Mr. Spyros Kouvelis

Spyros Kouvelis is a former Greek Minister of State for Foreign Economic, Environmental and Cultural Affairs (2009–2011) and former Member of the Hellenic Parliament (2007–2011). He currently leads the EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition project, supporting collaboration between the European Union and Gulf countries on climate action, clean energy and decarbonisation.   He is a Senior Associate at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Founder and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development at the European Public Law Organization. Since 2022, he has served on the European Commission’s Mission Board for Restore our Ocean and Waters.   He is also Co-Founder and Chairman of Verimpact, a company specialising in sustainability and non-financial risk analytics, and holds two patents in green urban-space innovation. His previous international roles include advising the United Nations Environment Programme, serving as Acting CEO of WWF Greece, and coordinating the Mediterranean Unit of the Ramsar Convention.