Speaker

Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri is a mathematical economist pioneering systems-based approaches to sustainable development and exploring the interconnected dynamics of Nature, Society, and the Economy. With three decades of research excellence, she ranks among the world’s top 2% of scientists, has authored 21 books and more than 800 publications, and has led over 100 international research projects spanning 120 countries. She is Professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and Visiting Professor at the University of Cambridge, where she earned her MPhil and PhD. Her distinguished academic career also includes appointments at the University of Cambridge, UCL, LSE, Univ. of Reading, and the Technical University of Denmark. In 2025, she was appointed by the UN Secretary-General as Co-Chair of the 2027 Global Sustainable Development Report. She also serves as President of the World Council of Environmental and Resource Economists Associations, Chair of the SDSN Global Climate Hub, and Founder of the AE4RIA Research Centres. A Fellow of multiple scientific academies and a member of the Nominating Committee for the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, Professor Koundouri has received a European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant and numerous distinctions, including Scientific Excellence awards from the Academies of Athens and Cyprus. Her distinctive contribution lies in translating scientific excellence into systemic, actionable change at a global scale. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder co-design, and the development of implementable and financeable transformation pathways, she advances integrated solutions that connect scientific innovation, public policy, and investment to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable future.