Marking five years of the creative journey of “THE CHIOS FESTIVAL”, this year’s anniversary edition represents a significant milestone, with His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodore II as an honored guest.
The 5th edition of “THE CHIOS FESTIVAL” is held under the auspices of UNESCO and the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s conference, entitled “Pioneering Pathways”, is scheduled to take place in Vrontados on Thursday, September 3, 2026, and constitutes a special milestone, a pivotal gathering of distinguished personalities within the framework of the 5th Anniversary Edition of “THE CHIOS FESTIVAL”. Its theme seeks to highlight those paths shaped by courage, innovation and a deep sense of responsibility toward humanity, creation and entrepreneurship, while at the same time conveying a powerful message of contribution and progress for our islands.
Following the successful course of the 2024 and 2025 conferences, which laid the foundations for fruitful dialogue and highlighted critical issues, this year’s conference aspires to serve as the culmination of the internationally oriented institution of “THE CHIOS FESTIVAL”.
Specifically, in 2024, the scientific Conference focused on Climate Change, sustainability and the ethical responsibilities of science toward future generations, while in 2025, the Symposium entitled “Looking to the Future: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Culture” examined the ways in which innovation and entrepreneurship intersect with Culture and shape the future
PROGRAMME SYMPOSIUM THE CHIOS FESTIVAL 2026
THURSDAY 03/09/2026
- OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION ENTITLED “PRODUCTS OF THE NORTH
AEGEAN”, “GEORGIOS KALOUTAS” EXHIBITION CENTRE, 11:00
Pioneering Pathways in Production and Development
The exhibition will be inaugurated by Christos Staikouras, former Minister of
Finance and Professor of Finance at the Athens University of Economics and
Business - CONFERENCE TITLED “PIONEERING PATHWAYS”
PART I, “GEORGIOS KALOUTAS” EXHIBITION CENTRE, 12:00 - Welcome address by Athanasios S. Fokas, Vice President of the Academy of
Athens and Professor of Nonlinear Mathematical Science at the University of
Cambridge - Spiros Andrianos, Business Consultant, Speaker and Author
- Dr. Stefanos Chandakas, President and Founder of HOPEgenesis, an
organization with a significant humanitarian mission that actively addresses
Greece’s demographic challenge and supports the Greek family, particularly in
remote and border regions of the country - Ioanna Chinou, Professor at the Department of Pharmacy, National and
Kapodistrian University of Athens, National Representative for Herbal Medicinal
Products at the European Medicines Agency, with a decisive contribution to the
evaluation of mastiha as a natural medicinal product - Aliki Drakouli, President of Axion Hellas, an organization with multifaceted
humanitarian work that actively supports remote and border communities in the
fields of healthcare, education and infrastructure - Sherif Mohamady Elsayed, Academic and President of the National Water
Research Center (NWRC) in Cairo - Thanasis Lalas, Writer, Journalist, Visual Artist
- Dr. Matina Pagoni, President of the Hellenic Society of Internal Medicine, First
Vice President of OENGE, and Coordinating Director of the 3rd Department of
Internal Medicine at “G. Gennimatas” General Hospital of Athens - Michalis Printzos, Greece, Country Head – The Hellenic Initiative
- Antonis Tsolomytis, Chair of the Department of Mathematics at the University
of the Aegean, with significant contribution to accessible knowledge for people with
visual impairments - Dr. Nikolaos Vogiatzis, Partner at the technology investment fund Corallia
Ventures, Co-founder of the Corallia innovation ecosystems - Nikolaos Zouros, Professor of Physical Geography at the University of the
Aegean, Director of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest
- PART II, PETROKARAVO OF VRODADOS, 18:30
- Welcome address by Stefanos Gikas, Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and
Insular Policy - Welcome address by Evangelos Apostolakis, Admiral H.N. ret., Honorary Chief
of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Former Minister of National
Defence and Member of the Hellenic Parliament - Welcome address by Stamatis Krimizis, Academician, Supervisor of the Center
for Space Science and Technology and former President of the Academy of Athens.
MARITIME TOURISM
- John Faraclas, Co-founder – CEO of ALLABOUTSHIPPING
- Jean Pierre Heim, architect specializing in the design of marinas and pleasure
yachts - Ioannis Kourounis, CEO of Istion Yachting Group, President of the Greek
Yachting Association - Irene Notias, Founder & Director of Project Connect – Young Professionals inthe-Making
- Gina Polemi, Founder and Managing Director of Regatta Plus, President of the
Hellenic Committee for Professional Yachting (HCPY) and President of the Private
Yacht Representatives Association - Antonis Stelliatos, Honorary President of the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners
Association (EPEST) - Vasileios Tefas, CEO of Chios Marina & Vice President of the Greek Marinas
Association - George Vernicos, Shipowner and President of Vernicos Yachts
SHIPPING
- Vera Alexandropoulou – Lo, Co-founder of the Non-Profit Organization AENAOS
THALASSA, Vice President of the Thalassa Foundation - George Andreadis, M&O Greece, Malta, Cyprus Director BUREAU VERITAS
- Ilias Bisias, Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Management in
Shipping and Maritime Transport at the University of the Aegean, Editorial Advisor
at Naftika Chronika - Dimitrios Fafalios, President and Director of Fafalios Shipping S.A.
- Antonis Faraklas, Managing Director of Charterwell Maritime S.A. and
Chartworld Shipping Corporation - Simos Palios, Shipowner
- Menelaos Pangalos, Managing Director, Chios Navigation (Hellas) Ltd
Moderated by journalist Korina Georgiou
SONGS OF THE SEA
An evening of lyrical song with Ermis – Michail Athanasopoulos and Dorothea
Mounte
