Dr. Sylvia Xueni Pan is a Lecturer in VR at Goldsmiths, University of London. She has a BEng in Computer Science from BeihangUniversity, an MSc in Graphics and PhD in Virtual Reality from UCL (funded by the EPSRC). Before coming to Goldsmiths, she worked as a research fellow in Computer Science at UCL and at the same University’s Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (ICN).

Her research interest is the use of Virtual Reality as a medium for real-time social interaction, in particular in the application areas of training and therapy. Dr Pan has developed a unique interdisciplinary research profile, with journal and conference publications on both VR technology and social neuroscience.

Her work has been featured on the BBC, in New Scientist magazine and the Wall Street Journal. She co-leads the Goldsmiths Social, Empathic, and Embodied VR lab (SeeVR Lab) and the MA/MSc in Virtual and Augmented Reality programme at Goldsmiths Computing.

Gina Panayiotou leads the World ESG Forum, fostering collaboration across maritime, trade, and transport sectors to develop an ESG framework for ocean health, seafarer wellbeing, and diversity. She is also CEO of ESG Consultancy, Oceans Arena.

With expertise in maritime law and an MBA in change management, Gina has advised organizations like Hartmann Shipowning Group, MSC Cruises, and West P and I, and consulted for the UN's International Maritime Organization and the Greek Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the Ocean.

She holds roles including Seatrade Maritime Club Ambassador for the UK, Secretary at WISTA UK, Co-Chair of WISTA International Environmental Committee, and G100 UK Chair for Sustainable Brand Creation.

Gina supports the World Ocean Council, teaches at MLA College, and has spoken at 35+ conferences. She garnered recognition from Marine Traffic, Seatrade, Legal 500, and GC Powerlist, featuring in the Top 100 Women in Shipping for 5 years and hosts her podcast.

Vikas Pandey is a Business Analyst working in the Debt Management Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Mr. Pandey has over 25 years of experience with the debt management systems. He has assisted over 35 countries in Africa, Asia, Caribbean and the Pacific regions, in implementation of the debt systems, streamlining their debt management procedures and providing training.

Prior to joining the Commonwealth Secretariat, he worked with the Reserve Bank of India and played a key in setting up the Central Securities Depository.

Vikas has a Masters' degree in Statistics and a Post-Graduate diploma in Computer Applications.

Ugo Panizza is currently Professor of International Economics and Pictet Chair in Finance and Development at the Geneva Graduate Institute, where he also serves as Deputy Director of the Centre for Finance and Development.

He is Director of the International Centre for Monetary and Banking Studies (ICMB), Vice President and Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), Fellow of the Fondazione Einaudi, and Editor-in-Chief of International Development Policy. His work focuses on international finance, sovereign debt, banking, and political economy, with a particular interest in the challenges faced by developing countries.

Before joining the Institute, he served as Chief of the Debt and Finance Analysis Unit at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), contributing to research and policy work on debt sustainability and development finance.

He previously worked at the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank and held teaching and research positions at the American University of Beirut and the University of Turin.

He holds a PhD in Economics from the Johns Hopkins University.

Vincent Papa is the Director of Financial Reporting Policy at the CFA Institute, and is a spokesperson and author of commentary providing investor perspectives on corporate reporting. Vincent serves on various committees including the IFRS advisory council; the EFRAG user panel; and European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) Corporate Reporting Standing Committee. He was previously a member of the Financial Stability Board Enhanced Disclosure Task Force and the IFRS Capital Markets Advisory Committee. Mr. Papa is a CFA charter-holder and CPA licensed in Washington State. He holds a PhD in Management with a thesis on derivatives accounting from Cranfield School of Management in the United Kingdom, a Master's degree in Finance from London Business School, an MBA from Witwatersrand University, and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nairobi.

Christos Papaleonidas is a Director and Partner at Watermeλon Consulting (WM), specializing in LNG and decarbonisation projects. He oversees the development of key energy projects in Europe relevant to LNG terminals, CCUS and alternative fuel supply chains. Christos has been in charge of technoeconomic evaluation and project financing efforts for many projects. WM has worked contributing to financing and funding of approximately 260 mil. EUR. He is also active in research, focusing on the subject of supply chain modelling and optimisation.

Christos holds an M.Sc in Mechanical Engineering (NTUA), an M.Sc. in Naval and Marine Engineering (NTUA) and a PhD from Doctorate of Engineering (NTUA), where he is developing an innovative decision support system for optimizing the LNG supply chain.

Ms. Céline Papin is Deputy Mayor of the City of Bordeaux and Vice-president of the Metropolis of Bordeaux since June 2020, for a six-year term.

With a multidisciplinary background in political science, international relations, Sustainable Development, Environmental Issues and Urban Planning, she is currently in charge of International and European Affairs in both local governments. Céline Papin is the elective representative of Bordeaux Metropole and the City of Bordeaux in the following international organizations and networks: 

• United Cities and Local Governments (Executive Bureau)
• Eurocities (network of 200 large European cities)
• AFCCRE (association of French cities and local governments for Europe)
• AIMF (international association of mayors from la Francophonie).

Before taking office, Céline Papin worked as a policy advisor for the local elected representatives. She graduated in Political sciences in Sciences Po Bordeaux, lived in Finland and holds a master’s degree in environmental policy and management from the University Carlos III, Madrid (Spain).

Mr. Ju Dong Park has been a professor of Marine Science College at Gyeongsang National University in the Republic of Korea since 2020. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a senior researcher of Port Division at Korea Maritime Institute in ROK from 2015 to 2020.

Prof. Park went to the North Dakota State University in the United States of America for his PhD in Transportation and Logistics with specialty of Transportation Economics from 2011 to 2015 after obtaining his MS in International Transportation Management at Maritime College, State University of New York in 2010. In paricular, he was awarded the Best Paper Award from the Transportation Research Forum in 2014. Prof. Park has more than 10 years experience of research and work in the transportation sector including the collaboration with various international organizations such as UNCTAD, UN-ESCAP and APEC and furthermore he has been working with UNCTAD since 2018.