Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board is composed of esteemed professionals and thought leaders who bring high-level strategic insight, experience, and diverse perspectives.
They provide guidance on long-term priorities, ensure alignment with our mission, and support the integrity and impact of our initiatives. Through their oversight, we strengthen our global engagement, expand our network, and enhance the relevance of our work in today’s complex policy environment.
Prof. Marios Panagiotis Efthymiopoulos
Prof. Marios Panagiotis Efthymiopoulos is co-founder, Head and CEO of Strategy International (SI). A Professor of International Security and Strategy. He is a board member of the College of Security and Global Studies at the American University in the Emirates. Board member at the European Citizens Association and Board member at the Society of Cyprus Studies which creation of the latest, dates back to 1936.
Other former professional and scientific positions include the Harriman Institute, of Columbia University in New York, Johns Hopkins University Center for Transatlantic Relations, George Washington University Business School and European Center, the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, in Washington DC USA, affiliation with South Florida University in the USA and Senior visiting fellow at University of Central Lancashire, Law School, Cyprus. Dr. Efthymiopoulos, has authored numerous books in English and Greek, co- edited books, scientific articles (English/Greek).
George A. Danos
George A. Danos, researcher and entrepreneur, Recognized Eminent Alumnus of Imperial College London, and Honorary Member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). In Oct 2020, He was elected President of the Parallel Parliament for Entrepreneurship, of the Republic of Cyprus, which stimulates entrepreneurship in the country and represents all sectors of the domestic commercial ecosystem. He is President of the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO), Chair of the National Space & Astronomy Research Committee of Cyprus, and Board Member of the Cyprus Astronautical Society.
In his international role as Co-Chair of the Panel on Innovative Solutions of the International Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), he is responsible for the utilisation of AI for the predictive modelling of Solar Weather impacting our planet; he is coordinating globally this AI effort bringing together scientists and engineers to solve a complex data analysis problem. Other notable positions include Council Member – the highest governing body – of COSPAR, and Cyprus NCP to COSPAR; Creator & Founder of Virgin BizNet, one of most lucrative business ventures of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group; Academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA); Board Member of the European Association of Space Technology Research Organisations that advises the EU on space policy; Member of several International Astronautical Federation (IAF) committees; notably the Entrepreneurship & Investment Committee for commercialization of space.
Lieutenant General ret. Dimokritos Zervakis
Lt. Gen. ret. Dimokritos Zervakis is the Former Chief of the National Guard of the Republic of Cyprus and Honorary Commander of the 1st Army/European Union Operations Headquarters, Hellenic Army. Having assigned, among others, as Director of the Defence Policy Directorate of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff as Commander of 96th National Guard Brigade Level Command (CHIOS), as Chief of Staff of the National Guard General Staff of the Republic of Cyprus, his international service record includes Staff Officer in United Nation Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission and in the Hellenic Military Representation to the European Union Military Committee.
Educated in Greece, the United States and the UK, he is among others, a graduate of the Hellenic Army War College, the Hellenic National Defence College, the United States Army Command and General Staff College and he holds an International and European Studies Degree (Panteion University GREECE) and a Master of Arts Degree in Strategic Studies (HULL University, UK). He has been awarded medals and commendations by the Hellenic, Cypriot and French Republics and the United Nations.
Dr. Laszlo Molnar
Dr. Laszlo Molnar is an advisor and faculty member of UNITAR. He served as Associate Professor at NJCU, and as Visiting Scholar of Seton Hall School of Diplomacy. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations, studied at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and at the Harvard Kennedy School. He served as career diplomat with the Hungarian foreign service for two decades, with the highest rank of State Secretary. He was Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN in New York and represented Hungary in the Security Council. He was Chair of the NPT Review Process in Geneva and New York.
As Executive Director of Cisco, he was responsible for strategic government business development. He was a consultant of the Paris-based Cybersecurity Advisors Network and a board member of the International Mediation Institute. He received The Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.
Amb. Gela Bezhuashvili
Ambassador Bezhuashvili is a career diplomat and Georgian politician. His public service started in the Foreign Ministry, where he worked in different positions. He served as the Deputy Minister of Defense and then as the first civilian Defense Minister (2000-2004) and the Foreign Minister (2005-2008). He was Georgian Intelligence Service Director (2008-2013) and the Assistant to the President of Georgia on National Security Issues – Secretary of the National Security Council (2005).
Education: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Laws (LL.M) from the Ukrainian Institute of International Relations and International Law, Kiev State University, Ukraine (1991). Master of Public Administration (MPA), JFK School of Government, Harvard University (2011) and Master of Laws (LL.M) – Southern Methodist University (SMU) School of Law, USA.
Member of the Board, Georgian Industrial Group, Chairman of the Board, European School, Member of International Advisory Council, Foundation Dom Cabral Business School, Brazil, Member of Adaptive leadership Alumni Association, Harvard University, Member of Advisory Board of San Diego State University, University of York City College, Member of the Advisory Board CSGS at American University in UAE and Chairman of the Board of Georgian Strategic Analysis Center.
Awards: Georgian national award-Vakhtang Gorgasal’s Order-I rank, Ukraine’s national award-Order of Merit I rank, Estonia national award-Order of Maarjamaa Rist (Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana)-III rank.
RAdm (ret.) Efstathios (Stathis) Kyriakidis
Rear Admiral (ret) Stathis Kyriakidis is the former Commandant of NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center (NMIOTC). Having been mostly assigned policy related duties, he served as Director Plans/Policy and POLAD to the Chief of the Navy, Special Advisor to the Chief of Defence, he also commanded the frigate HS ELLI and the gunboat HS KRATAIOS, as her first commanding officer and the co-chair of her commissioning committee, on behalf of MoD.
His assignments abroad include a tour in the EU Military Staff as Head of Division Operations Coordination and Executive Director EU Maritime Area of Interest Coordination Cell (2019-2022) and in NATO (2011-2014) as Staff Officer responsible for the NATO Response Force and member of the planning team after the Russian annexation of Crimea (2014). He holds MSc in Applied Physics and Computer Science (NPS, California, USA, 1998) and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in European Security (University of Geneva, 2008). He studied Public Communication and Media (Panteion University, Greece, 1994). He has published several studies and articles in Greek Defence related press. He is fluent in English and French, and also speaks Spanish and some Arabic.
Dr. Elie Abouaoun
Dr. Elie Abouaoun is currently the Senior Advisor, MENA affairs at Strategy International Ltd, where he advises on the group’s operations in the MENA region. Prior to his current role, Dr. Abouaoun served as the MENA regional director of the United States Institute of Peace. Dr. Abouaoun’ s career spans over two decades, during which he managed humanitarian, human rights, and development projects in the MENA region. He is a senior trainer and consultant for various international organizations and holds a visiting teaching position in several universities in the MENA.
In addition to being an international fellow of the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy at the Center for Strategic & International Studies and a senior nonresident fellow at the Religion and Security Council, he regularly contributes to publications throughout the MENA region and the United States and serves on the board of directors for several regional not for profit organizations. Dr. Abouaoun holds a master’s in business administration and management and is a Doctor of Dental Surgery.
Šarūnas Liekis
Šarūnas Liekis is an expert at the Council of Europe, at the Advisory Committee for the the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Šarūnas is a professor of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy at Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas. He also is a professor at the Silezian University, Poland. Šarūnas is also Chair of the Advisory Board of the Andrei Sakharov Center at Vytautas Magnus University. He holds a Ph.D. from Brandeis University, USA and Habilitation (HP) from Vilnius University, Lithuania.
He studied and did postgraduate research at Vilnius University, Brandeis University , the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the University of Oxford. He publishes extensively on minority issues, international relations and political history. Šarūnas Liekis is a member of few editorial boards of the academic journals. Additionally he serves as expert at the NGO‘s and different institutions of the Republic of Lithuania and internationally.
Šarūnas Liekis is an author and co-author of over academic 75 articles and eight books.
