Fireside Chat: ESG Skills Empowering youth for a brighter tomorrow

A fireside chat with EnergyIntel CEO Eugenia Herodotou talking to KPMG’s Pangratios Vanezis and Hellenic Bank’s Andreas Papadopoulos resulted in insightful banter about the role of ESG skills in a talk entitled 'ESG Skills Empowering youth for a brighter tomorrow.'

They were introduced by Project Coorindators at Junior Achievement Cyprus (JA Cyprus) Marios Kakouris and Eleni Tovletian, who were the Stage Masters of the Gen A Stage at the Inspire 2024 entrepreneurial festival in Nicosia.

Eugenia Herodotou

Pangratios Vanezis is a Board Member of KPMG Cyprus, Fintech Business Leader, KPMG Enterprise and KPMG Startups Innovation Lab (SIL) Leader and Andreas Papadopoulos is Head of Commercial Banking at Hellenic Bank and President of Junior Achievement (JA) Cyprus.

Starting off the discussion, Herodotou pointed out that Vanezis and Papadopoulos were known to have opposing views on aspects of ESG.

Pangratios Vanezis

Vanezis noted that ESG had been a topic for some 10 years but had more recently become more regulated, something some countries around the world were more reluctant than others to embrace.

He underlined that ESG encouraged sustainability and created less room for corporate mistakes like some seen in previous years.

However, Vanezis also noted that in the business world, ESG also had to make financial sense.

For Papadopoulos, ESG "is an attitude, a mindset, a way of life."

He agreed that financial success was important but the trick of getting there through ESG was down to sustainability.

Herodotou agreed that sustainability could be applied to many aspects of business and beyond.

Papadopoulos continued that he believed that the planet could not be taken for granted and should be protected while Vanezis pointed out that mankind had shown time and time again how well it could adapt to new conditions.

Andreas Papadopoulos

Both experts, however, agreed that education was key in moving ahead in a positive way. Vanezis said that the approximately 150,000 highly-skilled third country nationals currently working in Cyprus could be a key in this, bringing their knowledge and good habits with them.

He also pointed out that, generally, more prosperous countries polluted less.

Papadopoulos acknowledged that humankind is adaptable but also noted that "God helps those who help themselves" and that the world cannot wait for someone to wave a magic wand and solve environmental issues.

He also talked about the Net Zero for Youth app, due to be launched shortly, which encourages teens to adopt and practice healthy habits and behaviour good for the environment, offering rewards as incentives.

More about Inspire 2024

Discussions, podcasts, masterclasses and an atmosphere full of live music, cocktails and street food promise an experience that will inspire and motivate you to realize your professional and personal goals.

Inspire 2024 is not just a festival; it is an experience that combines business, entertainment and social interaction, creating a platform for knowledge exchange and inspiration for all participants.

Information

For the festival program click here .

For registration click here .

• Diamond Sponsor: ECOMMBX
  Strategic Partner: Cyta Business
  Gold Sponsors: Bank of Cyprus, Zorbas Group
• Proud Sponsor: OPAP Cyprus
  City Lifestyle Sponsor: Cyfield
• Sponsor: Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAK)
  Academic Partner: University of Nicosia
  Silver Sponsors: AdBoard, Capacitor Partners, EnergyIntel, Freedom 24, Treppides, Petrolina
• Destination Partner : Nicosia Tourism Board
• Supporters: Eurosuccess Consulting, Gravity Ventures Incubator, Jinius, Robura Limited, UMAR | WSR, Alpha Mega
• Padel & Well-Being Sponsor : PadelPro
• Sustainable Transport Partner: Cyprus Public Transport
• Mobility Partner: Bolt
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• With the Support of: CITEA, Cyprus Employers and Industrial Federation, The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cyprus Computer Society, CSR Cyprus, Junior Achievement Cyprus, Karaiskakio Foundation, The Yianis Christodoulou Foundation, The Youthboard of Cyprus
• Official Supporters: National Betting Authority, Research and Innovation Foundation
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• Organized by: Municipality of Nicosia, IMH