Stella Stylianou

Newscaster at ERT News, Editor at The Greek Newspaper "TA NEA"

My name is Stylianou Stella, and I am a Greek Cypriot citizen. I have studied English Language and Literature at the National and Kapodistrian University and then continued my studies on Journalism. I have obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration, which has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of business strategy. I have moderated various summits concerning politics, economy, technology and media. I am a Greek native speaker and a fluent English speaker.  For the last 13 years, I have been working as a journalist, holding positions as newscaster and editor at well-known newspapers in Greece and  Cyprus e.g TO VIMA, POLITIS. After four years as a newscaster at MEGA TV, Greece’s largest television station, I am now working as a newscaster at ERT News and Editor at The Greek Newspaper “TA NEA” 

Alexis Vafeades

Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Republic of Cyprus

Alexis Vafeades has been serving as the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works for the Republic of Cyprus since 2023, drawing on over thirty years of professional experience across architecture, construction, and public policy.

Prior to his ministerial appointment, he led a critical modernization of standard construction contracts as President of the Cyprus Joint Construction Contracts Tribunal (CyJCCT), introducing new texts to address the evolving needs of the industry. His extensive BoD-level experience includes roles with Demetra Holdings Plc, the Council for the Registration of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, and the Cyprus Architects Association.

He began his professional career in 1988, becoming a partner and shareholder in his family’s architectural practice and a longstanding member of the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK). Alexis Vafeades is a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) in architecture.

Theodoros Loukaidis

Director General, Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF)

Theodoros Loukaidis is the Director General of the Cyprus Research & Innovation Foundation (RIF). Prior to joining RIF in May 2020, Theodoros held strategy and business development roles within large multi-national corporations, including CK Hutchison Holdings Limited and Colt Technology Services Group Limited, a Fidelity Investments Company. He holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, UK, an MSc degree in Communications and Signal Processing from Imperial College, London and a BEng (Hons), First Class, in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from UMIST, UK.

 

Professor Vasos Vassiliou

MRG Leader, Smart Networked Systems (SNS) Group, CYENS Centre of Excellence / Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Cyprus

Dr. Vasos Vassiliou is Professor of Computer and Communication Networks at the University of Cyprus and Director of the Networks Research Laboratory. He is a founding member of the CYENS Center of Excellence, leading research on smart, secure, and resilient digital systems. With a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech, he has published over 200 scientific papers. His work focuses on AI-driven network intelligence, IoT security, anomaly detection, and resilient 5G/6G infrastructures—technologies critical to safer digital ecosystems. His expertise bridges innovation, cybersecurity, and public-interest technologies, supporting evidence-based approaches to risk mitigation and harm reduction in complex, connected environments.

Charis Evripidou

Director of Traffic Police Department, Cyprus Police

Commencing my service with the Cyprus Police in 1991, my professional focus has centered on traffic accident investigation and road safety since 1994. I have held significant leadership positions, including Head of the Nicosia Traffic Police Branch and Deputy Director of the Traffic Department at Cyprus Police Headquarters from 2017 until my appointment as Director of the Department in March 2025. In my current role, I also hold responsibility for the oversight of the national speed camera system. Ι am a graduate of the National Security School of Greece, the FBI National Academy, and the Police Academy. Furthermore, I hold a Master of Science degree in Security and Crime Risk Management from the University of Leicester and a diploma in Traffic Accident Investigation from Northwestern University. My engagement in road safety extends to the European Union through active involvement in various working groups.

Dr. Konstantinos C. Makris

Full Professor, Environmental Health & Director, Precision Exposomics & Health Laboratory, Cyprus University of Technology

Dr. Konstantinos C. Makris is a full professor of environmental health sciences and supervises the CLOTHO Precision Exposomics and Health laboratory at the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health within the School of Health Sciences at the Cyprus University of Technology. He was an adjunct assistant professor of environmental health at the Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University, USA (2009-2015). His research team aims to reduce population health risks attributed to multiple environmental stressors (chemical and physical). Toward this, his team applies the human exposome concept and its exposomic tools in population studies in Cyprus, Greece, France, Kuwait, the Netherlands, and Norway. He leads the CHILDREN_FIRST children cohort study set up in Cyprus, Israel, Greece and Albania towards improved understanding the temporal evolution of the human exposome as it shapes children’s growth and development curves using novel exposomic tools. His laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments worth > 0.5 million euros to generate biomarker and metabolomic data. Since 2009, he has received external funding of > 1.5 million euros from the EU, the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of Harvard University. He has authored over 130 journal articles and 50 conference reports. He was one of two researchers who conducted the brain cancer cluster investigation around the Astrasol plant emitting dichloromethane in Cyprus. He was invited by the Environment and Health Committee of the Cyprus Parliament to provide technical evidence on the health consequences of the surrounding populations following the tragedy / explosion in Mari, Cyprus and has also served as a member of the scientific advisory committee to the Ministry of Health about arsenic exposures in select subpopulation groups of Cyprus. He is a member of the European Council of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (2023-). He is a Global Burden of Disease network collaborator (2021-). He has been invited by > 20 universities and organizations in the USA / EU, such as Harvard University, Emory University, University of Alberta, University of Delaware etc. and has chaired >15 symposia at international conferences.

Toumazis Toumazi

Project Officer, Cyprus Computer Society

Toumazis Toumazi is the Project Officer of the Cyprus Computer Society, with extensive project management experience. He focuses on promoting ICT and digital literacy by implementing initiatives that enhance IT education and professional development. His role includes organizing events, competitions and workshops. Toumazi is also skilled in managing EU, national, and other funded projects. Additionally, he coordinates the Cyprus Cyber Security Challenge and the CCS Women’s Group, further advancing the Society’s mission.

Dr. Cleo Varianou-Mikellidou

Lecturer in Occupational Safety & Health, CERIDES Operations Manager, European University Cyprus

Dr Cleo Varianou-Mikellidou, is a Lecturer in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and Operations Manager at CERIDES, European University Cyprus. She holds BSc Physics, MSc Safety, Health and Environment, and a PhD in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). Her research focuses on Occupational Safety and Health, sustainable workplaces, ageing workforce, ergonomics, teleworking, well-being, and first responders’ safety, emphasising risk assessment and accident prevention. She has extensive experience in Horizon and Erasmus+ projects, contributing to innovative OSH tools and policies. She led Cyprus’ National Policy on Healthy Workplaces for All Ages and teleworking OSH initiatives. She teaches in the MSc OSH programme, is a Safety Science Editor, and she is a consultant/ licensed Risk Assessor by the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance of Cyprus.