Inspiring Leaders towards a more sustainable tomorrow
Leaders of the ESG, responsible finance and sustainability world—renowned experts, CEOs, managers, and sector leads—have prepared exclusive programs just for Sustainability Forum participants. You’ll hear from these industry leaders everything you need to know to take your business growth and sustainability career to the next level. Tune in now!
Maria Rita Galli
CEO
Maria Rita Galli is the CEO of DESFA (Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator). Until recently she held the position of the Executive Vice President Business Development & Asset Management at Snam S.p.A, a leading global energy infrastructure company and was the Chairman of the SENFLUGA Energy Holdings S.A., a consortium controlling 66% of DESFA's share capital.
Ms. Galli started her career at Eni in 1997, as a graduate in nuclear engineering from the Milan Polytechnic University. At Eni, she went through various roles within the International Business Development Department, joined relevant international projects and was involved in M&A activities. As a member of Eni's Board of Directors, she also oversaw the operations of some of the Group’s companies abroad (Galp, Distrigas, eni Gas&Power Trading BV, eni Gas&Power France, GVS GmbH, etc.)
Since 2006, she has been in charge of the International Business Development unit and, from January 2010, she has been in charge of the International Business Development and Assets Management department.
In October 2016, she joined Snam as the Head of Business Development and International Asset Management.
Iakovos Michalitsis
Regional General Manager
“A disruptive & energizing leader improving people’s lives. A captain in both good & bad times leading by example, always moving forward for my people and our society”.
Iakovos Michalitsis is a Senior Executive with track record and years of success in executive & operational / financial positions, delivering demanding growth objectives within diverse, conflicting & rapidly changing multinational environments.
His academic background consists of his Bachelor’s degree in Economics with Distinction, from Athens University of Economics and Business, and a Master in Science in Investment Management with Distinction, from CASS Business School, City University, London.
Since 2006, his employment history includes several important positions in BAUSCH Health Companies Inc, such as PharmaSwiss Hellas SA CFO Greece, Regional Finance Head Central & S.E. Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Regional Finance Director CEMEA.
Since 2015, Iakovos Michalitsis holds the BAUSCH Health General Manager position for Greece, Cyprus & Malta. Some of his demanding tasks and objectives are leading the $ 45 mil Hub & 8 Business Units Structure and managing the BAUSCH Health team, in meeting tough performance improvement goals & turning around operations, built through acquisitions, experiencing significant operational & cultural challenges.
His professional career comprises numerous qualifications also in Corporate Governance and established memberships:
- An Advisory Board Member CEO’s Club
- A Certified Market Maker / Trader ADEX
- A Member of Economic Chamber of Greece
- An AMCHAM member
- A SFEE / EFPIA Member
- A Certified & Diploma Holder in Corporate Governance Non Executive Director by the Institute of Directors UK.
Simon Thompson
CEO
Simon leads our work to shape and implement professional standards and professional development for bankers.
Simon Thompson was appointed as our Chief Executive in 2007. In 2011, Simon led the establishment of the Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board (CB:PSB). He is a Board member of the CB:PSB and chairs the CB:PSB’s Professional Standards Committee.
Simon was responsible for managing the International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB), developing ethics and education standards for accountants. He previously worked for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), establishing ACCA in 25 countries in Central & Eastern Europe, and leading a number of EU and other donor-funded accounting education and reform programmes.
Simon holds a BA (Politics and Economics) from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and an MBA from the University of Edinburgh. He is one of our Fellows (FCIBS), and a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD).
Simon chairs the Global Education Standards Committee recently established by a group of leading international banking institutes, and is a lay member of the General Teaching Council for Scotland. He is a former Vice President of the European Bank Training Network
Thomas Kolster
Mr. Goodvertising, Marketing Activist and Author
Thomas Kolster is a marketing activist on a mission to make business put people and planet first. As a seasoned branding and sustainability professional of more than 18 years’ standing, he’s advised Fortune 500 companies, small start-ups, governments, agencies, and non-profits. He’s the founder of the global Goodvertising movement that’s inspired a shift for the better in advertising. He’s also the author of two books: ‘Goodvertising’ (Thames & Hudson 2012) and ‘The Hero Trap’ (2020)
He’s an internationally recognised keynote speaker who’s appeared in more than 70 countries at events like TEDx, SXSW, D&AD & Sustainable Brands; and is a columnist for the Guardian, Adweek, The Drum and several other publications, as well as regularly judging at international award shows such as Cannes Lions and D&AD. As a passionate entrepreneur and change agent he’s launched several impact platforms like Cph:Change and Wheregoodgrows. Thomas’ belief is simple: Change begins with you!
Michalis Vlastarakis
General Manager, Group Marketing and Corporate Communication
General Manager Group Marketing & Corporate Communications Eurobank S.A the last 7 years. Member of the Board of Directors of Eurobank A.D. Belgrade, Chairman of the Steering Committee of Eurobank’s Incubator/ Accelerator «egg - enter•grow•go». Before Eurobank, he has held managerial positions at Euromerchant Bank, Barclays Bank Plc in Greece and the U.K. and National Bank of Greece. During his career, Mr. Vlastarakis has played an important role in the development of Retail Banking in Greece and Southeastern Europe, having served among others as a Board Member in Banks in Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. He holds an MBA in Financial Services from ALBA Graduate Business School, a Degree in Economics from Athens University and has attended various Executive Education Courses like Strategic Marketing at Harvard Business School and Leadership at IMD.
Panos Martinis
CEO
SOFTONE Group and Chairman, Global Sustain S.A.
Maria Alexiou
Member of the ESRS Secretariat - SMEs
European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG)
Mark Hughes
Senior Environmental Advisor
The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD)
Zak Abideen
Director
Moody's Analytics
Helen Tunstall
Commercial Lending Expert
Moody's Analytics
Stauroula Marouli
CEO
MPACK S.A.
Makis Tzeis
CEO
Atradius
Panos Vasileiadis
CEO
Ideal Holdings S.A.
Achilleas Aggelopoulos
CEO
Kyknos S.A.
Yanos Michopoulos
Corporate Governance Course Leader
The Institute of Directors
Christos Kahramanoglou
CEO
Viopol S.A.
Natasha Chatziantoniou
Communications & CSR Senior Manager
DESFA
Michelle McDonough
COO
Trillium Asset Management
George Konstantinides
Managing Director
Berling S.A.
Michael Spanos
Founder & CEO
Global Sustain
Kleopatra Panagopoulou
Quality & Compliance Manager
Manifest S.A.
Thanos Belalidis
Partner, Sustainability Communication Expert
Sympraxis Team
Iro Rantou
Journalist & Presenter
ANT1
Aris Vrettos
Sustainable Business Strategy & Transformation Croda
Global Sustain Board Member
Babis Tsalkitzis
Associate
Advise for Small Business, EBRD
Yannis Kantonias
CEO
COSMOS Aluminium S.A.
Panagiotis Courtesis
Head of Finance
Kassinakis S.A.
Flora Chrysanthakopoulou
Quality Control Manager
Isostevia S.A.
Gregory Gregoriadis
CEO
ILT Logistics S.A.