On Monday 4th of December 2023, more than 100 business executives, professors, postgraduate students and graduates participated in the 8th Annual Sustainability Summit focused on “Sustainability-ESG Manager: Leading the Low Carbon Economy Transition” that was jointly organized by the ΜΒΑ International of the Athens University of Economics and Business and the Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE), at Amalia Hotel.
The Annual Sustainability Summit has been established as a place where the academic and business communities meet in a fruitful dialogue that highlights current issues, trends and challenges for Sustainable Development and Circular Economy.
The welcome speeches were addressed by Professor Eric Soderquist, Director of the MBA International, AUEB and Mr. Nikos Avlonas, President of Center for Sustainability & Excellence (CSE) and Visiting Professor on Sustainability, MBA International (AUEB), who referred to the new European legislation on sustainable development and the challenges that will face executives dealing with sustainability-ESG issues.
Distinguished speakers then addressed the audience. Helena Athoussaki, Chief Sustainability Officer, Motor Oil Group, presented the importance of sustainable development in the structure of corporate governance and strategy and the role of specialized executives in the implementation of corporate sustainability objectives. Spyros Kintzios, Director, Corporate Development, UNI-PHARMA Kleon Tsetis Pharmaceutical Laboratories S.A. and MBA International graduate, explained why a company has to invest in sustainable development practice, what are the benefits and also the risk that should take into account in the journey towards sustainability. Evangelia Glezakou, Senior Sustainability Manager at DIMAND S.A., spoke about the roles that a Sustainability Manager is called upon to fulfill, the skills he/she must have in order to be able to face the challenges that are presented every day.
During the event, special awards were also given to Sustainability Leaders and Managers who have implemented, over time, significant and innovative initiatives focusing on environmental and social issues during their careers. Specifically, awards were received by: Nikos Loulis, Chairman, Loulis Foods Ingredients S.A., Giorgos Papanastasiou, Mayor, Municipality of Agrinio , Eleni Andreadis, Sustainability Director, Sani/Ikos Group, Nena Kevorkian Palandjian, Corporate Social Responsibility Director, EUROPA and Lida Vitouladitou, Sales & Marketing Director, MEGA. A special award for his contribution to raising public awareness on environmental issues, climate change, research and innovation through ALPHA News was given to Antonis Sroiter, Journalist, ALPHA TV. Finally, two MBA International students, Marios Nikolaou and Konstantinos Chatzidakis, were awarded for their high performance in the course Global Sustainability, Strategies and Reporting, and their professional engagement with sustainable development issues.
The event was supported by epixeiro.gr.
