BUSINESS.GOV.NL
BUSINESS.GOV.NL
Stamatis Christos
CEO & Co-Founder
Rural & Agrifood Development Committee Chair
Christos Stamatis, Mechanical Engineer (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – AUTH), holder of a Master of Science in Renewable Energy Sources (AUTH), brings over 25 years of professional experience with a specialization in innovative entrepreneurship both in Greece and internationally. With a long and successful track record in developing large-scale Renewable Energy Sources (RES) projects, he has proven his value in the energy sector.
Focus on Agri-Food Sector
In the last 15 years, he has concentrated on developing innovative solutions for the agri-food sector, blending his entrepreneurial activities with a passion for sustainable development and modern technologies.
Contributions to Cooperative and Community
He was among the pioneers who contributed to the founding of Stevia Hellas Coop, Europe’s first agricultural cooperative for stevia production, where he serves as CEO. Committed to private initiative and collaboration, he played a leading role in establishing an Energy Community in Western Fthiotida to meet farmers’ energy needs through renewable sources.
International Training and Roles
He graduated from the U.S. Department of State’s premier leadership program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP-2022), focusing on Food Policy, Trade, Sustainability, Food Safety & Food Security. He served as Vice President of the Central Greece Region’s Agri-Food Partnership and as a Board member of the Association of Industries of Thessaly & Central Greece, responsible for sustainable development, business ethics, and youth entrepreneurship.
Christos is a proud father of two daughters, born to him and his wife Norella.
Vassilis Gounaris
Eco Green Solutions
Rural & Agrifood Development Committee Vice-Chair
Vassilis Gounaris is a senior executive with more than 35 years of experience in agribusiness, the chemical industry, and sustainable development. He is the Founder of Eco Green Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in environmental and sustainability strategies, and Vice President of Intelligent Green Crops S.A., where he contributes to the strategic advancement of innovative green technologies in agriculture.
From 2000 to 2025, he served as Managing Director of BASF Hellas S.A., leading the company’s strategic direction and operations in Greece and Cyprus. Under his leadership, BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division became the number one player in the crop protection market from 2009 onward, while sales quadrupled between 2000 and 2024. He played a pivotal role in major business transitions, integrations, and distribution transformations, strengthening the company’s market position and long-term growth.
Beyond his corporate career, Vassilis has held numerous leadership positions in key industry bodies, including President of the German Hellenic Chamber of Industry and Commerce and President and Vice President roles within the Hellenic Association of Chemical Industries. Through these roles, he has actively contributed to policy dialogue on competitiveness, industrial strategy, and the green transition of the Greek economy.
He holds a degree in Agronomy from the Faculty of Agriculture at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a focus on Marketing, Sociology, and Economics.
Linda Nieuwenhuizen
CCO Interamerican Group INTERAMERICAN
Rural & Agrifood Development Committee Secretary
Linda Nieuwenhuizen is Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Interamerican, serving on the company’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors in Greece. She oversees all commercial operations, driving innovation, growth, and collaboration to enhance market impact and customer engagement. She plays a central role in strengthening customer-centricity, digital channels, and strategic communication. With extensive international experience in complex project management and team leadership, she is focused on continuous development, delivering measurable results for stakeholders, and driving meaningful impact in society through responsible business practices and sustainable growth initiatives.
Panos Lymperopoulos
Manager at KPMG
Member
Panos is a Manager at KPMG Greece, specializing in Innovation Advisory and Research & Development “R&D” Tax Relief, having worked on R&D Tax Relief engagements with companies in the UK & Greece, which have claimed tax relief on R&D projects associated with the development of AI Algorithms and the implementation of AI solutions.
Panos has completed tertiary studies in Mechanical Engineering and Finance in Greece, the US and the UK, coupled with professional certifications in Leadership, Project Management, Negotiations Mastery & ESG Transformation.
Theodore Deligiannakis
DQS Hellas – Legal Advisor – DLW Law – Lawyer – Hellascert
Member
Theo Deligiannakis is a half Dutch / half Greek, Dutch educated Lawyer admitted to the Athens Bar Association and the legal advisor of the Certification Body DQS Hellas Ltd.
His legal expertise focuses on European Union Law, legal compliance and standardization covering a variety of industries. Theo is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of the Greek Manufacturers of Packaging & Materials (AGMPM) and the President of the Ethics Committee of the Hellenic Association of Accredited Certification Bodies (HellasCert).
He holds a Bachelor degree (LL.B) in Dutch law from Leiden University and a Master’s degree (LL.M) in EU law and EU competition law from the same university.
Rannia Savvaki
Senior Economic Policy Office – Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Greece
Member
Rannia Savvaki is an experienced professional in trade relations and cross-sector partnerships, with expertise in business-to-business, public-private, and government-to-government collaboration. She specializes in triple helix innovation platforms connecting private sector, public institutions, and research stakeholders.
Her work spans agriculture value chain networks, business education and training facilitation, labour market needs assessment, and competency-based program development. With a strong background in academic and applied research, she has also represented Dutch Higher Education internationally at trade fairs.
Rania has lived and worked in Greece, the UK, Egypt, the Netherlands, and Tanzania, bringing a truly international perspective to her work.
Dimitris Kouzelis
European Patent Attorney – Managing Partner, Intellex
Member
Dr. Dimitris Kouzelis is a European Patent Attorney and the Managing Partner of Intellex, the only consultancy firm in Greece, the Balkans, and the Eastern Mediterranean dedicated exclusively to Intellectual Property—and particularly to patents.
He spent 30 years at the European Patent Office (EPO), serving the last 15 years as Director. In this capacity, he worked extensively with national IP authorities worldwide, including in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Brazil, supporting the establishment and modernisation of their patent systems.
In 2018, he founded and has since chaired the Intellectual Property Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce – Greece, a policy-oriented think tank that identifies systemic challenges and proposes reforms to the Greek Government and relevant organisations (OBI, OPI, Trademarks Office, etc.).
In his current role at Intellex, Dr. Kouzelis advises startups and SMEs on the drafting, filing, and prosecution of patent applications before the EPO and other major patent offices, including the USPTO, JPO, and CIPO. He also serves as an expert in litigation, particularly in patent disputes before Greek courts.
He holds a PhD in Fluid Mechanics from École Centrale Paris and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Athens (EKPA). He is fluent in English, French, Greek, and Dutch, with working knowledge of German, Italian, and Spanish.
Vassilis Kotoulas
Head Of Local Barley Operations HEINEKEN
Member
Dr. Vassilis Kotoulas has been serving as Head of the Contract Farming Program at Athenian Brewery since 2016, contributing to the development of a broad network across the agricultural sector and supporting collaborations with Universities and research initiatives.
Throughout his academic and professional career, he has been actively involved in numerous European and nationally funded research projects. Between 2005 and 2013, he collaborated extensively with the Agricultural University of Athens, contributing to applied research and knowledge transfer activities. He also worked with the Benaki Phytopathological Institute (2011–2012), gaining valuable experience in plant health, crop protection, and integrated management practices.
From 2010 to 2013, he worked as a Trainer at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, providing seminars and technical training programs for adults. In 2013, he joined Athenian Brewery as Scientific Coordinator of the local barley sourcing program.
He is co-author of numerous scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to the advancement of agronomic research and its practical application within the agricultural sector.
Elena Koukouna
Senior Consultant at Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk
Member
Elena Koukouna is a Senior Sustainability Consultant and Industrial Ecologist with over a decade of expertise supporting multinational food and feed companies in embedding sustainability at the core of their business strategy. Specializing in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), she brings advanced analytical capabilities and systems thinking to complex agri-food value chains.
She works as a Senior Consultant at Mérieux NutriSciences | Blonk, the Netherlands, for over 11 years, where she consults food industry leaders and EU associations on quantifying their environmental performance. Having recently relocated to Greece, she now works actively between two countries, bridging international expertise with local implementation. Through her collaboration with the Greek start-up Smart Agro Hub SA, she has gained deeper insight into the local market landscape, its specific needs, challenges, and emerging opportunities for sustainable growth.
Through her work with multinational organizations and innovative SMEs alongside peer-reviewed scientific publications and international speaking engagements, Elena is aiming for enabling systems’ transition. Lastly, she has a genuine passion for the fields of regenerative agriculture and permaculture.
