Vasilis Korkidis was born in Piraeus.

He graduated from the Greek-French Piraeus School “Saint Paul”, continued his studies in England at the University of Southampton and got a Bachelor Degree (BSC HONORS) in Shipbuilding and Ship Management. He pursued postgraduate studies with Master’s degrees in Maritime Law (LLM) and International Trade and Transport (MSC).

He manages the two family-owned businesses based in Piraeus, active since 1961 in the import-export of electrical equipment and the supply of shipping and industry.

He has been President of the Hellenic Confederation of Trade and Entrepreneurship, President of the Piraeus Trade Association, Vice President of the Hellenic Institute for Safety and Health at Work, Vice-President of the European Organization of Small and Medium Enterprises (UEAPME), member of the Board of the Regulatory Authority for Ports, member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Development Bank, Vice-President at the Piraeus Elderly Care Home and member of the Board of Directors of EuroCommerce and external member of the Board of Directors of the University of Western Attica.

He is the President of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Piraeus, President of the Regional Research and Innovation Council, Vice-President of the Hellenic Shipyard Association and member of the Coastal Transports Council. He was awarded with Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by the University of West Attica.

Rim is an active Egyptian role model, advocating for better inclusion of women at all levels across the
business not only in the MENA Region but Globally. She is committed to helping to increase the proportion of
women in leadership roles and build a pipeline of talent and creative young entrepreneurs through partnerships
and initiatives such as:” Empowering 20,000 Women and Youth by 2020″ & ” Teaching Woman Art & Craft Carpentry Skills”
Rim has been instrumental in creating an inclusive women’s culture at the Chambers of commerce across Egypt by bringing awareness to Chamber’s impactful and inclusion initiatives and programs. In March 2015, She became the founder/president of the “ Economic
Business Women Council” in Egyptian Chambers of commerce. Rim’s activities internally focused on empowering women economically, bridging generation gap ,changing the business culture of the workplace, increasing the number of female owners/partners and
creating an inclusive atmosphere for all.
Externally, Rim launched #WEBB-middleeast.com an internet-based women’s marketplace that brings together female entrepreneurs to form a powerful economic force of change, focusing on increasing the number of women digitally, giving them access to
market their products, franchising, networking and partnerships. In November 2015,WEBB-Middle East put in action SDG5 and received support from the United Nations Global Compact.
Previously, Rim chaired the Women’s committee for the Canada-Egypt Business Council and served as a director in Egypt for the Asian-Arab Chamber of Commerce and the Regional country manager for the Hot Mommas Project affiliated to the George
Washington University School of Business. Siam has participated in corporate social responsibility and sustainability activities (CSR), with a focus on equipping women business owners with knowledge of the importance of being a socially responsible company
to bolster a company’s image and build its brand. She is passionate about equipping these groups with knowledge to increase their competitiveness in business. She is also a strong advocate for women’s economic empowerment and has been recognized with
several awards: she has been named one of the 16 UNIDO Women Economic empowerment success stories, and was a notable alumni ambassador of the Global Entrepreneurship summit(GES2016-2019). In December 2022, she was elected and became member of the ICC World Chambers Federation General Council
2023-2025.

Laura Aldonė is the President of the International Business Women Network in Lithuania, Vice President of the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Crafts, the head of the Global World Consulting Agency, an active public figure, and a mentor for women aspiring to start their own business.

Prof. Dr. E. Nezih Orhon is the former dean and professor at the School of Communication Sciences at Anadolu University in Eskisehir, Turkey. Dr. Orhon completed his two master’s degrees in Turkey and in the USA; also gained his Ph.D. in Turkey. Besides his administrative responsibilities (chair of Cinema and television Department), he is teaching “Television Journalism”, “Production and Directing”, and “Cultural Diversity and Communication”. At the same time, he initiated European Union projects, which some of them are currently running. For instance, one of them is called “RAISD”, a Horizon2020 project. On behalf of professional experiences, Dr. Orhon worked for CNN International in Washington, DC and in Türkiye; NBC News in Turkey besides his other professional experiences in The Netherlands, Colombia, Germany, and France. He is particularly focusing on vulnerable groups and related communication, media, and film work. Also, he is the program maker and presenter of a nationwide radio show called “Human Relations” on NTV Radio. Prof. Orhon authored and co-authored national and international books, book chapters, and research articles; at the same time, he took part in numerous national and international conferences. Prof. Orhon took part and held roles for UN Women, ILO, UNFPA, UNDP, IOM, and European Delegation in Turkey.

As a dynamic and versatile professional, Sevgi Kalaycı has extensive experience in the fields of gastronomy and management. Born in Ürgüp in 1979, Kalaycı moved to Berlin with her family in 1989, where she continued her education. In 2003, she successfully completed her vocational training in “Fachfrau für Systemgastronomie” and took the first step in her career. Shortly after, she became the manager of the Berlin shopping mall branches of the restaurant chain “POMME DE TERRE” and successfully led the opening of new branches in various malls.

Kalaycı began her university education in the 2006/2007 winter semester, studying Hospitality/Gastronomy at the Technical University of Berlin and German Language Teaching at Humboldt University of Berlin. During her university years, she served as a board member of the TD Plattform association, where she actively participated in voluntary work. In this period, she also took on the role of host at a high-profile reception organized by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Between 2016 and 2018, Kalaycı worked as a consultant at the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, contributing to the strengthening of commercial relations between Germany and Turkey. In 2018, she obtained her Master of Education degree and later held executive positions in various companies across different industries, including Omurga Gruppe, coming home, and Protekto Ost.

In 2023, Kalaycı returned to the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry as Deputy Secretary General, continuing her efforts to strengthen the commercial bridge between Turkey and Germany. In addition to her professional achievements, Kalaycı is a mother of two children, maintaining a balanced and exemplary presence in both her professional and personal life.

Dr. Erçin Güdücü is an accomplished Senior IT & Business
Director with over 30 years of experience across financial
and commodity-related sectors, encompassing public,
private, and non-profit organizations. He is an expert in
aligning IT with business objectives and managing large-
scale projects under challenging conditions.
Professional Highlights:
Leadership:
Expertise
in
Service
Management,
Software
Development and IT Governance.
Systems Implementation: Proficient in end-to-end trading systems, smart
agriculture, commodity exchanges, and data dissemination.
Project Management: Skilled in project management, ITIL, MIS and business
Education: Lecturer in Management Information Systems and a speaker at
events on IT, Finance and Smart Agriculture.
Board Memberships: Serves on the boards of three Science Parks and three
non-profit organizations.
Current Role: Secretary General of Izmir Commodity Exchange.
Previous Roles: CIO of Turkish Derivatives Exchange, System Architect at ING Bank
Turkey, Group Manager at TOBB-Net.
Academic Background: Holds a PhD in Economics, MSc in Money & Banking, and
BSc degree in Computer Science.

Thana’a Al Khasawneh is a transformative leader in both the private and
non-profit sectors in Jordan. Renowned for her pioneering approach to
leadership agility, she has a proven track record of successfully navigating
organizational change, building cohesive teams, and managing complex
business conversations. Her diverse expertise spans across building and
restructuring companies to drive sustained growth.
Al Khasawneh formerly served as the Regional Fundraiser and Development
Director at Mowgli Mentoring MENA, where she played a critical role in
establishing a mentorship-driven approach to support and empower
entrepreneurship across the MENA region. Her efforts were instrumental in
significantly increasing the growth and visibility of the Mowgli Foundation
throughout the region.
Currently, Al Khasawneh is the CEO of the Business & Professional Women
Association (BPWA), an association advocating for gender equality and the
inclusion of women in the workforce. Under her leadership, BPWA has
launched several initiatives aimed at bridging the gender gap and empowering
women across various sectors. Her tenure has marked a period of enhanced
performance and increased impact for women in Jordan.
Apart from her executive roles, Thana’a is a seasoned public speaker and has served as a keynote speaker and panelist at numerous
local, regional, and international events, especially on topics related to women empowerment and entrepreneurship. Her strong
communication and facilitation skills have enabled her to empower individuals, foster dialogue, and guide discussions towards
innovative and strategic outcomes.
Beyond her leadership roles, Thana’a is deeply invested in human capital development, particularly in encouraging entrepreneurial
mindsets and fostering investment in personal growth. Her work seeks to unlock the potential of entrepreneurs by providing them
with access to the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to thrive in both their professional and personal lives.
Al Khasawneh prioritizes individual courage in her pursuits, promoting self-reliance and independent thought. She encourages
people to take proactive steps toward their objectives, speak out firmly about their viewpoints, and get involved in their
communities. One of the main characteristics of her leadership style is her emphasis on inspiring others to speak up and follow their
goals.
In addition to her current responsibilities, Thana’a works on the business growth pillar in various companies, helping them design
and implement effective growth strategies. At the strategic level, she has collaborated with numerous governmental entities. She
also sits on multiple international and local boards of committees, contributing her expertise in governance and strategic direction.
Thana’a takes great pride in recognizing and celebrating the achievements of others, actively highlighting productive individuals
within the community to encourage them and inspire others to follow their example.

Prof. Dr. Tugkan Tuglular received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Computer
Engineering from Ege University, Turkey, in 1993, 1995, and 1999 He
worked as a research associate at Purdue University from 1996 to 1998 He
has been with Izmir Institute of Technology since 2000 After becoming an
Assistant Professor at Izmir Institute of Technology, he worked as Chief
Information Officer in the university from 2003-2007. In addition to his
academic duties, he acted as IT advisor to the Rector between 2010-2014.
He served as the Chairman of the Organization Committee of the Computer
Software Applications Conference (COMPSAC) held in Izmir in 2012, with the
participation of 450 people from 40 countries. In the same year, he assumed
the role of project leader for the “Izmir Information Society Based
Development Strategy” defined by the Izmir Development Agency. Between
2013 and 2018, he worked intensively to strengthen the Izmir techno-
entrepreneurship ecosystem. Tugkan Tuglular, who received the title of
Associate Professor in 2018, works in both the Department of Computer
Engineering and the Department of Technology, Design and Innovation
Management at Izmir Institute of Technology. In 2021, he co-founded his
second company, Research Ecosystems, in Teknopark Izmir and continues to
work as CEO. Additionally, he became CEO of WIN Turkiye, a World
Innovations Network (WIN) associate. He became Professor in 2024 Later
that year, he co-founded his third company, NestNeo. Tugkan Tuglular,
whose academic areas of expertise include information security, software
quality assurance, software testing and reliable software development, has
over eighty national and international publications.

Dr. Işıl Boy Ergül earned her undergraduate degree in English Language Teaching from Istanbul University, her master’s degree in Educational Technologies from the University of Manchester, and her PhD in Educational Technologies from Bahçeşehir University, where she also taught postgraduate courses.
In 2015, Dr. Ergül was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator. She has served as a lecturer and advisor at Yıldız Technical University and worked as a teacher trainer for Pilgrims in the UK. Currently, she provides AI consultancy to schools, helping them integrate artificial intelligence into education effectively.
For over a decade, she has delivered a wide range of educational technology training programs both in Turkey and internationally. She is the founder of the Educational Technologies Summit (ETZ), which has been ongoing since 2014, the teacher training platform TeacherX, and CertifiX, a digital certificate management system for students. Through TeacherX, she has collaborated with over 500 schools and supported more than 25,000 teachers.
Dr. Ergül also serves as the Turkish ambassador for the European Training Foundation (ETF) , leading content development for its AI group. Recently, she translated UNESCO’s Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research and AI Competency Framework for Teachers and Students into Turkish. She delivers keynote speeches at conferences on educational technology and AI in education.

Kawtar EL OUTMANI leads portfolio and brand management at UM6P Ventures, the investment arm of UM6P – University Mohammed VI Polytechnic in Morocco. In this role, she supports the fund’s mission to invest in deeptech ventures and drive digital transformation across sectors such as healthtech, greentech, fintech, and more. Kawtar focuses on identifying and scaling innovative startups that contribute to long-term sustainability, economic resilience, and the integration of technology to tackle global challenges.
In addition to her work at UM6P Ventures, Kawtar serves as the Community Engagement Manager at Women in Tech Morocco, where she creates and leads the community of women in the tech sector, fostering empowerment, collaboration, and growth among female professionals in the field.
Previously, she worked as a community builder at STARTGATE, UM6P’s startup campus, where she oversaw the vibrant startup community on campus. In this capacity, she worked closely with incubation and acceleration programs, helping entrepreneurs connect with investors, mentors, and ecosystem partners to scale their ventures and foster sustainable innovation.
As an advocate for triple transformation, Kawtar is committed to driving environmental, social, and economic sustainability through the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She champions open innovation and encourages startups to leverage cutting-edge technology and business models to create meaningful change in critical sectors like energy, agriculture, and healthcare.
Kawtar is also an emerging Master of Ceremony (MC) and moderator, frequently hosting panels and discussions on investment, technology, and sustainability. Passionate about creating platforms for knowledge-sharing, she strives to empower founders to learn from one another and build ventures that have a lasting, positive impact on both people and the planet.