From Vision to Action, Creating Value and Driving Impact
Thursday, June 26th, 2025 | Eugenides Foundation
Is ESG Losing Its Shine? The 5th Athens ESG Forum Highlights the Gaps Between Reporting and Real Value
The 5th Athens ESG Forum took place successfully on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the Eugenides Foundation Amphitheatre, bringing together more than 70 speakers from Greece and abroad, along with over 300 attendees representing business, academia, policy and civil society.
Throughout the day’s agenda, featuring keynotes, panels, fireside chats, and live demonstrations, participants explored the evolving landscape of ESG, questioned conventional assumptions and proposed fresh approaches to sustainability leadership.
Is ESG still delivering on its promise?
That was the central question raised across multiple sessions, with many speakers expressing concern that the ESG value proposition is increasingly unclear and often unconvincing to markets and stakeholders.
One of the most thought-provoking contributions came from Sasja Beslik, Chief Investment Strategy Officer at SDG Impact Japan, who presented his exclusive new research for the first time, titled “Who’s Getting Paid for Sustainability – And Who Isn’t?”
Key findings included:
97% of Sweden’s largest listed companies are not being financially rewarded for their ESG performance.
The market fails to reflect sustainability efforts in valuations, according to the Sustainability-Weighted Market Capitalization (SWMC) model developed by Beslik.
The conclusion: Sustainability, as it is implemented today, is not priced in and therefore not working.
“Sustainability has become too elitist,” Beslik noted, “when it should be reframed as a political economy project with a positive, inclusive narrative that resonates with the broader public.”
The Forum also spotlighted:
• New EU regulatory expectations and ESG reporting standards.
• The role of technology as a bridge between science and enterprise.
• The need for cross-sector collaboration, SME inclusion and gender-conscious climate finance.
• The emerging new leadership in the age of artificial intelligence.
• And the importance of rethinking ESG as a driver of real, shared value, not just a reporting exercise.
Under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Forum offered a timely space for dialogue, reflection and critical thinking on what ESG needs to become in its next chapter.
A detailed review of the Forum will be featured in an upcoming issue of Marketing Week magazine.
HIGHLIGHTS
SPEAKERS
HOURS OF CONTENT
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
FIRESIDE CHATS
4 WORKSHOPS/MASTERCLASSES
Key Themes
Navigating EU ESG Regulation Landscape: Preparing for compliance with the directives. Building capacity for regulatory reporting and audits.
Integrating ESG into Business Strategy: Transforming core business operations. Driving innovation and competitiveness. Aligning sustainability goals with long-term corporate objectives.
Sustainable Finance and Investment: Accessing sustainable investment opportunities. Meeting investor expectations on ESG performance and disclosure. Managing ESG risks to attract capital and enhance resilience.
Corporate Leadership and Culture in Sustainability: Fostering ESG-focused leadership and governance practices. Cultivating an organizational culture that supports sustainability. Empowering employees to champion ESG initiatives.
Advancing the Circular Economy: Exploring the importance of ecodesign and sustainable products. Transitioning from linear to circular business models. Collaborating across industries to close resource loops.
Technology and Innovation for ESG Transformation: Harnessing digital tools and AI to streamline ESG implementation. Driving sustainability through innovation in energy materials, and supply chains. Measuring and improving ESG performance with data analytics.
Stakeholder Engagement and Social Impact: Engaging stakeholders to align on ESG priorities. Measuring and enhancing social impact across communities. Integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into ESG strategies.
Decarbonization and Climate Resilience: Crafting actionable roadmaps for achieving net-zero emissions. Preparing businesses for climate risks and opportunities. Collaborating for climate action and sustainable urban development.
Transparency and Accountability: Utilizing ESG reporting frameworks like GRI, SASB and TCFD for consistent and high-quality disclosures reporting. Avoiding greenwashing and building trust with stakeholders.
Cross-Sector Collaboration for Sustainable Growth: Sharing best practices among industries. Partnering with government, NGOs and academia for holistic solutions. Addressing systemic challenges through collective action.
Speakers
Key Takeaways
The Athens ESG Forum is the must-attend event of the year 2025 for any professional that needs to stay up-to-date on the latest developments and best practices in sustainable development. Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned ESG professional, attending the Forum will help you stay informed, connected and inspired and it will be a valuable investment in your professional development and your organization’s ESG strategy.
Past Attendants
- 245 Companies & Organizations
- Highlighting Renowned International Speakers
3M GREECE|ACADEMY OF ATHENS|ACCESS FASHION|ACFE|ACTUM GROUP|AEGEAN AIRLINES|AEGEAN MOTORWAY|ALBA GRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOL|ALD AUTOMOTIVE|ALDEMAR RESORT|ALPHA ASSET MANAGEMENT|ALPHA BANK|ALPHA TRUST|ALUMIL GROUP|ANDRIAKI SHIPPING|APIVITA|AQURANCE|ARCHEIOTHIKI|ASCO GREECE|ATHENIAN BREWERY|ATHENS EXCHANGE GROUP|ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT|ATHENS UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS|ATLAS TAPES|ATTICA BANK|AVAX|AVS – BUSINESS QUALITY CONSULTANTS|AZEUS UK|BAKER TILLY|BANK OF GREECE|BARBASTATHIS|BIOSAFETY|BLUE STAR FERRIES|BRILLIANT PR|BROOKSTREET EQUITY PARTNERS|CGI GREECE|CITRUS-CHIOS|CITY OF ATHENS|CLIMATE GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE GREECE|CNN GREECE|COSMOTE|CPI|CREDITCARB|CSE|CSR HELLAS|DATAPHORIA|DEDDIE|DELL TECHNOLOGIES|DELOITTE GREECE|DEPA|DEPOSITS & LOANS FUND|DESFA|DIAMANTIS MASOUTIS|DIXONS SOUTH EAST EUROPE|DKG GROUP|DONKEY HOTELS|E.F. CONSULTING|ECALI CLUB|E-CERT TRANSLATIONS|EDA THESS|EKONOMIA NET|ELETEA|ELIN|ELINOIL|ELLAKTOR GROUP|ELPEDISON|ELVALHALCOR|ENABLEGOOD|E-ON INTEGRATION|EPSILONNET|ESG POINT CROATIA|ETHNIKI INSURANCE|EUCLID CONSULTING|EUROBANK|EUROBANK ASSET MANAGEMENT|EUROCORP FINANCE|EUROLIFE|EUROPA PROFIL ΑΛΟΥΜΙΝΙΟ|EUROPEAN RELIANCE|EY GREECE|EYATH|EYDAP|FELIX BNI|FOURLIS HOLDINGS|FRAPORT GREECE|GENESIS PHARMA|GEYSINOUS|GIZELIS ROBOTICS|GLOBAL LINK|GLOBAL SUSTAIN|GMM GROUP|GOODY’S EVEREST|GRANT THORNTON|GREEN TRUST ENGINEERING & CONSULTING|GREENFENCE|GROUP RMC|HALCOR|HARVARD UNIVERSITY|HATZIYIANNAKIS DRAGEES|HCMC|HDB – HELLENIC DEVELOPMENT BANK|HELLAS GOLD|HELLENIC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF LSE|HELLENIC BANK ASSOCIATION|HELLENIC CABLES|HELLENIC CAPITAL MARKET COMMISSION|HELLENIC FUND AND ASSET MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION|HELLENIC PETROLEUM|HELLENIQ ENERGY|HENKEL ADHESIVES TECHNOLOGIES|HENKEL CONSUMER BRANDS|HOUSEMARKET|IBM HELLAS|ICAP CRIF|ICGB|ICRE8|IKON PUBLIC RELATIONS|INFORM LYKOS|INFORMATION SOCIETY|INTERAMERICAN|INTRACOM DEFENSE|INTRACOM HOLDINGS|INTRAKAT|INTRASOFT INTERNATIONAL|INVENTIO CONSULTING|INVENTIO EDGE DEVELOPMENT|IOBE|IVOLUNTRY|KAFEA TERRA|KANTAR|KAPACHIM|KKS ADVISORS|KLEEMANN HELLAS|KORRES|KOTSOVOLOS|KPMG|KRI KRI|LAMDA DEVELOPMENT|LATSCO SHIPPING LIMITED|LATSIS FOUNDATION|LEASEPLAN HELLAS|LIDL HELLAS|LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL|LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE GROUP|MAE ARCHITECTS UK|MARGETIS MARITIME CONSULTING|MARKS AND SPENCER|MAZARS CONSULTING|MCCAIN|MEGA DISPOSABLES|MELLON TECHNOLOGIES|METALIGN|METAVALLON|METRO|MEVGAL|MINISTRY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENTS|MINISTRY FOR ENERGY|MINISTRY FOR FINANCE|MITSIS HTELS|MOODY’S ANALYTICS|MORNINGSTAR|MOTODYNAMICS|MOTOR OIL GROUP|MRK CONSULTING|MYTILINEOS|NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE|NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE AGENCY|NAVARINO|NEA ODOS|NESTLE HELLAS|NEW NE SOLAR DEVELOPMENTS NINE 9|NIK. BAGIANNIS & CO|NOMIKI BIBLIOTHIKI |NOVARTIS HELLAS|OLYMPIA GRP|ONETEAM|OPAP|ORACLE HELLAS|OTE GROUP|PALIRIA|PANTEIO UNIVERSITY|PAPACOSTOPOULOS – GRIGORIADOU AND ASSOCIATES|PAPOUTSANIS|PIRAEUS BANK|PIRAEUS CONTAINER TERMINAL|PLANET|POLYECO|PREMIA PROPERTIES|PRINCIPIA|PRIORITY QUALITY CONSULTANTS|PRODEA INVESTMENTS|PROSPERIA|PROSYFAPE|PUBLIC POWER COMPANY|PWC|QUALCO|QUALITYNET FOUNDATION|QUEST GROUP|RAFARM|REAL SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS™ UK|RED DESIGN CONSULTANTS|RESNOVAE|RSM GREECE|S&P GLOBAL|SALTPAY|SAMARAS & ASSOCIATES|SARACAKIS GROUP OF COMPANIES|SEV|SINGULARLOGIC|SIOUFAS & ASSOCIATES|SPEAKIT|STANTON CHASE|STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION CULTURAL CENTER|STREEM GLOBAL|STUDYSMART|SUNLIGHT|SURVEY DIGITAL PHOTOVOLTAICS|SUSTAINABILITY KNOWLEDGE GROUP|SUSTAINABLE FITCH|SUSTCHEM|SYMETAL|SYNGENTA HELLAS|SYSEP|TEAV|TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES WUERZBURG SCHWEINFURT|TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF CRETE|TEKMON|TERNA|TIRESIAS|TITAN CEMENT GROUP|TOSOH HELLAS|TRASTOR|TUC|TUV HELLAS (TUV NORD)|UNI SYSTEMS|UNICEF REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA|UNI-PHARMA SA|UNIVERSITY OF CRETE|UNIVERSITY OF PIRAEUS|V GROUP|VIANEX|VIOHALCO|VODAFONE|WATER-TODAY.ORG|YODIWO
Daan Van Acker, Program Manager, FinanceMap
Maria Alexiou, President, CSR Hellas; Vice President, CSR Europe; Member of the Project Task Force of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG)
Sasja Beslik, Chief Investment Strategy Officer at SDG Impact Japan
Hortense Bioy, Morningstar Global Director of Sustainability Research
Josep Bohigas, Director of the Barcelona Regional strategic planning agency
Patrick de Cambourg, Sustainability Reporting Board Chair European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG)
Paul Clements-Hunt, Coined ESG (2004), delivered the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (2006), entrepreneur, Investment Advisor to UN, speaker, writer
Hasan Cerhozi, VP Impact & ESG Methodology Development, Moody’s Analytics
Anna Diamantopoulou, President of DIKTIO – Network for Reform in Greece and Europe – Former Minister & EU Commissioner
Alex Ely, Founder Director, Mae Architects UK
Vangelis Grapsas, ESG Ratings Senior Analyst, Sustainable Fitch
Fatima Hadj, Chairwoman of the Structured Finance Advisory Board, Principles for Responsible Investment; Lecturer in the Full-Time MBA, SDA Bocconi
Sudip Hazra, former Head of ESG Research, Kepler Cheuvreux
Peter Hajipieris, Chief Sustainability Solutions Officer, Real Sustainability Solutions™ UK
Prof. Ioannis Ioannou, London Business School, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, BA (Yale) MA PhD (Harvard)
Anita Knezović, Managing Director, ESG Point Croatia
Anais Labigne, Senior Associate Client Relations, Sustainalytics
Dr. Karsten Machholz, Professor for SCM & Procurement, Strategic Consultant SCM, The Sustainable Procurement Pledge Ambassador
Karolina Markiewicz-Kuskowska, President of Henkel GR&CY and General Manager, Henkel Consumer Brands GR&CY,
Caterina Occhio, CSR & Sustainability Specialist
Onic Palandjian, Partner, Group RMC
Elena Philipova, Director, Sustainable Finance, LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group)
Hatuna Pokrovskaia-Verkuyl, Senior ESG Business Development Manager S&P Global Market Intelligence
Elena Primikiri, Head ESG, VFS Global
Simone Rampichini, ESG Director, CRIF
Panos Seretis, Head of ESG, Sustainable Finance EMEA, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Elli Siapkidou, Financial System Research Lead, World Benchmarking Alliance
*Professional titles as by the time they spoke at the Athens ESG Forum
Who is attending
300+ ESG experts & professionals
Business Leaders, CEOs & Board members, ESG strategists and consultants, Sustainability professionals, Compliance and Corporate Governance officers, Banking and Asset Management executives, Investment managers, Policymakers.
Why attend
Join us at the 5th Athens ESG Forum to:
- Become an active member of a vibrant community of ESG and Sustainability professionals from across industries.
- Gain valuable knowledge and understanding of what shapes the sustainability business scene in Greece and globally.
- Familiarize with best practices, trends, tools and services that can inspire and/or facilitate your company’s ESG transition.
- Get to know your next partners who will assist your company in the implementation of your sustainability business plans.
- Be part of a wide network that includes legislators, key decision makers, c-level executives, investors, consultants, field experts and practitioners.
Become a Sponsor
The 5th Athens ESG Forum presents with a unique opportunity for companies who wish to:
- Promote their exclusive services and field expertise in ESG and Sustainability.
- Advertise as leading company in ESG and Sustainability.
Download Conference Brochure 2025
Testimonials
Gold Sponsor
ESGenius! – The Sustainability OS is a powerful cloud-based ESG management platform (SaaS) that streamlines data governance, reporting, and performance tracking and improvement. Through advanced automations, it collects and processes ESG data across departments and translates it into actionable KPIs aligned with global standards (ESRS, GRI, SASB, etc.). It features real-time dashboards, automated data collection, and report generation, combining ease of use with deep customization and seamless integration. ESGenius! stands out for its ability to automate complex workflows, reduce reporting time, and improve data accuracy and reliability. Aligned with EU and local regulations, it helps companies ensure compliance and accelerate sustainable value creation. Trusted by leading organizations across sectors, ESGenius! supports over 9,000 users in 28 countries across five continents.
Grand Sponsor
Synesgy is a global ESG platform for ESG Assessment supply chain management developed by CRIF. Through its advanced technology, Synesgy supports businesses of all sizes and industries in evaluating their sustainability performance, enhancing their sustainable growth, and gaining a clear view of the ESG performance of their suppliers. The platform operates without geographic limitations, aiming to optimize supply chain operations and support the transition to a more sustainable future.
Sponsors
In 2025, Athenian Brewery celebrates over 60 years of productive action and constant development. The largest and most historic Greek brewery took its first steps by only brewing one beer and since then continued to evolve and expand the range of its products through strengthening its manufacture base in Greece. At Athenian Brewery, we have been “Brewing a Better Future” for almost 60 years; we honor our commitments and directly associate our business activity with the concepts of responsibility and contribution to the national economy, the society and the environment.
Convene ESG is a next-generation ESG reporting platform built in collaboration with our diverse client base and backed by 30 years of software expertise. It replaces manual, spreadsheet-heavy processes with intuitive workflows that make reporting faster, smarter, and audit-ready. Supporting over 50 global frameworks – including ESRS, TCFD, and GRI – it streamlines data collection and cross-framework reporting, helping organisations move from ESG complexity to clarity with confidence and consistency.
DEPA Commercial is a modern company that contributes to the growth of the Greek economy by investing in clean forms of energy such as renewables, hydrogen, and biomethane. It provides affordable and environmentally friendly natural gas to households, industries, as well as fuel for gas – powered vehicles through Fisikon, while also participating in major infrastructure projects, including the FSRU floating terminal and new power generation units.
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society, and the planet. Leveraging data, AI, and advanced technology, EY teams are All in to help clients shape the future with confidence. With a presence of nearly 100 years in Greece and offices currently in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patras, EY offers a wide range of services to meet client needs.To learn more, please visit ey.com/en_gr
ReSight helps businesses adapt to climate change through tailored strategies in energy management, renewables, and GHG emissions accounting. We turn regulatory challenges into opportunities—enabling companies to understand their carbon footprint, improve ESG performance, and boost profitability through sustainable practices aligned with EU and national climate commitments.
Tekmon helps companies digitize their sustainability operations faster with user-friendly, accessible solutions. Our GRI-certified, award-winning ESG Data Management & Reporting Software features up-to-date pre-built ESRS, CBAM, GHG, SASB, ATHEX, and GRI templates to simplify compliance and ensure auditable, automated data collection. Consolidated, real-time BI insights empower SMEs and corporations to benchmark and advance their ESG targets.
Yodiwo, founded in 2015, is a Swedish-Greek leader in AI-powered sustainability solutions, with over 600 projects and 13 municipalities as clients. Its flagship platform, YodiFEM, delivers Full ESG Management, enhancing energy efficiency, environmental impact, employee wellbeing, and reducing operating costs. In 2023, Yodiwo launched EnGage, a dedicated ESG Data Management and Reporting subsystem, rapidly adopted by major Greek enterprises, including Metlen Energy & Metals and Fourlis Group, reinforcing Yodiwo’s position at the forefront of ESG innovation.
Supporter
Under the Auspices
Honorary Support
Media Sponsors
New Polis is a rapidly growing international online journal that features original insights, expert interviews, and curated news on sustainability, smart cities, and quality of life. Our mission is to serve as a dynamic hub for dialogue and collaboration among experts, businesses, NGOs, and institutions driving change in these fields.
SustainabilityOnline is dedicated to sharing the latest news on ESG initiatives within the European business and corporate sectors. By showcasing the latest news, insights, and opinions from the business world regarding sustainability in all its various applications, SustainabilityOnline seeks to join the dots and empower businesses to accelerate positive change in a changing marketplace.
Inclusion Sponsor
Catering Services
Audiovisual by
Η CONEQ Hellas ανήκει στον τομέα παροχής τεχνικού εξοπλισμού και υπηρεσιών σε εκδηλώσεις, τις οποίες υποστηρίζει με μεταφραστικά συστήματα, συνεδριακά συστήματα, οπτικοακουστικό και άλλο τεχνικό εξοπλισμό. Στην ανοδική πορεία της CONEQ Hellas τα τελευταία 5 χρόνια έχοντας ήδη καλύψει πάνω από 600 εκδηλώσεις, έχουν συμβάλει τα μεγάλα και σημαντικά συνέδρια στα οποία πρόσφερε με επαγγελματισμό τις τεχνικές υπηρεσίες της και τον εξοπλισμό της. Για πληροφορίες και τεχνική υποστήριξη επικοινωνήστε μαζί μας στο [email protected], ή στο (+30) 211 2163453.
