Unlocking Investment Through Public – Private Partnerships International Summit

Alexis Vafeades studied architecture at the University of Southern California (USC). He had been practicing the profession of architect since 1988 and was one of the Directors of the family architecture practice Vafeades and Co. He is registered with the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ΕΤΕΚ). He was a member of the Board of Directors of Demetra Holdings PLC and of the Cyprus Joint Construction Contracts Tribunal (CyJCCT). During his previous term as President of the CyJCCT, he contributed to the revision of the existing Structural Contracts enriching them with new texts that serve the new requirements of the construction industry. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Council for the Registration of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors and a member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Architects Association.

George Papanastasiou was appointed Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry on March 1st 2023. He is a mechanical engineer by profession, with an HND in Mechanical Engineering from the Higher Technical Institute of Cyprus, a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from City University London and an MSc in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning from Kings College London. He worked for 26 years at BP in Cyprus, the United Kingdom and other European countries, having held various managerial positions within the company, including Cyprus’ Head of Country. From 1st of October 2011 and until his appointment as Energy Minister, he was Managing Director and General Manager of VTT Vasiliko Ltd (VTTV), a subsidiary of Netherlands based VTTI B.V. Inter alia, during his tenure at VTTV he led a versatile team of professionals tasked with constructing and operating the oil storage terminal of the company at Vasilikos area. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated extensive experience in the oil and gas industry, specifically in the fields of Supply and Logistics, Health, Safety and Environment, Operations and Engineering, Sales and Marketing, Company Governance and Compliance.He has served as President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation (CYS) and the Cyprus Certification Company, President of the Cyprus – Netherlands Business Association operating under the auspices of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation. Mr. Papanastasiou was born in Nicosia on September 10th 1961. He is married to Glykeria Michailidou, they have a son, Ignatius, and reside in Nicosia.

Irene Piki was born in Lefkosia in 1973. In 1974, she was forced due to the Turkish invasion, to move with her family to Athens, where she spent her high school years, graduating from Moraitis School. She then studied Economics in the UK, (BSc Regional Science – Economics and Human Geography) at the University of Reading, followed by postgraduate studies in Environmental Economics at University College London (UCL), where she was awarded an MSc Environmental and Natural Resources Economics degree. She was employed in the public service of the Republic of Cyprus as a career technocrat since 1997, at various posts with a wide range portfolio, which includes issues relating to the economy, environment, peripheral policy, reforms and investments as well as European issues. Her professional career started from the private sector focusing on issues of environment economics. In 1997 her career in the public service begun with her appointment at the Planning Bureau (now Directorate General Growth, Ministry of Finance), where she worked on issues related to the environment, and natural resources. She was a member of the negotiations group on cohesion policy issues during Cyprus’ EU accession negotiations (2002 -2004). She was a member of the Programming Unit for the cohesion policy up to 2009, at which time she was called upon to work for the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council, as Head of Programme and Policy Coordination Unit (2010-2013). In 2014, she assumed duties related to the coordination of entrepreneurship and innovation issues, investment and improvement of the regulatory framework, at the Administrative Reform Unit under the Deputy Minister to the President. In addition, from 2014 to 2016 she participated in the Ad Hoc group for the preparation of the implementation of the Community Acquis, in the framework of the negotiations on the Cyprus Problem. In March 2018, she became Head of the Office of the Minister of Finance, Mr Harris Georgiades, and in September 2019 she took over as Head of the Strategy, Coordination and Communication Directorate at the same Ministry. In March 2021 she was promoted to the position of Financial Director and in October 2022 she became Head of the Directorate of Economic Policy and European Affairs. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Invest Cyprus (CIPA), the Research and Innovation Foundation, the Cyprus Organization for Standardization as well as the Cyprus Economy and Competitiveness Council. She has represented Cyprus in various EU Committees relating to economic and political cohesion issues.

Kostas Koumis holds a degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Media and Communication. He is an experienced professional with 20 years of experience in different industries such as tourism, real estate, education, as well as the public sector. Serving these positions, he acquired extensive knowledge of the country’s public sector processes, including broad skills in national and regional development management. Also, he acquired skills in managing and/or coordinating teams of specialists of different industries. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Cyprus Tourism Organization during the period of 2014 - 2018 and as the Vice Chairman of the Cyprus Telecommunication Authority (CYTA) and President of the Audit Committee of CYTA between January 2019 to December 2020. He also worked as a visiting lecturer at University of Central Lancashire (UCLan Cyprus). From September 2020 until June 2021, he was the editor and presenter of a podcast program dedicated to the Tourism Sector. From July 2021 until February 2023, he was a member of the Public Service Commission.

Evgenios Evgeniou is Chairman of Invest Cyprus, non-executive director in financial services, Chairman of Nicosia for Art, member of the Corporate Governance committee of the ICAEW. Had a 31-year career with PwC, served as Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC Cyprus (2012-2021) and member of the PwC EMEA Leadership (2014 - 2021) representing fifteen European territories. Beyond commercial success, key achievements included: technological transformation; developing the data analytics, Cyber security, and AI capabilities; launching the PwC Experience Centre. An Imperial College London Engineering graduate (BEng), a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), completed the Harvard Direct Leadership program. In 2024 he earned the MA in International Affairs (Strategic Studies) from King's College London and the INSEAD Certificate in Corporate Governance.

Marios Tannousis is the CEO of Invest Cyprus. He has over 24 years of international corporate experience, including 12 in the international banking and financial services group Societe Generale, where he served in various key posts. He is a Member of the Boards of the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) and the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA) and a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). He holds a degree in Economics and an MBA. He regularly represents Cyprus at international conferences.

Ismail Ersahin is the Executive Director and CEO of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), bringing over 25 years of experience across public and private sectors in trade, international investment promotion, and business development. His diverse career includes leadership roles in government and significant experience in the automotive, textile, and tourism industries, providing him with valuable cross-sector insights that he now applies in his role at WAIPA. Before his tenure in investment promotion, Ismail Ersahin held various senior positions with some of Turkiye’s largest automotive groups, and contributed to Invest in Turkiye (Turkiye’s national investment agency) as Chief Project Director and Advisor to the Vice President during its formative years, where he helped establish the agency’s mission and strategy. He also played a key role in establishing Turkish Development Agencies and led initiatives funded by the World Bank. As WAIPA's CEO, Ersahin has spearheaded initiatives to support investment promotion agencies (IPAs) worldwide, enhancing WAIPA's role in facilitating international investment. Under his leadership, WAIPA renewed its institutional partnerships with major international organizations, and his efforts were recognized in 2015 with a Special Recognition award from UNCTAD’s Secretary General, underscoring his impact on WAIPA’s outreach and influence. A consummate leader, organiser, speaker, and moderator, Ersahin has graced prestigious platforms such as the UNCTAD World Investment Forum, the Annual Investment Meeting in the UAE, the World Economic Forum in Davos, the CIFIT in Xiamen, and the Africa Partnership Conference. He has been the lead organizer of the last ten World Investment Conferences. His contributions help shape a thriving international investment community, where WAIPA continues to support IPAs in "promoting investment for good" worldwide.

Ziad-Alexandre Hayek has 44 years of experience in investment banking, corporate strategy, artificial intelligence, public policy, and public-private partnerships. In 2019, he was nominated to be President of the World Bank. He is currently President of the World Association of PPP Units & Professionals, Head of Global Strategic Alliances at HyperCycle.ai, and member of the Board of Trustees of USEK University. Previously he was Vice Chair of the UN Working Party on PPP, Secretary General of Lebanon’s High Council for Privatization and PPP, and a senior managing director in major investment banks. Hayek is a conversant with 11 languages.

Stelios Demetriou is the Leader of Strategy and Transactions at EY Cyprus and also the CESA M&A Leader, bringing over 20 years of professional experience in finance and corporate strategy. Stelios holds a BSc in Finance and is a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW, UK). He also holds the Corporate Finance Qualification from ICAEW, the Securities and Investments Institute (UK), and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. Prior to joining EY, Stelios spent nearly a decade in PwC Cyprus’ Corporate Finance Department and five years in their Tax and Legal Department. His extensive experience across various sectors positions him as a leading expert in corporate finance and strategy.

Nayef Al-Haddad received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois in 2001 and Master’s in business administration from Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait in 2016. He has more than 23 years of experience in the energy sector and infrastructure projects, through working for Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEWRE), Gulf Countries Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), and Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP). He is currently the Manger of Research and Strategic Planning at KAPP, and has successfully managed multiple PPP projects, as well as conducted power trading deals between GCC countries. He is also the chairman of the Middle East and North Africa chapter for the World Association of PPP units & Professionals (WAPPP).

Atter Hannoura has 42+ years of professional experience in different capacities and business sectors. He is a holder of a law degree from Cairo University 2015, a diploma in Large Procurements ILO/Italy/2004 and a B. Sc. Engineering (ICT) from Alexandria University in 1981. Atter is a PPP Expert, with solid procurement, and contract management experience. His professional business experience was mainly gained from working at multinational organizations since 1997, nine years at the World Bank as a Management Information System (MIS) and Procurement Expert, then extended to cover the full Project Management, Financing and Contract Management in the MENA Region. Atter joined the Ministry of Finance in Egypt in 2007, to participate in establishing the PPP Central Unit and was appointed as the Director of the PPP Central Unit. He was also responsible for implementing PPP initiative on a national basis and drafting the PPP legal frame work in Egypt since May 2010.

Kamal Patel is a UK based Partner, leading the London Corporate Finance Infrastructure team. He leads EYs involvement in infrastructure PPPs and private finance projects. Most recently, the private finance delivery of a new River Thames crossing. He has spent 25years in the PPP sector and has held senior positions in advisory, banking and Government. In his previous role within Government, he was responsible for manging and delivering PPPs. Previously, Kamal was involved on the Larnaca and Paphos BOT concession as an advisor to Government, at PwC, and subsequently as a lender.

Suresh Yadav is Senior Director (Trade, Ocean and Natural Resources) as well as lead on AI and Digital Transformation in the Commonwealth. He is the Secretary of the Commonwealth AI consortium and working to promote development of AI and capacity building in the Commonwealth countries. Prior to this he had worked in the Board of World Bank Group as representative of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. As a member of IRS in India, he had worked as an Officer on Special Duty to President of India and Director to Finance Minister of India. He also led the DTAA negotiations on behalf of India and global specialist in transfer pricing audit of MNEs. He is an author of a Book on FDI and passionately work for using AI and transformative technologies for development and also to use the platform approach for attracting FDI by the small states. He is working to bridge the compute and digital divide in the Commonwealth countries.

Jean-Christophe Barth-Coullaré is the Executive Director of the World Association of PPP Units & Professionals (WAPPP). He is also a commercial mediator practicing in Switzerland and internationally. He is accredited with Federation Suisse Mediation and the French-German Chamber of Commerce. His commercial disputes practice includes construction, engineering and infrastructure, corporate, IP, partnership agreements, franchising, small businesses and early stage ventures. He helps parties design resilient and collaborative contracting frameworks to avoid and swiftly resolve commercial disputes, namely in long-term construction / infrastructure projects. He is co-author of the guide "Early Stage Governance - an effective lever for start-ups in Europe" and mentor on board governance to founders, board member at Federation Suisse Mediation & Jury for the Swiss mediation prize for companies and institutions and recipient of the 2024 Weinstein JAMS Foundation International Fellowship.

Edward Farquharson is a Senior Adviser at the European Investment Bank focusing on public private partnerships (PPPs), including the European PPP Expertise Centre (EPEC), an EIB initiative. Ed’s career as an adviser and as a lender and equity investor to PPP projects included positions with HM Treasury, Partnerships UK, the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), CDC and Morgan Grenfell (later Deutsche Bank). Ed has an MBA from Manchester Business School and a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University. He has co-authored a number of books on PPPs including the Second Edition of ‘PPPs for Infrastructure, Principles of Policy and Finance’, co-authored with E.R. Yescombe and ‘How to Engage with the Private Sector in Public-Private Partnerships in Emerging Markets’ (PPIAF/World Bank).

Emmanuel Noutary is General Delegate of ANIMA Investment Network since 2010. He joined ANIMA in Marseille in August 2006, as Project Director in the field of innovation, SME financing and investment. He notably initiated the first business angel networks in Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. Since then he initiated and steered many cooperation projects implemented by the ANIMA network in the field of SME internationalization, inclusive investment promotion, the mobilisation of talents from the diaspora, clusters, innovation and growth companies. Emmanuel spent 12 years in the telecoms, internet and communications sector: telecoms consultant in Paris; marketing director of a pioneer operator in the field of internet telephony based in London, and targeting the MENA markets among others; and research director delivering to various telecom operators. He is the author of a dozen of studies and numerous reports and papers on economic development in MENA and Africa. He graduated from University Parix Dauphine (PSL University): Master 1 in Management Science and Master 2 Management in Telecoms and Medias.

José Henrique Martins is the Chief Expert at the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), where he is in charge of both the coordination of WAIPA’s technical projects and collaboration, as well as of the liaison with WAIPA’s membership of over 130 IPAs worldwide and partner organizations and agencies. Before joining WAIPA, he worked for two years at UNCTAD, as responsible for the World Investment for Development Alliance, coordinating strategic projects and reports and advising the Director of the Division on Investment and Enterprise. Until 2021, Mr. Martins was Deputy Undersecretary for International Finance and Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of the Economy of Brazil. Previously, he was General Coordinator for Trade and Investment Policy and the Brazilian Coordinator of the MERCOSUR Subgroup on Investments and of the Brazilian National Contact Point on Responsible Business Conduct (NCP Brazil). He was awarded the title of Knight of the Rio Branco Order by the President of Brazil, for his accomplishments and contribution to the international relations of the country. Mr. Martins speaks 6 languages and holds a Master from the Geneva Graduate Institute, focused on International Finance and Sustainable Trade, and a MBA from the Getulio Vargas Foundation (São Paulo School of Economics).

Lucia Fuselli is an international Energy and Climate Finance Expert with over 15 years of experience in sustainable infrastructure, green finance and decarbonisation. She has worked with policymakers (EU Institutions), international organizations (WEF, COP28), and international financiers (EIB, GCF) on PPP in the clean energy and infrastructure space. She is a steering Committee member of the World Association of Public-Private Partnerships (WAPPP) and finance lead of the UNECE drafting Group integrating sustainability criteria in PPPs. She is the founder and Board Director of Climate Strategies Consulting, a firm dedicated to advising governments, organizations, and businesses on energy transition, ESG and green finance.

Erik Wehl has been working in the port space since 2001, initially with APM Terminals, one of the leading global port and terminal operators, and since 2009 in his own consulting practice specialization in container terminals, ports and other types of infrastructure projects often implemented as Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP). He focuses on commercial and financial advisory and has both private and public sector clients. Erik’s fixed employment background stems from the transportation, logistics and ports industries in various financial management positions. Erik Wehl is currently the chair of the WAPPP Port Chapter (since 2020).

Dr. Marinos Giannopoulos is a finance professional and academic with a background in banking, investment finance, and economic policy across Greece and the UK. He has specialized in credit risk management, investment banking, and portfolio consolidation in emerging European markets. As CEO of Enterprise Greece, he leads the national agency for investment and trade promotion, strengthening Greece’s global economic presence. Previously, he played a key role in implementing Greece’s National Recovery and Resilience Fund – Greece 2.0, working with European institutions and national authorities to drive investment and growth. Beyond finance, he has served as an advisor to New Democracy’s Secretariat for International Relations & EU (2013–2019). He holds degrees from the University of Liverpool, City University London, and a PhD in Strategic Management from Brunel University London.

Hossam Heiba is an experienced investment banker and direct investment professional with more than 32 years of experience of which 25 years management experience in setting up, managing, negotiating and enhancing direct investments in more than 15 different sectors and industries with international practice standards that involved undertaking different tasks that varied between managing investment companies and assuming operating roles, restructuring activities and companies, developing and executing workable business plans, initiating and developing start up projects and companies in the various sectors and countries.

Christophe Petit is the Deputy CEO (Directeur General Adjoint) of Bouygues Batiment International since 2012. He has been the Legal General Counsel of Bouygues Batiment International from 2002 to 2012.  As Deputy CEO of Bouygues Batiment International, Christophe Petit is in charge of business development for complex Projects worldwide, which include financing and/or operation components such as Airports, Hospitals, Social Accommodations, Hotels, etc… or for Projects to be developed in new countries. He is responsible for managing Bouygues Batiment International’s business lines for Airports, Healthcare Projects and Data Centers. He also is in charge of managing Bouygues Batiment International’s equity participations in Airports Concessions. As such he has been the Chairman and is now a Board member of Zagreb Airport International Company (ZAIC Ltd), the concessionaire of the airport of Zagreb in Croatia and he is the Chairman of the Board of Hermes Airports Ltd, the concessionaire of the airports of Larnaca and Pafos in Cyprus.  He is a member of the Executive Committee of Bouygues Batiment International and reports directly to its Chairman and CEO.  Christophe is also the President of the Council of MEDEF International (the French Association of entrepreneurs) for South Balkans and for Turkmenistan.

Maria-Angeliki holds a specialization in commercial law (Master's degree with honors), a Bachelor's degree in Law from the University of Sorbonne Paris Nord (with honors) and a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (with honors). In 2021, she completed the Master of Advanced International Studies (M.A.I.S. 24th) from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (Diplomatische Akademie Wien). During her academic years, her theses covered topics in the field of international insolvency law, restructuring, digital assets, Blockchain, international commercial law, private international law, international economics, European law and international monetary law. Maria-Angeliki was an Associate Legal Officer at UNCITRAL for almost four years, where she was actively involved in UNCITRAL Working Group V sessions covering domestic and cross-border insolvency law and in the areas of public procurement, public-private partnerships and international sale of goods. Maria-Angeliki has also been involved in the substantive support and promotion of CLOUT (“Case Law On UNCITRAL Texts”), an UNCITRAL database that collects court decisions and arbitral awards interpreting and applying UNCITRAL texts.

Andria Koukounis is a Partner and the Head of the Financial Services, Funds and Capital Markets of Koukounis, Karaolis LLC, law firm member of the EY global network. Andria has extensive experience in sectors such as commercial, real estate and energy, as well as niche areas of law such as fintech, licensing, data protection and compliance. She has taken part in early negotiations with prospective contractors for the construction of the Euroasia Interconnector (renamed as Great Sea Interconnector), setup the first investment fund and legal documentation for leasing (hire-purchase) of PV panels in Cyprus, and leads the legal / regulatory workstream in various renewable energy transactions.

EY Cyprus, with over 90 years of practice, has been a trusted business advisor and auditor to a broad range of clients, from private individuals and entrepreneurial businesses to major public companies and large multinationals. We are part of EY EMEIA area, the largest multicounty region in the global EY organization. Cyprus is one of the 29 countries that comprise the Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe, and Central Asia (CESA) region. In this Transformative Age, EY teams have to stay ahead of new trends. We need to help maintain and improve the quality through our four service lines (Assurance, Tax and Legal, Consulting and Strategy and Transactions), while making greater use of emerging technologies and different skills to create new and innovative offerings. Our industry specializations in Cyprus cover banking and capital markets, insurance, government and public sector, technology, shipping, telecommunications, consumer products and retail, automotive and transportation, hospitality, real estate, asset management, oil and gas, and power and utilities.

Hermes Airports undertook the management and operation of Larnaka and Pafos airports in 2006, under a BOT Concession Agreement with the Republic of Cyprus. Hermes Airports significantly contributes to the country’s tourism growth, through both a targeted air service development strategy with existing and new airlines, as well as a productive collaboration with the Government and tourism stakeholders. Hermes Airports goal is the continuous enhancement of connectivity and the overall passenger experience, with an emphasis on operational excellence and customer service.

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world. The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

Invest Cyprus (Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency) is the investment promotion agency of the Government of Cyprus, dedicated to attract and facilitate foreign direct investment into the country. In close collaboration with all governmental authorities and public institutions, as well as the private sector and international experts, Invest Cyprus is the country’s lead agent in establishing Cyprus as a world class investment destination. Invest Cyprus’ mandate, is to raise awareness of Cyprus as a location certainty around all aspects of operating a business in Cyprus and supporting potential investors in developing their business case for investment into the country.

WAIPA is the global organization gathering investment promotion agencies (IPAs) worldwide, supporting then and facilitating their cooperation and sharing of experiences and expertise among each other. Since its creation, in 1995, WAIPA continues representing its members with dedication to assist and support them through a wide range of activities and events, including the biggest investment promotion conference in the world, the World Investment Conference (WIC), its flagship event. These are for human capacity building, world-class training, access to research and data, policies and strategies advice and more. Together with its partner organizations and agencies, WAIPA has been supporting its over 130 members from around the globe at the same time as it has been strengthening its collaboration to promote investments for good.

WAPPP is the global home of public-private partnership professionals. Established in Geneva in 2018, it has grown to become the world’s largest and most influential PPP organization. Currently it has over 500 members of which half are civil servants from over 60 Governments. WAPPP’s structure encompasses Regional Chapters, Sectoral Chapters, and Thematic Chapters. The Chapters meet regularly and members can belong to any chapter(s) they wish. WAPPP has weekly activities of one type or another. It actively advocates for international best practices in PPP and stands at the forefront of innovation in the field, publishing and conducting many research activities. To learn more about WAPPP, please visit www.wappp.net.