EIB Group-Lectures ~8 & 15 December 2025
The Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) proudly announces the EIB Group Lectures 2025, organised for the second consecutive year in close collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group.
On Monday 8 and 15 December 2025, AUEB’s flagship MSc in Business Economics with Analytics will host a series of lectures delivered by senior experts from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF).
This two-day academic and professional initiative highlights the EIB Group’s strategic role in financing innovation, sustainable development, infrastructure, renewable energy, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth in Greece, Europe, and beyond.
Topics covered include project finance and risk management, the loan approval process, renewable energy investments and energy interconnection projects, the project cycle with a case study, EquiFund I and the newly launched EquiFund II, the EIB Group’s flagship initiative TechEU for growth financing and accelerating innovation in Europe, and the evaluation process of venture capital funds by the EIF.
Through this initiative, AUEB further strengthens the bridge between academic excellence and European policymaking and financing, offering students and the wider academic and professional community an opportunity to gain first-hand insights into the institutions shaping Europe’s development agenda.
EVENT DETAILS
Monday, 8 & 15 December 2025
Time: 12:00 – 17:15
Venue: Amphitheater of Trias 2 Building
Limited seats | Registration required
Agenda
Monday, 8th December 2025
12:00 - 12:10 · Opening Remarks
Ioannis Tsakiris, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Former Deputy Minister for Development and Investments
12:10 - 14:15 · Lecture 1: Introduction to the EIB Group - Why an Investment Bank for Europe – 13:00 - 13:15 Coffee Break
Marianna Nathanail, Head of EIB Group Office in Greece
14:15 - 15:00 · Lunch Buffet on the Patio
15:00 - 17:15 · Lecture 2: Project Cycle and Activities in Greece - Case study – 16:00-16:15 Coffee Break
Alexandros Karvounis, Team Leader PASSA (Project Advisory Support Agreement) Greece, EIB
17:15 - 17:20 · Closing Remarks
Associate Professor Spyros Pagratis, Program Director, MSc in Business Economics with Analytics, AUEB
Monday, 15th December 2025
12:00 - 12:10 · Opening Remarks
Professor Plutarchos Sakellaris, Hon. Vice President of the European Investment Bank
12:10 - 14:15 · Lecture 3: EIB Climate Bank and the Environment – 13:00-13:15 coffee break
Despina Tomadaki, Principal Advisor, Investment Team for Greece & Cyprus, EIB
14:15 - 15:00 · Lunch Buffet on the Patio
15:00 - 17:15 · Lecture 4: EIF Presentation and Activities in Greece – 16:00-16:15 Coffee Break
Areti Roditi, Mandate Manager, EIF
17:15 - 17:20 · Closing Remarks
Associate Professor Spyros Pagratis, Program Director, MSc in Business Economics with Analytics
Meet the Speakers
The sessions will be led by accomplished professionals with extensive expertise in banking, finance, and sustainable development:
Marianna Nathanail is the Head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group Office in Greece, where she engages with the public and private sectors, academia, civil society, and EU institutions to expand the EIB’s support for investments in the green transition, digitalisation and innovation, affordable housing, cohesion policy, agriculture and the bioeconomy, as well as security and defence.
With 25 years of experience in banking, finance, and law, she has served at the EIB headquarters in Luxembourg in Capital Markets and Risk Management. Prior to joining the EIB, she worked at the European Commission (DG FISMA and DG MARKT), served as legal counsel for the Hellenic Capital Markets Commission, and previously as legal counsel in the energy and shipping sectors.
She holds a Law degree from the University of Athens, an LL.M. in Shipping Law, and an MSc in Banking and Finance.
Alexandros Karvounis is an Urban and Regional Economist by training. He holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Sheffield, UK.
With extensive experience in fostering sustainable economic growth and infrastructure development, he specializes in designing and implementing strategic investment projects that align with the EU's goals for regional development and cohesion.
He is working at the European Investment Bank as a Senior Economist for the last 10 years and is responsible for the due diligence and monitoring of territorial development projects at the Regional Development Division of the Projects Directorate. He is also the Project Advisory Coordinator for Greece, based in Athens. Before joining the Bank, he worked for the European Commission (Directorate General for Regional Policy).
In his 20 years career, he has worked for various assignments and published several articles regarding planning and development. His expertise supports impactful initiatives that drive regional competitiveness and socio-economic progress across Europe.
Despina Tomadaki works in the European Investment Bank as a Principal Advisor in the Lending Operations Department, currently responsible for the financing of public sector corporates in Greece, mainly in the energy and utilities sector.
With more than 20 years of working experience, she has worked for the structuring and implementation of operations across various sectors and geographies in Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK. She is a Chemical Engineer with a degree from the Technical University of Athens (NTUA), a MSc in Finance from Imperial College, London and a PhD in Industrial Economics from NTUA.
Areti Roditi serves as Mandate Manager (Mandate Origination & Relationship Management - Southern Europe) at the European Investment Fund (EIF), part of the EIB Group. With a strong background in financial instruments, she is currently based in Athens and is responsible for regional mandates in Greece and Cyprus, backed by the European Structural and Investment Funds, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and national resources.
She is a dual-qualified lawyer (attorney-at-law, Athens Bar Association and solicitor, England and Wales) with an extensive experience in EU law, financial instruments, project finance and complex financial transactions.
She joined the EIF in 2021, after having served as counsel in the Legal Service of the EIB in Luxembourg. Prior to joining the EIB Group, she has worked as Chief Legal Counsel in a construction company and as a lawyer at a major law firm.
She holds a law degree (LLB) from the University of Athens, a Master’s Degree (LLM) in European Law from the College of Europe (Brugge, Belgium), a Master’s degree (LLM) in Civil Law from the University of Athens, a MSc in Business for Lawyers from ALBA Graduate Business School and an International Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance from the International Compliance Association. She is fluent in Greek, English, French, Spanish German and has good knowledge of Italian, Arabic and Russian.
About the EIB Group
The European Investment Bank Group is the EU’s investment arm and one of the world’s largest multilateral financial institutions. It finances innovative, sustainable projects that promote economic growth, job creation, social cohesion and environmental sustainability.
About the MSc in Business Economics with Analytics – AUEB
The MSc in Business Economics with Analytics is a flagship graduate programme at the Athens University of Economics and Business. It equips students with advanced analytical tools, strong economic foundations and practical exposure, bridging academic knowledge with real-world applications in business, finance and public policy.
