbonne University (Paris I). He speaks English and French fluently and also speaks German. He is married with 2 children.

CV

Michalis Bletsas

Governor, National Cybersecurity Authority Greece

Michail Bletsas is a Research Scientist and the Director of Computing at MIT's Media Lab where he has been working since 1996. He is responsible for all the infrastructure that the lab uses to produce, store, transport and consume its bits. He was a member of the core technical and design team for the “One Laptop Per Child” initiative which created OLPC's pioneering, award-winning "XO" laptop. His current research interests include network security, disinformation operations, wireless networks and building efficient high performance machine learning computing infrastructures. Over the years, he has advised governments around technology policy issues and provided expert opinion in technical matters to top-level officials. He has cofounded two companies, has been a director and consulted for many others in a variety of capacities. He has been appointed as the first Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority of Greece in April 2024. He has implemented broadband access networks using cutting-edge technologies including one of the earliest ADSL testbeds and various wireless technologies. Mr. Bletsas has been a frequent keynote speaker in international conferences and has been engaged in many civic activities. He holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and an MSc degree in Computer Engineering from Boston University.

CV

Niki Tsouma

CEO, IDIKA SA

Top Executive of the Public Administration in the Sector of Informatics. A graduate of the Department of Mathematics of the University of Athens, with specialization in Programming and Systems Analysis and a graduate of the National School of Public Administration with highest distinction. She is a lecturer at the National School of Public Administration on ITS Project Management and E-Government issues. She is an external expert in EU committees for the evaluation of innovative proposals in software technologies and cloud computing of the H2020 Program. She has participated in the design, analysis, development, implementation, and installation of large, complex, and critical IT projects of the Public Administration, serving as a member of Project Management Teams and as a Project Manager for 25 years in General Secretariat of Information Systems of the Ministry of Finance and the Information Society S.A. From 2010 to 2014 she was a consultant in reengineering and change management issues and in the project and risk management cases as well as co-financed projects of the General Secretaries of Information Systems of the Ministry of Finance. From 2015 to 2017 she served as a Director and General Manager of Projects in the Information Society SA. From June 2018 to August 2019, she was the Director of Informatics and Technical Operation of EKOME SA. From August 2019 to October 2020, she served as the Managing Director of IDIKA SA. From October 2020 to April 2024, she served as the Chairman of BOD & CEO of IDIKA SA. Since then, she serves as CEO of IDIKA SA. In October 2024, she was awarded with the first prize at the category «Women in Tech Awards» by WITSA (World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance).

CV

Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos

Secretary General for Information Systems and Digital Governance

Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos is a Professor of Information Systems and Simulation in the Department of Informatics and Telematics at Harokopio University of Athens. He served as a Rector of the same University, during 2011-2016 and as a Dean of the School of Digital Technology. He is a visiting Professor at Sussex University, UK, and an Associate Editor of Requirements Engineering (Springer). He served as National Representative of Greece for ICT in EU Horizon 2020 (2014-2015). He held the position of Secretary General for Information Systems of the Greek Ministry of Finance and Economics (2004 - 2009). During his service, he contributed to the development of the following Information systems: Real Estate Data Base and ETAK systems, ELENXIS, new TAXISnet, ICISnet and M-TAXIS (mobile TAXIS). During 2019-2023, he served as Secretary General for Information Systems of Public Administration of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance, responsible - among other projects that contributed to the country’s rapid digital transformation development - for Interoperability across the Public Sector and Government Cloud.

CV

Stavros Asthenidis

Chief Executive Officer Information Society SA

Stavros Asthenidis is the Chief Executive Officer to the “Information Society SA”, the trusted government agency operating under the Ministry of Digital Governance, responsible for procuring and coordinating all the major ICT tenders for projects and actions that transform the Greek public administration and lead it to the new digital era. He holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and a Μaster in "Public Policy and Public Management" from the Graduate Program of Athens University of Economics and Business. Throughout his career, he held positions of responsibility, managing, and overseeing major ICT projects. He served for several years as head of state aid schemes at Intermediate Management Agencies (Elanet, EFEPAE) during the 2nd and 3rd CSF. He was the Telecommunication Networks Project Manager (during the preparation) and the Telecommunications Manager at the Technology Control Center during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, as a member of the Organizing Committee. He has worked for the "Information Society SA" as a Project Officer in Intelligent Transport Systems, Digital Culture, Digital Health and Energy Saving Systems, for Cramoni Trading Ltd (Cyprus), as a Program Manager responsible for telecommunications projects in the international economic environment, for Egnatia Odos SA, ICAP Business Consultants and the Ministry of Development and Competitiveness as a senior consultant of Technology and Project Management. He has cooperated with the Special Secretary for Digital Planning at the Ministry of Development, Competitiveness and Shipping for eGovernment projects and the Special Secretary for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the Ministry of Development, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks. From April 2017 till July 2019, he served as the Chief Executive Officer to the City of Athens IT Company, DAEM SA.

CV

Fragiskos Theofylaktos

CEO Elevate Greece

Fragiskos Theofylaktos holds a degree in Economics from the University of Athens and an MBA from Nottingham Trent University. He has over 20 years of experience in executive roles, having served as CEO, Vice President, and Chairman across various sectors, including Business Consulting Services for the Private & Public Sector and Co-funded Programs, Environmental Technologies, Security - Electronic Applications, Energy - Energy Efficiency, and Construction. Since 2014, he served as a strategy and business development consultant and as a member of the advisory committee at the Athens Startup Business Incubator, established by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). He was also a member of ACCI’s Business Angels Network. During that period, he evaluated over 800 startup ideas and provided advisory support to more than 200 startups at various stages of development (idea, pre-launch, and launch phases), focusing on strategy, operating models, and preparation for funding from private or institutional investors.

CV

Antigoni Lymperopoulou

Chief Executive Officer, HDBI

Antigoni Lymperopoulou is a seasoned Investments professional. Having started her career working for the Hellenic Ministry of Finance from 1999 to 2001, she moved on to work for HDBI (previously TANEO). Since July 2020, she is appointed as Chief Executive Officer of HDBI. She has been actively involved with the development of the organization’s as well as the industry’s operations and has served as an Investment Manager since 2001. Parallel to her tasks with the HDBI, she has served as an advisor to the European Commission for subjects related to her field of knowledge for a number of years (Venture Capital, Private Equity, Access to Risk Finance, etc.) and has actively participated in the formation of pan European collaborations, such as the Scale-Up Initiative. She holds an i-MBA and MSc in Decision Sciences, as well as a BSc in Statistics and Economy, all awarded by the Athens University of Economy and Business. She is an Accredited Investment Manager by the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investments and also holds the equivalent accreditation (Level C) by the Hellenic Capital Markets Commission (HCMC). Member of Advisory Boards and Investment Committees in a number of VC/PE Funds Chairman of EVFIN (European Venture Fund Investors Network) (2022-2023) and currently Vice Chairman (since 2023) Vice Chairman of Athens branch CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment) (2008- to date).

CV

Ismini Papakirillou

CEO, Hellenic Development Bank

Ismini Papakirillou is the Chief Executive Officer of the Hellenic Development Bank, a position she holds since February 2024. Previously she worked for the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the European Investment Bank Group, covering European Commission mandates across a range of different thematics. From 2010 to 2019 she worked for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private investing arm of the World Bank, handling direct investments across a range of financial instruments, sectors and geographies. Prior to IFC she worked for three years as a portfolio manager for Global Tactical Asset Allocation strategies at APG Investments, one of the largest institutional investors in Europe. She has also worked in Paris and Athens covering investments in industry and private equity. She has degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the London School of Economics (LSE).

CV

Pantelis Tzortzakis

CEO, Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation S.A.

Pantelis Tzortzakis was born in Heraklion, Crete, in 1962. He studied Business Administration at the University of Piraeus and earned a master’s degree in computer science from Brooklyn College in New York, USA. He is the founder of Forthnet SA, the largest alternative fixed telephony and pay-TV operator, listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, which acquired NOVA in 2017. He served as CEO of Forthnet from its inception in 1995 until 2010 and also held the role of President and CEO of the satellite pay-TV platform, NOVA, after its acquisition by Forthnet. He was a member of the Supervisory Board of NETIA SA and from 2007 to 2011, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Federation of Information Technology & Communications Enterprises (SEPE). In 2012, he was appointed Deputy Minister of e-Government at the Ministry of Administrative Reform and e-Government. He later became CEO of Quest Holdings SA, President of its subsidiaries, Executive Vice President, and a member of the Board of Directors of Quest Group, as well as a board member at the Hellenic Exchanges of Athens (HELEX). From November 2019 to April 2024, he served as Executive Vice President of the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB) and continued as an Executive Member of its Board of Directors until July 2024. In August 2024, he remained a Member of the HDB Board of Directors. In 2023, he was unanimously elected as an external member of the Board of Directors of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). As of May 2024, he holds the position of CEO at the Hellenic Center for Defence Innovation (ELKAK).