Christina Alexandropoulou Opens International Conference on Crisis Governance and Resilience in Kavala

At a time when geopolitical instability, climate-related emergencies, cyber threats and infrastructure vulnerabilities are increasingly interconnected, the need for strategic resilience and crisis preparedness has become a central priority for governments, institutions and businesses worldwide.

This was the central theme of the International Hybrid Conference on Crisis and Disaster Governance, Planning and Resilience (ICPCDGR2026), held in Kavala, Greece, from May 6–9, 2026, and co-organized by the Democritus University of Thrace and York University, Canada. The conference brought together more than 400 participants from 16 countries, including academics, policymakers, crisis management experts, civil protection professionals and postgraduate students.

The conference focused on disaster risk management, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, civil protection, public health crises, hybrid threats and resilience strategies in an increasingly volatile global environment.

Opening the conference with a plenary address was Christina Alexandropoulou, international security and resilience professional, Board Member of IFMA Greece and lecturer at the Democritus University of Thrace’s postgraduate program “Chemical Industry: Quality, Environment, Health and Safety Management.”

In her keynote presentation, Alexandropoulou emphasized that resilience today is no longer solely an operational or security issue, but a strategic leadership responsibility directly connected to organizational sustainability, business continuity and social stability.

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in multinational organizations including Avaya, adidas, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Philip Morris International, she addressed the importance of integrating crisis management, ESG strategy, corporate responsibility and human-centered leadership into modern governance frameworks.

Particular emphasis was placed on the growing need for cross-sector collaboration between academia, governments, private industry and international institutions in addressing complex and interdependent crises affecting societies and economies globally.

The opening ceremony also featured greetings and interventions from distinguished academics, institutional representatives and international guests, highlighting the strategic significance of international cooperation in crisis governance and resilience education.

Among those addressing the conference were Professor Michalis Chalaris, academic lead of the initiative, representatives from York University, officials from the Democritus University of Thrace, the Ambassador of Canada to Greece, as well as Greek government representatives including Minister Adonis Georgiadis.

The conference further highlighted Greece’s growing role as a regional hub for dialogue on resilience, civil protection and international security cooperation.

Alexandropoulou also referred to the importance of ethics, trust and social responsibility in leadership during periods of uncertainty, while noting that the conference marked one of the first public references to the vision behind the upcoming Alexander Ethics Foundation — an initiative aimed at promoting ethical leadership, resilience education and social impact through international collaboration.

The ICPCDGR2026 conference demonstrated how higher education and interdisciplinary cooperation can contribute meaningfully to strengthening preparedness, resilience and long-term sustainability in an era of rapidly evolving global risks.

Conference information:
https://scinterconf.eu/