WGES Global ATHENS 2026 (speakers past, invited & confirmed)

Mr. Adonis Georgiadis

Minister of Health of Greece

 Dr. Marios Themistokleous (Nuerosurgeon)

Deputy Minister of Health, Greece 

Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou 

Minister of Digital Governance of Greece 

Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias 

Regional Governor of Attica   

Former Deputy Minister of National Defence, Greece.   He also served as the Deputy Minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management during the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disaster response

Senator Antonio Salvatore Germana  

 Senator of the Italian Republic  

Dr. Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou 

Greek Prime Minister’s Envoy for the Ocean -  Member of the Hellenic Parliament - Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection WGES Global NOVA AWARD RECIPIENT 2026

F1 Sustainability Strategy(or F1's Net Zero Carbon by 2030 plan) / Stefano Domenicali/Formula 1 Drivers

Under its leadership, Formula 1 has advanced a comprehensive sustainability transformation, including the organization’s commitment to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030, the introduction of 100% advanced sustainable fuels beginning in 2026, and the reported 26% reduction in carbon emissions since 2018. WGES Global NOVA AWARD RECIPIENT 2026 

Giancarlo Fisichella, professional racing driver, Formula One achieved three Grand Prix victories 

Luca Filippi, professional racing driver GP2 Series, IndyCar and Formula E. 

Maro Engel, professional racing driver,  Brand Ambassador for Mercedes AMG, recognized as one of the top GT3 drivers globally, wins include FIA GT World Cup, Suzuka 10h, Bathurst 12 Hour. Competes in the DTM,  raced in the all-electric FIA Formula E Championship      

Vitantonio "Tonio" Liuzzi, former professional racing driver, competed in Formula One from 2005 to 2011. He won the 2004 International Formula 3000 Championship, Liuzzi raced in 81 Formula One Grands Prix (with 80 starts), scoring 26 career championship points. 

Stefano Domenicali

President and CEO, Formula 1 (invited)

pushes for major environmental changes in the racing world. Under his watch, the sport aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. He champions the shift to 100% sustainable fuels starting in the 2026 engine rules.  “We are committed to making Formula 1 more sustainable and increasing diversity and opportunity across this incredible sport.” 

Mario Di Natale, Founder Nazionale Piloti  In 1979, Di Natale conceptualized the idea of creating a soccer team entirely composed of professional racing drivers. With the critical support of Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese.  The organization brings together motorsport athletes (including legendary Formula 1 racing drivers to compete in high-profile charity football matches.  Under his visionary leadership, the organization mobilized €15 million in funding, bridging the gap between critical sustainable public health research and the needs of underserved communities globally. WGES Global NOVA AWARD RECIPIENT 2026

Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will be recognized for its international leadership in environmental protection and its work addressing climate change, biodiversity and protection of the world's oceans.

Established by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Foundation supports environmental initiatives around the world and has become an influential international voice for conservation, sustainable development and the protection of the planet for future generations.  The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has granted over €101 million to more than 750 projects globally since its establishment in 2006 

WGES Global NOVA AWARD RECIPIENT 2026

Dr. Stelios Kympouropoulos
Psychiatrist,   Former Member of the European Parliament

A distinguished psychiatrist, former Member of the European Parliament and advocate for sustainable, inclusive healthcare, Dr. Kympouropoulos has advanced mental health, public health, accessibility and independent living throughout his medical and public-service career. His European Parliament leadership included work in public health, employment and social affairs, disability inclusion and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A co-founder of Greece’s first Independent Living organization, his work reflects the principle that sustainable health must extend beyond medical care to dignity, accessibility, prevention, independence and quality of life for all. WGES GLOBAL NOVA AWARD RECIPIENT 2026 

Dr. Vassilia I. Orfanou PhD  

LUDCI, Luxembourg's Diplomatic & Communications Institute 

Global Chief Operating &  Innovation Officer 

 Transformational leader who turns complexity into clarity, strategy into action, and challenges into tangible results. Through LUDCI, Vassilia’s 360° Marcom and innovation platform, which brings a collaboration of a boutique companies (We-4-Change) combines AI-driven and 360 degree Marcom and operational insights with hands-on execution   

Official Moderator of WGES Global Athens 2026

Saia Tsaousidou 

President of the Greek Section of the Association of European Journalists 

Veteran European journalist and media leader with decades of experience across print, television, radio and digital media. Throughout WGES Global Athens 2026, she will conduct live interviews with speakers, dignitaries and international experts, capturing key insights and perspectives emerging from the Symposium.  

Official Media Interviewer | WGES Global Athens 2026.

George Litsas, MRICS
Founder & CEO, GLP Group
Real Estate, Investment & Sustainable Development Leader 

 The group champions an approach that links the built environment with sustainability, human wellbeing and performance, exploring how the places we design, build and manage can support healthier people, more resilient communities and a more sustainable future.

Sponsor, WGES Global Athens 2026 

Ms. Daisy Gallagher, AMSc, CPM, CCHT

Founder & CEO GGW, Inc.  

CPM CPI Executive Officer  

Sustainability, Public Health & Economic Deployment Global Strategist 

 WGES Global™ Organizing Team Lead - U.S./ Greece - Co-Host WGES NOVA Awards 

Join All of Us - October 7, 2026 

The ™ NOVA Award is one of the WGES Global Symposium’s highest distinctions, presented to leaders, institutions, governments, and organizations whose work demonstrates measurable, real-world impact in advancing sustainability, public health, energy efficiency, environmental stewardship, and public-private collaboration. 

Dr. Kostas Mastorakis, DVM
Vice President, Nazionale Piloti (Official Formula 1 Drivers' Team Foundation) | Executive Safe-Drive.org | International Relations| WGES Global™ Athens Ambassador of Greece Organizing Committee | WGES Global Nova Awards Athens Co-Host

Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts

The Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts is a world-class, family-owned luxury hospitality group founded in Mykonos in 1979 by George and Elefteria Daktylides and today carried forward by their sons, the Daktylides brothers. The family has built an internationally distinguished collection of luxury hotels and resorts while remaining deeply committed to Mykonos and its people, including supporting development of a school and medical clinic.

Across its properties, the Myconian Collection combines exceptional luxury with sustainable hospitality and responsible tourism, incorporating renewable energy, water conservation, waste reduction, local sourcing and protection of the island’s natural environment. The Daktylides family demonstrates that world-class luxury, environmental stewardship, community service and long-term economic sustainability can successfully advance together.

WGES Global NOVA AWARD RECIPIENT 2026

 Mr. Kevin Kampschroer 

Chief Sustainability Officer, GSA

Head Federal High Performance Buildings (Ret.) 50+ Years of Service 

U. S. General Services Administration (confirmed 2026 Keynote Speaker)

Sabine O’Hara, PhD

 Distinguished Professor & Founding Dean College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences

University of the District of Columbia (confirmed 2026 Keynote Speaker)  

 Vince Ambrosia 

Global expert Earth Observation Wildland Fire science,  Recipient NASA Outstanding Public Leadership Medal  Adjunct Faculty, Environmental Sciences College of Science CSU, Senior Scientist NASA Research Center (43 years – Ret’d),

(confirmed 2026 keynote speaker)

Barbara Ryan
Global Authority in Earth Observation & Geospatial Intelligence

Former Executive Director, World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC)

Jane Goodall Institute Advisory Board

(confirmed 2026)

         Kinga Hydras 

CEM, CSDP, ASHRAE Fellow 

Former Deputy Director Office of Federal High-Performance Buildings 

Director Federal Programs

NORESCO  (confirmed 2026 keynote speaker)  

Reginald Swift, Ph.D.

Chief Scientist 

TheraSyn Bio, Inc. (confirmed 2026)

Ashish Joshi, PhD, MBBS, MPH

Leading Expert in Public Health Innovation, AI & Population Health Systems - WGES Global 2026 NOVA Award Recipient  (confirmed 2026 Keynote Speaker)

Virginia Gibson

U. S. Navy League President and Merchant Marine Council - Renewable energy and water treatment industry  over 20 years of experience (confirmed 2026)

Elpida Pavi (DDS, MPH, PhD)

Professor & Dean of School of Public Health

Laboratory for Health Technology   Assessment-LabHTA

School of Public Health

University of West Attica, Greece (confirmed 2026)

      Georgios J. Zakynthinos. (MsC,PhD) Professor Lab of Safety, Technology, and Development of Functional Foods & Health-protective Products in Public Health
  School Of Public Health
 University Of West Attica|
WGES Global™ Athens Greece Organizing Committee|
 

Prof. Yiannis Koumpouros

Director of Digital Innovation in Public Health   Research Lab – DigInHealth

Director of MSc "Applied Innovation and Digital   Technologies in Public Health"

University of West Attica, Greece (confirmed 2026)