Archives

Ms. Esra Doğan Tulgan

Esra Doğan Tulgan is manager of the corporate affairs in the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, a position she took up in March 2020. Reporting directly to the President of Turkey, the Investment Office is Turkey’s national investment promotion agency responsible for promoting Turkey’s investment opportunities to the global business community and providing investors with assistance before, during, and after their entry into Turkey.

Mrs. Tulgan manages the corporate affairs of the Investment Office by covering public relations activities, identifying key opportunities to deliver investment messages with a clear focus on promoting investment opportunities of Turkey and developing/delivering strategic communication campaigns for building Turkey’s reputation as an ideal destination for international investment.

Prior to this role, Mrs. Tulgan held the position of Senior Project Director in charge of foreign direct investments projects originating from France, Italy and french speaking countries between 2006-2015 and 2017-2020. She served as the senior advisor for FDI projects from US in Chicago between 2005- 2017.

Before joing the Investment Office, she worked as the research expert in the employers’ union of the Turkish textile industry, in charge of external relations and labor issues.

Mrs. Tulgan holds a BA in International Relations from Koç University and a Master Degree in EU Politics from Galatasaray University. She speaks Turkish, English, French, Italian and she’s eager to learn Greek.

Mr. ΥU Zenggang

Mr. Yu Zenggang is the Executive Chairman of Piraeus Port Authority S.A. He started his career in August 1984, and served as the Chief Representative of the Japan Representative Office of Shanghai Shipping Bureau, Director and General Manager of Shanghai Haixing Shipping (Japan) Co. Ltd., Deputy General Manager, General Manager of the Development Division of China Shipping (Group) Company, Executive Vice President of China Shipping (North America) Holding Co., Ltd., President of China Shipping (Europe) Holding GmbH, General Manager of the President Office of China Shipping (Group) Company, Director of BOD Office and General Office, Executive Vice President and BOD Secretary of China Shipping (Group) Company, Executive Vice President and Member of China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited. He has over 30 years’ working experience in shipping industry, and has abundant expertise in corporate management, corporate governance, overseas industry development, international operation, and listed company management. He has taken his current position since June, 2019. Mr. Yu Zenggang graduated from Wuhan University of Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree of engineering science in 1984 and obtained the Master’s Degree in 2012 from CEIBS (China Europe International Business School).

Dr. Avtandil Kasradze

Mr. Avtandil Kasradze has been the Chairman at Georgia’s Technology and Innovations Agency since January 2019.

Before that, he served as the Deputy Chairman of GITA.

Dr. Kasradze has Master’s Degree in International Human Rights Law from the Lund University, Sweden and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Law and Legal Studies from Tbilisi State University, Georgia.

Ms. Emine Perviz Erdem

Born in Istanbul in 1959, Emine Perviz Erdem graduated from Notre Dame de Sion French High School and has a degree in Law and a M.Sc. in Business Administration from Istanbul University. A lawyer by profession, she is a Board Member of Erdem Holding since 1985 and served as a Chamber Counsel for Turkish Airlines between 1990 and 2017 until her retirement.

She is the President of KAGIDER where she has been a Board Member since 2013. Successively, she worked as the President of Soroptimist International of Turkey (2008-2010), Board Member (2013-2017) and Vice President (2015-2017) of Soroptimist International of Europe and President of Soroptimist International Convention (2015.) She has been appointed as Senior Senator for Turkey at World Business Angels Investment Forum in August 2020. She is also acting as the Vice President and the Spokesperson of the WBAF Ethical Governance, Standards of Excellence, and Quality Leadership Committee. Moreover, she has been elected as the President of Federation of Industrial Associations (SEDEFED) in June 2021. She is the Vice President of Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TURKONFED), a Board Member of Global Entrepreneurship Network Turkey, GEN TR, a member of Executive Committee of Istanbul Economy Summit, a member of the Advisory Board of Association of Women Candidates; and Steering Committee member of FCEM, a member of the Advisory Board of Habitat Association and also W20 Delegate from Turkey.

She was a member of UNESCO Turkish National Commission Gender Equality Monitoring Committee between July 2018 – May 2022. Her other civil society memberships include International Federation of University Women and Foundation of Turkish Women in Legal Profession. She has been a spokesperson at several international meetings. She speaks French and English.

Mr. Romeo Mikautadze

Working Experience

28 December, 2021 –  Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

2019 – 2021  –  Director, LLC Tbilservice Group

2018 – 2019 –   Director, LLC Energotrans

2018  –  Director, Georgian Energy Development (GEDF)

2018 –  Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (Energy Sector Curator)

2017 – 2018 – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy of Georgia

2013 – 2017 –  Director General, SC UES SAKRUSENERGO

2010 – 2017 –  Deputy Director General, SC UES SAKRUSENERGO

2009 – 2010 – Head of Procurement Division, SC UES SAKRUSENERGO

2009 – Deputy Director General, JSC Khramhesi-1, JSC Khramhesi-2 Cascade (Inter Rao)

2009 – Advisor to Director General, SC UES SAKRUSENERGO

2008 – 2009 – Deputy Director General, LLC Geoincors, (Energy sector supervisor – Chkhorotskuhesi, Kinkishahesi, Rusmetali)

2006 – 2008 – Deputy Director General, Technical Director, Zahesi 2006

2005 – 2006 –  Deputy Director General, Vartsikhe HPP Cascades

2004 – 2005 – Chief Advisor to Minister, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

2004 – 2005 –  Advisor to Minister, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

2004 – Deputy Head, Energy Supervision and Heat Quality Department

2003 – 2004  – Head of Office, Deputy Head of Division, Head of Division, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia

 

Education

1999 – 2003 –  Bachelor’s Degree, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Diplomacy and International Relations

2003 – 2004 –  Master’s Degree, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Diplomacy and International Relations

2004 – 2005 –  State Security Service Academy of Georgia

 

Awards

2012 – State Award – Order of Honor for the project implemented in the energy sector – construction of 110 kW power transmission line for Jakhunderi-Mestia (project manager)

Mr. Costis Stambolis

Costis Stambolis is the Executive Director of the Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) and its current Chairman. He has a background in Physics and Architecture having studied at the University of London, the North East London Polytechnic (NELP) and the Architectural Association in London from where he holds a Graduate Diploma in Architecture and Energy Studies (AA Dip. Grad). He also holds a professional practice license from the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), and a Masters Degree from the Said Business School, University of Oxford, where he studied “Strategy and Innovation”.

Costis has carried out numerous projects on Renewable Energy Sources in developing countries. He has consulted widely on solar building applications for both private and institutional clients in various European countries. Furthermore, he has worked as a consultant and strategy advisor on natural gas, oil markets and energy security issues for large multinational companies, international organizations and governments.

Costis has lectured widely on energy issues and has organized several national, regional and international conferences, seminars and workshops. He has published several books, edited conference proceedings, and authored research papers. Among others he is the editor of  the “S.E. Europe Energy Outlook (2011,2017, 2022)”, which is considered a basic reference on energy for SE Europe.

Since 2001 he manages Greece’s foremost energy site www.energia.gr. He is a founding member of the Institute of Energy for South East Europe (IENE). He is a member of the Energy Institute (UK), the International Passive House Association (IPHA), and The Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE). Since 2018 he also serves as a full member of the Greek government’s standing committee on Energy and Climate Change (NECP).

Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst

Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst is the European Foreign Service Managing Director EUROPE since September 2021. Before, she was the acting Managing Director then the Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia (2019-2021), the Deputy Managing Director/Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey and the Chief Negotiator for the EU-facilitated Belgrade Pristina Dialogue (2015-2019).

Since 1996, Ms Eichhorst has served with the European Union at different external relations Directorates General in Brussels, Jordan and Syria. In Lebanon, she was the EU Ambassador/Head of Delegation (2011-2015). She also worked in Egypt, Somalia and New York with the private sector, the United Nations, research institutes and non-governmental organizations (1989-1996).

Born in the Netherlands, Ms. Eichhorst holds a Master Degree in languages and cultures of the Middle East and in International Relations. She also holds postgraduate diplomas in international law, human rights and the law of international organizations. She freely converses in Dutch, English, French, German and Arabic, and has a good understanding of Italian and Spanish.

Mr. Umberto de Pretto

Umberto de Pretto took up office as Secretary General of IRU in June 2013. He joined IRU in 1995 as Head of Economic Affairs. He then became Policy Coordinator and subsequently Head of Strategy, and was appointed Deputy Secretary General in 2002.

His vision looking forward is that IRU will lead the road transport industry in embracing innovation and ensuring that the industry is ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

After graduating from Ottawa’s Carleton University in Political Science and  International  Relations,  he worked as a Legislative Assistant for Ministers and Members of the Canadian Parliament. In 1992, he moved to Paris to take on the position of Head of the Transport Division of the International Chamber of Commerce. Shortly after he was named Deputy Director, responsible for International Commercial Practices and Techniques.

Born in Ottawa in 1961, Mr. de Pretto is a Canadian and Italian citizen, happily married, and a proud father of two boys.

Ms. Merâl Güzel

Meral Guzel leads ands coordinates United Nations’ Women’s Entrepreneurship’s Accelerator, a multi-partner initiative designed to advance women entrepreneurship ecosystem around the world in collaboration with six United Nations agencies. She joined UN Women in 2015 as Empower Women Regional Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia and later established WEPs Secretariat within UN Women. Previously, she founded and launched the Women’s Banking department of BNP Paribas TEB and also designed and managed several multi-country programmes at the World Bank. Meral has over 18 years of senior-level experience within international development, advancing gender agenda in collaboration with the private sector, financial institutions, and institutional partners. Meral’s expertise also includes women’s entrepreneurship, gender and blended finance and women’s empowerment at the workplace.