Bios
Speakers - Reporters
We introduce you to our speakers, an international and carefully chosen blend of experts coming from key public and private multisectoral backgrounds at national and EU level, including Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Germany, Poland, UK, Italy, Austria, Ireland, Estonia and the European Commission.
Conference Organisers
Speakers
Demetris Hadjisofocli
CEO, CSI, Cyprus
Demetris Hadjisofocli
CEO, CSI, Cyprus
Mr. Demetris C. Hadjisofocli is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of CSI. Prior to joining CSI, Demetris was the Director for Business Development for Worldcom's Digital Ventures Group, in the United States. At Worldcom DVG, he was responsible for business development, portfolio investment management, start up support, mentoring, and coaching, and deal flow management stemming from various high-tech sectors and life sciences. He also worked with companies such as UUNET Technologies, AOL, and MCI Telecommunications, all of them pioneers in developing and adapting new ICT technologies. His expertise evolves around innovation, entrepreneurship, operational efficiencies, project planning and management, training and organisational collaboration. He is an innovator, and a serial entrepreneur. He is also a mentor/coach and a motivator at various business idea development ecosystems. He led an effort and is a proponent of the development of strong and substantive links between Businesses and Academia, through the creation and management of Liaison Offices between academic institutions and businesses in Cyprus. While the Managing Director of Helix Business Incubator, a business accelerator connected to the University of Nicosia, and the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, he focused on investing in startups, where he coached and mentored these new ventures in the areas of ICT and Life Sciences, to innovate and grow. He leverages his academic and business knowledge and experience and augmented it with discipline, critical thinking, commitment, decision making and leadership skills to develop the organisation I Feel You that aims to improve confidence and empathy among the youth. He holds a BSBA in Marketing and International Business and an MBA in Strategic Planning & Entrepreneurship Development both from The Ohio State University, and an LLM in Corporate Law and Intellectual Property Rights from the University of Salford.
Panayiota Constanti
Senior Project Manager, CSI, Cyprus
Panayiota Constanti
Senior Project Manager, CSI, Cyprus
Panayiota Constanti is a Senior Project Manager at CSI. She holds a BSc in International and European Studies and an MSc in International Development Studies. Her extensive professional experience includes collaborations with non-profit organisations, research centres and international organisations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America, with a focus on building support projects for vulnerable communities and managing international development projects, promoting diversity and equality through social programs, to achieve innovative results and extract positive change. She is the Project Coordinator of the European project PROSECUW www.prosecuwproject.eu.
Andrew Staniforth
Director, SAHER Europe, Estonia
Andrew Staniforth
Director, SAHER Europe, Estonia
Andrew Staniforth is a Director at SAHER Europe, a security research and training consultancy based in Estonia operating at a global level. With extensive operational expertise in counter-terrorism gained as a counter-terrorism police detective, Andrew has supported missions of the United Nations Terrorism Prevention Branch and ss a qualified teacher, has designed international multi-agency security exercise programmes delivering counter-terrorism training to senior police commanders from across the world. Andrew has also held academic positions at leading research institutes and is the author, co-author, editor and co-editor of 12 security books and is an active researcher, most recently publishing a report to tackle online terrorist content with the Global Network on Extremism & Terrorism (GNET). He is the Project Coordinator of the European project PROTECTOR (www.protector-project.eu).
Kaashif Awan
Co-Director, EFI, Ireland
Kaashif Awan
Co-Director, EFI, Ireland
Kaashif Awan is a graduate in history and politics, and has an impressive track record of project development and implementation across the globe. His leadership role within EFI covers strategic direction, and day-to-day management and oversight of its various projects. He is the Project Coordinator of the European project SOAR (www.soarproject.eu)..
Edoardo Mattiello
Task Leader, Fondazione Amici della Cattedrale di Novara, Italy
Edoardo Mattiello
Task Leader, Fondazione Amici della Cattedrale di Novara, Italy
Edoardo Mattiello is a former Army officer with expertise in asymmetric warfare and improvised explosive device and complex attack protection. He previously practiced law and became an expert in security law. Currently, he is in charge of the Quintum Scutum team, a small group of consultants and trainers that provides security and travel security for IO, NGOs, and private businesses. Profits from such activities go to philanthropic projects. He is representing the European project SHIELD. (www.shieldproject.eu). .
Marcin Podogrocki
Project Manager, University of Lodz, Poland
Marcin Podogrocki
Project Manager, University of Lodz, Poland
Marcin Podogrocki – (MA) is a project manager and a research assistant in Biohazard Prevention Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection of University of Lodz. He has over 19 years of experience in EU projects: project management, QA, gaps analysis, designing training methodology & materials, and competences in the field of public protection and CBRN threats. He is currently an expert in EU projects: Creation of CBRNE protection system for large area shopping malls - Mall-CBRN, Safe-Stadium, H2020 - Deep learning powered holographic microscopy for biothreat detection on field – Holozcan. He is the Project Coordinator of the European project PROSPERES - Protection system for large gatherings of people in religious sites (www.prosperes.eu).
Tamara Muñoz
Programme Manager for Union Actions at DG Home, European Commission
Tamara Muñoz
Programme Manager for Union Actions at DG Home, European Commission
Tamara Muñoz is a Programme Manager in HOME.E.4, where she coordinates opens calls for proposals in the fields of protection of public spaces, radicalisation and migrant integration. Her work in E4 focuses on union actions, which are transnational projects with a strong EU added value that aim at promoting cooperation across different Member States.
Dr Eliza Patouris
Director and Co-Founder, RESET, Cyprus
Dr Eliza Patouris
Director and Co-Founder, RESET, Cyprus
Dr Eliza Patouris is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at Research and Education in Social Empowerment and Transformation- RESET. She holds a PhD in Criminological Psychology from the University of East Anglia (UK), and an MSc in Forensic Psychology (University of Surrey). She is currently a Lecturer on the MA Criminology programme at University of Nicosia and is also a Certified Advanced Dialogue Moderator, having moderated more than 50 Open Dialogue Moderation sessions in bi-communal, professional, and interreligious as well as intercultural contexts. Previously she has been a member of the Cyprus Youth Council and a Guest Editor on the Internet Journal of Restorative Justice. She holds published works in the fields of criminal behaviour, restorative justice and youth radicalisation. She is the Leader of the ‘Communication & Valorisation Strategies’ of the European project PROSECUW.
Jacek Purski
President of the Institute of Social Safety Expert Pool Member and Co-leader of RAN LOCAL
Jacek Purski
President of the Institute of Social Safety Expert Pool Member and Co-leader of RAN LOCAL
Jacek Purski is a journalist, political scientist and educator. Expert on radicalisation and P/CVE. President of the Institute of Social Safety (Poland). Since 2017 member of the ASHOKA ("Ashoka Innovators for the Public Good"). Expert Pool member and Co-leader of Radicalization Awareness Network LOCAL Working Group (EC). Graduated from the Jerzy Giedroyc University of Communication and Media and Collegium Civitas: Managing Intercultural Integration. Leadership Academy for Poland Alumni. As a consultant and expert, cooperated with UEFA on Social Responsibility Program EURO 2012 and FIFA during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Author of many specialist training courses for policemen, teachers and city officials.
Dr Luca Guglielminetti
Advisor, Spin System (SHIELD project), Belgium Ambassador & Expert, Radicalisation Awareness Network, Italy
Dr Luca Guglielminetti
Advisor, Spin System (SHIELD project), Belgium Ambassador & Expert, Radicalisation Awareness Network, Italy
Dr Luca Guglielminetti is an independent researcher and practitioner in the field of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVe) as well as lecturer in several Universities. Furthermore, he is an Expert Pool Member at the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN), set-up by the European Commission in 2011, and RAN Ambassador for Italy. Previously, he has worked as a consultant for the Italian Association of Victims of Terrorism (AIVITER) for 15 years. He is advisor for Spin System (Belgium) in the framework of the SHIELD project.
Jordi Mallarach Parés
Executive Officer, Future for Religious Heritage, EU
Jordi Mallarach Parés
Executive Officer, Future for Religious Heritage, EU
Jordi Mallarach Parés is the Executive Officer at Future for Religious Heritage (FRH) a non-faith, non-for-profit European network working to safeguard Europe's religious heritage sites. The network has over 100 member organisations and 200 professionals in over 35 countries, coming from diverse sectors including academia, restoration experts, architects, museums, government agencies and departments, grassroots volunteers and students. FRH is a proud member of the European Commission Expert Group on Cultural Heritage, the Reflection Group ‘EU and Cultural Heritage’, the European Heritage Alliance 3.3. and the Climate Heritage Network.
Dr José Paulo Oliveira
Professor, Lusófona University, Portugal
Dr José Paulo Oliveira
Professor, Lusófona University, Portugal
José Paulo Oliveira is the Economic and Financial Adviser of the Guinea Bissau Prime Minister, an International Keynote Speaker, a SEED Stanford University Consultant, the President at OLAE, and the President of EEIGCHAM European Economic Chamber in Portugal. He is also the National Director and Chairman of the National Branch/PORTUGAL at Indo-OIC Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry -IICCI, and a Professor, Researcher and Project Coordinator at Lusófona University, as well as a collaborator at CICANT. He is responsible for economic papers review for the Athens Journal of Business & Economics (AJBE) of ATINER - Athens Institute for Education and Research and an ambassador for Peace at the Universal Peace Federation. He is the Leader of the ‘Hubs for Communal and Educational Actors Empowerment and Collaboration’ of the European project PROSECUW.
Pia Ziyout
Project Officer, Klausenhof Academy, Germany
Pia Ziyout
Project Officer, Klausenhof Academy, Germany
Pia Ziyout is an education referent at the Klausenhof Academy. As a Bachelor of Arts in the field of social pedagogy, she has many years of experience in child and youth welfare, working with disadvantaged groups and knows the special challenges in dealing with restricted, (educationally) disadvantaged and disabled groups in society. Her work at the Academy includes international project work and management as well as cooperation with organizations and partners at national and international level. She focuses particularly on current challenges such as digitalization, accessibility to education and participation of disadvantaged groups. She is the Leader of the ‘Mapping and Research’ of the European project PROSECUW.
Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis
President, CEMES, Greece
Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis
President, CEMES, Greece
Dr Nikolaos Dimitriadis is teaching World Religions at the American College of Thessaloniki and Ecology and Ethics in the Master Program of Orthodox Ecumenical Theology (MOET) where he serves as its Deputy Director. He is the President of the Center of Ecumenical, Missiological and Environmental Studies (CEMES), the Greek Ambassador of Globethics.net in Geneva and Board member of the Executive Committee of WOCATI (World Conference Association of Theological Institutions). In 2021 he received his MBA (Management Business Administration) degree. He was a candidate for the European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities for the academic year 2020- 2021. In 2022 he was invited in person to discuss, among other important issues, the volume “For the Unity of the One Church of Christ” as co editor in chief both at the Ecumenical Patriarchate to His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew as well as at the Vatican to His Holiness Pope Francis. He is a composer and a singer, and in 2017 he concluded his first World Tour SMILE, a concept based on Ethics, Environment and Music offering concerts and lectures all around the world. He is the Leader of the ‘Impact Assessment Procedures’ of the European project PROSECUW.
Dr Thorsten Kruse
Research Associate/Project Leader, Münster University, Germany
Dr Thorsten Kruse
Research Associate/Project Leader, Münster University, Germany
Dr Throsten Kruse is a Research Associate and Project Leader at the University of Münster in Germany. His research focuses, among other things, on how politics influences the handling of religious heritage in conflict areas. In 2015, he initiated the project "Religion and Politics in Cyprus - Dealing with Cemeteries, Places of Worship and Religious Memorials" at the University of Münster, from which the sub-project "The Religious Heritage of Cyprus" emerged in 2018, for which he is responsible as project leader. From 2020 onwards, this project has been continued in close cooperation with the Religious Track for the Cyprus Peace Process. The sub-project focuses on the religious heritage sites left behind on both sides after the tragic partition in 1974 (more information: www.cyreligiousheritage.org/). Since 2022, he is also involved in the digital recording and mapping of cemeteries and other religious places in Europe, together with colleagues from France and the United Kingdom. Cyprus will play a central role in the pilot projects to record such places (more information: www.religioscape.com). He is a member of Future for Religious Heritage (FRH) and partner in the academic team of the FRH Inform project.
Meredydd Hughes
Consultant, SAHER Europe, Estonia
Meredydd Hughes
Consultant, SAHER Europe, Estonia
Meredydd Hughes is a former UK Police Chief Constable, with extensive experience in crisis management and the leadership of critical incidents. His national responsibilities included oversight of the 2005 G8 Conference, the 2010 Papal Visit to the UK, and he led the 2012 Olympic Games Planning Team for two years. He is an Associate Professor at the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security, and lectures in organisational change and strategic critical incident leadership at the Indian National Police Academy in Hyderabad. He is a Director at SAHER (Europe), a security research and training consultancy based in Estonia.
Dr. Rafał Batkowski (police colonel ret.)
Key Expert at PROSPERES Project, University of Lodz, Poland
Dr. Rafał Batkowski (police colonel ret.)
Key Expert at PROSPERES Project, University of Lodz, Poland
Rafal Batkowski is an experienced security professional: former Head of the Central Police Counter-terrorist Unit; Regional Police Chief Commander; Director of International Police Cooperation Bureau and Chief of NCB INTERPOL in Poland; Member of EUROPOL Management Board. The Head of Security at the Warsaw Chopin Airport (after leaving the police in 2017). Currently, CEPOL Expert, and PROSPERES & SHRINEs EU projects Expert (University of Lodz). CEO & Owner at RBS Co. – security advisory, audits, and concepts. Honorary President of the Polish Security Experts Association. Public Security Sector Director at Institute for Security & International Development. Academic lecturer and author.
Said Aini
Social Worker, Klausenhof Academy, Germany
Said Aini
Social Worker, Klausenhof Academy, Germany
Said Saka Aini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. He came to Germany with his family as a refugee at the end of the 1990s. Mr. Aini completed his higher education entrance qualification at the Oberstufen-Kolleg at the University of Bielefeld and then studied geography at the Westfälische Wilhelm University of Münster with the subsidiary subjects geology and political science. After his studies, he worked in Hamburg as a geodata specialist. During his time in Hamburg, he began studying social work at HAW-Hamburg, which he completed 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. His geopolitical skills include conflict research and analysis of the geostrategy of Central Asia. In addition to his native language Dari/Farsi, he speaks Russian, English, Spanish and German. He has been working at the Akademie-Klausenhof since 2016 as a speaker on geopolitical topics and as a social worker and cultural mediator.
Dr Elisa Ricci
Associate Professor, FBK, Italy & University of Trento, Italy
Dr Elisa Ricci
Associate Professor, FBK, Italy & University of Trento, Italy
Dr Elisa Ricci is an Associate Professor at the Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science (DISI) at the University of Trento and the Head of the Deep Visual Learning research group at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK). She is the Scientific Manager of the Joint Laboratory on Vision and Learning between FBK and DISI. Her research interests are mainly in the areas of computer vision, robotics, machine learning and human behaviour analysis. She is the Technical Coordinator of the European project PROTECTOR.
Salpy Eskidjian
Executive Director, Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (Under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden), Cyprus
Salpy Eskidjian
Executive Director, Office of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (Under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden), Cyprus
Salpy Eskidjian is one of the architects and facilitators of the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process under the Auspices of the Embassy of Sweden (RTCYPP) and serves as the Executive Director of the Office of RTCYPP. Previously, Salpy has worked as Programme Executive for the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches and prior to that as Programme Executive for Justice, Peace and Human Rights for the Middle East Council of Churches. She was appointed Special Representative of the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches to Jerusalem and invited to serve as Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor to the policy departments of the Church of Sweden, Norwegian Church Aid, and DanChurchaid. For her efforts Salpy was honored with the Royal Order of the Polar Star (First Class) by H.M.King Carl XVI Gustave of Sweden (2020) and the “International Freedom of Religion Award” by the State Secretary of USA (2019).
Dr Massimo Abdellah Cozzolino
President, Europe Islamic Association, Italy Europe Islamic Association
Dr Massimo Abdellah Cozzolino
President, Europe Islamic Association, Italy Europe Islamic Association
Dr Massimo Cozzolino is advisor to the Ministry of Interior in the Consult for Italian Islam since 2015 and lecturer in several Universities. Previously he was consultant to the Study Commission on the phenomenon of radicalization and jihadist extremism for the Italian Prime Minister's Office. He’s President of Europe Islamic Association (EuroIslam) and general secretary of the Confederazione islamica Italiana (Italian Islamic Confederation).
Chrysostomos Chrysostomou
Police Constable, Counter Terrorism Office, Crime Combating Department, Cyprus Police
Chrysostomos Chrysostomou
Police Constable, Counter Terrorism Office, Crime Combating Department, Cyprus Police
Chrysostomos Chrysostomou is a Police Constanble at the Counter-Terrorism Office of the Crime Combating Department of the Cyprus Police, where he coordinates the C.T.O counterterrorism activities.
Fiene Flos
Counter Terrorism Analyst , PZA Belgium
Fiene Flos
Counter Terrorism Analyst , PZA Belgium
Fiene Flos is a Counter Terrorism Analyst at the INTEL Division of the Antwerp Police Department (PZA). She holds a Bachelor and a Master in Criminology from the University of Leuven. She is a member of the European Project PROTECTOR, in which PZA is one of the LEA partners.
Nina Tell
Police Inspector, Swedish Police, Sweden
Nina Tell
Police Inspector, Swedish Police, Sweden
Nina Tell, Police Inspector, works as a project manager, and in developing methods for the prevention of violent extremism, and she has been a police officer for more than 30 years. During that time Nina has been involved in general and community policing, public relations, and international work. In her current role the main focus is on community policing, crime prevention and problem oriented policing methods.
Daniel Jacobsson
Police Inspector, Swedish Police, Sweden
Daniel Jacobsson
Police Inspector, Swedish Police, Sweden
Daniel Jacobsson, Police Inspector, works in developing methods for the prevention of violent extremism, and he has been a police officer for more than 20 years. During that time Daniel has been involved in general policing, tactical operations, investigations, and police intelligence. In his current role the main focus is on community policing and problem oriented policing methods.
Dr Carlotta Carbone
Postdoctoral research fellow and researcher, Transcrime - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
Dr Carlotta Carbone
Postdoctoral research fellow and researcher, Transcrime - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy
Dr Carlotta Carbone is Postdoctoral Research Fellow and teaching assistant at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy) and researcher at Transcrime. She graduated with the International PhD in Criminology at Università Cattolica in February 2020 and she received her Master’s degree in Public Policy (specialisation in Security Policies) from the same University in 2015. At Transcrime she has been working on EU-funded projects on the protection of places of worship (e.g., SHRINES), and financial crimes (e.g. CSABOT, DATACROS). Her research mainly focuses on the protection of public spaces and corruption.
Eugene O’Leary
Sergeant, GTAG Office, Liaison & Protection, Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service, Ireland
Eugene O’Leary
Sergeant, GTAG Office, Liaison & Protection, Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service, Ireland
Eugene O’Leary joined An Garda Síochána in 1992. Served in Dublin city centre Station (Store Street) for six years in uniform and plain clothes. Completed a UN tour of duty in Cyprus from 2004 to 2005 UNCIVPOL policing the Buffer Zone between Southern and Northern Cyprus. Attached to the Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service since 1999 and working in the Garda Technical Advisory Group (GTAG Office) from September 2005 to present. Received Diploma in Security Management from the Security Institute of Ireland in 2008. The GTAG Office provides technical expertise and advice on security for sensitive and high-risk locations and high-risk persons. The Office liaises with internal and external stakeholders, both private and public at a national and international level in developing security protocols.
Eileen Connolly
Detective Sergeant, GTAG Office, Liaison & Protection, Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service, Ireland
Eileen Connolly
Detective Sergeant, GTAG Office, Liaison & Protection, Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service, Ireland
Eileen Conolly joined An Garda Síochána in 1992. Served in Dublin city centre Station (Coolock) for eight years in uniform. Attached to Human Resources and Finance Department prior to being attached to the Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service in 2005 where I was assigned NCB Interpol Dublin for five years. From 2011 working in the Garda Technical Advisory Group (GTAG Office) to present. The GTAG Office provides technical expertise and advice on security for sensitive and high risk locations and high risk persons.
Reporters
We introduce you to our reporters, our CSI exceptional team of Senior Project Managers, with extensive experience in research, reporting, project management and team leadership.
Anastasia Liopetriti
Senior Project Manager, CSI, Cyprus
Anastasia Liopetriti
Senior Project Manager, CSI, Cyprus
Anastasia Liopetriti holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from the University of Cyprus. She worked as a Junior Consultant for EU-funded projects, she has been involved in numerous youth programs and projects on a volunteer basis, and she has extended experience in the management of EU-funded projects (Erasmus+, DG Justice, AMIF). At CSI, she is a Senior Project Manager and she also works with projects involving youth, gender equality, LGBTQ+ equality, education, climate change, and culture. Since March 2020, she was chosen to be one of the Youth Ambassadors of the Cyprus Youth Council, helping to implement different actions involving youth under the EU Youth Dialogue. She is the co-founder of the initiative Girls in STEAM Academy, aiming to empower young girls to pursue a career in STEAM fields, in Cyprus.
She is the responsible reporter for Workshop 1.
Kyriaki Chatzipanagiotou
Senior Project Manager, CSI, Cyprus
Kyriaki Chatzipanagiotou
Senior Project Manager, CSI, Cyprus
Kyriaki Chatzipanagiotou has an educational background in Political Sciences (BSc) and International Relations (MSc), with four years of relevant experience at a strategic risk advisory firm, working in the field of security and risk management as Head of Reporting. During her time as a political and risk analyst, Kyriaki has become an expert in radicalisation and terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Currently, at the Center for Social Innovation, Kyriaki is a Senior Project Manager, handling a team of Project Managers and EU-funded projects promoting digital literacy and environmental awareness for marginalised groups, migration and social inclusion through a gendered approach, as well as raising awareness on the topic of radicalisation among young people.
She is the responsible reporter for Workshop 2.
Emily Psara
Senior Project Manager, CSI, Cyprus
Emily Psara
Senior Project Manager, CSI, Cyprus
Emily Psara holds a BA in Political Sciences from Aristotle’s University of Thessaloniki in Greece, and a MA in Social Anthropology from the University of Manchester, UK. Her postgraduate work focused mainly on the fragile and constable nature of borders, and on the cultural construction of the past. In addition to her studies she has been involved in ethnographic and film projects dealing with the phenomenon of migration and cultural diversity. Her work follows an ethnographic approach and aims to show that ethnographic methods. As a member of the CSI team she works as a Senior Project Manager and on projects focusing on integration and empowerment of migrants and refugees, social entrepreneurship, environmental education and awareness, and gender equality and women’s empowerment.
She is the responsible reporter for Workshop 3.