Natural Disasters Management Summit

Alasdair Ross, countries editor, “The World Ahead”, The Economist 
Kyriakos Pozrikidis, CEO, HELEXPO, Greece 

Alasdair Ross Countries editor

Kyriakos Pozrikidis CEO

Voula Patoulidou, vice-governor of Central Macedonia - Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki 

Voula Patoulidou Vice-governor of Central Macedonia - Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki

Vasilis Moisidis, appointed city councilor for Civil Protection, Municipality of Thessaloniki 

Vasilis Moisidis Appointed city councilor for civil protection

PRIORITIES FOR THE RESTORATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS FOLLOWING THE FLOODING RAINS FROM STORM DANIEL

• Next steps to take
• EU funding and relief packages 

Christos Staikouras, minister of infrastructure and transport, Greece

Christos Staikouras Former minister of finance

• Climate crisis: exploring the blurred lines between natural and man-made disasters
• Urbanisation and demographic changes: how are they engaged to the management of natural hazards?
• How is disaster risk reduction connected to a sustainable growth model?
• The significance of international co-operation

Costas Synolakis, president, Athens College, professor, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, NAE (via connection)

Reimund Schwarze, professor, The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), head of the research group ‘Climate Change and Extreme Events’, board member, DKKV, Germany (via connection)

Costas Synolakis Professor, Viterbi School of Engineering

Reimund Schwarze Professor, The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), head of the research group ‘Climate Change and Extreme Events’, board member

• The role of legislation and governance in addressing natural risks
• EU funding at the service of civil protection
• How can citizens get involved?
• Sharing experience from abroad

Patricia Gaspar, state secretary for civil protection, Portugal
Hans Das, director for emergency management and rescEU, DG ECHO, European Commission (via connection)
Romain Royet, deputy director general of civil protection and crisis management 
(DGSCGC), France
Michalis Katrinis, parliamentary representative, PASOK-Kinima Allagis

Co-chair: George Boustras, special adviser to the president of the Republic of Cyprus in civil protection and crisis management, professor in risk assessment, school of sciences, European University Cyprus

Patricia Gaspar State secretary for civil protection

Hans Das Director for emergency management and rescEU, DG ECHO

Romain Royet Deputy director-general of civil protection and crisis management (DGSCGC)

Michalis Katrinis Member, Hellenic Parliament

• Emergency management

Jacob Wimisberg, director, strategic cooperation and assistance division, National Emergency Management Authority, State of Israel
Anastasios Gerasimatos, managing director, H.C.D.M.I., member, International Crisis Management Association, crisis management certified specialist

Jacob Wimisberg Director, strategic cooperation and assistance division

Anastasios Gerasimatos Member, International Crisis Management Association, crisis management certified specialist, Managing director

• The important role of the public and private sector
• How can the insurance industry’s expertise contribute to safe communities?
• The private sector in action

George Feretzanis, vice-president, Hellenic Organization of Agricultural Insurances
Ioannis Gitas, professor, department of forestry and natural environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

George Feretzanis Vice-president

Ioannis Gitas Professor, Department of Forestry and Natural Environment

• Climate change and disaster displacement
• Environmental refugees: how can they be helped?

Sofia Voultepsi, deputy minister of migration and asylum, Greece
Laurent Alfonso, senior adviser for civil protection, Union for the Mediterranean
Achilleas Tzemos, general director for Greece, Médecins Sans Frontières 
George Mitri, professor of Environmental Sciences, director, Land and Natural Resources Program, Institute of the Environment, University of Balamand, Lebanon 
Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar, chair, management board, Andan Foundation, EUAA, former director general, Swedish Migration Agency 

Sofia Voultepsi Deputy minister of migration and asylum

Laurent Alfonso Senior adviser for civil protection

Achilleas Tzemos General director for Greece

George Mitri Professor of Environmental Sciences, director, Land and Natural Resources Program

Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar Former director-general, Swedish Migration Agency, Chair, management board

• Following the optimum strategy

Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, MP, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection
Manolis Plionis, professor, director and president of the Board of Directors, National Observatory of Athens, coordinator of CLIMPACT
Fay Makantasi, research director, diaNEOsis

Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou MP, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection

Manolis Plionis Professor, director and president of the BoD, National Observatory of Athens, Coordinator

Fay Makantasi Research director

• The role of education and training in disaster preparedness
• The significance of research: How do big data and AI reshape disaster management?
• Social and ethical aspects of disaster management 

Gerassimos Papadopoulos, seismologist, member of the BoD, Hellenic Mediterranean University
Kalliopi Sapountzaki, professor and dean, School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics, Harokopio University 
Ioanna Triantafyllou, seismologist, Center for Security Studies, Ministry of Citizen Protection, Greece

• The role of the volunteers: What new needs have emerged in 2023?

Serafeim Tsiougkris, president of the board, Hellenic Volunteer Firefighters Association
Miltiadis Athanasiou, environmental scientist (via connection)

Gerassimos Papadopoulos Seismologist, Member of the BoD

Kalliopi Sapountzaki Professor and dean, School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics

Ioanna Triantafyllou Seismologist

Serafeim Tsiougkris President of the board

Miltiadis Athanasiou Environmental scientist (via connection)

• How 5G, AI and other technologies support the Civil Protection services

In dialogue with The Economist:
Alexandros Bregiannis, CEO, Nova ICT

Alexandros Bregiannis Chief executive

BUILDING RESILIENCE: TURNING RISKS INTO OPPORTUNITIES

• The economic aspect of disaster management
• Investing in safety: promoting future growth and social cohesion

Eli Pushkarewicz, portfolio manager for Europe and Israel, FEMA (via connection)

Eli Pushkarewicz Portfolio manager for Europe and Israel