Yiannis Armeftis was born in 1971 and raised in Limassol. He studied Architecture at the Polytechnic School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, graduating in 1994. The following year, he established his own architectural practice, which developed into Armeftis and Associates in 2004 and was renamed Armeftis and Partners in 2019. In 2007, he received the State Architecture Award for Young Architect. His firm has won numerous architectural competitions, and has represented Cyprus in the EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award.

He is a member of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) and the Cyprus Architects Association.

From 2007 to 2016, Mr. Armeftis served on the Limassol Municipal Council during the mayoral term of Andreas Christou. He held key leadership roles, including Chairman of the Development and Tourism Committee, Head of the Municipal Group of the Democratic Party (DIKO) (2012–2016), and Representative of the Union of Municipalities on the Town Planning Exceptions Board (2015–2017).

In 2014, he established the Andreas Armeftis Foundation for the Study of Democracy, a scientific non-profit organisation that promotes democratic values, civic dialogue, and social conciliation. From 2018 to 2024, he served as President of the Pancyprian Organization of Relatives of Fallen Resistance Fighters.

In July 2024, Yiannis Armeftis was elected Mayor of Limassol.

As Mayor, he also serves as:

• Vice President of the Union of Municipalities of Cyprus

• Vice President of CLIMANET (Network of Cities for Climate Action)

• Member of the Board of Directors of the Limassol District Local Government Organisation (EOA)

• Vice President of ETAL (Limassol Tourism Development Company)

• President of the Board of Directors of the Pattichio Theatre

• President of the Pattichio Historical Archive

As Mayor, Yiannis Armeftis places strong emphasis on sustainable urban development, climate neutrality, quality of life, and the strategic role of port and coastal cities in addressing climate change. His vision for Limassol aligns closely with the objectives of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, promoting integrated planning, innovation, and citizen-centred approaches for a resilient and climate-neutral urban future.

Mayor Armeftis is married to Marina Hatziloizou-Armeftis, and they have one daughter, Chrysilia.

Alexis Vafeades has been serving as the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works for the Republic of Cyprus since 2023, drawing on over thirty years of professional experience across architecture, construction, and public policy.

Prior to his ministerial appointment, he led a critical modernization of standard construction contracts as President of the Cyprus Joint Construction Contracts Tribunal (CyJCCT), introducing new texts to address the evolving needs of the industry. His extensive BoD-level experience includes roles with Demetra Holdings Plc, the Council for the Registration of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, and the Cyprus Architects Association.

He began his professional career in 1988, becoming a partner and shareholder in his family’s architectural practice and a longstanding member of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK). Alexis Vafeades is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) in architecture.

Michael Damianos was appointed Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry on 8 December 2025. He had previously served, since 10 January 2024, as Minister of Health. He is a lawyer and studied Law (LLB) at the University of Southampton, from where he graduated with honours and received the best academic performance award. He holds a Master of Laws (LLM), specialised in International Law, awarded by the University of Cambridge. He received the best academic performance award by the Fitzwilliam College of the University of Cambridge. He holds the professional title of Solicitor, granted by the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He worked at the international law firms of Simmons & Simmons and Hogan Lovells in London, specialised in corporate, commercial and energy matters. Upon his return to Cyprus, he worked at a law firm in Nicosia and in 2010 he founded his own law firm, which bears his name. He served as a Municipal Councillor at Strovolos Municipality (2011-2016). Since 2018, he is the Vice President of Democratic Party (DIKO). Mr Damianos was born in Archangelos, Lefkosia. Originally, he comes from Polystypos, Larnaka. He is married and has two children.

Dr Maria Panayiotou was born on June 5, 1982 in Larnaka.
She studied History and Archeology at the University of Cyprus from where she graduated in 2004 with honors. In 2006 she completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Birmingham where she earned an MPhil (B) in Modern East Mediterranean History. In 2017 she was awarded a PhD in Modern and Contemporary History from the University of Cyprus.
In January 2024, she had the honor of being appointed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, as Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, handing over the post of Environmental Commissioner of Cyprus which she held since March 2023.
She served as the Head of the Press Office and Spokesperson for the EDEK socialist political party, from March 2016 to February 2023. From 2004 to 2022 she has worked on more than seven excellence research projects, co-financed by the European Development Funds, the University of Cyprus, the Research and Innovation Foundation, and the Anastasios G. Leventis Foundation. Her employment as a member of the Scientific Team of the University of Cyprus for the “Cyprus File” project for the period 2007 – 2010, stands out. In the period 2017 – 2022 she has worked as a Specialist Scientist, teaching economic history at the Department of History and Archeology of the University of Cyprus.
Dr Panayiotou’s involvement in historical research formed a fundamental pillar in her career, gaining significant experience in archival research and skills in managing European research programs of excellence. In particular, her research into the economic history of Cyprus, the study of Cyprus’ agricultural export trade and the analysis of British fiscal policy, strengthened her skills in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data. Her significant bibliographic contributions to research on Cyprus’s ports, port infrastructure, and economic development are significant as they cover an important bibliographic gap. She has published dozens of scientific articles in mixed volumes and international scientific journals (such as the European History Quarterly) on these subjects, and has participated in numerous international scientific conferences, with the most recent being the International Conference of the Modern Greek Studies Association in Toronto, Canada.
Dr Panayiotou hails from Agios Sergios in Ammochostos and currently resides in Larnaka. Her parents are Michalis Panayiotou and Ifigenia Kossifou. She is the mother of a nine-year-old boy, Achilleas Ioannou.

Mathijs Goderis (born 31 August 1988) is the youngest First Alderman (deputy mayor) in the history of Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage city. He leads the city’s policies on urban development, spatial planning, monuments, and heritage affairs. With a background in sociology and conflict studies from Ghent University, Mathijs focuses on sustainable urban transformation, affordable housing, and balancing tourism with liveability in historic cities. His policy work centers on finding long term, community oriented solutions that reconcile environmental goals, heritage protection, and the needs of residents. Before entering city leadership, he worked in socio cultural organizations and youth driven civil society initiatives, giving him a strong grounding in participation and community engagement.

Andreas Vyras was born in Larnaka in 1978. He studied Public Administration and Business Administration at the University of Cyprus and earned an MBA from the University of Southampton. In 2002, he returned to Cyprus and worked in the public sector and later at the Cooperative Central Bank. In December 2016, he was elected Mayor of Larnaka at the age of 38, becoming the youngest mayor in the city’s history. He was re-elected in June 2024 with 65.7% of the vote. Vyras has been actively involved in social and political organizations, having served as President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Youth Organization and participating in the youth meetings of the European Union.

With over 20 years of experience in the field of urban development and integrated strategic planning, Adrian Craciun has coordinated various local and regional development programs, directly participating in the development and implementation of various programmatic documents, public policies and projects. He currently coordinates the implementation of CCC (Climate City Contract) at the level of the Constanta Metropolitan Area, while also being part of various relevant partnership structures at national level in the field of climate neutrality.

Patrick CHILD is currently Deputy Director-General in DG Environment at the European Commission and contributes to the definition, coordination and implementation of strategy and policy orientation, as well as to the coherence between Environment and other Community policies, within the framework of the policy guidelines of the Commission, with particular emphasis on zero pollution, water resilience, chemicals policy, international relations, nature restoration and protection and biodiversity. He is also the Mission manager for the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, which aims to reach 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030.

From 2016-2021, he was Deputy Director-General in DG Research and Innovation (R&I) at the European Commission. As member of the Board of DG R&I, he followed in particular research and innovation in clean energy and climate technologies as well as the R&I dimension of the post-COVID recovery and resilience strategy and Horizon Europe mission on Cancer. His international roles included Commission representative and chair of the steering committee of Mission Innovation (a coalition of 24 countries and the EC working to accelerate global clean energy innovation) and lead co-chair of the Group of Earth Observations (GEO).

Until April 2016, Patrick Child was Managing Director of the European External Service with responsibility for administration and finance, covering human resources policy, security and the budget. Before he took up this post in 2011, he was director in the EC External Relations Directorate-General in the responsible for managing the network of Commission delegations. He has previously served as head of cabinet for External Relations Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Chris Patten.

With a background in the UK Finance Ministry, he joined the European Commission in 1994, where he started in the Economic and Monetary affairs Directorate General before becoming Commission press spokesman for economic and monetary union from 1995-1999. Mr Child studied mathematics at Cambridge University. He is married with two children.

Kęstutis Sadauskas is a Lithuanian national. He holds Master degrees from Vilnius University in Political Science/International Relations and Geography. From 1993 until 2006 he worked at the Lithuanian Foreign Service on multilateral issues. In September 2006 Kęstutis Sadauskas was appointed Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Vilnius. From April 2010 until October 2014 he was Head of the Cabinet of Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta responsible for Taxation, Customs, Anti-fraud, Audit, and Statistics. From November 2014 until March 2022 Sadauskas was Director for Circular Economy and Green Growth at the DG Environment of the European Commission. From 1 April 2022 Kęstutis Sadauskas is Deputy Director-General in Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission.

Sophia moved back home to Limassol after working in the UK as a Production Manager and TV Presenter for a decade following her studies at Royal Holloway, University of London. Despite red-carpet interviews and production credits on shows like The Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and Empire Film Awards, she decided to pursue a new career in Cyprus. Her first role in Marketing and PR was at award-winning Limassol Marina. She then joined Cybarco, leading the Marketing and Communications of landmark developments like Trilogy Limassol Seafront. She is also a published author and host of ‘Destination Cyprus’, a podcast by Cybarco.

Laura Hetel is a policy officer in DG Research & Innovation of the European Commission where she works on the implementation of the EU Cities Mission. She also coordinates the international outreach of the Cities Mission, including for the Urban Transitions Mission and in collaboration with the Global Covenant of Mayors. In her previous roles in the Commission, she worked on international cooperation in the Mediterranean region, science diplomacy, socio-economic transformations, cultural heritage and migration. With an educational background on political science and economics, she holds a PhD on the interplay between consumerism and national identity from The Ohio State University, US.

Julio Lumbreras, PhD, Eng, MPA is Full Professor at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM). He was a member of the Board of the European Mission for “Climate-neutral and smart cities”. He is now part of the NetZeroCities consortium, and he is coordinating the multi-stakeholder platform for the implementation of the mission in Spain (citiES 2030). He is founding associate editor in the Journal on Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. He is co-author of more than 100 papers and books on air quality, climate change, sustainable cities, and Higher Education. Julio is passionate about increasing sustainability in higher education, turning universities into key agents to systemically transform cities towards sustainability.

Elena Simion is an International Projects Expert at UEFISCDI, with more than ten years of experience in the development and implementation of international projects. Her work focuses on designing policy recommendations, innovation funding instruments, and new policy development initiatives. She currently coordinates the Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action CapaCITIES (Fast-Tracking the National Narrative for Climate-Neutral Urban Futures), leading a consortium of more than 70 partners and associated partners across more than 20 European countries to advance the implementation of the EU Cities Mission.
Elena is also part of the M100 Mirror Mission Cities Hub in Romania.

Paulo Ferrão is a Distinguished Professor of Instituto Superior Técnico – University of Lisbon, President of IN+, Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research. He has been President of the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) association from 2019 to 2021 and the President of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portuguese National Science and Technology Foundation) from 2016 to 2019. He has been Director of the MIT-Portugal Program from 1996 to 2016. He is the Acting Chair of the European Commission Mission Board on “Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities”.

Karen Vancluysen was appointed Secretary General of POLIS in 2014, after having been its Research Director for 10 years. POLIS is the European network of cities and regions working together to develop sustainable and innovative urban mobility solutions for today and tomorrow. Before POLIS, Karen worked as network manager at ACCESS-Eurocities and project manager at Langzaam Verkeer. Since 1998, Karen has been involved in European urban transport networking and policy activities, as well as EU R&I projects. She has been a speaker at many high-level events in Europe and beyond, on a wide range of sustainable mobility and innovation themes.

Ambassador Willem Wouter Plomp was born in 1962 and raised close to Leiden, the Netherlands. He is married to Ms. Henriette Suzanne Winkler and have 5 children.  He attended the University of Utrecht for both his undergraduate and post-graduate studies in History (BA) Contemporary History and Law (MA) International Law. He has more than 35 years of service at the Dutch Foreign Ministry, having served between 1989 and 2005, in Embassies of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Warsaw, Prague and Guatemala, as well as in the Security and the Human Rights Department. Since 2009 he served as Ambassador in Benin, Deputy Head of Mission in Indonesia, in North Macedonia, Pakistan, Nigeria and since 2024 in Cyprus.

Charalambos Prountzos, born in Nicosia in 1978, hails from the occupied villages of Gerolakkos and Akanthou. He holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Bristol (2001) and is a Barrister-at-Law from the Inns of Court School of Law, London, with a Diploma in Professional Legal Skills from City University. A licensed insolvency practitioner and lawyer, he is the Managing Partner of Prountzos & Prountzos LLC, which he founded in 2010. He has significant experience in regulated markets, competition law, mergers, acquisitions, and energy projects. Charalambos led legal services for a Big4 firm in the CEE, SEE, and Central Asia region from 2019 to 2023. He has served as Chairman of the Council at the Open University of Cyprus and on the Board of CYENS, a research center. He was also involved in the Cyprus reunification talks. Charalambos is married to journalist Gogo Alexandrinou, and they have two children.

Prof. Kamargianni is the Director and Founder of MaaSLab (Mobility as a Service Lab). She is a Hon. Professor of Transport Systems Innovation and Sustainability at University College London (UCL). Her areas of research and work include new mobility services design, mobility integration and multimodality, and self-driving vehicles. Prof. Kamargianni has operated a research and technology development portfolio of more than 85million Euro. She has been the Project Coordinator and the Scientific and Technical Manager of several Horizon projects, including the MISSION projects metaCCAZE, COREspaces and periASTY. She works closely with public authorities and the industry to transfer her research outputs to the real world and develop sustainable and equal mobility technologies.

Giovanni Circella is a BOF Professor of Mobility at Ghent University, the Head of the Master School of EIT Urban Mobility, and the Director of the 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program at the University of California, Davis. Prof. Circella’s research interests include sustainable mobility solutions, active travel, inclusive mobility, and the impacts of ICT, remote/hybrid work, e-shopping, shared mobility and vehicle automation on travel behaviour and vehicle ownership. He is the elected secretary of the International Association for Travel Behaviour Research, and the co-secretary general of the World Conference on Transport Research Society.

Dr. Loukas Dimitriou is Associate Professor of Transportation Planning and Engineering at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Cyprus, where he also serves as the Founder and Head of the Lab for Transport Engineering. His research focuses on mobility modelling, transportation systems analysis, and the optimal design and management of complex multimodal transport systems. His work spans a wide range of application areas, from urban mobility and public transport systems to freight logistics and long-distance transport networks. Dr. Dimitriou actively contributes to national and international research fora and policy bodies in the field of transport and mobility. He has an extensive publication record in leading international journals and conferences. His research has attracted significant competitive funding (Horizon, InterregMED, etc.), and he has led major national strategic projects, including Cyprus’ transit system appraisal and the Master Plan for the Municipalities of Limassol.

Dr. Nektarios Chrysoulakisis a Director of Research at FORTH and the Head of the RSLab. He is the cPI of the ERC Synergy project urbisphere, focusing on coupling dynamic cities and climate. He is the Coordinator of the CLMS-Cities project, developing innovative methods to monitor climate change mitigation activities in cities that have joined the EU Cities Mission. He also coordinates the Urban Analytics Services of the Greek National Satellite Space Programme. Dr. Chrysoulakis is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence. He has more than 350 publications in per-review journals and conference.

Maria Vassilakou served (2010-2019) as Viennas Vice Mayor for Urban Planning, Traffic & Transport, Climate Protection, Energy and Public Participation. She is an experienced urban leader, devoted to livable, inclusive and green cities, with a passion for urban transformation processes. Having founded Vienna Solutions, Maria now works worldwide as a strategist and global advisor on urban transformation and transition management, sharing her experience and know-how with cities, NGOs, organizations and corporations. Since September 2019 Maria Vassilakou also serves as a member of the EU experts board advising the European Commission on the design and implementation of the European climate-neutral cities mission.

Belén is a multilingual economist with extensive experience in international development and public policy. She currently serves on the secretariat of the Climate City Capital Hub, where she supports European cities in mobilising capital for climate infrastructure projects under the NetZeroCities Program of the European Commission. Earlier in her career, Belén worked with institutions including the Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs and KfW Development Bank, and served as an advisor at GIZ, the German federal government agency for international cooperation, where she specialised in climate and urban infrastructure finance through her work with the C40 Cities Finance Facility, and has published articles on green bonds. Belén holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Bayreuth, as well as two Bachelor’s degrees in International Cultural and Business Studies from the University of Passau and the University of El Salvador in Buenos Aires.

Matiss Paegle has been a Partner at the BaltCap Infrastructure Fund since 2017. He is a Non-Executive Board Member of Rail Baltica—the largest EU-funded infrastructure project—as well as the Riga Municipal Heating Company, the Riga Investors Council, the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission Board, and five renewable energy companies operating in the wind, photovoltaic, bio-methane, and biomass sectors. He brings more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance and strategy across private equity, investment banking, energy, and aviation, and has held numerous CEO and CFO positions. He holds an MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Penelope Vasquez Hadjilyra was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and grew up in Limassol, Cyprus. She studied architecture in the United Kingdom and Cyprus, and today she runs the architectural research laboratory “The way space begins” in Limassol. She collaborates with the CYENS Research Centre and the MaaSlab developing innovative applications and services in the fields of urban greenery, transport, and energy. Within the framework of the European Cities Mission 2030 program, she coordinated the preparation of the Limassol’s strategy to achieve Climate Neutrality by 2030. A PhD candidate in Architecture at Frederick University, EU Climate Pact Ambassador, and member of environmental standardization committees both in Cyprus and Europe, Penelope researches and discovers every day new ways in which she can contribute to addressing the global climate crisis. Penelope is a candidate for the Cyprus Parliamentary Elections 2026 with Volt Cyprus.

Dr. Panayiotis Panayiotou is the Chief Executive Officer of GRAWE Cyprus, with a long-standing career in the insurance sector and extensive experience in strategic development, commercial management, and organizational leadership. Throughout his professional journey, he has held leadership positions in leading insurance companies in Cyprus, making a significant contribution to business planning, sales growth, and the implementation of strategic projects. He holds a PhD in Quality Management from the University of Sheffield, as well as both a postgraduate and an undergraduate degree in Engineering from the same university.

Dr. Angelos Menelaou initiated and led the establishment of the Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce at Frederick University in 1999, delivering the first accredited maritime academic degree programme in Cyprus. A strong advocate of education and skills development, he has played a pivotal role in shaping specialised shipping studies and strengthening the link between academia, industry, and society in Cyprus.

He holds advanced qualifications in business, accounting, and transportation management, and completed a doctorate focusing on the application of digital tools and workflow optimisation to improve productivity and quality in ship management organisations.

Dr. Menelaou is an accomplished maritime business executive with more than 30 years of experience across senior managerial roles in shipping economics, human resources, and project management. He currently serves as Group Business Controller at Marlow Navigation, one of the world’s largest crew management companies, employing approximately 16,000 seafarers on board internationally trading merchant vessels.

His professional and leadership roles include Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (FICS), Editor of the International Journal of Energy Sector Management (IJESM), Scientific Consultant to the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry, Chairman of the Cy-FOS Education Committee, Member of the Board of Directors of the Limassol Blue Economy Innovation Centre, and Leader of the Limassol Sea and Coast thematic area for the EU Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030.”

Jacques Delsalle is Senior Expert at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), specializing in maritime innovation, marine knowledge, investment, and the Secretariat of the Mission Ocean and Waters. A transport economist by training, he spent 10 years working on transport planning and corporate strategy , before joining the European Commission, where he has mainly focused on economic analysis, transport and environmental modeling, impact assessment and evaluation, in the areas of transport, air pollution, land use, water and marine environment.

Mathijs Peters is the Vice President Government Relations and Public Affairs, Europe, at DP World. Mathijs has some 25 years of experience in government relations & public affairs and corporate communications, following his three years as a policy advisor in the European Parliament in Brussels (BE) and Strasbourg (FR) after obtaining his law degree at Maastricht University in his native The Netherlands. Starting out in EU affairs at the Brussels offices of Royal Ahold (now: Ahold Delhaize), a multinational retail company, Mathijs then gained experience in the Corporate Communications department at Metro Group in its Düsseldorf (DE) headquarters. Between 2009 and 2015, Mathijs held various positions at market and EU level at Philip Morris International, including being its primary spokesperson in The Netherlands. After a brief stint at consultancy firm Hill + Knowlton, Mathijs joined PepsiCo, Inc. as its Director Corporate Affairs with responsibilities at the global, European and market level (DE, CH, AT) in 2017. From PepsiCo, he joined DP World in May 2023. Mathijs sits on the Board of the Federation of European Private Port Companies and Terminals (FEPORT) in Brussels, where he is based.

Athanasios Pallis is Professor & holder of the Jean Monnet Chair (European Port Policy) at the Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, Greece. He is founder & co-director of PortEconomics, the Vice Chair of the Port Performance Research Network (PPRN), and Senior Scientific Advisor to the Florence School of Regulation, European University Institute. In 2025, he was included in the 2% of the world’s most cited researchers in transport & logistics.

Professor Andreas Poullikkas holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree in mechanical engineering, a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree in nuclear safety and turbomachinery, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in numerical analysis and a Doctor of Technology (D.Tech.) higher doctorate degree in energy policy and energy systems optimization from Loughborough University, U.K. He is a Professor of Energy Systems at Frederick University, and he was for several years the Chairman of the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority and the Chairman of the Cyprus Energy Strategy Council (both appointments by the President of Cyprus). Also, he is currently the Associate Editor of journals Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews by Elsevier and Discover Energy by Springer Nature.

Carola Hein is Professor History of Architecture and Urban Planning at Delft University of Technology, Professor at Leiden and Erasmus universities, and director of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus PortCityFutures Centre. She holds the UNESCO Chair of Water, Ports and Historic Cities. She has published widely in the field of architectural, urban, and planning history, tying historical analysis to contemporary development. Her recent (co-)edited books include: Hustle and Bustle of Port Cities (2025), Port City Atlas (2023), Oil Spaces (2021), Urbanisation of the Sea (2020), Adaptive Strategies for Water Heritage (2020), The Routledge Planning History Handbook (2018).

Dr Nestor Fylaktos is a Research Scientist at the Cyprus Institute, specialising in the technoeconomics of renewable energy and the integration of storage in RES-heavy systems. His work encompasses energy modelling, hydrogen roadmaps, and the decarbonisation of cities. He collaborates with stakeholders, from municipal authorities to government, to develop policies that accelerate the energy transition. His research interests span distributed energy systems, clean mobility, and the energy futures of the Mediterranean. He focuses on technical and economic optimisation to eliminate emissions across the economy and urban environments.

Dr. Nikolaos Kampelis is an Assistant Professor at The Cyprus Institute (EEWRC), specializing in sustainable built environments, energy efficiency, and digital twin applications for climate-neutral districts. His academic and research background includes Building and Distributed Energy Systems Modelling and Demand Side Management, Technology and Innovation Management and Operational Research. Over the past two decades, Dr. Kampelis has combined academic leadership with applied research and consultancy. His expertise spans energy simulation, occupant-centric comfort optimization, knowledge graph-based decision support systems, and demand response strategies at building and neighborhood scales.

Commissioner Costas Kadis leads the EU’s Fisheries and Oceans policy, focusing on implementing a long-term vision for a resilient, competitive, and sustainable European fisheries and aquaculture sector. He is also responsible for the EU’s global efforts to restore ocean health, ensure maritime security, and support coastal communities. A Professor of Biodiversity Conservation at Frederick University, has held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Health, Minister of Education and Culture, and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment.  Born in Nicosia in 1967, he graduated from the University of Athens with a degree in Biology in 1991 and earned a PhD in Conservation Biology in 1995.

Sissy Windisch is Chief Operating Officer at imby.energy, an energy management scale-up delivering intelligent solutions for energy hubs and decentralized clean energy systems. She brings extensive experience in scaling clean-energy innovations, with a strong focus on flexibility, renewable integration, and data-driven optimization. Previously, she co-founded a clean-energy crowdfunding platform that mobilized citizen investment into renewable projects, and worked in energy trading and a health-tech scale-up. Sissy also serves on the EU Mission Board for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, contributing to the acceleration of the European energy transition. 

Dr Desen Kirli is a Lecturer and Elizabeth Georgeson Fellow in “Data and Digitalisation for Net Zero” at the University of Edinburgh. As a sustainable energy researcher, her ambition is to translate academic research into implementation to achieve net zero. Her research involves the use of data-driven and digital smart grid solutions, as well as market mechanisms and end-user flexibility, to inform future energy scenarios. Most recently, she won the Scottish Renewables Young Professionals Green Energy Award and Top 50 Women in Engineering Award for her work on bottom-up decarbonisation of smart local energy systems.

Apocaloptimist and energy enthusiast with an academic background in Geography and Political Sciences. Passioned about looking at the world in energy landscapes and thinking about how these affect socio-political systems. Former Deputy Mayor of Eeklo, responsible for building a unique democratic model for renewables that allowed the locally owned and supported construction of 22 windturbines, a new heat and solar strategy and an energy poverty scheme which won the EU Social Innovation award in 2023. “We rebranded energy as a local product”. Currently employed by ICLEI as City Advisor for EU Cities Mission and passionately exploring new opportunities to envision the shared use of (big) sport stadiums and -infrastructure as catalysers for neighbourhood transitions.

Annemie Wyckmans, architect, leads NTNU Smart Sustainable Cities. This research and innovation centre creates and coordinates multi stakeholder projects across the EU Missions and the New European Bauhaus, pursuing positive and actionable futures for cities and communities. Amongst others, she coordinates Re Value, funded by the EU Cities Mission, re valuing design and planning for climate neutrality in nine waterfront cities. She also leads the recently launched CO WATERS project, building a coalition of waterfront cities, regions, islands and ports for the Mission Ocean and Waters.

Dimitra Theochari is an architect, engineer, and landscape architect whose work focuses on ecological urbanism, nature-based solutions, and blue-green infrastructure. With over 15 years of international experience, she has led and contributed to more than 200 projects across 15 countries, ranging from climate-adaptive public spaces to large-scale urban and campus developments. She is the founder and managing director of ensphere GmbH in Hamburg, where she leads a multidisciplinary studio working at the interface of research and practice. Her work integrates systems thinking, ecological design, and cultural sensitivity to develop resilient urban landscapes that enhance biodiversity, microclimatic comfort, and urban wellbeing.

Byron Ioannou is a Professor, Chair of the Department of Architecture, and Director of the Urban Planning and Development Unit at Frederick University. Holding academic qualifications in Architecture and Urban Planning (NTUA) and Planning Law (Leeds Beckett), his work focuses on climate-neutral design, sustainable mobility, and urban resilience. He has received awards for urban regeneration and public space design and serves as an expert in national and international bodies. Within the framework of Limassol’s transition to climate neutrality, his expertise contributes to accelerating local change through innovative spatial strategies, sustainable density management, and the enhancement of resilient urban environments.

Lies used to be an enthusiastic teacher geography and sciences in a high school in Bruges. In 2019 she took the step to work for the wonderful city of Bruges: first as the project manager of SHIFFT, a EU project about fossil-free heating. In 2023 she switched to Re-Value, a horizon project with regards to climate neutrality, spatial quality and community building together with 8 other waterfront cities. The NEB Impact model is the common thread through this project. She is thrilled to be involved in this NEB community and would love to contribute to embed NEB in my beautiful city.

Dana Behrman is a Director, Senior Urban Designer at UNS. Dana received an MA with distinction from the Centre for Research Architecture at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She also graduated from the Architectural Association, School of Architecture in London. Dana has been practicing as an urban designer for the past fifteen years in several award-winning international offices. Apart from her professional work, Dana is a Teaching Associate at IE University of Architecture and Design in Madrid, and an External Examiner at UCL’s Bartlett School of Design in London. She also teaches a design studio at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam.

Ben studied at the University of Sheffield’s School of Architecture, graduating with his coursework selected for the RIBA Presidents Medal Exhibition. He went on to complete his Diploma in Architecture in 2000 and gained professional registration with the ARB and RIBA in 2002. Following graduation, Ben worked with an international architectural practice in London alongside one of his former tutors, before joining Foster + Partners in 2001. Ben was made a Partner in 2011 and Senior Partner in 2021. Ben is responsible for leading projects of various scale and typology globally – including the practices current projects in Cyprus.

Elli B. Tzatzanis-Stepanovic is Environmental Economist and Expert for international STI cooperation at the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). She coordinated the Urban Transitions Mission Centre (Horizon Europe, 2022-2025) which supported the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) of Mission Innovation, implementing a community platform and reaching out to cities in the Mediterranean region, Africa, Latin America, and India. She is partner in the CapaCITIES project (Horizon Europe).

Nadine Burbar is an urban resilience and climate governance specialist with over ten years of experience working at the intersection of local government, international networks, and development partners. She currently serves as Manager, Climate Resilience Programmes at the Resilient Cities Network, where she leads European initiatives supporting cities in advancing climate neutrality, circular economy, and systems resilience. Nadine has worked closely with municipalities, national platforms, and international institutions to translate complex policy agendas into actionable strategies and collaborative programmes. Previously, she served as Deputy Chief Resilience Officer. Her work focuses on bridging governance practice, applied research, and capacity building to deliver tangible urban impact.

Theodoros Zachariadis is a Professor and Interim Director of the Cyprus Institute’s Energy, Environment and Water Research Centre and of the Science and Technology Driven Policy and Innovation Research Centre. In 2017-2024 he served as a member and a Vice Chair of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency. Since 2020 he has been continuously listed in the top 2% of most widely cited academics globally in the field of Energy. He is the recipient of the 2009 Research Prize of the Republic of Cyprus and the 2019 Environmental Prize awarded by the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

Yiota Victoria Phakoukaki holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from University College London (UCL), with expertise in process optimization and the development of innovative engineering systems that support sustainable and scalable technological advancement. Currently at the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence (University of Cyprus), she leads the DiGiNN and FINEX projects. FINEX supports the acceleration of EU clean technologies, fostering innovation and investment in sustainable solutions, while DiGiNN operates as the Digital Innovation Hub of Cyprus, strengthening digital transformation and technological adoption. Through these initiatives, KIOS contributes to advancing innovation ecosystems aligned with Europe’s sustainability and climate objectives.

Social architect and shareholder-employee at *Estel Coop, based in Spain and working on projects across Europe. My approach to urban strategies, public space design, and citizen cooperation is shaped by diverse experiences and a passion for creating inclusive public spaces. I’m dedicated to empowering civic engagement and democratizing urban environments, whether in local neighborhoods or regional contexts.

Charalampos Spanos is a GIS Data Scientist and Research Assistant at the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC) of The Cyprus Institute. He holds an Integrated Master’s degree in Architecture from the National Technical University of Athens and a Master of Science in Urbanism from Delft University of Technology. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage at the Graduate School of The Cyprus Institute. His research focuses on the integration of digital tools in participatory heritage practices and community engagement through the Virtual Environment Lab (VELab) at STARC.

Alexis Papadopoulos is a Cyprus-based architect with international academic and professional experience and the founder of Alexis Papadopoulos Architectural Practice. Educated in Marseille and Rome, his work focuses on environmentally responsible design. His portfolio centered on residential projects of various scales and workplaces, placing particular emphasis on the transformation and adaptive reuse of buildings as a strategy for resource conservation and the preservation of architectural heritage. His work has been widely published and nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Awards. He is a member of the General Council of ETEK and serves on the Board of the Cyprus Architects Association.

Born in 1972, Kyriakos Xydias is married to Marina Dimitriou and together they have two daughters. He was elected Mayor of the newly established Amathountas Municipality for the period 2024–2029, which includes the districts of Agios Athanasios, Germasogeia, Moutagiaka, Mathikoloni, Akrounta, Finikaria, Armenochori and Agios Tychonas. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, Vice President of the Limassol District Local Government Organization, and a member of the Limassol District Domestic Waste Disposal or Recovery Site Exploitation Council. He also serves as a member of the Cyprus Delegation to the Committee of the Regions of the European Union. Between 2017 and 2024, he served as Mayor of Germasogeia and was a member of the Limassol Water Board, the Sewerage Board of Limassol–Amathus, and the Executive Committee of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities. He has also served as President of the Sports Association “Proodos”, a member of the Germasogeia School Committee, Secretary of the AKEL Germasogeia Committee, and a member of the Limassol Theatrical Route. Between 2010 and 2016, he worked as a Physics teacher in secondary schools, while between 2001 and 2010 he worked as a Parliamentary Associate in the House of Representatives of Cyprus. He is a graduate of the Department of Physics at the University of Athens. During his student years, he served as President of the student movement “Proodeftiki” and as a member of the administrative council of the Student Union. Earlier in his career, he worked as a department head at HOCHTIEF AG during the construction of the new Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos.”

Having worked at both public and private sector, politics and administration, local and international level Jorn today helps translate ambitious goals into tangible solutions, to help cities achieve the speed and scale needed to allow for a resilient transformation. By using place-based approaches, the DNA of every urban ecosystem is respected. Collaborating with the European Commission, public sector clients, and global private sector clients and NGOs, recent efforts address urban challenges like implementing system demonstrators that allow for scaling, energy transitions and positive energy districts, affordable housing challenges, circular economy initiatives, and citizen engagement. By integrating innovation strategies, fit-for-purpose policies, and governance models, I help empower cities to implement transformative, climate-resilient solutions.

George is the City Finance Specialist for Greek and Cypriot cities within the European Commission’s NetZeroCities Initiative, aiming at helping cities mobilise capital for the financing of their climate investment plans. He has over 20 years of experience in the provision of financial advisory and management consulting services, with expertise in business analysis and planning, project and company valuation, financial management, and raising financing through private equity and funding programmes. George is the founder of the first citizens’ company in Limassol (COCO Collective Ownership Company Limassol Ltd) that aims to make citizens the owners and leaders of the transition to a sustainable future.