Dionysios Kolaitis

Mechanical Engineer, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens

Dr. Dionysios Kolaitis is an Assistant Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. His current research interests are fire initiation, spreading and suppression in indoor and outdoor environments, fire behaviour of construction products, innovative combustion technologies and energy utilization efficiency in residential and industrial buildings. He has more than 100 publications in international scientific journals and conferences and he has participated in more than 30 research projects. He is actively contributing in teaching under-graduate and post-graduate courses at the School of Mechanical Engineering, NTUA, in the areas of “Fire Engineering”, “Combustion”, “Transport Phenomena”, “Numerical Simulations” and “Building Energy Systems”. He is the Technical Manager of NTUA’s Fire Engineering Unit, which is the only accredited and notified laboratory in Greece that performs “reaction to fire” tests according to EN 13501-1. Since 2017, he is the National Representative for Greece, appointed by NQIS (ELOT), in several Technical Committees of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) related to fire engineering.

Minas Dermatis

Chief Commercial Officer, IFSAS

Minas Dermatis is the Chief Commercial Officer of IFSAS Solutions SA, one of the leading providers of integrated Life Safety & Security Systems solutions in Greece and Southeast Europe. With more than 24 years of professional experience, including over 20 years in senior commercial and executive leadership roles, he specializes in organizational growth strategy, the delivery of large-scale critical infrastructure projects, and the development of high-value commercial ecosystems.

At IFSAS, he leads the company’s commercial strategy and international growth, contributing to the implementation of landmark projects such as The Ellinikon, major data centers, and key transportation infrastructure.

He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manchester, an MSc from the University of Liverpool, and an MBA from National Technical University of Athens and Athens University of Economics and Business.

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Dr. Yiannis Kontoulis

President of the Board of Directors of ELIPYKA

Dr. Yiannis Kontoulis, MBA, is the President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Institute of Fire Protection of Structures (ELIPYKA) and General Manager of Knauf Insulation for Greece, Cyprus and Malta. He has experience in materials technology, sales, marketing and logistics. He has worked in sectors of thermal insulation products, industrial minerals, and special products and ceramics, both in industry and at Imperial College, London, where he obtained his PhD. He has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Greek Ceramic Society (EKE). He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Association of Insulation Companies (PSEM), a founding member of the Sustainable Building Council Greece (SBC Greece) and Committee Chair of its Consultation & Advocacy Committee. He represents ELIPYKA at the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations Europe (CFPA-e).

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Dr Paraskevi (Evi) Georgiadou

Chemical Engineer, Hellenic Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (ELINYAE)

Paraskevi (Evi) Georgiadou is a Chemical Engineer and holds a PhD from the National Technical University of Athens, with specialization in decision‑making for the management of major industrial accidents and emergency planning. Since 1999, she has served as a researcher at the Hellenic Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (ELINYAE). Her research expertise encompasses occupational health and safety (OSH), fire protection, disaster risk reduction, civil protection, emergency and evacuation planning, major industrial accident prevention, environmental hazards, and risk assessment. She has coordinated or contributed as an expert to national and European research projects and studies. She teaches in postgraduate programs at Greek universities, provides vocational training, and is the author of technical reports, technical books, and peer‑reviewed scientific articles. She has presented her work at numerous national and international scientific conferences. She is a member of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (SYAE), a member of the permanent OSH committee of the Technical Chamber of Greece, and a member of the scientific committee of PEROSH (Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and Health).

Dimitris Kalliampetsos

Civil Engineer , Project Manager Renovation Projects, Mainz, Germany

Read the CV here

Costas E. Bazigos

AlFireE Mechanical Engineer MSc (1981,Uni. of BATH, UK) Fire Engineer MSc (2008,Uni of LEEDS, UK)

I specialize in the design, installation, and commissioning of fire detection and fire extinguishing systems.

Since 2008, after obtaining a master’s degree in ” Fire and Explosion Engineering, I have been working as a consultant in fire engineering, drafting fire safety strategy reports for buildings of various uses, fire risk assessment studies, and smoke management system studies (smoke extraction).

I participated as a speaker at the 2nd & 3rd International Conference of EL.I.P.Y.K.A.

I am a member of the board of ELIPYKA

Μember of ΤΕΕ, IFE (UK), NFPA (USA)

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Dr. George Iliadis

Mechanical Engineer

Dr. George Iliadis, PhD [AUTh Dept. of Civil Engineering 1997], Mechanical Engineer [AUTh 1990], has worked for the past 30 years in the fields of energy efficiency, noise reduction, passive fire protection, and safety and security through the optimization of building facade materials. 

He possesses extensive experience in the application and inspection of standards regarding the production and performance of construction products and renewable energy applications, both in Greece and abroad [Balkans – Middle East]. 

He has served as an International Adviser for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development [EBRD 2016]. 

He has participated in training programs for glass professionals and technicians, either as an instructor or by drafting and developing educational material [TEE 2016-2018, GSEVEE 2015-2020]. Furthermore, he designed the professional adaptation roadmap titled “Glass Technician” on behalf of the GSEVEE Laboratory for Forecasting and Monitoring Changes in Professions [2019]. 

He is a member of professional organizations and TEE (Technical Chamber of Greece) working groups [working groups for drafting KENAK 2010, Technical Guidelines for Safety Glass 2018-2022, Technical Guidelines for Passive Fire Protection 2019], ELOT (Hellenic Organization for Standardization) Technical Committees [TE33 and TE43], a TEE expert witness, and a member of independent institutes [Board Member of ELIPYKA, President of the e-CODOMH business cluster]. 

Dr. George Iliadis and ili-Con, of which he is the Managing Director, serve as architectural glass application consultants for Saint-Gobain Glass. 

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Dr. Efthimios Bakogiannis

General Secretary of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy

Efthimios Bakogiannis Dr Urban planner- Transport Engineer is an assistant professor at NTUA- SATM, Department of Geography and Regional Planning. He is one of the founding members of the ‘Sustainable Mobility Unit-SMU’ in the N.T.U.A. http://www.smu.gr/. He is teaching various undergraduate courses, including Urban Planning, Urban Geography, Housing Networks, Methods and Applications of Urban Design and Environmental Planning as well as postgraduate courses related to Housing Settlements’ Networks. He has participated in more than 40 European and National research projects, conducted by NTUA. The main research fields of his activity comprise integrated urban and transport planning towards the sustainable city, integration of alternative means in urban areas ( bicycle network planning, evaluation and infrastructure design, urban & transport design for pedestrians and public transport), environmental planning (with emphasis on the vulnerable road users) of large scale metropolitan areas (campuses, metropolitan Parks, old airport, coastal areas, central zones), mobility management and policies for the promotion of alternative means. The research funding comes both from national bodies such as municipalities, ministries, urban planning and transportation agencies, and the European Commission (FP4, FP5, FP6, ERDF, INTERREG). Today is the General Secretary of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy.

Maria Founti

Professor Emerita, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens

Maria Founti is Emeritus Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens and a recognized researcher in building energy performance, advanced construction materials, and fire safety in the built environment. She has authored more than 250 scientific publications and has participated in or coordinated over 40 competitive European and international research projects. Her work focuses on bridging scientific research, materials technology, and regulatory frameworks to support the development of safe, resilient, and sustainable buildings. She has served as an advisor to the European Commission on materials and production processes and is actively involved in European initiatives for the sustainable built environment. Through her research and policy engagement, she promotes evidence-based approaches that strengthen fire safety, resilience, and long-term performance in the construction sector.

Christos Manakos

Civil Engineer ilicon, Greece

Christos Manakos is a civil engineer at ilicon, with experience in technical consultancy and installation supervision for fire-rated glazed systems. He has been involved in a significant number of projects with high technical and performance specification requirements, acting as project manager.

He specializes in the design of customized solutions involving fire-rated glazed systems, façade design, and the continuous oversight of projects from the specification stage through to the completion of installation.

He graduated from the University of Pedagogical and Technological Education (A.S.PAI.T.E.) in 2021. He has also participated in various professional seminars related to building fire protection.

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Virgilios Maronidis

Civil Engineer ilicon, Greece

Virgilios Maronidis is a civil engineer with previous work experience in construction and engineering consulting firms. Since December 2014, he has been a member of ilicon team, with primary professional focus in the design, development, and implementation of passive fire-rated glazed systems. He has participated in numerous projects across all stages of design, construction and installation.

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George Delaportas

Co-Founder & CEO at PROBOTEK, Greece

Distinguished technologist and serial innovator with 25+ years leading breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, system architecture and mission-critical technologies. Founder & CEO of PROBOTEK, delivering cloud/edge AI, autonomous systems and Next-Gen Meta-OS platforms. Proven record leading multi-million-Euro deployments across aerospace, defense, security and enterprise domains. Fluent in blending deep tech with business strategy, operating at the intersection of research, innovation and scalable productization.

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Emmanouil Mathioudakis

Dipl. Mechanical Engineer NTUA, Sales Department KEMETA SA

Read the CV here

Apostolos Gougoulakis

Electrical Engineer University of Patras & MBA University of Patras, Business Development and Sales Manager, Siemens, Greece & Cyprus

Experienced Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the fields of Electrical/Electronic Solutions, Fire Detection and Detection of explosives and toxic gases, Fire Extinguishing and Suppression (Certified by Johnson Control’s Tyco & Siemens), Security against theft and robbery, CCTV, Access, Building Management Systems (BMS & KNX). Combining both the Sales and Project Management skills giving solutions as a consultant.
Also a researcher in Areas of Mass and Volume. Calibration and Certification of Scales, Weight Bridges and Weight, Data Analyst of Volume Data. Familiar with the position of the Quality Manager for Quality Systems ISO 17025, ISO 9001.

Diploma in Electrical Engineering & MBA of the Department of the University of Patras

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Dr Herodotos Phylaktou

Associate Professor, The University of Leeds, UK

Dr Herodotos Phylaktou is an Associate Professor at the University of Leeds with over 30 years’ experience in fire and explosion safety across industrial, commercial and residential environments. He founded and led the undergraduate programmes in Fire Engineering at Leeds and directed the MSc in Fire & Explosion Engineering from 1998 to 2020. For more than three decades, he has also led professional CPD programmes in combustion, fire dynamics, explosion hazards and fire investigation, attended by engineers and safety professionals worldwide.

His research expertise spans compartment fire dynamics, toxic emissions from fires, CFD modelling, gas and dust explosions, hydrogen combustion and safety, and the decarbonisation of combustion systems using hydrogen and biomass. He has contributed extensively to industrial safety in the oil and gas sector, including the design of fire and explosion protection and mitigation systems. Dr Phylaktou has published over 230 peer-reviewed papers and has been involved in major incident investigations, including the Grenfell Tower fire.

He currently serves on the technical committee for PAS 4444, the UK safety specification for hydrogen-fired domestic appliances, and continues to work on emerging fire and explosion hazards in modern, low-carbon built environments.

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Massimo Ferretti

Electronic Engineer, 1st Level Master in Fire Safety Engineering, Business Development Manager for Water Mist Industry at SIEMENS S.p.A, Italy

Massimo Ferretti is a Business Development Manager with over 20 years of experience in fire protection and safety systems, specializing in water mist technologies. He has been working with Siemens S.p.A. / Marioff since 2007, supporting civil and industrial projects through feasibility studies, preliminary design, technical and commercial proposals, and training activities related to HI-FOG water mist systems.

Previously, he held sales engineering roles in fire protection systems and earlier worked in the telecommunications sector as an integration designer, software designer, and bid manager. He holds a Master’s degree in Fire Safety Engineering from the Free University of Bolzano and a degree in Electronic Engineering.

Massimo is an experienced technical trainer and regularly delivers seminars to engineers and industry professionals. He is fluent in Italian and English.

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Υannis Theogiannis

Electrical Engineer (T.E.), Central Greece Area Manager / Fire Technology Executive at IFSAS S.A., Greece

Υannis Theogiannis is a Fire Technology Executive with over 18 years of experience in fire detection, suppression, and integrated security systems. He currently serves as Central Greece Area Manager at IFSAS S.A., where he coordinates engineering teams, project schedules, and technical compliance across complex infrastructure projects.

With a strong background as a Field Engineer and Lead Contractor, he has contributed to large-scale projects in transportation, defense, and energy sectors in Greece and abroad. His expertise includes advanced fire detection systems, pre-action and extinguishing systems, PA/VA solutions, and integrated safety platforms.

Yannis holds a Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Western Macedonia and combines hands-on technical knowledge with operational leadership and team coordination.

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Ermina Damlamayan

Fire Protection Engineering Consultant, United States

Ermina Damlamayan is a Fire Protection Engineering Consultant with extensive experience across a wide range of fire protection projects. She graduated in 2019 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Civil Engineering and holds a Graduate Certificate in Fire Protection Engineering. Her work focuses on fire suppression and fire alarm system design, emergency evacuation planning, life safety, and building code compliance within the New York City real estate sector.

Her professional experience includes building code consulting for high-rise commercial and residential developments, as well as fire protection and fire alarm system replacement for existing construction, including designated landmarks. In her role as a project manager, she often provides strategic guidance throughout permitting and approval processes, coordinating with the New York City Fire Department to address and comply with regulatory requirements. Ermina has been involved in long-term collaborations with some of the most prominent New York cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera of NY in Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History

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Eirini Marinaki

Fire Engineer OFR Consultants, United Kingdom

Eirini Marinaki is a Fire Engineer with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (BSc) and a Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering (MSc), specialising in cold-formed steel (CFS) systems and their performance at elevated temperatures. Her academic and professional focus lies in passive fire protection, fire testing, and fire engineering design, with particular emphasis on external wall façade systems.

Since 2016, Eirini has been professionally active in the United Kingdom within the field of fire safety. For five years, worked for a manufacturer of passive fire protection systems, contributing to system specification, materials research and development, and fire testing. She subsequently spent three years in a fire engineering consultancy within the legal team, gaining experience in fire investigations, technical assessments, and regulatory assessments. Over the past two years, she has been working at OFR Consultants, where she is involved in the design and implementation of external wall systems and façade remediation projects for high-rise buildings.
Her work is carried out in accordance with current international standards and regulatory requirements (including BS 8414 and EN 13501), within the context of post-Grenfell regulatory reforms. Her background supports a multidisciplinary approach to the design and implementation of fire safe and sustainable building envelopes.

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Loukas Aronis

General Manager and Shareholder of Electrosystems, Greece

Loukas Aronis has more than 23 years of experience in the industry, supported by a strong technical background and an active role in shaping and developing the market. Having served as Technical Director and as a member of specialized technical teams, with extensive hands-on experience, he has adopted and implemented a problem solving philosophy focused on tailor-made solutions. His contribution has been instrumental in the growth and development of both the Electrosystems team and its network of partners.

Today, as General Manager of Electrosystems, he leads a modern transformation of the company, strengthening its outward orientation while fostering a human-centered culture across all levels of operation. His vision combines technological advancement with the creation of strong relationships, both internally and within the company’s broader external environment.

He remains actively involved in technical operations, providing daily support to his team whenever required. He is a certified fire detection trainer with extensive experience in demanding projects and has trained and certified a large number of professionals, whom he continues to support consistently and stand alongside in their professional journey.

In parallel, he actively participates in the education of new professionals through seminars and lectures at technical schools, sharing his passion for technical knowledge, continuous development, and the principles of professional ethics.

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Aikaterini Arnaouti

Senior Sustainability Specialist, Noval Property – Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineer, Greece

Katerina Arnaouti is a qualified Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineer from the School of Engineering of the University of Patras, and she has completed postgraduate studies in Energy Production and Management at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens. She holds pedagogical and teaching competence, as well as certification for the application of fire protection in buildings of standard use.

Since 2003, she has supervised electromechanical installations in a wide range of projects across Greece. From May 2011 until the end of 2022, she served as Head of the Technical Support and Operations Department of the shopping centers RIVER WEST and MARE WEST, where her key responsibilities included developing and implementing procedures for the smooth operation of the malls, as well as designing and carrying out emergency response and evacuation procedures, always focusing on the health and safety of employees and visitors.

Since early 2023, she has been working as a member of the sustainability department at Noval Property REIC, where she is involved in implementing modern energy-saving methods, corporate and social responsibility, and aligning the company with corporate governance principles. At the same time, she actively participates in the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, in monitoring energy performance and emissions, and in promoting and obtaining certifications for the assets in the company’s portfolio.

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Oana Badescu

Public Affairs Director, Knauf Insulation Romania; Member of MIWO (Mineral Wool Association)

Public affairs professional specializing in energy policy, building renovation and EU funding frameworks. At Knauf Insulation Romania, she leads strategic engagement with policymakers, industry stakeholders and associations to advance sustainable construction, fire safety and energy efficiency. The main focus is translating regulatory and financing mechanisms into workable policy outcomes that enable largescale renovation with measurable economic and safety benefits.

Over the past five to seven years, Oana has pursued an impactdriven approach, combining sharp policy insight with clear, persuasive messaging to support renovation initiatives with strong economic impact and enhanced fire safety. As a member of the Mineral Wool Association (MIWO), she works across the value chain to build coalitions, inform regulatory debates and turn complex frameworks into practical delivery. She is committed to aligning policy ambition with market realities, helping unlock financing to accelerate the upgrading of Romania’s building stock and embed energy efficiency and fire safety in longterm renovation strategies.

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Athanasios Giannadakis

Researcher, Laboratory of Applied Thermodynamics, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineering, University of Patras, Greece

Athanasios Giannadakis holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD from the Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics Department. He has over twenty years of professional activity in building and industrial installations specializing in energy and holds a Class C Energy Auditing Certification. His research work focuses in the study of thermal-fluid fields, while for the last twenty years he has been active in special fields of Fire Mechanics such as the reaction of materials to fire via Cone Calorimetry method, the determination of the Calorific Value of Fuels via Bomb Calorimeter method and the development of experimental and computational models for the study of the fire spreading in aircraft and building facilities. Finally, he has been involved in research and the development of models of genetic algorithms for the prediction of thermophysical properties of materials during their combustion. Recently, he was elected Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Peloponnese.

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Vasiliki Georgountzou

Fire Lieutenant Civil Engineer, MSc

Read the CV here.

Dimitris Dimitriadis

Managing Director, Accordia sa, Greece

Dimitris Dimitriadis is the Managing Director of ACCORDIA SA and has more than 30 years of experience in the field of control and communication cables, covering the full range of expertise from initial design to production, quality control and technical support.

During his professional career, he has participated in dozens of projects related to special telecommunication cable applications as well as the development and production of coaxial cables, in collaboration with leading cable and satellite providers in Greece and Europe.

ACCORDIA SA (formerly BIOKAL SA) has been designing and producing communication and control cables in Greece since 1974, with international sales in 24 countries. It has developed FlameSmart® technology for better cable reaction to fire, AllWeather® technology for longer life in outdoor cables and HyperShield® technology for increased cable protection against electromagnetic interference.

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Anna Ioannidou-Kati

MEng MSc CEng MICE MSFE/ Member of Society of Façade Engineering / Associate at Eckersley O’Callaghan, United Kingdom

Anna has been part of the Eckersley O’Callaghan (EOC) Facade Engineering team since 2019, working on diverse projects from commercial and retail developments to residential buildings. She is passionate about structural facade design, building thermal and solar performance, and sustainability principles. Anna has published and presented at international conferences, such as Challenging Glass (2018), Powerskin (2021) and ZAK World of Facades (2025) on topics related with facade design and technology.

She has contributed to the design and delivery of large-scale, complex facade projects in the United Kingdom, Greece, and the Middle East, with experience in all project stages from concept design to completion. Anna was the facade engineering lead of the Piraeus Tower project, which won the 2024 CTBUH Facade Award of Excellence.

Anna is Chartered Engineer in the UK and is member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE). Driven by a shared passion for facade engineering, she is one of the founding members of the Society of Façade Engineering Greek Hub, a collaborative platform dedicated to advancing knowledge and best practice in facade engineering. Anna holds a Master’s degree in Building Engineering from TU Delft and a Civil Engineering degree from the National Technical University of Athens.

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Petros Karatzas

Member of Society of Façade Engineering / Executive Director Skyline Facades, Greece

Petros is a highly experienced facade professional with over 30 years in the international buidling envelope industry. Ηe has contributed to numerous projects across Europe and the Middle East, advocating for the innovative and optimal use of facade materials.

He has co-founded Skyline Facades, a Facade Design, Engineering and Consulting firm based in Athens. Skyline Facades specializes in projects primarily in the UK, USA and Canada – covering both new constructions and refurbishments. Their portfolio includes iconic projects such as Beam on Farmer in Arizona, Old Paradise Street in London and ACS International School in Doha.

Along with fellow professionals that share the same passion for facades, he has been among the founding members of Society of Facade Engineering – Greek hub, a forum where engineers can work together to advance knowledge and good practice.

Petros believes that every building serves a purpose. Together with Skyline Facades’ team of architects and engineers, they provide buildability advice and creative design solutions, helping architects and developers to achieve their vision, while overcoming complex challenges.

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Andreas Poulis

Civil Engineer NTU, Greece

Andreas Poulis is a holder of a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Professional experience includes the design and site supervision of concrete, steel and masonry buildings, with involvement across both structural and energy-efficiency aspects. His work focuses on delivering optimized solutions to complex engineering problems through practical coordination and sound engineering judgment

Georgios D. Oktapotis

Diploma in Architecture Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), MSc in Environmental Design of Cities and Buildings and in Construction Project Management.
Architect Engineer, Directorate of Technical Works, Region of North Aegean, Greece

Georgios D. Oktapotis is an Architect Engineer with postgraduate studies in Environmental Design. His research interest focuses on urban and metropolitan planning, sustainable urban development, and the role of architecture in shaping and transforming urban space. He has worked on issues of integrated spatial planning, strategic urban interventions, and urban resilience, with particular emphasis on the interconnection between planning policies, infrastructure, and socio-cultural parameters.

His research also explores the relationship between culture, architecture, and urban space, as well as the role of cultural infrastructures as tools for urban regeneration and revitalization. He has authored scientific articles and conference papers on contemporary urban transformation, urban planning, and the challenges of metropolitan development, while he has examined European and international examples of urban interventions, focusing on their spatial, institutional, and social dimensions.

Petsas Ch. Dimitrios – Fire Captain

Executive of the Preventive Fire Protection Department of the Legal Support Directorate of the Hellenic Fire Corps Headquarters, Greece

Dimitrios Ch. Petsas is an officer in the Fire Department with the rank of Fire Captain. He was born in 1979 in Heraklion, Crete. In 2007, he joined
the Fire Department and in 2009 he was admitted to the Fire Sergeant Major School. In 2017, he graduated from the Fire Academy Officers’ School of the Fire
Academy. He has attended undergraduate programs at the Department of Industrial Design of the School of Technological Applications of the Technological
Educational Institute of Western Macedonia. He has been serving since 2022 to date in the Department of Preventive Fire Protection of the Fire Department
Headquarters. He also served as a Fire Safety Inspector at the 8th Fire Safety Office of Athens (2012-2014) and as head of the Fire Safety Office at the Fire
Department of Nafpaktos (2017-2019).

He participates in working groups and committees of his Department for the drafting of a legislative framework for fire protection of businesses and facilities,
and the definition of administrative fire protection measures for them, including procedures such as the simplification of licensing for economic activities,
licensing of sports facilities, licensing of urban railway infrastructure and network systems – extensions thereof, and issuing the corresponding fire protection
clarification orders. He is an adjunct professor of the course “Fire Safety Legislation” at the Fire Academy Officers’ School and a speaker at conferences on
the training of Fire Safety Office executives and members of the Civil Protection Academy on issues related to its subject matter.

Michail Chalaris

Associate Professor – Rtd Lt. General HFCs Director of the MSc in Quality, Safety, Security, Health, and Environmental Management Research Director on Risk, Hazards, Crises, and Safety, Hephaestus Advanced Laboratory Chemistry School / Faculty of Sciences / Democritus University of Thrace 65 404 St. Lucas, Kavala, Greece

Dr. Michail Chalaris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH). A retired Lieutenant General of the Hellenic Fire Service, he has held high-level strategic and operational leadership roles in civil protection and risk governance.

He currently directs the MSc program “Chemical Industry: Quality, Environment, Health & Safety Management” and leads research activities on Risk, Hazards, Crises, and Safety at the institutional Laboratory “Hephaestus.” His academic teaching spans multiple MSc programs, with specialized contributions in risk assessment, disaster management, occupational health, process safety, and toxicology.

Dr. Chalaris has authored over 180 peer-reviewed publications, served as Guest Editor and reviewer for leading scientific journals, and supervised numerous PhD and MSc theses. He has coordinated over 14 national and European research projects (Horizon, Erasmus+, Interreg, I3, RFF), attracting more than €11 million in competitive funding. A certified trainer and former Executive Secretary of the Hellenic Labour Inspectorate, he actively shapes policy through national and EU-level advisory roles. His interdisciplinary expertise uniquely bridges chemistry, fire protection, civil security, and sustainability—core themes reflected in his participation in the 4th International ELIPYKA Conference on Fire Safety of Buildings.

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Matthaios Vlachakis

Mechanical Engineer, Buildings-Construction Works Manager, TUV NORD Hellas

Matthaios Vlachakis is a Mechanical Engineer (Dipl. Eng.) with more than 25 years of professional experience in building, infrastructure, and energy projects. He is currently Buildings-Construction Works Manager at TÜV NORD HELLAS, where he has been employed since 1998. His expertise covers inspections and certifications of construction works, building products, fire protection systems, and management systems, with extensive involvement in large-scale projects in Greece and abroad.

He is a Lead Auditor for ISO 9001, Auditor for ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems, and Inspector for Construction Products under Regulation (EU) 305/2011 (CPR). He has participated in numerous construction projects for commercial buildings, offices, hotels, industrial facilities, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure works, acting frequently as Lenders’ Technical Advisor. He has been actively involved in the subject of fire protection since the construction of Athens Airport in 1998 and has since conducted assessments in hotels, industries and building complexes and has inspected fire detection systems, local extinguishing systems and sprinkler pump stations.

Mr. Vlachakis is a certified DGNB Auditor, former LEED Green Associate and registered Energy Auditor class C, actively engaged in sustainability and quality assurance in the built environment. He is a member of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) and contributes to working groups for fire protection in buildings and the development of Technical Guidelines (TOTEE).

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Emmie Panagopoulos

“BSc (Hons) Degree in Architectural Design & Technology, IFE (The Institution of Fire Engineers) Level 3 Passive Fire Protection
Technical Specification Manager, Siderise Group, United Kingdom”

Emmie Panagopoulos is a Technical Specification Manager with over a decade of experience in the construction industry, specialising in façade detailing, passive fire protection, and installation methodology. Holding a BSc (Hons)Degree in Architectural Design & Technology and an IFE Level 3 in Passive Fire Protection, she brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and practical insight to the challenges of fire safety in the built environment.

Her diverse background spans product manufacturing, façade consultancy, and fire testing project management, giving her a holistic understanding of the construction lifecycle from design through to delivery. Emmie is passionate about bridging the gap between design intent and regulatory compliance, supporting designers and specifiers in achieving accurate, traceable, and compliant product specification particularly in high-rise and complex façade systems.

A strong advocate for digitalisation in construction, Emmie leads the development of CPDs, specification packs, detailed 2D/3D drawings feeds into BIM model implementation to enhance the accessibility, structure, and reliability of technical information. She is committed to raising industry standards through education, competence building, and improved specification practices.

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Michael Mavroulidis

Electrical Engineer, MSc in Construction Project Management, Product Manager, Hager Hellas (ELITHE representative), Greece

Michael Mavroulidis is an Electrical Engineer and Product Manager at Hager Hellas, with extensive experience in managing integrated low-voltage electrical protection and power distribution solutions, as well as e-mobility applications in the Greek market. In his role, he is responsible for technical support and tailoring solutions to meet Greek standards and requirements, delivering training for electricians and engineers, and supporting complex technical applications in building and industrial installations—always focusing on safety, functionality, and reliability of electrical systems.

He holds a BEng in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Technical Project Management, and he is currently pursuing further postgraduate studies in circular economy, sustainable resource use, and modern energy technologies. His experience across installation projects and advanced technical support helps him turn standards and requirements into practical engineering solutions that work in real on-site conditions.

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Kyriakos Papaioannou

Civil Engineer, PhD Professor Emeritus, AUTh, Greece

He graduated from the Experimental High School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.).
He completed his doctoral dissertation as a research assistant at the Department of Civil Engineering of A.U.Th., on the topic “Fire Protection in the Greek Industrial Building” (1979–1984), and was awarded a PhD by the same department. During this period, he was hosted twice (1980 and 1984 sabbaticals) as a researcher at the then worldrenowned Fire Research Station in Borehamwood, United Kingdom.

From 1984 onward, he taught the course of Building Construction, as well as the elective courses “Fire Protection of Structures” and “Special Topics in Building Construction” at the Department of Civil Engineering of A.U.Th. He also taught Building Construction for three years at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Thessaly, as well as Fire Protection of Structures at the School of Architecture of A.U.Th.

In 1994 he was elected Associate Professor, and in 1998 Full Professor in the same academic field. He retired on September 1st, 2009.

He gained international experience through lectures and conferences of varying duration in the USA, Canada, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Brazil, Poland, France, and China. He travelled and participated in scientific events at universities and research centers in many other countries as well.

Throughout his academic career, he served—and in some cases continues to serve—as a member of the following international organizations, committees, and associations:

ISO TC92-SC3 (Fire Threat to People and the Environment)
● ISO TC92-SC4 (Fire Safety Engineering)
● CEN-TC127 (Fire Safety in Buildings)
● CEN-TC191 (Active Fire Protection)
● CAP (Chairman’s Advisory Group)
● FRG (Fire Regulators Group), European Union
● CIB (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction), member of the CIB Board (2006–2009, 2009–2012)
● CIB W014 Fire
● CIB W014 WG Fire Protection of Cultural Heritage (Chairman)
● CIB W099 Safety and Health in Construction
● CIB W084 Accessibility and Safety for All (People with Disabilities)
● CIB TG77 (Health and the Built Environment)
● IAFSS (International Association of Fire Safety Science)
● ELOT-TE7 (Technical Committee for Fire Protection)

He is well known in Greece and abroad, primarily as an expert (EU Expert: E 13278 H) in Fire Protection.
He was the head of the drafting committee for the first Greek Fire Protection Regulation for Buildings, which has been in force since 1987. He also served as coordinator of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) working group responsible for the revision plan of this Regulation.

He has an extensive scientific publication record (four academic textbooks and a large number of papers in reputable Greek and international journals) and has participated in numerous scientific activities (conferences, lectures, seminars, etc.).
He has organized major international conferences and meetings in Greece and has published four volumes of proceedings.

He also has substantial research activity both in Greece and internationally. As scientific coordinator for A.U.Th., he led major European research programs such as:

UPTUN (Fire in Tunnels)
●PeBBu (Performance-Based Building)
● Fire-Tech (Fire Protection of European Cultural Heritage)
● Fire-Risk (Fire Risk Assessment in Steel Structures)
and others.

He introduced into his teaching the subjects of Property Valuation, Safety and Health, Environmental Issues, and Conservation of Cultural Heritage.

He also taught, as Professor Emeritus, in two postgraduate programs of the Department of Civil Engineering and the Interdepartmental Program of the Faculty of Engineering, offering the courses:

Safety and Health in Construction Projects
● Fire Protection of Historic Buildings

Thessaloniki, 2021

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Andreas Tsichlis

Mechanical engineering / industrial designer, façade director in Cavazos Facades LPC

As Façade Director, I work with a team of engineers and designers specialized in engineering consulting. I have over 20 years of experience in the study and design of aluminum systems, curtain walls and industrial applications. I have participated in numerous successful projects for various companies, all designed for mass production. I combine technical experience with project management skills, ensuring that solutions are innovative, precise and productive. My work emphasizes efficiency, collaboration and attention to detail, enabling teams to deliver high quality results in complex mechanical and facade systems. I constantly monitor industry trends and seek to improve processes, support client goals and develop the team. My goal is to create functional, durable and aesthetically pleasing designs that meet technical and aesthetic requirements.

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Viktor Kryvenko

Aluprof S.A. Development Manager, Fire Protection Solutions, Poland

Experienced business/product development and sales professional with over 15 years in technical and commercial roles across fire protection, architectural systems, and industrial solutions.

Currently Development Manager for Fire Protection Solutions at Aluprof, driving product strategy, international market expansion, and compliance with EU fire safety standards. Proven track record in implementing long-term growth strategies, developing one of the largest fire-rated portfolios in the EU, and delivering high-impact training programs for internal teams and clients.

Previously held senior sales roles managing multi-country operations in Central Europe, the Balkans, and the Gulf region, achieving significant revenue growth and establishing strategic partnerships. Skilled in market analysis, product development, certification processes, and key account management. Strong communicator with expertise in technical presentations, customer engagement, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Master’s degree in Oil & Gas Engineering, fluent in English, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian. Passionate about innovation and continuous improvement, with a history of volunteer service and leadership in international organizations.
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Panagiotis Megalooikonomou

Mechanical Engineer, MSc in Disaster and Crisis Management
Senior Risk Consultant Engineer, Eurolife FFH, Greece

Panagiotis Megalooikonomou is a Mechanical Engineer holding an M.Sc. in Disaster and Crisis Management Strategies. He specializes in Crisis Management leveraging Operational Analysis and Artificial Intelligence, with certifications in Risk Management and Crisis Management.

He has extensive experience in industrial risk inspections, having worked with international inspection and certification bodies (TÜV) and insurance companies as a Risk Engineer. Since 2004, he has been engaged in risk assessment and analysis for insured businesses, delivering detailed risk reports and advisory recommendations aimed at reducing the likelihood and impact of potential disasters. His focus is on developing innovative approaches to risk and crisis management, enhancing operational resilience and safety.
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Apostolos Kaloutsas

Civil/Structural Engineer AUTh, M.Sc. (Hons), M.Eng., Founder of Kaloutsas Consulting Engineers L.P., Greece

Apostolos Kaloutsas is a Civil/Structural Engineer graduated from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has 15 years of experience as a Strutural/ Civil Engineer of buildings and bridge in Greece and abroad.

In 2020 he founded Kaloutsas Consulting Engineers L.P, a firm providing structural engineering solutions for buildings and bridges having already been deployed in numerous projects along Greece in the design of Industrial Buldings, Office Buildings, Bridges, assessment and strengthening of structures.

Apostolos has extensive experience in the design of complicated structures of structural steel and reinforced concrete. His deep knowledge of numerous advanced structural design software packages along with the most up to date codes and guidelines is a key feature of his attributes.
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Radek Sikorski

MSc CEng International Business Development Manager, SMAY, Poland

Radek Sikorski is a Business Development Manager with 10 years of experience in the building and HVAC design sector. Holding full building design and site supervision credentials (chartership equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, he specializes in pressure differential systems for high-rise buildings. Radek has delivered technical lectures and expert presentations at many international conferences across the UK, UAE, USA, and Singapore. He also conducts specialized training sessions for design firms and provides hands-on technical support to resolve complex, real-world challenges contributing to several high-rise developments across Europe and the Middle East. He is a member of multiple industry bodies, including the CEN Technical Committee TC191/SC1/WG6 (focused on pressure differential systems), the Fire & Life Safety Committee of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE).

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Tomas Krchnak

 Project Manager | Vice President of the Passive Fire Protection Association of Slovakia

Graduate (2010) of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. Project manager for smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system in company Colt International. Responsible for design and coordination of the construction project from the design until the full handover to the customer. Experienced in design, solution and final setup of the entire smoke and heat exhaust system for shopping malls, administrative buildings, car parks and other buildings. Vice President of Passive Fire Protection Association in Slovakia which promotes the European principles of voluntariness, transparency, and independence of technical standardisation. Author of several technical specifications and national standards for fire safety – under the ATN label, which are now recognized as standard references in fire safety in Slovakia. Actively cooperates with the Institute of Standardization and Metrology of the Slovak Republic. Passionate about creating educational materials related to fire safety. 
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Frank Fuerstenau

 Master of Engineering – Head of Projectmanagement Smoke Pressure Systems at Kingspan Light + Air

1998 – 2010: Head of internal Sales at STG-Beikirch GmbH

2010 – 2015: Head of Projectmanagement at Essmann Gmbh

2015 – 2017: Head of Servicemanagement at MSG GmbH (an Essmann Company)

Since 2017: Head of Projectmanagement Smoke Pressure Systems at Kingspan STG GmbH and Kingspan Light + Air GmbH (since 2024)

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Ricky Kay

 Business Development & Specifications Manager (Middle East), Siderise

Ricky Kay has been working with Siderise for over 13 years, specialising in passive fire compartmentation and noise control solutions for a variety of façade constructions, and working on many iconic projects across Europe and the Middle East. Ricky has 17 years’ experience in the passive fire and façade construction sector and will be explore the most applicable fire test standards which manufactures of facade firestopping systems should be testing to, to evidence system performance and ensure a fire safe building envelope.

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Grigoris Kapatos

Electrical Engineer BSc, MSc, eMBA candidate UNI.PI.
Regional Business Development Manager, Greece & Cyprus, Honeywell Fire & PA/VA

Grigoris Kapatos is an experienced Electrical Engineer specializing in electronic fire detection systems, with a proven track record in commercial development and technology solution management. He currently serves as Regional Business Development Manager for Greece and Cyprus at Honeywell, where he is responsible for expanding strategic partnerships and promoting integrated fire detection and voice evacuation solutions across both markets.

He has held senior commercial leadership roles in companies such as NSC Hellas, G4S, and Olympia Electronics, occupying positions that required a combination of technical expertise, a strong customer-centric approach, and business accountability. In parallel, he has been actively involved in entrepreneurial initiatives within the same sector, further strengthening his comprehensive understanding of the market.

He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Information Technology and Computer Science, and is currently completing an Executive MBA at the University of Piraeus. He has also attended specialized training programs in sales, leadership, and technology, is fluent in English, and possesses strong skills in tools such as Microsoft Office and AutoCAD. He combines technical expertise, commercial insight, and managerial capability, contributing substantially to the growth and establishment of innovative technological solutions.

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Konstantinos Chotzoglou

PhD, CEng, MIFireE, MSFPE Fire Engineer, OFR Consultants, United Kingdom

Konstantinos is an Associate at OFR Consultants with over ten years of experience in fire safety engineering. He specialises in applying advanced fire science to complex design and regulatory challenges, delivering evidence-based, project-specific solutions across a wide range of sectors.

Prior to joining OFR, Konstantinos held senior technical roles at Efectis UK/Ireland, a UKAS-accredited fire testing and research laboratory, where he led fire engineering and testing teams and delivered research programmes for the Building Safety Regulator and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). His background in experimental fire testing, performance-based assessment, and research enables him to bridge the gap between laboratory evidence, standards, and practical design.

Alongside his professional practice, Konstantinos actively contributes to the advancement of fire engineering knowledge through mentoring junior engineers, leading research initiatives, and participating in standards development. He holds a PhD in Fire Dynamics and is a member of BSI committees FSH/24 (Fire Safety Engineering) and FSH/21 (Reaction to Fire). He is a Chartered Engineer with UK Engineering Council, a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), and an Individual Member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), where he currently serves as Secretary of the SFPE UK Chapter.

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Michael E. Spiggos

Electrical Engineer, MSc in Environmental Design Of Cities And Buildings, Fire Service Forensic Investigator, Educator, Greece

Spiggos E. Michael is an Electrical Engineer with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Design of Cities and Buildings. Since 2009, he has been professionally active in Corfu as a designer and supervisor of Electromechanical, energy and environmental installations in a wide range of technical and construction projects. 

As a forensics investigator of the Ministry of Justice, he collaborates with the Fire Service, the Hellenic Police and the Central Port Authority of Corfu, undertaking cases of urban/forest fires, floods and personnel accidents. 

He also demonstrates years of educational experience as a teacher in vocational high schools (SAEK, IEK and EPAS), teaching the subjects of electrical installations, occupational health and safety, fire protection, electronic security systems, as well as energy and environmental subjects, having authored more than 10 technical books. 

He has also been a speaker and has published scientific papers at international conferences in the fields of energy efficiency, new building materials, environmental design and fire protection of buildings, while he is one of the authors of the collective volume “Our buildings, climate change, the energy we need” (Malliaris Education Publications — ISBN: 9789606444128), participating with two chapters examining climate change, the phenomena of forest fires and floods, with Corfu as a characteristic case study.

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Athina Skarla

Ηead of the Department of Architecture, Building Regulations and Licensing of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN), Greece

Ηead of the Department of Architecture, Building Regulations and Licensing of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN). Graduate of the School of Architecture (NTUA), holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Development Engineering (UVSQ, Paris). She has been working at YPEN since 2002 and is involved in the drafting of regulations, circulars and documents related to building construction, issuing of building permits, protection of the architectural heritage, fire protection, accessibility, installations and building materials. She is a national expert in EU working groups on regulatory fire protection issues, chairman of the fire protection derogations committee, member of the central councils of YPEN, of the Certification Council of ELIPYKA and other working groups. Lecturer in scientific seminars on fire protection and building regulation. Conducted in collaboration with HIT/IMET a research “Impact Assessment of freight transport operations in ports” and has published in the Architectural magazine The world of buildings an article “Intercultural Education in Greece. Principles, goals, expression in the school environment”.

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Eugenio Quintieri

Managing Director, Fire Safe Europe, Belgium

Eugenio Quintieri is the Managing Director of Fire Safe Europe, the European organisation aiming to improve the fire safety of buildings. Eugenio has ten years of experience in European affairs and, since 2017, has been an active political leader within the European construction sector, successfully representing the business interests of SMEs in particular. Eugenio holds a Master’s degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies from the College of Europe and speaks fluent English, French and Spanish and his native Italian.
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Christos Chatziastrou

Chemist, MSc. in Building Materials Chemistry, Technical Support Director of FIBRAN, Greece

Christos Chatziastrou is a Chemist, a graduate of the University of Patras, and, following a European Union scholarship, holds an MSc in Building Materials Chemistry from the University of Kent, UK. He has over 35 years of professional, scientific, and applied experience in the construction sector. Since 1991, he has been active in the formulation and production of building materials, building pathology, and the technical design of complex construction projects. He has played an active institutional role in the development of technical standards, professional frameworks, and evaluation systems through collaborations with national standardization, qualification, and research bodies, contributing to the transfer of scientific knowledge into regulatory and applied practice. At a professional level, he has supported the technical and business development of leading building materials industries, including FIBRAN, MAPEI, TITAN, and ISOMAT. His scientific contribution includes participation in national and European research projects with universities and research institutions, as well as the authorship of numerous scientific and technical articles focusing on hygrothermal behaviour, failure mechanisms, and material and system compatibility. In parallel, he has extensive experience in developing educational content and training and certification systems for construction professionals, in cooperation with TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS, TÜV NORD, DQS, GSEVEE, and PSEM.

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George Mylonakis

Physicist (M.Sc.), General Manager of the Hellenic Institute for the Fire Protection of Structures (ELIPYKA)

George Mylonakis is the General Manager and associate member of the Hellenic Institute for the Fire Protection of Structures (ELIPYKA).

He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland, USA, following a scholarship.

He is an expert in the field of Inspections, Audits and Certifications. For five years (2012-2016) he was the Managing Director of the Inspection and Certification Body TÜV RHEINLAND HELLAS, President of its Impartiality Committee from 2003 to 2011 and Chairman of SWISS APPROVAL AKADEMIE.

He was elected President of FAECF (the Federation of European Curtain Walling Manufacturers Associations) for two years 2009-2011 and a continuous member of its Management Council and the Technical Committee from 1999-2012.

He had been professor of Physics in the Public Secondary and Higher Education for 12 years (SELETE NOW ASPAITE).

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Dr. Panos Kotsovinos

Senior Fire Engineer with Arup, UK

Dr. Kotsovinos is a Senior Fire Engineer with Arup in the UK and leader of the structural fire engineering team. He holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh on the structural behaviour of tall composite buildings subjected to fire and has been involved in the fire safety design of building and infrastructure projects internationally. He has received awards for his involvement in research and applying cutting edge research to real projects. Dr. Kotsovinos supervises research projects at Imperial College London and York University Toronto and is a member of various British and International standards making committees. He chaired the BSI panel that revised the BS PD 7974-3 standard on “structural response to fire and fire spread” and has co-authored more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed academic journals and conferences.

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Information

Moments 2024

Program

Speakers

Venue

Speakers of the 4th InternationalConference for the FireProtection of Structures:

Ioannis Aggelis

Aikaterini Arnaouti

Loukas Aronis

Matthaios Vlachakis

Dr Paraskevi (Evi) Georgiadou

Athanasios Giannadakis

Apostolos Gougoulakis

George Delaportas

Minas Dermatis

Dimitris Dimitriadis

Giorgos Zarifopoulos

Dr. Georgios Iliadis

Υannis Theogiannis

Anna Ioannidou-Kati

Grigoris Kapatos

Dimitris Kalliampetsos

Apostolos Kaloutsas

Petros Karatzas

Dionysios Kolaitis

Dr. Yiannis Kontoulis

Panagiotis Kotsovinos

Emmanouil Mathioudakis

Nikos Makris

Christos Manakos

Eirini Marinaki

Virgilios Maronidis

Michael Mavroulidis

Panagiotis Megalooikonomou

Costas E. Bazigos

Dr. Efthimios Bakogiannis

Georgios Mylonakis

Georgios D. Oktapotis

Petsas Ch. Dimitrios - Fire Captain

Andreas Poulis

Athina Skarla

Michael E. Spingos

Andreas Tsichlis

Maria Founti

Michail Chalaris

Christos Chatziastrou

Konstantinos Chotzoglou

Oana Badescu

Ermina Damlamayan

Massimo Ferretti

Ing. Tomas Krchnak

Viktor Kryvenko

Emmie Panagopoulos

Dr Herodotos Phylaktou

Eugenio Quintieri

Radek Sikorski

Sponsors:

ELIPYKA

Member of the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations Europe

Speakers of the 4th International
Conference for the Fire
Protection of Structures: