Radm Efthimios Mitropoulos (Chairman of the judging panel)
Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization
Born in Piraeus, Greece in a maritime family having its roots in Galaxidi.
Graduate of the Aspropyrgos Merchant Marine and Piraeus Naval Academies; started his career as a Merchant Navy Officer and, since 1962, as a commissioned Officer of the Hellenic Coast Guard. Studied shipping economics in Italy and marine technology in the United Kingdom.
1966 - 1977 – attended various IMO bodies and the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea as representative of the Greek Ministry of Mercantile Marine.
1977 - 1979 – Harbour Master of Corfu.
Author of seven books on various maritime subjects.
Joined IMO in January 1979. May 1992, appointed Director, Maritime Safety Division and, May 2000, Assistant Secretary-General. In June 2003, he was appointed Secretary-General of IMO for the period 2004 to 2008. In November 2006, his mandate was renewed for another 4 years, concluding 31 December 2011.
Married, one son, one daughter.