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Mr. Anthony D. Papayannides

Has read Law in Athens University. Post-graduate studies in Law, Economics and International Relations and in Medieval History in Strasbourg and Cambridge.  DEA European Law, DIHEE European Economy. Practiced business law and EU law. Consultant on E.U. topics to the Athens Daily Newspaper Publishers’ Association.

Member, then national representative, of the negotiating team for the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes. Counsellor to the Alternate Minister for Foreign Affairs, Counsellor to the Minister for Culture, Chairman of the Committee of Cultural Affairs at the E.U. Council. Consultant to the Bank of Greece. Founding member and member of the Board of a number of European affairs institutes and reviews in Greece (EKEME, EKEM, EEK)

From 1972 onwards a journalist and then a columnist at the Greek political daily “TO VIMA” and at the economic and financial weekly  “ECONOMICOS TACHYDROMOS”, specialising in macro-economic policy European affairs and foreign relations. Has also worked at “ELEFTHEROTYPIA” and “IMERISSIA” newspapers, managing editor of “ELEFHEROS TYPOS”.

Writes a bi-weekly column at “NAFTEMPORIKI”. Presently managing director of ECONOMIA Publishing, (“ECONOMIKI EPITHEORISSI”, “BUSINESS FILE”; writes a daily blog at economia.gr). Participates to the talk show “Evening Report” at ACTION 24 Channel.

Mr. Panagiotis Sakellaropoulos

Panos Sakellaropoulos is Authorized Advisor/ Assistant of the Regional Governor of Western Greece, with responsibilities for Planning, Studies and Development Programs of Agri-food, coordination of the productive classes for issues of cooperative agricultural policy in the producer groups of P.E. Achaia and responsible for Land Improvement issues within the boundaries of P.E. Of Achaia.He originates from Peristera of ​​Nonakrida of the Municipality of Akrata and lives permanently in Patras. He is Elected Regional Councilor from 2011 and in 2019 was elected in the Regional Elections for the third time with the combination of Nektarios Farmaki’s “OLA APO THN ARXH”, having achieved first place in the previous two.

He has been Chairman of the Economic Committee and Deputy Regional Head of Economic Policy and Administration of the Region of Western Greece from 2019 to January 2022.He is an executive in the Independent Public Expenditure Authority (AADE) -Ministry of Finance.His studies concern the Marketing – Management and the European and Greek Culture of the Hellenic Open University.He has been a close associate of Distinguished Elected Representatives of the Greek Parliament from 1989 to 2018.He has worked in companies in the private sector.He has a rich social and political activity and is active in trade unions (President of DAKE Tax Office and General Secretary of the Association of Tax Office Employees Achaia – Ilia – Zakynthos and Kefallinia).His interests in addition to his involvement with the public, include music, theatre, hunting, mountaineering, chess, reading, horseback riding and football.

Mr. Kosta Kanaroglou

Born in 1974, grew up in Athens and London and speaks fluent English, Spanish, French and Greek. BSc Biology from Brighton University UK and Pharmaceutical Industry MBA at I.E. in Spain. Co-founder and President of the Greek Chapter of Family Business Network (FBN Greece). Since December 2020, he is VP of the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.

Since 1997 has worked in the Pharmaceutical and Health related industry in a variety of roles before joining the family business in 2007 as HR director. He is currently President and CEO of Cana Laboratories, the Greek Pharmaceutical company established in 1928. Additionally to his main occupation at Cana Laboratories, he is involved in several innovative projects such as the development of patented medical devices, cultivation of medicinal cannabis and R&D of single dose cannabinoid products.

Mr. Tom Kolokithas

Content creation & Experiential Marketing have always been the main objectives of Tom’s activities, taking part in many projects of worldwide reputation.

With genuine effort & determination, Tom has managed through these years to become the Founder and Co-Founder of several companies in the Marketing and the technology sector. His specialties include Business Management, Sales, Operations, Inbound Marketing, E-Commerce, User Experience, Information Architecture, Extended Reality Mediums, Social Media, Web Technologies, and AV.

Tom’s latest passion is to bridge his companies with the Metaverse and expand outside Europe, in a 100% sustainable way under the auspices of the United Nations SDG by 2030. With Global experience in identifying and capitalizing on business opportunities, and initiating strategic contacts, while strengthening and protecting business relationships, Tom is constantly moving towards the bright side of the day, blooming among hardships.

As president of the VRARA Greek Chapter, Tom is trying to help the Association’s members LEARN, GROW & CONNECT with other members and companies in the global market.

Dr. Panayiotis Dimopoulos

I hold a degree in Biological Sciences and a PhD on “Flora and Vegetation Ecology of mountain ecosystems”. Faculty member since 2000 and Professor in Botany and Ecology from 2009 to 2016 in the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management and from 2016 onwards in the Department of Biology of the University of Patras. My research interests and key-expertise (1990-2021) lie in: flora and vegetation analysis, conservation and ecology of species and habitats focusing to: inventory, monitoring, assessment and mapping of habitats and ecosystems in protected areas (Greece & Cyprus); biodiversity evaluation and analysis (species and community level); mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services; vegetation and flora databases; Article 17 (Dir. 92/43/EEC) reporting on the conservation status assessment of habitat types (Greece & Cyprus); conservation policy and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Implementation. I have published 136 articles in international scientific journals (1990-2021), I have participated with 110 and 90 oral presentations in International and National Conferences respectively. I have participated as lead researcher and to date have coordinated 40 national and 20 European research projects.

Mr. Christoforos Chatzopoulos

Christoforos Chatzopoulos is head of Retail Loans for consumers and small businesses in the National Bank of Greece. He has been the head of the Mortgage Lending of the National Bank, the head of Consumer Credit of the National Bank, he is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of TIRESIA SA, a member of the Board of Directors of National Leasing and a member of the Board of Directors of National Insurance Brokers SA and was a member of the Board of Directors of EAEDO (Ethnokarta). He has also been the Credit and Recovery Manager at Eurobank, a member of the Boards of Directors of Euroline (Bulgaria), ERS Euroline (Romania) and Euroline (Cyprus) and a member of the Board of Visa (Greece). He was the manager of Statistical Decisions for Greece and the Gulf area. He holds an MSc in Management & Operational Research from Warwick Business School and a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Patras.

Mr. Theodoros Vassilopoulos

I completed the Technical Vocational High School of Amaliada, Direction of Crop Production in 1999 After entrance exams I continued as a student and a graduate in the Department of Organic Agriculture of the Higher Technological Educational Institute of Argostoli -Headlinery. I have acquired the Lifelong Education Certificate in Education Farmers to take action in the secondary and tertiary sector of the economy – the Secretariat of the General Secretariat for Standing Education. I completed the first round of communication in English and Italian.

Participation in all conferences of Young Farmers held in Kozani, Drama, Athens, Ancient Olympia, Karditsa, Lamia, Corinth,  Halkidiki, Rhodes, Chania, and Levadia. Participation in seminars for the promotion of organic farming and the development of standard crops; in presentations, workshops, seminars, and conferences in my professional and trade union activity from 2004 until today.

From 2004 until today I have been involved in researching and organizing a organic farming farm with production, processing, standardization and marketing of organic products produced under the Bio Ilis subtle brand in products such as olive oil, citrus, vegetables and olives, soft wheat, wheat Zea, Corinthian raisins, sun -dried tomato etc.

I maintain an organic shop in Amaliada and I am in charge of the Olympic Products Network with producers from all over Ilia. At the same time, I am active as a consultant, technologist agronomist, for the development of organic farming and livestock farming and creating producer groups, improvement plans and young farmers programs.

I was Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 16th Panhellenic Congress of NEW FARMERS WITH THE THEME “NEW FARMERS AND ENVIRONMENT” September 3-6, 2009 in the IAA of Ancient Olympia. I was chairman of the Commission for the 1st Festival of NEW FARMERS from the “destruction of the creation” held in Mouria of Ancient Olympia in the summer of 2010.

Former President of the Panhellenic Union of Young Farmers (PENA) from 2013 -2019; elected President from 2005 until today in the Union of NEW FARMERS OF ILIA – ELAIKI LAND; President of the professional agricultural cooperative BIOILIS (from 2007 until today); Former Special Secretary of the Panhellenic Union of Young Farmers (2007-2010); Vice -President of the Association of TECHNOLOGY OF GEOPON GRAMMENTS OF BIOLOGICAL GEORGIA.

2004-2007 Member of the Board of Directors of the Amaliada Athletic Association “KORONIOS”; Member of the Amaliada Shopping Association; Member of the Amaliada Agricultural Association; Member of the N. ELIA Organization Association; Member of the Frankavilas Amaliada Cultural and Landscape Association; Member of the Ilia Citizens Movement; Member of the N. ELIA Potato Producers Association; Member of MODIA Association (Municipal Traditional Song); Municipal Councilor of Elis 2010-2013-Former Local Development Department (Deputy Mayor); Participation and awarding the “Best Young Farmer in Europe” competition where we won the first prize for the year 2016 with my family members; Vice-President of the Association of Agricultural Graduates of Organic Agriculture 2017-2019; Vice -Mayor of Rural Development of Greece; President of the Agricultural Partnership of Greece.

Mr. Georgios Kokkinos

President and CEO of the NILEAS Producer Group (founded in 2001 under his initiative), an agricultural cooperative that has started to implement an Integrated Environmental Management System.

NILEAS Producers Group (https://www.nileasoliveoil.gr), was established by 55 founding members (olive oil producers) from the wider region of west Messinia (South West Peloponnese Region, Greece). NILEAS’ purpose was to implement an Integrated Environmental Management System, being at the time the first organized group in Greece established for this purpose in olive tree cultivation. In the summer of 2003, the abovementioned system was certified to ISO 14001, and was in fact the first certification awarded to a European olive grove. Nowadays NILEAS consists of 25 coop members and 11 collaborating farmers, cultivating a total of 1630 km2 (~ 404 acres) of olive groves.

In order to achieve its goals NILEAS participates in research funding projects dealing with environmental policies, new technologies and olive tree cultivation. Indicatively: In 2010 NILEAS participated in the SAGE10 program (LIFE09 ENV / GR / 000302 SAGE 10) and in 2012 participated in the oLIVE CLIMA program (LIFE11 ENV / GR / 942 oLIVE-CLIMA) which in 2018 won the first prize in the category “Action for Climate” at a special ceremony held during the EU Green Week (Europe’s largest environmental event). Since 2017, NILEAS has been participating in the IOF2020 (internet of food and farm) program that has enabled NILEAS to ascertain the benefits of implementing internet technologies in order to achieve environmental and agricultural sustainability goals (increase efficiency, improve quality and reduce costs). Last but not least, on summer 2019 NILEAS launched the SUSTAIN OLIVE program in which it participates as a partner.

Before 2001, he was exclusively a farm manager and producer in the field of olive growing and viticulture.

Dr. Philip Papadopoulos

Dr. Philip Papadopoulos holds a PhD from London School of Economics and is currently the Director of the Strategic Project Management Office of the American Farm School (AFS). In this capacity he is responsible for the Agrifood Entrepreneurship Centres run by AFS in the cities of Thessaloniki and Kalamata, and oversees training and consultancy projects in over thirty locations throughout Greece. Building and managing multi-actor alliances between research institutes, civil society institutions and the real economy is one of his core activities.

His fields of interest include Consumer Behavior related to the Mediterranean Diet, Alternative Tourism, Food Anthropology, Entrepreneurship, E-commerce, Organizational Culture & Climate, Leadership and Management, including motivation and performance management.