Mr. Cobi Bitton

Cobi Bitton is a distinguished business leader who has played a role in strengthening economic ties between Israel and Greece while building a successful career in business development and strategic consulting.

As the CEO of the Israel-Greece Chamber of Commerce, Bitton has been instrumental in fostering bilateral trade relations and promoting business opportunities between the two nations.

His leadership has helped facilitate meaningful partnerships and economic cooperation across various sectors.

Since 2010, Bitton has served as the CEO of Integritas People & Business (IPB), where he has established himself as a leading figure in Business Development and M&A consulting services. Under his leadership, Integritas has become a trusted advisor for businesses in Israel, Greece, the US, India, Dubai, Italy and Germany, seeking to expand their operations and explore new market opportunities.

A significant aspect of Bitton’s work focuses on helping businesses establish and expand their commercial operations internationally. He has developed a particular expertise in:

– Guiding companies through the complexities of international market entry

– Facilitating technology transfer ventures between countries

– Building strategic bridges for cross-border business operations

– Creating practical, actionable strategic plans for international expansion

 

Bitton’s approach to business facilitation emphasizes the importance of personal connections and relationship building. His expertise spans multiple levels of business interaction:

– Person-to-Person: Facilitating meaningful connections between business leaders and decision-makers

– Business-to-Business: Creating strategic partnerships and joint ventures

– Cross-Cultural Communication: Breaking down barriers in international business relationships

In his capacity as a senior advisor, Bitton has provided strategic guidance to entrepreneurs, investors, and startups across multiple industries. His expertise has been particularly valuable in the emerging Foodtech sector, Traditional Industry, Safety and Security, Manufacturing, Proptech and Venture Capital arenas, and  where he has helped companies navigate the complexities of innovation and market entry.

 

His methodology focuses on:

– Developing comprehensive market entry strategies

– Creating actionable implementation plans

– Building sustainable business models for international operations

– Identifying and capitalizing on cross-border opportunities

– Facilitating technology transfer and adaptation to local markets

 

Drawing on his extensive experience in both bilateral trade relations and business consulting, Bitton brings a unique perspective to his advisory work, combining deep market knowledge with practical business insights.     His understanding of both the Israeli and Greek business environments, coupled with his international business acumen, has made him a valuable resource for companies looking to expand their global presence.

Throughout his career, Bitton has demonstrated a commitment to fostering innovation and sustainable business growth, while building lasting relationships between business communities across borders.  His hands-on approach to strategic planning and implementation has helped numerous businesses successfully navigate the challenges of international expansion and technology transfer.

Mr. Fanis Papathanasiou

Fanis Papathanasiou is an anchor and senior diplomatic correspondent in ERT, (Greek Public Television) with more than twenty-five years of experience covering major diplomatic and international events. A long time New York correspondent, based in Athens and he covers global crises, wars and a range of other major news events such as conflict zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, Crimea and other regions in the Middle East. He has anchored the coverage of many major international news stories including the war in Ukraine, and Syria, major developments in the Greek crises, the refugee crises, elections in USA, in Turkey, the wars in Iraq, in Afghanistan, the Israel-Lebanon conflict, the terrorist attacks in Paris, the 9/11 and many European Union and NATO Summits.

Fanis Papathanasiou has contacted exclusive one-on-one interviews with international figures including Donald Trump, George W. Bush, Secretary Mike Pompeo, Turkish leaders T. Erdogan, M. Cavusloglu A. Davutoglu, A. Gull, former French PM Dominique de Villepin, former Finish PM Sanna Marin, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde and others. He is contributor commentator for CNN in Athens and has appeared on BBC, Al Jazeera and other global networks. He holds a M.A. on Digital Media, Communication and Journalism from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Mr. Geert Wilms

Geert Wilms studied Horticulture at Wageningen University and Business Administration at Open University. For more than 20 years Geert has been director of Agricultural Innovation Brabant (LIB), and he is consultant at Royal Haskoning DHV.

LIB is a partnership of Province North-Brabant and farmers organization ZLTO. Each year more than 30 innovative projects are initiated and supported, with the participation of hundreds of (agricultural) businesses. Several workshops are organized and guided. Geert is directly accountable to the President of ZLTO and regional Minister of agriculture in North-Brabant. One project he started and is very proud of: “Smart irrigation in agriculture; 3.000 farmers participating with 60.000 hectares, and 25% gain of efficiency in water use”.

 Geert Wilms also is a speaker, discussion leader and initiator of cooperation in different regions in Europe. He is/was involved in more than 15 European funded projects, for example Water management, Water conservation, Agrispin, Eurodairy, EU-PIG and STRING.

Mr. Philippe Merillon

2018 – 2024: Director, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty (France).

2016 – 2017: Deputy Director-General of the National Authority for Agriculture and Seafood Products (AgriMer).

2013 – 2015: Regional Director for Food, Agriculture and Forestry in Languedoc-Roussillon (France).

2009 – 2013: Head of Human Resources at the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture (France).

2006 – 2009: Head of the agrifood strategy and sustainable development department at the Directorate-General for Agricultural, Agrifood and Regional Policy (DGPAAT) at the Ministry of Agriculture (France).

2005 – 2006: Deputy Director of Quality, Economic Organisation and Companies at the Directorate-General for Economic, European and International Policies (DGPEI) at the Ministry of Agriculture (France).

2002 – 2005: Counsellor for agricultural affairs for the Ministry of the Economy and Finance – Treasury Department at the French Embassy in Spain.

1998 – 2002: Head of the Fruit and Vegetable Production, Horticulture and Special Plants Office in the Directorate-General for Economic, European and International Policies (DGPEI) at the Ministry of Agriculture (France).

1996 – 1998: Head of the East/Asia Office in the Directorate-General for Economic, European and International Policy (DGPEI) at the Ministry of Agriculture (France).

1993 – 1996: Head of the market organisations office in the Directorate of Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture (DPMA) at the Ministry of Agriculture (France).

1992 – 1993: Technical advisor responsible for fisheries and aquaculture in the office of the Secretary of State for the Sea (France).

1987 – 1990: Deputy Departmental Director of Maritime Affairs in the Manche Department at the Ministry of Equipment, responsible for the sea (France).

1984 – 1987: École d’administration des affaires maritimes (Maritime Affairs Administration School) – Maritime Affairs Administrator (National Corps of Naval Officers) (France).

1980 – 1984: Graduate of the Institut d’études politiques (IEP) (Political Science) in Bordeaux, Law Degree (France).

Mr. Yiannis Bouras

  • AGRONOMIST (ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI)
  • PRESIDENT OF THE PANTHESSALIC ASSOCIATION OF PIG FEEDERS SINCE 2010
  • PRESIDENT OF THE NEW FEDERATION OF PIG FEEDING ASSOCIATIONS OF GREECE SINCE 2011
  • PIG FARMER OWNER (CAPACITY OF 470 SOWS)
  • OWNER OF A CEREAL TRADING COMPANY IN THESSALY

Dr. Antonis Skordilis

Dr. Antonis Skordilis, Biologist EKPA is the founder and CEO of ECOSCAPES, a pioneering company in the field of landscape architecture and urban planning in Athens. In 1992 he completed his PhD in Mediterranean Plant Ecophysiology and Ecosystem Management, while also training at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London in Landscape Ecology. As a visiting professor in the “Sustainable Development” postgraduate program at the Harokopion University of Athens until 2020, he has participated in the preparation of a large number of Greek and International Academic and Applied Environmental studies and has supervised a large number of postgraduate theses.

As the founder of ECOSCAPES (2013) (with a staff of 35 people, including 6 MLA Landscape Architects) and co-founder of GREENWAYS LTD (1997-2012) he has completed as a supervisor over 450 landscape architecture studies in Greece and abroad. His work includes planning and landscape architecture projects in public green spaces, hotel units, business premises, University Campuses, private gardens, planted roofs, restoration of biodiversity in sensitive ecosystems, etc.

In each of his studies, Dr. Antonis Skordilis aims to harmonize the surrounding space with the architecture of the buildings and the natural environment, having the human experience as a priority. He creates timeless gardens of high aesthetics, always respecting the environmental values of the natural environment, thinking about their future prosperity.

He has a passion for nature and plants and combines scientific knowledge with experience and innovative thinking to ensure the sustainability of gardens even in the most difficult conditions, where the need to conserve water, wind and salinity are limiting factors. As a botanist, he has a deep knowledge of the unique Mediterranean flora and has introduced many indigenous plant species of significant aesthetic value to his gardens.

Dr. George Papatheodorou

His research interests cover a broad range of topics in Marine Sciences: marine geology, seabed methane seepages, marine pollution, marine habitat mapping and marine geoarchaeology. He serves as director of Interdepartmental Postgraduate Programs in “Environmental Sciences” and in “Oceanography”. He has supervised 11 PhD theses to completion and currently supervises 6 PhDs. He has also supervised more than 60 master’s theses. Currently, he is Dean of School of Natural Sciences of the University of Patras.

He is/was coordinator and/or principal researcher of more than 100 National, International, and EU-funded research projects. He has extensive experience with organizing and leading oceanographic campaigns in Aegean and Ionian Archipelagos and in the Mediterranean Sea (Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, France). He has also conducted many projects on marine and offshore construction (pipelines, power and telecommunication cables, harbours, oil platforms, wind farms), marine habitat mapping, seabed fluid flows, active faults and submarine landslides and marine geoarchaeology. He has published more than 150 articles in International Refereed Journals with more than 6,000 citations (h-index: 33-41) and more than 130 research papers in Book chapters and International Conferences in the field of Marine Science and Technology.

Mr. Nikos Charalambides

Nikos Charalambides, studied Physics, Meteorology-Oceanology and General Oceanography in Athens and Paris.

Since 1985 actively, involved in nature conservation. Joined Greenpeace as ocean ecology campaigner. Later, he became coordinator of the campaigns department. Since 2002, he is the Executive Director of Greenpeace in Greece.

Actively following the debate on energy-climate change for more than 20 years, focusing on solutions work and on social justice. Also working in the direction of Green Development/ Green New Deal, focusing on the need to find solutions that will get us out of the multi crisis (climate, financial and social) while showcasing concrete examples. Extra interest on identifying synergies between humanitarian and environmental challenges.

He has been Board Member in various bodies such as the National Organization for Recycling, the Climate Action Network – Europe and member in various Committees such as the National Committee for Energy Planning.

Writer of several books and numerous articles on environmental protection, the role of civil society and NGOs, climate change, corporate responsibility, green development and sustainability.

Ms. Monika Stanisheva

Monika Stanisheva is a visionary leader and entrepreneur committed to advancing sustainability and fostering innovation across business and environmental landscapes. She currently serves as a Member of the Scientific Board at COP29, where she provides strategic climate insights to support global sustainability initiatives.

In her role as Chair of the Board of Directors at Dir.bg, Monika leads high-impact initiatives that drive digital growth and innovation, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of technological advancement. She is also the Founder of the Green Transition Forum, Central and Eastern Europe’s largest platform dedicated to accelerating sustainability efforts. This prominent forum unites leaders and innovators from various sectors to address pressing environmental challenges through knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

Monika is actively involved in Bulgaria’s innovation landscape as a Member of the Steering Committee of the Bulgarian Innovation Forum. Here, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of entrepreneurship and economic development, supporting a thriving ecosystem that nurtures creativity and growth. Additionally, as a Board Member of the European Female Forum, Monika advocates for gender equality and empowerment, championing diversity and inclusion to open pathways for women to excel in leadership.

Her expertise further extends to European innovation as a Member of the European Sounding Board of Innovations, where she contributes valuable insights on emerging trends and transformative technologies. As an Angel Investor, Monika is dedicated to supporting startups and entrepreneurs who are working toward sustainable and equitable futures.

With a multifaceted background in media, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, Monika’s work is driven by a vision of a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous world. She remains deeply committed to driving meaningful change, empowering future generations, and fostering a more sustainable global economy.

 

Mr. Yiannis Kantoros

Mr. Kantoros is the CEO of INTERAMERICAN Hellenic Insurance Company.

He holds the positions of president in the Hellenic Dutch Association, president in Health Insurance Committee and member of Board of Directors and Executive Committee, in the Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies.

His significant career path within INTERAMERICAN includes key leadership positions, whereas he has cooperated with other multinational companies.

He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cardiff Business School and Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).