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Thessaloniki · 4 September 2026

International Maritime Transport Conference

How innovation, sustainability and geopolitics impact Greek shipping and ports economic development.

Organized by the International Hellenic University and the Department of Supply Chain Management and Logistics, under the auspices of major national bodies.

Date Friday, 4 September 202611:10 – 18:00 · Registration from 10:50
Venue International Hellenic UniversityThermi Campus, Building A — Auditorium C. Grammenos
Format 6 Thematic Panels+ Keynote & Networking Lunch
Register Now View Programme Watch Live
International Maritime Transport Conference — panel discussion

About the Conference

Greek shipping at a strategic crossroads

The International Maritime Transport Conference in Thessaloniki 2026 brings together leading industry voices to examine how innovation, sustainability, and geopolitical shifts are reshaping Greek shipping and port competitiveness.

From the vertical energy corridor and nuclear maritime technologies to smart cruise destinations and the port of the future, this single day of focused debate will set the agenda for the decade ahead.

The conference is organized by the International Hellenic University and its Department of Supply Chain Management and Logistics, under the auspices of major national bodies.

6Thematic panels
7hIntensive programme
8Supporting bodies

Conference Programme

Friday 4 September 2026

* Programme may be subject to minor updates. Final agenda confirmed closer to the event date.

Confirmed Speakers

Voices shaping the future of maritime

TAG
Prof Stamatis Aggelopoulos — Rector, International Hellenic University · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Prof Stamatis Aggelopoulos
Rector
International Hellenic University
Prof Nikolaos Papaioannou — Deputy Minister of Education (Higher Education), Hellenic Government
Prof Nikolaos Papaioannou
Deputy Minister of Education (Higher Education)
Hellenic Government
Anna Efthymiou — Deputy Minister for Social Security, Hellenic Government · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Anna Efthymiou
Deputy Minister for Social Security
Hellenic Government
Manolis Koutoulakis — Secretary General of Maritime Affairs and Ports, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
Manolis Koutoulakis
Secretary General of Maritime Affairs and Ports
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
Vasilios Politis — Member of the Board of Directors, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping · Institutional Representative for Maritime Tourism
Vasilios Politis
Member of the Board of Directors · Institutional Representative for Maritime Tourism
Hellenic Chamber of Shipping
Dr Ioannis Tsaras — CEO & Executive Member of the Board of Directors, Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.
Dr Ioannis Tsaras
CEO & Executive Member of the Board of Directors
Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.
Dr Ioannis Kostavelis — Associate Professor and Chair of the Department, International Hellenic University
Dr Ioannis Kostavelis
Associate Professor and Chair of the Department
International Hellenic University
Nikos Stamou — Investment Promotion Director, Energy, Environment & Services, Enterprise Greece · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Nikos Stamou
Investment Promotion Director — Energy, Environment & Services
Enterprise Greece
TAG
Lloyd's Register — Platinum Sponsor, Maritime Transport Conference 2026
Anastasia Kouvertari
Strategic Stakeholder & Client Engagement Principal
Lloyd's Register
TAG
Dr Stavros Karamperidis — Associate Professor in Maritime Economics and Logistics, International Hellenic University
Dr Stavros Karamperidis
Associate Professor in Maritime Economics and Logistics
International Hellenic University
Evita Souri — Director, Commercial Department, British Embassy Athens · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Evita Souri
Director, Commercial Department
British Embassy Athens
Nikos Stamou — Investment Promotion Director, Energy, Environment & Services, Enterprise Greece · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Nikos Stamou
Investment Promotion Director — Energy, Environment & Services
Enterprise Greece
Dr Ioannis Tsaras — Chief Executive Officer, Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.
Dr Ioannis Tsaras
Chief Executive Officer
Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.
Fernando Kalligas — Corporate Affairs, ESG & Communications Senior Director, DESFA
Fernando Kalligas
Corporate Affairs, ESG & Communications Senior Director
DESFA
Greeting
Apostolos Tzitzikostas — European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, European Union · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Apostolos Tzitzikostas
European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism
European Union
Stefanos Gkikas — Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Hellenic Government · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Stefanos Gkikas
Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
Hellenic Government
TAG
George Borovas — Member, World Nuclear Association · Head of Nuclear, Tokyo Office Managing Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth
George Borovas
Member, World Nuclear Association · Head of Nuclear, Tokyo Office Managing Partner
Hunton Andrews Kurth
Dionysios Chionis — Co-founder, Athlos Energy · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Dionysios Chionis
Co-founder
Athlos Energy
Prof Dimitris Aidonis — Dean of the School of Economics and Management, International Hellenic University
Prof Dimitris Aidonis
Dean of the School of Economics and Management
International Hellenic University
Fanis Matsopoulos — Chief Executive Officer, Rafina Port Authority · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Fanis Matsopoulos
Chief Executive Officer
Rafina Port Authority
Mark Smith — Leader of NEMO STCW task force · Director, Decarbonisation, NorthStandard
Mark Smith
Leader of NEMO STCW task force · Director, Decarbonisation
NorthStandard
Olympia Tsitonaki — Technical Specialist, LR Advisory · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Olympia Tsitonaki
Technical Specialist
LR Advisory
TAG
Dr Nikolaos Liapis — President, HIMT · Board Member, HSSA, HIMT · HSSA · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Dr Nikolaos Liapis
President, HIMT · Board Member, HSSA
HIMT · HSSA
Lloyd's Register — Platinum Sponsor, Maritime Transport Conference 2026
Thanos Koliopoulos
Global Maritime Special Projects Manager
Lloyd's Register
Minas Papadakis — Chief Executive Officer, Heraklion Port Authority · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Minas Papadakis
Chief Executive Officer
Heraklion Port Authority
Dr Dimitrios Tsitsamis — President, EEΛ.ΒΕ · Senior Innovation Manager, Thessaloniki Port Authority
Dr Dimitrios Tsitsamis
President, EEΛ.ΒΕ · Senior Innovation Manager
Thessaloniki Port Authority
Dimitra Giordamli — Corporate Affairs Executive, Prisma Electronics · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Dimitra Giordamli
Corporate Affairs Executive
Prisma Electronics
Prof Nikolaos P. Ventikos — Dean, School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens
Prof Nikolaos P. Ventikos
Dean, School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
National Technical University of Athens
TAG
Georgios Siasios — Head of Innovation and Technology, Siemens Energy — Innovation Center Europe
Georgios Siasios
Head of Innovation and Technology
Siemens Energy — Innovation Center Europe
Rena Karamperidou — Manager, Thessaloniki Business Park · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Rena Karamperidou
Manager
Thessaloniki Business Park
ABL Group — An Aqualis Company — Gold Sponsor, Maritime Transport Conference 2026
Stefano Scarpa
Director, Maritime Decarbonisation
ABL Group
Prof Dimitris Folinas — Professor in Supply Chain Management, International Hellenic University
Prof Dimitris Folinas
Professor in Supply Chain Management
International Hellenic University
Apostolos Papapostolou — President of the Regulatory Authority of Ports, Regulatory Authority of Ports
Apostolos Papapostolou
President of the Regulatory Authority of Ports
Regulatory Authority of Ports
Antonis Boutatis — Managing Director, Partner, Rogan · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Antonis Boutatis
Managing Director, Partner
Rogan
TAG
ABL Group — An Aqualis Company — Gold Sponsor, Maritime Transport Conference 2026
Maria Dragoumerli
Country Manager Greece
ABL Group
Performance Technologies — Silver Sponsor, Maritime Transport Conference 2026
Panos Mertis
Public Sector Director
Performance Technologies S.A.
Thanos Kapralos — Chief Executive Officer, CYNERGA EU LTD · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Thanos Kapralos
Chief Executive Officer
CYNERGA EU LTD
Dr Georgios Martinopoulos — Associate Professor, Merchant Marine Academy of Macedonia
Dr Georgios Martinopoulos
Associate Professor
Merchant Marine Academy of Macedonia
Dr Ioannis Kostavelis — Associate Professor and Chair of the Department, International Hellenic University
Dr Ioannis Kostavelis
Associate Professor and Chair of the Department
International Hellenic University
Athina Foka — Head of ESPA Executive Structure, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
Athina Foka
Head of ESPA Executive Structure
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
TAG
Stella Fassa — Conventional Cargo Terminal Director, Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.
Stella Fassa
Conventional Cargo Terminal Director
Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.
TAG
Vasilis Mamalis — Executive Director, Association of Greek Ports · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Vasilis Mamalis
Executive Director
Association of Greek Ports
Kyriakos (Kerry) Anastassiadis — Strategic Advisor, MSC Cruises Greece · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Kyriakos (Kerry) Anastassiadis
Strategic Advisor
MSC Cruises Greece
Capt. Nikolaos Tsoulis — Director, Deck Department, Merchant Marine Academy of Macedonia
Capt. Nikolaos Tsoulis
Director, Deck Department
Merchant Marine Academy of Macedonia
Maria Deligianni — Regional Director, Eastern Mediterranean, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
Maria Deligianni
Regional Director, Eastern Mediterranean
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
Dimitris Apergis — Chief Executive Officer, Corfu Port Authority · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Dimitris Apergis
Chief Executive Officer
Corfu Port Authority
Dr Angelos F. Vlachos — Chief Executive Officer, Kavala Port Authority · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Dr Angelos F. Vlachos
Chief Executive Officer
Kavala Port Authority
Marios Bakalis — Head of Cruise & Ferry, Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A. · Maritime Transport Conference Thessaloniki 2026
Marios Bakalis
Head of Cruise & Ferry
Thessaloniki Port Authority S.A.
TAG
Panayotis Anastasopoulos — CEO, Port Authority of Patras · President, ELIME, Patras Port Authority S.A.
Panayotis Anastasopoulos
CEO, Port Authority of Patras · President, ELIME
Patras Port Authority S.A.

More speakers to be announced. Full lineup confirmed closer to the event.

Download Speaker Bios (.zip)

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Under the Auspices of

British Embassy Athens — Supporting the Maritime Transport Conference 2026 City of Thessaloniki (Δήμος Θεσσαλονίκης) — Auspice, Maritime Conference 2026 ELIME — Hellenic Ports Association — Auspice, Maritime Conference 2026 Enterprise Greece — Auspice, Maritime Transport Conference 2026 Greek Association of Supply Chain Management — Auspice, Maritime Conference 2026 Hellenic Chamber of Shipping — Auspice, Maritime Conference 2026 Hellenic Management Centre — Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers — Auspice EENMA — Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association — Auspice, Maritime Conference 2026 Ministry of Environment & Energy — Auspice, Maritime Conference 2026 Ministry of Interior (Sector Macedonia Thrace) — Auspice, Maritime Conference 2026 Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy — Auspice, Maritime Conference 2026 Region of Central Macedonia — Auspice, Maritime Transport Conference 2026
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