Beatrice holds a BA in History and Literature and an MSc in Ecology. On completing her Msc she began working with the NGO Religion Science and the Environment as their Media Coordinator and Researcher. She is currently working for EcoRecreators as a sustainability consultant. She has begun a collaboration with an international school in Athens to explore how the issues concerning sustainability can be practically incorporated in the daily lives of their students. She is very excited about the Urban Bloom initiative, as she believes there is great potential to bring about a collective transition to a more sustainable way of life through creating a space where people can begin to positively use their imagination, interact, and be empowered through the joy of being responsible both individually and collectively in their daily lives.

Eleni has received an Engineering Diploma and MSc in Computer Science and Engineering and is currently a PhD candidate. She worked on a number of research projects in the Research Academic Computer Technology Institute before moving in 2005 to teach at a secondary school and at the Department of Informatics at the Ionian University. As an educator, she has organised and implemented various projects on environmental awareness and she is actively involved in Green ICT. From her early years she developed a strong environmental awareness, which she hopes to pass on to other people; following her belief that awareness can best be promoted through education, she has committed herself to persue this as a climate advocate.

Dimitris has graduated from the Computer Engineering and Informatics department of the University of Patras and holds an MSc in Computing Science from the Computation Department of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). Currently he teaches Computing at secondary school level and he is a PhD candidate at the Department of Informatics of the Ionio University. He has participated in a number of national and European projects that aim to to raise the awareness of learners on environmental issues and he has been the coordinator of a European Grundtvig 2 learning partnership entitled “Active Citizenship”. Being interested in environmental issues and the challenges we face, he believes that the first priority should be the development of environmental consciousness and to highlight the difference personal contributions can make in solving the problems.

Vassilis is a valedictorian electrical and computer engineer and has been awarded the National Prize of IEE. After finishing his Engineering studies at Dundee University, LSE, Imperial College and Ecole Polytechnique (X99), he started his research (PhD) in Energy Knowledge Management and Energy ICT methods at the National Technical University of Athens. He believes that changing the environmental habits in one’s country, using modern ICT philosophy, digital services and Social Networking is a matter of changing our approach. As far as CO2 emissions and raising awareness are concerned, he makes his point by using Lord Kelvin’s line “If you can not measure it, you can not improve it.

Lily finished her Master’s in Environmental Management, Modelling and Monitoring last year. She has always been a fan of nature and believes that Challenge Europe will give her the opportunity to bridge ideas with action and transmit the advocates’ suggestions effectively to the wider public. She works as Communication Officer in an organization that protects the Mediterranean wetlands. If she could change one thing in Greece she would create a new service responsible solely for the fire protection of forests from prevention right through to post fire rehabilitation.

Antigone is a Biologist and very keen on environmental issues. At present she is studying Environmental Education at postgraduate level in the Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki. She has been working for the International Thessaloniki Film Festival, and for Ecofilms, a festival of ecological interest. She is very passionate about nature and filming and she likes watching environmental documentaries. She believes that the proper school lessons will bring about change to sustainable management and protection at the environment. She totally agrees with the quote from Berryman & Brunelle, who say that “instead of economizing the environment we should ecologise the economy”.

Katerina has just graduated with an MA in Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development in the faculty of International and European Studies at Panteion University. This has been a return to education after a long time, in order to learn more about the environment, its sustainability and how the International Community’s environmental principles can better be implemented in the local communities. She currently works at a local environmental NGO in the suburbs of Athens and is volunteering with the "Athens 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Continuers- Volunteers" in sport events and in tree planting activities. She is proud for being a member of the “Ship for World Youth” family for the 2001 program in Japan.

Christina is a marine scientist holding an MSc in Water Resources and currently works in the Department of Environmental Protection of the Prefecture Administration of Thessaloniki in Northern Greece. She is also a youth worker implementing European Commission & Council of Europe Youth projects on the environment, as well as educational and awareness raising activities  collaborating with various Greek and International NGO’s. Besides that, she is involved in Science Communication Activities within the European Union institutional structure. That’s why she is a master’s student of EU-studies at the Centre International de Formation Européenne. She believes that modern energy saving technologies and renewable energy sources should be introduced in Greece, in order to make it sustainable in the future. She also believes that the energy we don’t use is the most environmentally friendly type!

Katerina grew up on the Greek island of Evia. She realised the need to protect the environment from an early age and decided to get involved in the environmental sector. Many years, degrees (a BSc Environmental Physics, and an MSc Environmental Science), related jobs and volunteering experiences later, she is still as determined as ever to help protect the environment for future generations.

Ioanna is a lawyer currently doing her practice. When she was 16 she wrote an essay about the environment, to present to the prefecture of Arta at the "Parliament of Teenagers", a project run by the Greek Parliament. Her essay was chosen and she participated in the program as a "deputy representative of teenagers". This was just the beginning. Now her dream for her country includes a different and improved environmental policy.

Jennifer loves to dedicate her time and energy to endeavours that help make the world a sustainable habitat for all. She envisions a future in which we are all more conscious and responsible in our thoughts and actions; where people of all backgrounds come together making positive changes in their personal lives and their local communities, as well as globally. She has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Sciences. She enjoys long walks, nature hikes, swimming in the sea, experimental cooking, different languages and learning about everything under the sun.

Irini is an environmental scientist and strongly believes that this is the science of the future. Her vision is for Greece to start using environmental friendly renewable energy resources in all aspects of energy consumption.

Victor is a Hygiene and Public Health Inspector, currently working at a Recycling company. His personal position, along with his attitude about the specific subject and his studies in the environmental field motived him to participate in the Challenge Europe programme.

Thalia first developed an interest in climate change during her studies in the School of Forestry in Greece. After completing an MSc in Environmental protection and management she was introduced to the exciting world of waste management and energy efficiency. She believes that people will change their attitude towards climate change when they can see and understand the impact of their actions on the environment and she is looking forward to discussing ideas with local authorities and policy-makers in Greece.

After completing his studies in journalism, he pursued a job with an environmental magazine, of which he is now editor-in-chief. This is an achievement that he is very proud of, as it has given him the opportunity to combine his ability to communicate with his passion for the environment. Now, his greatest personal and professional ambition is to improve the amount and the quality of information that Greek citizens are receiving on the environment. If such a thing were achieved, it would turn the discussion on the environment into a central public issue and oblige political and private stakeholders to face the issue in a more serious and urgent manner.