SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Assistant Professor in Strategy and IR, American University in the United Arab Emirates.

Post-Doctoral Researcher in the chair of strategic studies, University of Macedonia
October 2015 – Present
Fixed-Time Lecturer in the Hellenic National Defence College
(February – May 2015 and September 2015 – Present)
PhD in Strategy, University of Reading (Pass with Minor Corrections, 2014)
MSc in Strategy, University of Aberystwyth (Merit, 2010)
BA in International Relations, University of Panteion (2nd Upper Class, 2009)
Intern in the Centre for Russia and Eurasia, Institute of International Relations (2007-2009)
Publications in Greek and foreign academic journals (e.g. Journal of Small Wars and Insurgencies, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism)
Regular contributor to the magazine “Military History”

Dr. Petros Violakis is Director of Research of KEDISA and a partner of Piraeus University Scientific Committee. He holds a PhD degree in Politics from Exeter University, an MA in International Relations from University of Indianapolis, an MBA (focus in Marketing) and a BSc in Computer Science from University of Hertfordshire. His latest research is linked to the Europeanisation of EU Member States’ armed forces and EU Defence Industry. In his research, he incorporates all of his past knowledge and acquired skills related to technology, innovation (R&D), marketing research, economics, social impact, international relations and politics. Hence, his 10 years of experience in telecom and defence industry played an important role to this outcome. His engagement in the telecom and defence industry was related to the development of state-of-the-art technology for telecom, defence and other areas such as maritime technology and applications, natural disasters systems and related applications and others. For this purpose, the construction of national and European coalitions, which included Universities, Private companies, governmental authorities and other institutes, played a significant role in the allocation of national and EU funding. Such research and development projects in which he participated are: TELEFOS, TELEAQUA, ESPEN, FireMentor, NAVTEXII, TRAVIS, EPIPLEON, DIAVLOS, PISCES, COMMAN and ArchiPelago. During the years, his intense engagement to R&D projects flourished and resulted to the distinction of the Marketing Team he worked with. The distinction was awarded on behalf of the EU from the Greek Government for “Particularly improved performance in research, technology and innovation for the year 2005 and for the competitive presence in Europe”. The result of this work was presented in several national and international exhibitions and workshops such as, Defendory Exhibition, Thessaloniki International Exhibition, Technology and Innovation Exhibition (held by Ministry of Development).

Olamide holds a PhD in National Security Strategy from the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham. He earned his B.ILD degree in International Law and Diplomacy in 2013, from Babcock University, Nigeria, where he specialized in researching on the global emergence of Private Military and Security Companies. He also holds an MA in Security, Intelligence and Diplomacy from the University of Buckingham (2014).
He is currently a Teaching Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, where he teaches International Security, General Diplomatic Studies and Diplomatic Practice at the MA level, and engages in MA Theses Supervision.
He is also the Project Coordinator for the Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation (SCRAP) Project and the President of the SOAS Pugwash Society. The SCRAP project, proposes General and Complete Disarmament as the goal of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation efforts, and works with International Organisations, Governments and Civil Society to advance this agenda.
He is also a Senior Researcher, and member of the Scientific Committee at the Center for International Strategic Analyses (KEDISA), and a Senior Consultant at Zander Woollcombe International. He was previously a Lead Researcher at Beacon Consulting Nigeria, where he specialised in Security Risk management and Intelligence consulting.
His research interests include: Strategic Culture, Conventional Arms Control, Nuclear Disarmament, SALW PSSM, Sub-Saharan Africa National Security Strategy, and Multilateral Disarmament Diplomacy. He has held lectures and engaged in high-level panel discussions in various diplomatic and academic arenas.

Dr. Antonis Skotiniotis was born in December 1982. He grew up in Volos, where he completed his Primary and Secondary Education.He studied at the Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies of the University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki (2000-2005). He continued his studies in the United Kingdom where he received master degrees in “International Relations” from University of Essex (2005-2006) and in the “Political Economy of Russia and Eastern Europe” from University College London – UCL (2006-2007).He received his Ph.D. from the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus on the subject of: “Russia’s policy in the Caucasus and the position of Greece: convergence or divergence of interests?”.He is a postdoctoral researcher at the same department on the subject of: “Russia and the Multipolar World: Towards a New “Holy Alliance”? “. From November 2008 to June 2012 he worked as a Fellow Researcher at the Institute for Strategic and Developmental Studies (International and European Foreign and Defense Policy Sector). His main fields of research included issues related to International Relations and the Greek Foreign Policy (focusing on the regions of Russia, the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean). Since 2013 he is the Scientific Coordinator of the Russia Research Group of the BRICS Study Laboratory of the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus. He is a Lecturer at the Naval Staff and Command College of Hellenic Navy. Course title: “Review of Near Abroad”.He is also an Αnalyst and member of the Scientific Committee of the Center for International Strategic Analyses-KEDISA.He speaks English, Russian and Bulgarian.He has delivered lectures on the subjects of Russian Political History, Russian Foreign Policy Schools of Thought and Russia’s Policies in the Caucasus at the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Piraeus.He has participated in Scientific Conferences, Seminars and Workshops in Russia and Greece. Studies and articles of him have been published in scientific journals, websites and the press.

Dr. Eng. George D. Vardangalos earned his Electrical and Computer Engineering Diploma, PhD in Informatics and MBA degree from the National Technical University of Athens.

He has been a Research Associate and S/W developer in various European projects (ACTS, ESPRIT and IST) related to communications and informatics (1995-2000). Since 2001 he is mainly working as IT consultant and Technical Manager in various private companies for national and European development and research projects (IST- E-CONTENT, FP6, FP7, TACIS, EuropeAid) in the IT sector.

He is an evaluator of investment plans in different programs concerning the private sector for the Greek Ministry of Development and has evaluated numerous investment plans based on the ICT sector.

He is:

• Member of Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) since 1996 (Alternate Representative of Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) in Economic and Social Council (ESC) of Greece since April 2015)
• Member of the Pan-hellenic Union of Dipl. Mechanical/Electrical Engineers
• Member of the Greek Union of Computer and Telecommunications Engineers
• Founding Member of Hellenic Evaluation Society (Alternate Board Member)