Conference organisers
"It is my pleasure to welcome you to this flagship conference, which ICAEW is delighted to be hosting with ICPAC.
Cyprus has assumed the EU Presidency at a time of intense geopolitical upheaval, and against a wider backdrop of significant transformation in global business and economic activity.
It is critical that we make properly-informed decisions now, to ensure a secure and robust future which supports growth and prosperity.
Events like this are an important forum for policymakers, business, investors and regulators to come together, learn from each other’s experiences and help shape that future.
The accountancy profession is fundamental to this. We sit at the heart of global business and finance, helping organisations of all types and sizes to navigate difficulty, and providing strategic leadership. It is therefore fitting for our two institutes to be facilitating this event today.
I look forward to working with you all to explore how Cyprus, the UK and the wider European region can improve our resilience, strengthen innovation, and turn volatility into opportunity."
Alan Vallance, CEO of ICAEW
- Session 1 - From Start ups to Scale ups: Growing Europe’s Business Landscape
- 09:30
Hosted by: Invest Cyprus
Chair: Marios Tannousis, CEO of Invest Cyprus
Panellists:
- Monica Ioannidou Polemitis Partner, TKI
- Demetris Skourides Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus
- Stavros Stavrou President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Maria Terzi Co-Founder & CEO at Malloc
- Demetrios Zoppos Partner at 33East
This session explores how Europe can strengthen the full lifecycle of business growth — from early stage innovation to global expansion. Speakers will examine Europe’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, access to finance, talent mobility, and barriers that prevent promising start ups from scaling. The discussion will highlight what policymakers, investors, and the business community must do to foster agility, competitiveness, and cross-border growth in the European market.
- Session 3 - Making the Single Market a Powerhouse for Europe: Simplification as a Driver for Innovation and Growth
- 11:50
Moderated by: Andreas Papadatos, General Manager of ICPAC
Panellists:
- Hilde Blomme, Deputy CEO, Accountancy Europe
- MEP Michalis Hadjipantelas
- Andreas Loizou, Group Business Development Director, Medochemie
This session focuses on strengthening the Single Market — Europe’s most powerful economic asset. The panel will explore how regulatory complexity can hinder innovation, investment, and competitiveness, particularly for SMEs operating across borders. Discussion topics include regulatory simplification, proportionality, digitalisation of compliance, and how the Single Market can be modernised to support high growth industries and dynamic business models.
Moderated by: Ravi Abeywardana, Director of Sustainability Reporting & Assurance
Panel:
- Andreas Shiamishis, CEO HELLENiQ Energy
- Pany Karamanou, Head of Financial Stability & Resolution, Central Bank of Cyprus
- George Papanastasiou, Former Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry
Energy security and affordability remain central to Europe’s competitiveness. This session examines how Europe can enhance its energy independence while accelerating the transition to renewable and low carbon solutions. In an increasingly uncertain global landscape, resilience has become a key driver of competitive advantage. This session highlights how transparent sustainability reporting and strong investor engagement can unlock capital and strengthen long term value creation. With EU energy policy accelerating the shift toward sustainable business models, companies that effectively integrate sustainability into their core strategy will be best positioned to lead. Discussion will explore how enhanced disclosures build trust, how investors assess resilience, and what European businesses are doing to turn volatility into opportunity.
- Session 4 - Powering Competitiveness: Energy as a Pillar of Europe’s Economic Resilience
- 12:40
Conference Chair
Iain Wright joined ICAEW as Director of Corporate and Regional Engagement in June 2018. Iain trained as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte & Touche and worked for the firm until 2003.