Dr. Stefanos Fotiou is a sustainability leader with over 30 years of experience in strategy development, global governance reform, geopolitical risk analysis, and the political economy of sustainable development. His expertise spans senior leadership roles across the UN system, academia, nonprofit organisations, and the private sector, operating across more than 60 countries. In Director-level roles across three UN agencies — UNEP, UNESCAP, and most recently FAO — he has convened heads of state, ministers, and leaders from the private and nonprofit sectors, advancing collaboration on sustainable development, green economy, natural resources management, food systems, and climate resilience. He has led complex multi-stakeholder initiatives, designed governance models and financing architectures, and built institutional partnerships that move countries from political commitments to operational delivery.

He currently serves as Executive Director of the FoodDiplomacy Network, a new platform bringing together leaders from governments, international organisations, academia, and the private sector to advance food systems transformation through dialogue, diplomacy, and partnership. He also serves as a Board Member on the Council of Administration of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), contributing to institutional governance and strategic direction for a four-year term beginning in September.

He holds a PhD in Natural Resource Economics, an MSc in Forestry, an MSc in Information Systems and a Doctorate Honoris Causa in Biotechnology and Agricultural Sciences.