Keynote speakers biographies
EWEA 2013, Vienna
The Event Launch & Keynotes session at EWEA 2013 will feature a number of high-profile speakers, addressing important political and business issues affecting the European wind industry. These speeches will help set the tone for 4 days of conference sessions, networking and business development – outlining the political developments taking place at the highest levels, the challenges the industry faces in the near and medium term, and why we should remain optimistic that we can overcome these.
Confirmed keynote speakers include:
Pat Rabbitte
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Ireland
Minister Rabbitte was elected to the Irish Parliament in 1989 for the constituency of Dublin South West. He served in a number of different portfolios as a member of the opposition, as well as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Commerce, Science and Technology. He is also a former National Secretary of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. Mr Rabbitte was appointed Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources in March 2011. With Ireland assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in January 2013, Minister Rabbitte will be able to share insights both on the developing wind energy market in Ireland, as well as the objectives of the Irish Presidency in the area of energy policy.
Dr. Fatih Birol
Chief Economist, International Energy Agency
Dr. Fatih Birol is the Chief Economist at the IEA in Paris and is responsible for the IEA’s flagship World Energy Outlook publication, which is recognised as the most authoritative source of strategic analysis of global energy markets. He is also the founder and chair of the IEA Energy Business Council, which provides a forum to enhance co-operation between the energy industry and energy policymakers. Dr. Birol has been named by Forbes Magazine among the most powerful people in terms of influence on the world’s energy scene.
Anni Podimata, Vice-President of the European Parliament
Anni Podimata is Vice-President of the European Parliament, having first become a Member of the European Parliament in 2007. Ms. Podimata is a member of the Parliament’s Bureau and sits on the Committee on Economic and Social Affairs (ECON). She is also part of the Delegation to the EU-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee and is a recipient of the Hellenic-Turkish Friendship Award.
Arthouros Zervos
EWEA President
Arthouros Zervos is a Professor at the National Technical University of Athens and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Public Power Corporation – Greece as well as Chairman of the Public Power Corporation Renewables in Greece.
He received his Master of Science in Engineering from the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences of Princeton University. He continued his studies at the University P.et M.Curie in Paris, where he took his Diplome de Docteur – Ingenieur. Professor Zervos has more than 30 years of high level expertise in policy, science, research and technology across the renewable energy sector. As EWEA’s President, Dr Zervos will present the latest trends and developments in the European wind energy sector, outline the challenges the industry faces and the opportunities that present themselves in overcoming these challenges.
