Joshua Volz is the Special Envoy for Energy Integration at the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Volz previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Europe, Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East in the Office of International Affairs. Prior to joining the agency, Mr. Volz led the Eastern Mediterranean team at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources and held numerous positions within the U.S. Department of Defense. He has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Syria. Mr. Volz holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from Kalamazoo College, an M.S. in National Security Strategy and Resourcing from the National Defense University, and lectures at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies.

He served as Minister of State from June 2023 to March 2024.
He is an attorney-at-law, with postgraduate studies at Harvard Law School, Harvard University.
He has worked for more than three decades as a legal advisor in the private sector, specializing in corporate law and capital markets, both in Washington D.C. and Athens.
He was appointed as Head of the Prime Minister's Office of European Affairs and International Relations and served as chief negotiator of the Greek state with the European partners and the International Monetary Fund, in 2012-2015.
He served as Secretary of International Relations and the European Union of New Democracy Party (2004-2012). He was elected Chairman of DEMYC (Democrat Youth Community of Europe, 1997-2001), he was a founding member of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP) and a member of the Political Council of the European People's Party.

Panagiotis (Takis) Dimitriou Theodorikakos is the Minister of Development and a Member of the Hellenic Parliament for the Athens B3 (South) Constituency.

He was elected in the 2023 national elections with 47,300 votes, placing second.

He was Strategy and Communication Advisor to the President of New Democracy since October 2015 and Coordinator of Strategic Planning and Communication of the party, from October 2016 until the victorious election contests of May and July 2019 when he was elected as Member of State of the New Democracy.

He served as Strategy and Communication Advisor to the President of New Democracy from October 2015 and as Coordinator of the party’s Strategic Planning and Communication from October 2016 until the successful election contests of May and July 2019, in which he was elected as a Member of Parliament on the New Democracy national list.

• In July 2019, he was appointed Minister of the Interior by Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
• In August 2021, he was appointed Minister of Citizen Protection by Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
• In June 2024, he was appointed Minister of Development by Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
• He has an extensive professional career as a political researcher and analyst, as well as a strategy advisor.
• He holds a PhD in Public Policy from the University of the Peloponnese, where he taught in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences until June 2019.
• He was a scientific partner and president of the company GPO SA from 2000 to 2016. He has presented significant social and political research in Greece and abroad at scientific conferences, workshops, and through mass media.

He graduated from the Pedagogical Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA. He completed his Master's studies at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of EKPA in political science and sociology specializing in electoral sociology.

He graduated from the Ionideios Model High School.

He was born in 1964 in Piraeus.

He is married and has two children.

Ambassador FANG Qiu was born in February 1974 in Anhui Province, China. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in 1995 and began his diplomatic career in the Department of Taiwan Affairs.

 From 1996 to 2000, he served at the Consulate-General of China in Jeddah. He later worked in the Department of Personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he held a number of positions including Attaché, Third Secretary, Second Secretary, Deputy Division Chief, Division Chief, Counselor and Division Chief, and Deputy Director General. From 2013 to 2015, he served as Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand.

 From 2020 to 2024, Ambassador FANG served as Chinese Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. In November 2024, he was appointed Chinese Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic.

 He is married and has one daughter.

Ambassador Ito Koichi has graduated from the Law School of the University of Tokyo and received MA, Harvard University.After joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan he served as the Deputy Director in China and Mongolia Division of the Ministry. Then serving in the Permanent Mission of Japan in Genève, he moved to the Embassy of Japan in China, where he was Counsellor (Politics) from 1999-2001. In early 2000s he was Director of the Global Environment Division, and of Asian Regional Policy Division back in Tokyo.

He served as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia and then as a Consul- General in Guangzhou from 2012 to 2017. He returned to the Embassy of Japan in China as a Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission from 2015 to 2017.

In 2020 Ambassador ITO received the Outstanding Public Service Award, awarded by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S.A.

He is married and has two children.

EDUCATION           :

       Aug.   1995        B.A. in Spanish Language, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Korea

       May    2001        M.A in Law and Diplomacy, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, MA, U.S.A.

CAREER:

Apr. 1996            Passed High Diplomatic Service Examination

May.1996           Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)

Dec.2002            First Secretary, Korean Embassy in the Kingdom of Belgium and Korean Mission to the European Union

Dec.2005            Counsellor, Korean Embassy in the Republic of Lebanon

Dec.2009   First Secretary, Korean Embassy in the United States of America

Apr. 2013            Assistant Secretary, Office of the President

Feb. 2014            Director, Protocol Division I, MOFA

Dec.2014            Counsellor, Korean Embassy in the Republic of Singapore

May.2018           Counsellor, Korean Embassy in the Arab Republic of Egypt

Jul. 2020            Minister and Consul-General, Korean Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany

Oct. 2022            Director-General for Protocol Affairs, MOFA

Mar.2023            Deputy Protocol Secretary, Office of the President

FAMILY                   : Married with one daughter and one son

Nikos Hardalias was born on November 10, 1968, in Vyronas and originates from Granitsa, Evrytania.

He graduated with honors from Varvakeio Model School.

He studied Political Science and International Relations at the University of Kent, specializing in Regional Development and European Integration issues.

He completed his military service in the Hellenic Air Force from 1996 to 1998.

He served as Mayor of Vyronas for three consecutive terms (2003–2014), President of the Association for the Protection and Development of Mount Hymettus (SPAY) from 2003 to 2014, and President of the Civil Protection Committee of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) from 2006 to 2012. He also served as Executive Secretary of the Region of Central Greece (2014–2016) and Regional Councilor of Attica (2014–2019).

In addition, he served as Secretary General for Civil Protection from July 19, 2019, to March 16, 2020, Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management from March 17, 2020, to August 30, 2021, and Deputy Minister of National Defence from August 31, 2021, to May 25, 2023.

On June 27, 2023, he again assumed the role of Deputy Minister of National Defence until August 28, 2023.

On October 8, 2023, he was elected Regional Governor of Attica.

He is married to Mrs. Panagiota Panagiotopoulou, a Physical Education professor (School of Physical Education and Sport Science of Athens), and they have two daughters, Ioanna and Dimitra.

He speaks English and French.

Lia Athanasiou is Professor of Commercial Law at the Law School of the University of Athens, teaching Maritime Law, Competition Law, Corporate Law and State Aid. She is also responsible for the Maritime Law specialization of the Master's Program in Commercial Law.

She holds a PhD from the Sorbonne and has been a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School as a Fulbright scholar. He has taught at universities in Europe and the USA.

She is lawyer at the Supreme Court with experience in legal consulting, opinions and arbitration.

She has extensive legislative experience and has served as Chairman of the Legislative Committee for the reform of the Private Maritime Law Code (Law 5020/2023), while since 2015 she has been a member of the Committee of Experts of the International Labour Organization for the examining of the application of the International Maritime Labour Convention (2006). She has also collaborated with the European Commission and the Hellenic Competition Commission.

Her important writing work with a plethora of monographs and independent studies, in Greek, English and French, includes: "Maritime Law" (2nd ed., 2025), "State Aid Law" (2025), "Maritime Cross-border Insolvency" (2018), "Free Competition Law" (2nd ed., 2020) and "Competition and Regulation in Shipping and Shipping Related Industries" (2009).

George Sp. Alexandratos was born in Athens in 1973. He holds a BSc in shipping business from Plymouth University and an MSc in Maritime Policy from Cardiff University. He is the director of Apollonia Lines S.A., a company founded by his father Spyros in 1974. Since 2013, George established, along with co-partners, a shipping fund called Blue water Maritime Capital focusing to invest in dry bulk shipping.

George Sp. Alexandratos is the President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, elected since January 2025. He previously held the position of Vice President since 2017. He is also the General Secretary of the Hellenic Short Sea Shipowners Association since 2015. Additionally, he was elected as the President of the Piraeus Marine Club. In the past (from 2014 to 2016) he also served as the President of the Hellenic Hull Mutual.

He believes very much in synergies and he is a strong supporter of the Maritime Hellas, the official Hellenic Maritime Cluster.

Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has graduated from Athens College and the Athens Law School. He holds a Masters degree from Harvard University. He has worked as a shipping and business lawyer. Since 2000 he has been elected 11 times as a member of Parliament. He has served twice as Minister of Shipping, as Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs, and as a vice Foreign Minister for international economic relations. He has served in several parliamentarian position including twice as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Standing Committee.

In 2024 he resigned from parliament and now he is the Chairman of the Skaramangas Shipyard under the new ownership after privatization.

Harry Vafias founded Stealth Maritime Corp in 1999. Stealth Maritime Corp has invested in new generation newbuilds for the renewal of its tanker fleet and today operates thirty 50,000 – 160,000 dwt modern double hull oil tankers.

In 2004 he founded Stealthgas which was listed on the NASDAQ in October 2005 and up to today has raised approx $500 mill from the capital markets. Stealthgas owns 30 gas ships and is debt free.

In 2021 he founded Imperial petroleum which was listed on the NASDAQ in December 2021, and is the 7th most traded stock on any US stockmarket! The company owns abt 27 ships and is debt free.

In 2023 he founded C3iS inc which listed on the NASDAQ in the summer of 2023. The company owns abt 5 ships and is debt free. .

In 2005 Harry Vafias founded Estates Corporation Inc, a real estate company, investing in Greece, London, New York, and Switzerland.

In 2008 Vafias became CEO of the Vafias Group, which today is one of Greece’s largest shipping groups with 105 vessels (product tankers, crude tankers, bulkers of all sizes and gas carriers).

In 2008 Harry Vafias was awarded by the NASDAQ for being the youngest CEO of a listed shipping company worldwide.

In 2010 Harry Vafias was elected vice chairman of the INTERTANKO meditteranean panel. In the same year Harry Vafias was awarded the SEATRADE young person in shipping award.

In 2012 Harry Vafias was awarded by Lloyds list newspaper for being ‘newsmaker of the year for 2012’

In 2013 Harry Vafias and StealthGas was awarded by Lloyds list newspaper for ‘best tanker company of the year for 2013’

In 2016 was elected vice president of the consular corps in Greece (CCG).

In 2018 was elected president of the consular coprs in Greece (CCG).

Mr Vafias is also a member of the ABS classification society committee, of the NK classification society committee, of the KR classification society committee, member of the board of the BSA (Bahamas shipowners association) and also a member of the board of BCA (business school of Athens).

In 2022 Harry Vafias was awarded by Lloyds list newspaper for being ‘newsmaker of the year for 2022’

In 2023 Harry Vafias was elected city councilor in the attic northern suburbs.

In 2025 Harry Vafias was awarded by Bayes university the DEAN’s special award.

In 2025 Harry Vafias was awarded by the SOLEIL foundation the award for shipping personality of the year.

In 2026 Harry Vafias was awarded by E&Y the award for the most dynamic expansion in 2025!

In 2026 Harry Vafias was awarded by E&Y the award for Best entrepreneur of the year!

Antonis Georgantzis has 24 years of hands-on shipping experience. He began his career in 2002 with DNV Classification Society, with assignments in Norway and South Korea. In 2006, he joined Latsco Marine Management Inc., and throughout his career, he has held a series of senior positions within the company. In 2021, he was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). He has been involved in various newbuilding projects, having delivered more than 90 vessels, with a specialization in LPG carriers and tankers. He is Vice Chairman of MARTECMA, INTERTANKO’s ISTEC and DNV’s Technical Committee, while he is also a member of SIGTTO GPC, as well as of various other technical committees. He was born and educated in Greece and holds a degree in Naval Architecture and Mechanical Engineering, as well as a post graduate degree in Ship and Marine Technology from the National Technical University of Athens.

Costas Delaportas is the CEO of DryDel Shipping Inc., a leading shipowning and operating dry bulk company headquartered in Voula, Greece. With almost 30 years of experience in the maritime industry, he has been instrumental in driving DryDel’s growth and expansion.

Since 2000, Mr. C. Delaportas has served as the Commercial & Chartering Director. In 2021, he assumed the role of CEO, leading the company into a new era of development. He established DryDel’s Singapore office in 2010, followed by the Dubai office in 2018. Under his leadership, DryDel expanded further with new operating offices in São Paulo (2024) & Houston (2025).

He has successfully concluded projects for more than 25 newbuilding vessels with leading Japanese shipyards and has arranged key financing transactions, strengthening DryDel’s long-standing relationships with global partners and international financial institutions.

John Dragnis was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Goldenport Holdings Inc. in 2012. He also co-founded Oceangold Tankers Inc. a product and chemical tankers specialist that focuses on LR2, LR1 and MR2 type vessels and he was actively involved in setting up and running Golden Yachts, a super yachts construction, management and chartering business. In 2016, he successfully managed to de-list and re-capitalize Goldenport Holdings Inc. which was absorbed by the Goldenport Group. 

Today, among other activities, the Group operates a fleet of forty-six ocean-going vessels, ten new Oil and Gas Tankers and Container vessels under construction, eleven mega-yachts, three mega-yacht building and refit shipyards in Perama, Greece and one of the largest commercial yacht management platforms in the Mediterranean.  John is a Member of the American Bureau of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas, Lloyd’s Register and Bureau Veritas Committees. He is a Member of the Skuld P&I Club Committee. He is also a member of SYBAss, Superyacht Builders Association. He holds a BSc in Business Administration and an MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance from CASS Business School, London.

Dr. Sotirios Theofanis is an internationally acknowledged academic, expert and C-Level manager, in the fields of shipping management; port management and operations; and freight logistics, with a unique blend of administrative, high level managerial and academic (both research and teaching) career path.

Dr. Theofanis is Executive Director, MARLOGMIND PC; Non-Executive Vice President, M-Shipping SA; Affiliated Faculty, CAIT, Rutgers University, NJ, USA; Honorary Professor, University of York, UK; and Member, Board of Governors, University of Macedonia, Greece.

He is Member of the Standing Committee on Port Operations and Infrastructure of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, USA and he was previously Member of the Standing Committee on Marine Environment. Past positions, include, among others, those of Expert and Acting Director for Ports, Ministry of Merchant Marine, Greece; Chairman & CEO, Thessaloniki Port Authority SA, Greece (twice); Chairman & CEO, Piraeus Port Authority SA, Greece; Director & Visiting Professor, Freight and Maritime Program, CAIT, Rutgers University, NJ, USA; President, EXANTAS National Port Training Institute, Greece. He is also Founding Member of KOMVOS – NODE, an initiative of prominent members of Hellenism.

He was born in Vergi, Serres, Greece. In 1977, he entered the Hellenic Military Academy (Evelpidon), graduating in 1981 as a Second Lieutenant. During his military career, he served in various units, completed all training programs of the armored and special forces, and held several critical positions, including assignments abroad.

In March 2000, while attending the Supreme War College, he resigned from the Hellenic Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His resignation was driven by his disagreement with the Greek government’s handling of the “Ocalan Affair” in January 1999 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Since the autumn of 2000, he has been the founder and director of the publishing house “Infognomon,” and since 2008 he has also managed the blog “Infognomon Politika.” For his literary work, he has been awarded the Gold Medal of the Philological Association “Parnassos.”

Savvas Kalenteridis is a regular columnist for the newspapers “Dimokratia,” “Kyriakatiki Dimokratia,” and “Thessaloniki.” His analyses and articles, primarily focusing on Turkey and regional geopolitical issues, have been published in various newspapers, magazines, and online platforms. His program “Geopolitics” on Naftemporiki TV, as well as his YouTube channel, attract a wide audience interested in national security and international relations, as his approach is considered realistic and grounded in geostrategic thinking.

He is also a lecturer at the Hellenic National Defence College and the Hellenic Police Training School. Additionally, he teaches international relations and geopolitics at the Open University of Agia Paraskevi and has delivered lectures on similar topics at the Open University of Katerini and the Open University of the Municipality of Aspropyrgos.

Mr. Angelos Karakostas joined COSCO SHIPPING Lines (Greece) S.A. in 1997 as General Manager. In 2009, he was appointed Deputy General Manager of the Piraeus Container Station (PCT S.A). In August 2016, he took over the duties of Deputy CEO of the Port of Piraeus S.A. He holds a degree in Mathematics and a postgraduate degree in Business Research from the University of Patras. He holds an MBA and an MSc in Management from Teesside University of the United Kingdom.

Leonidas Karystios began his career in the maritime industry in 1998 and has worked on projects in the United Kingdom, Finland, Greece, South Korea and China. He has worked primarily on newbuilding projects for gas carriers (LNG and LPG) in Asia, collaborating with major shipbuilders in Korea and China.

He joined DNV in 2017 at the Piraeus office, where he held various management roles focusing on business development and customer relations. He is responsible, alongside his team, for the South East Europe region.

In terms of his educational background, Leonidas holds a Bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture and a Master's degree in Marine Technology, both from Newcastle University.

 Yiannis Karamanolis has more than 25 years of experience in shipping finance. Before joining Alpha Bank, he served as Head of Greek Shipping at BNP Paribas and as Head of Origination, Transportation Europe, Middle East and Africa. Previously, Yiannis held senior management roles at Fortis Bank and ABN AMRO, institutions with a strong focus on shipping.  Yiannis holds a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens and an MSc in Transportation from Cardiff University of Wales.

Georgios Kasimatis is Director of Regulatory Affairs at DNV Maritime, where he leads global regulatory and policy engagement across the IMO, IACS, the EU, flag administrations, and industry stakeholders, with a strong focus on decarbonisation and the safe adoption of new technologies.

With an academic background in Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering and Maritime Law, he combines engineering depth with legal and policy expertise.
His career spans Europe, East Asia, and international institutions, including hands‑on experience in shipbuilding, work with the European Commission, and senior leadership roles in classification and global regulatory forums

Christos Kechris is the Chief Executive Officer of Aegean Shipping Management S.A. in Piraeus, Greece. He is a results-driven executive with strong communication and managerial skills, experienced in operating effectively within demanding and fast-paced environments.

He assumed the role of CEO in June 2024, after serving as Chief Financial Officer of the company from 2014 to 2024. Prior to this, he worked as a Senior Manager at Deloitte and held positions at PwC as both Manager and Senior Consultant. He also served as Finance Manager at K.I. Priovolos S.A. and began his career as a Senior Accountant at Signature Hellas S.A.

He holds an Executive MBA and an MSc in Statistics and Economics from the Athens University of Economics and Business. He is also an ACCA IFRS Diploma holder and has completed professional training in accounting and taxation at PwC Academy.

Kleia Kokkini is a Senior Claims Executive and Greek-qualified Lawyer at Gard P&I Club (Piraeus office), having previously worked for an international law firm.

Over the last decade, she has built a career at the intersection of maritime law, strategy and decision making, specialising in complex negotiations arising out of a variety of P&I claims and related casualties, bringing legal precision and commercial acuity to some of the most challenging matters in the industry.

Kleia also advises Gard Members at the pre-fixture stage, helping shipowners navigate risk before it materialises, and designs and delivers tailored workshops and educational seminars that have become a trusted resource across Gard's Greek membership.

A graduate of the Law School of Athens and the National University of Singapore's LLM in Maritime Law, where she ranked first in her class, she currently serves on the International Group of P&I Clubs' Regional Education Outreach Committee, which recently secured a landmark MOU between the IG and the Athens Law School.

With a decade of hands-on experience, Kleia is a versatile and accomplished maritime legal professional.

Costas Kontes is an experienced professional in third- party ship management, with more than 24 years of experience in the maritime industry. Since 2025, he has been serving as Chief Commercial Director at Navilands, with primary responsibility for the Group’s Business Development.

Previously, he served as Managing Director of the Med Cluster for V Group since 2016, while from 2008 he held the position of Business Development Director within the same Group.  During his tenure, the offices in Greece and Cyprus successfully managed a fleet of over 150 vessels of all types under full technical management.

His earlier experience includes the Cruise / Leisure sector, where he worked for Iberojet Cruceros, a company of Carnival Corp. Group. As Head of Marine and Technical Operations, Costas established the company’s operations in Madrid, leading to the expansion of its fleet from 1 to 4 owned ships.

He holds a degree and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Shipping  from Newcastle Upon Tyne University, as well as a Master’s degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance from Bayes Business School (ex City University Business School). He is also a Chartered Engineer, accredited by British Engineering Council.

Costas served 8 years as a Governor of the International Propeller Club Port of Piraeus, including 2 years as Secretary General and 4 years as Vice President of the Club.

Vasilis Kosmatos is the Commercial and Chartering Director at Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd, responsible for shaping and executing the company’s commercial strategy and managing its fleet in the global dry bulk market.

He has over 15 years of experience in the shipping industry, having held key roles in chartering, fleet management, and commercial development.

Prior to joining Atlantic Bulk Carriers, he served as Chartering Manager at Pangaea, Broker at Clarksons, and Plan Approval Surveyor at Bureau Veritas.

He has extensive experience across the full spectrum of commercial shipping operations, including chartering, sale and purchase transactions, risk management through derivatives, and the optimization of profitability strategies.

He holds an MSc in Naval Architecture and a BEng in Marine Engineering from Newcastle University.

Antonis is the Managing Partner and one of the three founding partners of LCI Law, a boutique firm with offices in Athens and London. He specializes in English-law shipping dispute resolution and has over three decades of experience in the field.

Before establishing LCI Law, he spent more than 30 years with leading international firms, including Ince & Co in London and Piraeus, and WatsonFarley & Williams in Athens. Renowned for his extensive expertise in shipping law, he advises shipowners, P&I Clubs, hull and machinery underwriters, and cargo traders.

Antonis is ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global, Chambers Europe, and The Legal 500.

Christina Margelou is a seasoned executive in corporate investment banking with over three decades of experience, specializing in shipping finance. She currently serves as General Manager and Head of Shipping at Eurobank SA, a position she has held since 2014. Prior roles include leadership positions at Alpha Bank and Emporiki Bank (Credit Agricole Group), as well as early experience at Barclays Bank’s Piraeus Shipping Centre. She holds an MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance from Cass Business School and a BSc in Business Administration from Deree College, alongside partial studies in political and economic sciences at the University of Athens. Christina has completed executive programs at INSEAD and London Business School and holds a governance certificate from The Boardroom. Recognized internationally, she was named Shipping Financier of the Year (2017) and ranks among Lloyd’s List Top 10 in Ship Finance globally (2022–2024). She is a board member at Eurobank Private Bank Luxembourg, a founding member of The Boardroom

Dr. Matthew Maheras is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Metrostar Management Corp. and President of AMMITEC, the Association of Maritime IT Managers. He holds a PhD in Operations Research from NTUA and an MBA from Imperial College London, with previous technology leadership roles at Blueland S.A. and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organising Committee.

He has extensive experience in maritime digital transformation, cybersecurity, and IT/OT convergence, leading initiatives that enhance efficiency, compliance, and cyber resilience across fleet and shore. His work focuses on leveraging data, AI, and analytics to improve decision-making and performance in an increasingly complex threat and regulatory environment.

He has been recognized as ICT Manager of the Year, and included in the CIO Power 50 list.

 

With over 17 years of hands-on expertise in freight markets and maritime intelligence, Maria Bertzeletou stands at the intersection of global trade dynamics, geopolitical risk analysis, and shipping market strategy. Her work is defined by a rigorous, data-driven methodology that translates complex macroeconomic and geopolitical signals, from Black Sea conflict disruptions and Red Sea re-routing pressures to shifting energy trade flows and sanctions-driven market reconfigurations — into clear, actionable freight market insights.

Greek International Women Award, London 2017.  Awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to shipping research and lasting impact on the global maritime industry, this distinction acknowledged Maria as both a rigorous technical expert and a leading voice shaping the future of the sector.

A regular speaker at major international maritime forums, Maria is a trusted source for the world’s foremost financial and shipping media. Her analysis and commentary have been featured in Bloomberg, Reuters, Lloyd’s List, and TradeWinds, reflecting the international reach and authority of her market perspectives. She is known for delivering sharp, evidence-based views on freight direction that resonate with shipowners, financial institutions active in ship finance, and policy advisors driving the regulatory agenda for global shipping.

Panos Xenokostas is a visionary entrepreneur and investor across Shipbuilding, Maritime, ICT, Aviation, Defense & Security, and Energy. He holds a degree in aeronautical engineering and an MBA from the Kurt Bösch University Institute in Switzerland.

As Founder, President & CEO of ONEX Shipyards & Technologies Group, he leads a diversified portfolio spanning shipbuilding, ship repair, naval defense, offshore constructions, floating wind farms, rail rolling stock, defense technologies, energy, and more — with assets of approximately €1,1 billion and a workforce of over 3,000. ONEX secured $125 million in financing from the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and is executing a €650 million investment program, targeting a €5 billion asset base by 2030.

Panos Xenokostas serves as Chairman of the Hellenic Shipyards Association, founded at his initiative in 2023, and has received international recognition for his entrepreneurial, environmental, and social contributions.

John A. Xylas, is the President and CEO of Ariston Navigation Corp. He graduated from Athens College in 1982 and obtained an Economics degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986.

With over 38 years of experience in shipping, John has founded Ariston Navigation Corp and Melissa Shipping Company. Additionally, John co-founded TMA Bulk Pool (Inc), headquartered in Hamburg, and Axiom-Womar, a dry bulk vessel operator, based in London, UK.

John holds several prominent roles in the maritime industry. He is the Chairman of InterCargo for the period 2025-2026. He is serving at the Executive Board as Treasurer of UGS and Syn-Enosis in consequtive terms since 2015. He is also a board member and Secretary of Helmepa, a member of the ABS and LR’s Hellenic National Committees and has served two terms as President of the Piraeus Marine Club.

Gianni Onorato has been the Chief Executive Officer of MSC Cruises since 2013. In this role, he oversees the company’s operations from its global headquarters in Geneva, reporting to the Board of Directors and the Executive Chairman.

With more than 30 years of experience in the cruise industry, Mr. Onorato possesses a deep understanding of the cruise business and extensive experience in senior management roles. He previously served as President of Costa Cruises from 2004 to 2013.

Born in Italy, Mr. Onorato graduated in 1983 from the Istituto Orientale in Naples with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature. He further specialized at SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan and at INSEAD in Fontainebleau.

Mr. Onorato began his career in 1986 at Costa Cruises as Food and Beverage Manager, before being promoted to Director of the Cruise Division. From 1997, he served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility for supply chain management and procurement, as well as all activities related to port calls, shore excursions, and onboard hotel operations.

Ioanna  Procopiou graduated  from  Bath  University  in  2000  with  a  BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and continued her studies gaining an MSc from City University in Shipping Trade and Finance. In 2018 she became an alumna from Harvard Business School.

In 2003 she joined Dynacom Tankers Management in Glyfada, Greece. In 2010, after heading the Sale and Purchase and Projects activities in Dynacom for 4 years, Ioanna founded Prominence Maritime a company that manages bulk carriers. In addition to the above she is the CEO of Sea Traders.

Ioanna is President Designate of BIMCO and serves on the Boards of Directors of NorthStandard, the Union of Greek Shipowners and the Cyprus Union of Shipowners.

Sotiris Raptis has been Secretary General of European Shipowners (ECSA) since 2022. The organisation represents 21 European shipowners' associations and around 35% of the global fleet.

He previously worked as a policy advisor in the European Parliament, for the environmental organisation Transport & Environment, and for the European Sea Ports Organisation.

Sotiris studied law at the University of Thessaloniki, obtained his LLM from the University of Athens, and his MA in EU Law from King's College London. He was awarded the European Citizens' Prize 2008 by the European Parliament as a member of the "G700" blog for promoting intergenerational justice

Angelos Tyrogalas is Chief Operating Officer of Contships Management Inc. and a senior shipping executive with extensive experience in maritime strategy, fleet growth, operational leadership and business development. Over the course of his career, he has combined technical expertise with a strong commercial and investment mindset, taking a hands-on role in transactions, fleet renewal, financing and strategic growth initiatives. He has contributed to the development of modern, performance-driven shipping businesses by combining operational depth with practical execution and long-term strategic vision. He holds an MBA, an MSc in Marine Engineering, and a BEng in Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde.

Nikolas P. Tsakos is the Founder & CEO of Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN), a pioneering shipping company established in 1993, quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. He comes from a traditional Chios seafaring family and has extensive seagoing experience. Mr Tsakos is Vice-Chairman of the GSCC, London, former Chairman of INTERTANKO (2014 to 2018) and former President of the environmental organization, “HELMEPA”. He sits on the boards of various maritime and finance organizations/associations. He is the co-founder of the Maria Tsakos Educational Foundation, which supports the higher education of young people, both in their native island Chios and abroad. He graduated from Columbia University in New York with a degree in Economics and Political Science and has a Master’s degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance from City University Business School, London. In 2011, City University awarded him an honorary doctorate for his pioneering work in the equity financial markets relating to shipping companies. He is married and has three children.

Stamatis Tsantanis is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. (the “Company” or “Seanergy”) (NASDAQ: SHIP). He joined the Company in 2012 and led its significant growth to a world-renowned pure-play Capesize company listed in the U.S., with cargo-carrying capacity exceeding 4.2 million dwt upon delivery of the newbuild vessels.

Stamatis is also the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Maritime Corporation (NASDAQ: USEA), an independent diversified public shipping company that was initially established as a subsidiary of Seanergy.

He has more than 27 years of experience in shipping and finance and previously held senior management positions in prominent private and public shipping companies and financial institutions.

Stamatis is also a member of the board of directors of Breakwave Advisors LLC, the advisor of ETFMG which is the manager of the NYSE listed BWET and BDRY and he is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.

Stamatis holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Shipping Trade and Finance from Bayes Business School (formerly known as Cass Business School) of City University in London and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Shipping Economics from the University of Piraeus.