People

Phoebe Koundouri

Founder and Scientific Chair, AE4RIA; Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business,
pkoundouri@aueb.gr

Prof. Phoebe Koundouri  is a world-renowned environmental economics professor and global leader in sustainable development. She is widely recognized as a pioneer in innovative, human-centric, interdisciplinary systems for the sustainable interaction between nature, society, and the economy. She is listed in the 1% of  most-cited women economists in the world, and she is included within the official Stanford University list of the Top 2 % of world scientists, with 15 published books  and more than 500 published peer reviewed scientific articles, book chapters, research and policy reports.

Prof. Koundouri is an elected fellow of the World Academy of Art & Science  and the President of the  European Association of Environmental and Natural Resource Economists (EAERE), the largest scientific association in the field, with more than 1000 member institutions, from more than 55 countries. In 2020 she received the prestigious European Research Council ERC Synergy Grant , entitled: “Smart Water Futures: Designing the Next Generation of Urban Drinking Water Systems”. Currently, this is the biggest research project in the world on urban water systems. Prof. Koundouri is also a member of the Nominating Committee for the Prize in Economics Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, The Royal Swedish Academy of Science.

Prof. Koundouri is Editor in Chief of the Journal Frontiers in Environmental Economics, co-editor of the official journal of EAERE Environmental and Resource Economics, associate editor for Nature: Climate Action journal, co-editor in Q-Open journal, as well as editorial board member in more then 30 economics and interdisciplinary journals. Over the last two decades, Professor Koundouri has given keynote and public lecturers, at high level forums all over the world, and received various prizes for academic excellence, including best paper awards, highest policy impact paper award, most impactful European Research project award.

Prof. Koundouri is one of the Commissioners of the prestigious Lancet Commission on COVID-19  for which she co-chairs the “Green Recovery” Task Force. She co-leads with Prof. Jeff Sachs (president of SDSN) the UN SDSN Senior Working Group on “Transformation Pathways for the implementation of EGD and the SDGs”, co-leads the the UN SEAs Blue Growth Initiative. She is a member of the CEPR (Center for Economic Policy Research) Network (RPN) on Climate Change. She is IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change) delegate for EAERE and She is European Climate Pact Ambassador for the European Commission. She is also member of the National Climate Change Committee of Greece, of the Ministry of Energy and the Environment, was member of the 2021 Pissarides Committee (10 year Greek Development Plan) chaired by Nobelist Prof. C. Pissarides, as well as chair or member of numerous European and International Scientific, Research and Policy Boards and Councils.

Prof. Koundouri holds MPhil and a PhD in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Cambridge. For her studies she received a full scholarship from the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. She then held academic positions at the University of Cambridge, University College London, University of Reading, London School of Economics. Currently she is University Professor (the university’s highest academic rank) at the School of Economics, Athens University of Economics and Business.

Prof. Koundouri is the Founder and scientific chair of the Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aeiphoria (AE4RIA), which includes three research and innovation institutions that she founded and scientifically chairs: ReSEES Laboratory at Athens University of Economics and BusinessSustainable Development Unit (SD.U) at ATHENA Research Center, and International Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy (ICRE8). AE4RIA also includes three innovation acceleration institutions, co-founded and/or co-chaired: EIT Climate KIC Hub Greece , Maritime ClimAccelerator and BRIGAID Connect Association. AE4RIA also supports the following associations and science-policy networks: UN SDSN, SDSN EuropeSDSN GreeceEAERE,Water Europe and NEXUS Cluster. 

Prof. Koundouri is the founder and Scientific Director of the Research Laboratory on Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability (ReSEES) at Athens University of Economics and Business, focusing on interdisciplinary research on socio-economic and environmental systems. She is also Affiliated Professor at  ATHENA Information Technology Research Center, where she founded and scientifically directs the Sustainable Development Unit, leads systemic research on the Green and Digital Transition and the EIT Climate-KIC Hub Greece of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, focusing on accelerating technological and social innovations for the transition to a climate neutral economy. She is Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board International Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy (ICRE8) dedicated to interdisciplinary research on sustainable development and management of the Environment, Energy, Economy, Eco-innovations and their electronic versions. Prof. Koundouri is also the co-Chair of United Nations Sustainable Development Network (UN SDSN) – Europe & Greece. The leadership of UN SDSN-Europe is constituted from existing National SDSN European networks and its mission is to serve as a science driven interface with European Commission policymaking.  Prof. Koundouri is also Founder of the NEXUS Cluster.

Since 1997, she has coordinated more than 100 interdisciplinary research projects, on Sustainable Blue GrowthWater-Food-Energy NexusClimate Change Mitigation & Adaptation and Sustainable Finance in all five continents, focused on combinations of Sustainable Development, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Behavioural Economics and Econometrics, Economics of Wellbeing and Happiness, Natural Resource-Food-Energy Nexus, Smart Water Systems, Ecosystem Services Valuation, Blue Growth, Circular Economy, Systems Innovation, Innovation Acceleration and Commercialization, and has attracted significant competitive research funding. Prof. Koundouri acts as a scientific advisor to the European Commission, World Bank, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, OECD, UN, NATO, WHO, World Water Council and various other Multilateral Institutions, as well as numerous national and international foundations and organizations. She also advises national governments across the world. Prof. Koundouri and her large interdisciplinary AE4RIA team (more than 200 researchers) have produced research and policy results that have contributed to accelerating research and innovation for the enablement of Sustainable Development and has contributed to shaping European and National policies.

 Prof. Koundouri was born and raised in Cyprus and during 1991-2006 she studied and became Professor of Economics in the UK. Since 2006 she lives in Greece (Athens) with her husband, Prof. Nikitas Pittis, and their three daughters: Chrysilia, Billie and Athena.

Scientific Advisory Board

Ian Bateman

Professor, Exeter University, UK

Sir Partha Dasgupta

Professor, University of Cambridge, UK

Yannis Ioannidis

Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Jeffrey Sachs

Professor, Columbia University, New York, President, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, N.Y.

Christos Zerefos

Emeritus Professor, Academy of Athens, Greece

Affiliated Professors with AE4RIA Institutions

Greek-Based Affiliated Professors

Fabio Antoniou

Assistant Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Stella Apostolaki

Assistant Professor at the American College of Greece - DEREE
stella.apostolaki@icre8.eu

Margarita Arianoutsou-Faragitaki

Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Dionisis Assimakopoulos

Professor Emeritus, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

Thomas Chatzichristos

Professor, National Technical University of Athens

Nikos Chatzistamoulou

Assistant Professor, University of Ioannina, Greece

Athanasios Dagoumas

Professor, University of Piraeus

Antonis Demos

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Andreas Drichoutis

Associate Professor Agricultural University of Athens

George Economides

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Nikolaos Englezos

Assistant Professor, University of Piraeus

George Halkos

Professor, University of Thessaly

George Ioannou

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Stamatis Kalogirou

Professor, Harokopio University

Athanasios Kampas

Assistant Professor, Agricultural University of Athens

Theofanis Karabas

Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Ioannis Karagiannis

Professor, University of Macedonia

Nikolaos Kourogenis

Professor, University of Piraeus

Chrysi Laspidou

Professor, University of Thessaly

Sofoklis Makridis

Associate Professor, University of Patras

Christos Makropoulos

Professor, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

Dimitrios Melissas

Professor, National Technical University of Athens

Chrysovalantou Milliou

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Ioannis Nikolaou

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

George Pagoulatos

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Theologos Pantelidis

Associate Professor, University of Macedonia

Maria Papadopoulou

Professor, National Technical University of Athens

Andreas Papandreou

Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Ioanna Samfo Pepelasi

Professor Emerita at Athens University of Economics and Business

Nikitas Pittis

Professor, University of Piraeus

Asterios Pliakos

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Katerina Pramatari

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Ploutarchos Sakellaris

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Panagiotis Samartzis

Assistant Professor, University of Macedonia

Spyros Skouras

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Klas Eric Soderquist

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Konstantinos Synolakis

Professor, Technical University of Crete

Nicolaos Theodossiou

Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Panagiotis Tsakloglou

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Stella Tsani

Assistant Professor, University of Ioannina
stella.tsani@icre8.eu

Efthymios Tsionas

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Lena Tsipouri

Professor, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Vassiliki Tsoukala

Professor, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

Vangelis Vasilatos

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Achilleas Vassilopoulos

Assistant Professor, Agricultural University of Athens
achilleas.vassilopoulos@icre8.eu

Nikolaos Vettas

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Anastasios Xepapadeas

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Athanasios Yannacopoulos

Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business

Maria Giaoutzi

Professor, National Technical University Athens

Prodromos Zanis

Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

International Affiliated Professors

Aikaterini Argyrou

Assistant Professor, Nyenrode Business University, Netherlands

Edward B. Barbier

Professor , Colorado University

Lucas Bretschger

Professor, ETH Zurich

Floor Brouwer

Adjunct Professor, UNU-FLORES

Roy Brouwer

Professor University of Waterloo

Richard T. Carson

Professor, University of California, San Diego

Graciela Chichilnisky

Professor , Columbia University

Ariel Dinar

Professor, California University

Mixalis Drouvelis

Professor, University of Birmingham

Elelman Richard

Head of Politics at Eurecat - Centro Tecnológico de Catalunya

Encarna Esteban

Professor, Zaragoza University

Konstantinos Georgalos

Associate Professor, Lancaster University

Sotiris Georganas

Associate Professor, City University London

Ben Groom

Professor, University of Exeter (UK)

Nicholas Hanley

Professor, University of Stirling

Kristis Hasapis

Associate Professor Cyprus University

Frank Jensen

Associate Professor, Copenhagen University

Madhu Khanna

Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Efthymia (Efi) Kyriakopoulou

Associate Professor, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

Ralf Ludwig

Professor , LMU

Sushanta Mahapatra

Associate Professor, Amrita University, Kochi

Anil Markandya

Professor and Former Scientific Director of Ikerbasque, BC3

Nikolaos, Mellios

Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico

Aris Moussoulides

Professor, Larnaca College

Catarina Roseta Palma,

Professor, ISCTE - Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Joanna Poyago-Theotoky

Professor, The Australian National University (ANU)

Michael Rauscher

Professor, The University of Rostock

James A. Roumasset

Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Kerry Smith

Emeritus Regents Professor and Emeritus, W. P. Carey School of Business

Stefanos Xenarios

Associate Professor Nazarbayev University

Anshory Yusuf

Associate Professor, University Padjadjaran

Theodoros Zachariadis

Associate Professor, The Cyprus Institute

Barbara Zanuttigh

Associate Professor, Bologna University

Affiliated Researchers with AE4RIA Institutions

Greek-based Affiliated Researchers

Ebun Akinsete

Dr., Senior Researcher, ICRE8, SDU at ATHENA RC, ReSEES AUEB

Giannis Adamos

Dr., Research Associate at University of Thessaly

Angelos Alamanos

Dr., Researcher

Evangelos Gerasopoulos

Dr., physicist, Director of Research at the Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens

Elias Grammatikogiannis

Dr., Researcher in Geography and Regional Planning

Xanthi- Isidora Kartala,

Dr. PhD Financial Mathematics, Athens University of Economics, M.Sc. Statistical and Business Research, University of Athens

Ioannis Kougias

Dr., Scientific Officer, joint Research Center of the European Commission

Conrad Felix Michel Landis

Dr., Researcher, Adjunct Lecturer, AUEB
conrad@aueb.gr

Vasiliki Manousi

Dr., Senior Researcher, Athens University of Economics and Business

Georgios Papayiannis

Dr. Athens University of Economics and Business

Lemonia Ragia

Dr., University of Thessaloniki

Panayiotis Sophronides

Dr., Researcher in the field of decision support systems

Alexandra Spyropoulou

Dr.,

Artemis Stratopoulou

Dr., Athens University of Economics and Business, Adjunct Lecturer at University of West Attica

Efi Tritopoulou

Dr., National Technical University of Athens; President Nowaste21- President EDEM

Ioannis Tsipouridis

Dr., President of the Hellenic Scientific Association of Wind Energy-ELETAEN

Ioannis Vardopoulos

Dr., Urban Sustainability Scholar | Civil+Environmental Engineer

Antonios Alevizos

PhD Candidate, Panteion University

Vera Alexandropoulou

Lawyer, MBA, Harvard University, LLM, Law, Heidelberg University, Law Degree, University of Athens. Vice President, Thalassa Foundation.

Vassiliki Chalastani

Researcher National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

Elias Demian

MSc Environmentalist, PhD Candidate, Athens University of Economics and Business, Research Associate, IOBE

Stahis Devves

Researcher, PhD student

Alice Guittard

Researcher
alice.guittard@icre8.eu

Efrossini Chelmi

Researcher, PhD student

Alexandra Ioannou

Associate Researcher at University of Thessaly

Akrivi Katifori

Senior researcher at "Athena" Research and Innovation Center

Dimitrios Kofinas

PhD Civil Engineer at University of Thessaly

Panagiota Koltsida

Research Associate at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens & Athena' Research Center

Evita Mailli

ICRE8

evita.mailli@icre8.eu

Sofia Mantafouni

Researcher, PhD student

Zisimos Mantas

General Manager, Eunice Energy Group

Nikos Mantzaris

Senior Policy Analyst & Partner at The Green Tank

Theodoros Mavrogeorgis

Civil Engineer and Transport Engineer, National Technical University of Athens

Yanni Paniaras

Executive Director, Europe and Sustainability at TITAN Cement Group

Lydia Papadaki

Researcher, PhD student
lydia.papadaki@icre8.eu

Eleni Petra

Project Manager, Scientific Consultant, ATHENA RIC, ICRE8

Angelos Plataniotis

PhD student

Tatiana Pliakou

Researcher, PhD student

Dimitra Skoura

Researcher, PhD student

Ermina Sokou

ICRE8 - Oceans of Tomorrow Project

ermina.sokou@icre8.eu

Charis Stavridis

PhD candidate, Researcher, co-Manager of SDSN Black Sea

Vasilis Stenos

Founder & CEO of Solmeyea | Startup | Environmentalist | Agricultural Engineer | European Climate Pact Ambassador

Lydia Stergiopoulou

Researcher

lydia.stergiopoulou@icre8.eu

Eleni Toli

Project Manager at "Athena" Research and Innovation Center

Petros Xepapadeas

Junior Researcher, ICRE8 - BRIGAID Project

petros.xepapadeas@icre8.eu

Theofanis Zacharatos

Economist, PhD c., Researcher, University of Patras

International Affiliated Researchers

Oliver Adler

Dr., Global Head of Economics & Real Estate, Private Bank & Asset Management Research, Credit Suisse AG

Lucia Fanini

Dr., MSc in Ecology and PhD in Animal Ethology and Ecology, University of Florence

Raúl Guanche García,

Dr., University of Cantabria

Panagiotis Gorezis

Dr., Head of Research & Development at the Environmental Microbiology Unit of the Belgian company PSMT and External Adjunct Scientist at Hasselt University

Céline Nauges

Dr., Ph.D. in Economics, University of Toulouse

Marilena Pollicino

Dr., Financial Advisor, Defra, PhD, University of Catania

Emmanouil Tyllianakis

Dr., Research Fellow at University of Leeds

Gerardo Anzaldúa

Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, Berlin, Germany

Elisa Chioatto

Ph.D Candidate at University of Ferrara - Department of Economics and Management

Adrian Furculita

State Agency "Apele Moldovei

Alysia Helming

Clean Energy Pioneer, Unicorn Founder, Executive Producer & Bestselling Author

Durk Krol

Executive Director at Water Europe

Communications and Research Administration

Maria Lentoudi

Communications Manager, Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aeiphoria (AE4RIA)
mlentoudi@aueb.gr

Mary Psilou

Assistant Communications Manager, AE4RIA
marpsilou@aueb.gr

Administration

Eleftherios Levantis

CEO, ICRE8

eleftherios.levantis@icre8.eu

Nikos Mavrogiannakis

Financial Administrator

nmav@athenarc.gr