10th GRMCD – Meet the Speakers
Dr. Spyros Arsenis
Leonidas Bakouras
Dr. Emmanouil Daftsis
George Dimopoulos
Christina Dolianidi
Jan Eggert
Dionysios Gkoutis
Ioakeim Kampasakalis
Athanasios Kefalas
Nick Keramidas
Stefanos Kokkorikos
Dimitris Papakanellou
Ioannis Papaspyros
Dr. Gregory Poelzer
Antonis Politis
Dr. Panagiotis Prontzas
Bernd Schäfer
Ioannis Tsakiris
Dr. Panagiota Tsarouchi
Effrosyni Varvitsioti
Spyros Arsenis is Head of the Business Innovation Development Unit of the National Bank of Greece and Director of the ΝΒG Business Seeds program and the initial coordinator of the act4Greece crowdfunding platform. He is a member of the advisory boards of Synergria, Uni.fund, Metavallon, Big Pi, OK!Thess, the Archimedes Center of the University of Athens, and the Department of Applied Informatics of the University of Macedonia. General Secretary of the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage, and member of the Innovation Committee of SEV (Hellenic Federation of Enterprises), the Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, and the Start Ups Committee of the German-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.
He is an Electrical Engineer with 25 years’ professional multi-sector, multi-discipline experience in Greece and abroad in international telecom projects, business banking, and innovation, and is also the author of seven books on information technology and the Internet. He teaches Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the University of Athens’ MBA programme.
Dr. Emmanouil Daftsis joined Hellas Gold on December 1, 2006. Currently, he holds the position of Training Manager, with extensive experience in the mining industry through various leadership roles, including Director of Health, Safety & Training, Head of Quality Control, Representative to the Scientific Committee for Environmental Compliance, Radiation Protection Officer, and Port Facility Security Officer.
Dr. Daftsis holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and a Master’s Degree in the Teaching of Chemistry with New Educational Technologies.
He has served for two terms as an Alternate Member of the Supreme Chemical Council of Greece (AXS) and has participated in numerous research projects, both in scientific and administrative capacities. Dr. Daftsis also possesses longstanding teaching experience.
His published work exceeds 30 scientific publications, including journal articles, monographs, and conference papers.
Christina Dolianidi is the EIT Community Officer for Greece, with solid knowledge of the Greek research and innovation ecosystem, as well as the broader European policy landscape. She combines her policy expertise with solid experience in EU project management, having led both European and nationally funded initiatives. Christina holds an MSc in International and European Policies on Education, Training, and Research, with a focus on the national-level impact of EU strategies. She also has experience in community building, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication – effectively mobilizing diverse audiences and enhancing the visibility of the EIT Community across Greece.
Jan Eggert is an expert in entrepreneurship education, technology transfer, and open innovation, with over 16 years of experience bridging academia and industry. His career spans university and business school education, academic technology transfer, and the successful establishment of international accreditations, partnerships, and case-based learning materials.
At EIT RawMaterials, Jan led the education portfolio covering the full learner lifecycle and managed the Cross-KIC Business Plan 2023–2025, driving collaboration and strategic impact across innovation communities. Currently serving as Head of Business Development, Jan leverages EIT RawMaterials’ educational expertise to help organizations stay competitive, cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets, and drive talent transformation. Through co-created learning programs and open innovation challenges, he empowers partners to turn knowledge into action and innovation into impact.
Dionysios Gkoutis holds the position of Director General of the Hellenic Survey of Geology & Mineral Exploration (H.S.G.M.E.). With a background in both the UK and Greece, he has served as a consultant for a variety of public and private projects, specializing in geotechnical and geological studies, as well as broader geotechnical design and project supervision. Since assuming his position in October 2019, Mr. Gkoutis has been responsible for overseeing and coordinating all research initiatives undertaken by the H.S.G.M.E., managing a total budget of 30 million euros. Drawing on his academic background, which includes a degree in Geology and Geo-Environmental Sciences from the University of Athens and a Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, Mr. Gkoutis brings a strong foundation of knowledge to his leadership role. Under his guidance, the H.S.G.M.E. continues to drive innovation and excellence in the field of geology and mineral exploration, contributing to national development and advancement.
Athanasios Kefalas is Chairman of Imerys Greece S.A. and Vice President of the Hellenic Volunteer Managers Center (KEMEL). He has studied Mining Engineering-Metallurgy at the National Technical University of Athens and has completed an Executive MBA at INSEAD.
He started his career in operations and gradually moved to more strategic roles with high international exposure, building more than 40 years experience in the extractive industry, minerals processing, business development and corporate governance as well as in building long-term and sustainable local community relations. In parallel the last few years, he enjoys supporting new and small businesses in their growth efforts as an active member of KEMEL. Among other activities, he is a member of the General Council of SEV and BoD member of SEV Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Nick Keramidas is General Manager, European Affairs & Regulatory Advocacy at METLEN Energy & Metals, a leading company in the sectors of metallurgy, power generation, EPC, retail and gas trading. Over the past 14 years, Nick has been responsible for METLEN’s operations in Brussels, including lobbying for the company’s interests in the energy and metallurgy sectors before the EU Institutions. Among other tasks in Brussels, Nick currently Chairs the Energy & Climate Change Committee at Eurometaux, co-chairs the Energy & Climate Committee at European Aluminium and co-chairs the Energy Policy Working Group at COGEN Europe. Since 2018, he also undertook the Regulatory department of the company, handling the interaction of METLEN with national regulatory authorities and institutions, with regards to energy and industry matters.
Prior to his engagement at METLEN in 2010, Nick held the position of Special Advisor to the Greek Ministry of Development, with a focus on energy, competition and public procurement. He has also worked as Legal advisor to the Hellenic TSO in Electricity. Before that, he was an associate at a Brussels-based law firm and has also served as a stagiaire for the European Commission.
Nick holds an LLM in European & International Economic Law from the LMU München, and a Law Degree from the Athens Law School. He is married with two boys, and speaks English, Greek, German and French.
Stefanos Kokkorikos holds an Electrical and Computer Engineering Diploma from the National Technical University of Athens with a focus on electronics, telecommunications and computer systems. Stefanos uses his extensive experience in deep tech project implementation to design new solutions for the industry, addressing challenges in operations, maintenance and energy management. His interests lie in technologies of Industry 4.0, business modelling and new product development, applied in the manufacturing, mining and infrastructure industries. His CORE vision is to provide the appropriate tools bridging the gap between research, market and society. Stefanos is a certified SIRI Assessor, able to assess manufacturing facilities and help companies in their Industry 4.0 journeys.
Gregory Poelzer is an Associate Senior Lecturer at Luleå University of Technology. For the past ten years, Poelzer has focused his research on the relationship between mining companies and communities. He has been involved in case studies across Europe and Canada that investigate Social License to Operate and has written on its conceptual development. In addition, his research looks at legitimacy, particularly the procedural and value factors that affect trust. This work includes comparative analysis at the international, national, and local levels – looking at the relationship between government, industry, and society. He has presented his research at multiple international conferences, participated in both academic and industry panels, and research workshops related to Social License to Operate.
Antonis Politis is a Senior Business Development Manager in EIT RawMaterials. Antonis has studied Mining and Metallurgical Engineering and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). Antonis in EIT RawMaterials is part of the Access to Finance function, acts as a Project Officer of various Innovation projects, offers coaching in start-ups from RM sector and facilitates Business Creation with partners and start-ups. Antonis is a start-up/scale-ups coach, innovation broker, consultant, ecosystem builder and enabler in raw materials industry and broader environments. His passion is to work closely with innovators and start-ups and provide them all the means to support them grow and scale.
Panagiotis Prontzas is Partner and Head of the Strategy and Investments Department at Grant Thornton, leading strategic development and investment advisory projects for both public and private entities. Since joining the firm in 2011, he has played a key role in expanding Advisory Services and delivering high-impact projects across sectors such as energy, infrastructure, tourism, and public administration. He has managed major assignments, including the evaluation of strategic investment plans, implementation of national reform initiatives and financial advisory for public–private infrastructure projects.
He has been a researcher at the University of Athens and the Academy of Athens, financial advisor and analyst on decision evaluation and regulation issues in large domestic (PPC, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, AEDAK Insurance Organizations) and International Organizations (OECD, European Commission).
He has studied economics, holds an MSc in Finance, an MSc in Economic Development and a PhD in Applied Economics and Econometrics. He was a scholarship holder of the State Scholarship Foundation (IKY). He has published a number of scientific articles in international journals and has been a visiting professor at Universities and Colleges in Greece and abroad.
Bernd Schäfer has over 30 years of international business experience. Prior to joining EIT RawMaterials as CEO and Managing Director, he was CEO of apt Group, a leading European aluminium extrusion and processing company.
Previously, he was Vice President of Commercial, Global Commercial Transportation and Industrial at Alcoa. His area of accountability included global market responsibility, as well as the execution of the innovation agenda and the technology roadmap. Mr. Schäfer was a long-time Board Member of the Aluminium Industry Association and the umbrella association of metal-producing companies in Germany until 2020.
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Ioannis Tsakiris is a Vice President in the European Investment Bank.
From 2019 to 2023, he was Deputy Minister for Development and Investments in Greece, responsible primarily for the public investment programme, the European funds and the national development bank. He was also Alternate Governor of the EBRD and the World Bank and in the Board of Directors of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank.
Until 2019, he held several senior positions at the European Investment Fund, involved in European venture capital markets that were in the development phase, in particular in South-eastern Europe and EU Neighboring Countries, where he also set up and developed several investment and financing initiatives and platforms.
He holds a BSc and an MSc in Mining Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and an MBA degree from the Management School of the Imperial College in London.
Panagiota Tsarouchi is an Electrical and Computer Engineer with a PhD in Industrial Human–Robot Collaboration from the University of Patras. She has over 10 years of experience bridging research and industry, leading projects in robotics, automation, and EU-funded innovation. She also serves as an Expert Evaluator for the European Commission, contributing to the assessment and monitoring of EU research and innovation programmes.
She currently works as Funded Programmes Manager for the Copper Segment at Halcor – the Copper and Alloys Extrusion Division of ElvalHalcor, overseeing strategic participation and identifying funding opportunities that advance sustainability, circularity, and digital transformation in metallurgical production.
She previously worked at EIT Manufacturing as Head of Funded Projects & Strategic Initiatives, managing international partnerships and innovation activities across Europe, with a special focus on RIS countries. Earlier, she was an R&D Industrialisation Engineer at BIC and a researcher at the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems & Automation (University of Patras).
From 2019 to today, Effrosyni Varvitsioti has been the director of Development and Policy at the Directorate General for Mineral Raw Materials of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece. She holds a Law Degree from the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, a Degree from the National School of Public Administration and a Master’s Degree in “Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development” from Panteion University.
She has more than 15 years of experience in legal matters related to the regulation of extractive activities. Focus areas included: the management of lignite exploitation rights; the examination of administrative appeals on quarrying regulations; the development of geothermal energy regulations and policies. In her current role, she is responsible for developing policies on mineral raw materials and geothermal energy, as well as drafting and promoting laws and regulations governing the extractive industry. She is also responsible for coordinating the reporting procedures under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
Konstantinos Yazitzoglou has over thirty-five years of C-level executive experience in the manufacturing industry, including food, feed, and mining. He has been a key player in the turnaround and transformation of several Greek companies. Since 2012, he has been the CEO of GEOHELLAS, an industrial minerals company that exploits the unique Greek deposits of Attapulgite near Grevena.
He has served on several Boards of Directors, both as an executive and as a non-executive member. He has also served on the boards of not-for-profit organizations and independent authorities, both nationally and internationally.
Currently, he is the chair of the Greek Mining Enterprises Association.
He is involved as an advisor and/or investor in various innovative entrepreneurial projects, including movie production, medical technologies, food and beverage, and real estate.
Konstantinos holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management from the National Technical University of Athens, an MSc in Management Science (by Distinction) from Imperial College, University of London, and a Certificate in Global Management from INSEAD.
Leonidas Bakouras is the General Manager of Thracean Mining (Eldorado Gold) and a seasoned executive with a strong background in energy and infrastructure. He has held key leadership roles in major gas distribution companies for 25 years, including as CEO of EDA Attikis and Senior Advisor at DEPA Infrastructure.
As General Manager of EDA Thess (ENI/ITALGAS), he played a pivotal role in transitioning Thessaloniki and Thessaly from pollutant fuels to natural gas, establishing EDA Thess as a European leader in sustainable energy distribution. His leadership prioritized sustainability, transparency, and good governance, delivering social and economic benefits to the regions he served.
In his current role at Thracean Mining, he brings the same commitment to sustainability, social responsibility, and regional economic growth to Thrace.
George Dimopoulos is the Founder and Managing Partner of Verallis, a leading consultancy specializing in cost management and business performance improvement. Under his leadership, Verallis has achieved remarkable growth in recent years, expanding both geographically and organically. A highly motivated and results-driven professional, George takes pride in every success achieved for clients, approaching organization-wide challenges with enthusiasm and delivering solutions that create tangible value. He has accelerated Verallis’ strategic focus on attracting and integrating diverse talent to provide tailor-made solutions that meet the most demanding business needs. Believing that innovation can radically enhance even the most traditional operations, George consistently drives transformation and measurable results. A mining engineer by training, he brings extensive project management experience from senior roles in the mining and construction sectors, and he is also the co-founder of several start-up ventures.
Ioakeim Kampasakalis is a financial executive with over 30 years of experience in controlling and reporting roles within the mining and industrial minerals processing industries. He has served as Director of the Financial Shared Service Center of Imerys in Greece since 2019. Ioakeim holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde. He began his career as an exploration geologist in gold and industrial minerals before transitioning to finance, where he held positions in Real Estate Development and Corporate Planning and Analysis, followed by eleven years in controlling.
Dimitris Papakanellou has been a Partner at EY since March 2024. He is leading the Strategy practice within EY Parthenon for non-Financial Services sectors, focusing mostly on the Energy & Industrial sectors.
Prior to joining EY, he set up and led the Strategy & Operations practice for two major consulting firms and for a major strategy firm affiliate in Greece.
Dimitris holds a Diploma of Chemical Engineering from NTUA, an MSc in Automatic Control & Systems Engineering from the University of Sheffield and an MSc in Operations Management from UMIST and a Certified Diploma from ACCA.
He has over 25 years of consulting experience, spanning the fields of Energy & Utilities, Industrial sectors, Metals & Mining and Logistics & Transport Infrastructure – where he has led Strategy, Restructuring & Transformation projects, Value Chain Operations Optimization & Advanced Commercial Analytics assignments, as well as large privatizations & investments evaluations.
Ioannis Papaspyros was born in Athens. He graduated from the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Patras and holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Human Resources Management from ALBA Graduate Business School.
He has over 20 years of experience in multinational companies across the pharmaceutical, banking, and heavy industry sectors, specializing in Administration, Human Resources, Health & Safety, and Continuous Improvement. He has been actively involved in issues related to local community engagement and sustainable development.
Currently, he is the Director of Human Resources for METLEN’s Metallurgy sector (SHRBP), which includes primary and secondary aluminum plants, mining operations, the defense sector, and Circular Metallurgy.
He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and, since 2017, has been a member of the Board of Directors of SEV–IVEPE. He is also the President of the Technical Chamber of Greece (Prefecture of Viotia).