ECSM 2026
13th European Conference on Social Media
Biographies
Below are the ECSM Biographies of the Conference and Programme Chairs, Key Note Speakers and Mini-Track Chairs.
Conference and Programme Chairs
Christos Karpasitis is an Assistant Professor and Head of the School of Arts, Media & Communication at UCLan Cyprus. His academic background spans Multimedia, Digital Entertainment, E-Business, Digital Communication, and Information Systems, and he holds a PhD in Digital Media and Online Advertising from the University of Central Lancashire (UK). His research focuses on digital media theory, online advertising, social media virality, web design, and design for social change, with several publications and funded projects in these areas. As an interdisciplinary artist, his creative practice includes audiovisual production, electronic music, photography, and digital design, often addressing themes of cultural preservation, social impact, and entertainment. He bridges traditional research with artistic production, leading initiatives that merge innovation, education, media, arts, and design. Christos is a member of the European Cultural Parliament and the European Communication Research and Education Association, and serves as a reviewer for several distinguished academic journals.
Lambros Ioannou is a Lecturer in Web Design & Development and the Course Leader of the BSc (Hons) Web Design & Development at UCLan Cyprus. He holds a Master of Arts in Design from AKTO/Middlesex University (2009) and a BSc in Applied Multimedia from the University of Nicosia (2008). With over 15 years of professional experience in web design, user experience (UX), corporate identity, and digital communication, he has delivered work across several sectors, collaborating with diverse teams and professionals from Cyprus and abroad. He combines academic teaching with practical industry experience, focusing on functional, accessible, and user-friendly design. Lambros serves on the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Association of Graphic Designers and Illustrators (CAGDI) and is a jury member for the international Online Design Awards. Through his work in education and design, he supports the development of the next generation of digital professionals.
Keynote Speakers
Christiana Paschalides is the Manager of the Cyprus Advertising Regulation Organization, a non-profit company founded by the advertising and media industry in Cyprus in order to promote ethical standards in advertising. Member of the European Advertising Standards Alliance since 2013, CARO has to date resolved more than 200 complaints, published more than 100 decisions, responded to 300+ copy advice requests prior to advertising being aired, and trained many executives and non-industry members on the workings of the advertising code. Christiana also manages industry advertising bodies, such as the Cyprus Advertisers Association and the Cyprus Communications Agencies Association. She also coordinates the TV Audience Measurement Research Audit Committee.
Demetris Skourides is the Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, appointed in 2023 to lead the country’s strategy in research, innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence. He chairs both the National AI Taskforce and the Board of the Research and Innovation Foundation and represents Cyprus in leading European and global networks on technology policy. He holds a BSc in Computer Science from Arizona State University and an MBA from Henley Management College, with additional executive training at Columbia, Stanford, MIT, and Harvard. With over 17 years at Oracle and later AWS, he led multi-partner cloud transformation programmes and industry-specific AI strategies across EMEA and APAC. His leadership has received international recognition. In 2025, he was honoured with the CYDIA Impact Award at the Cyprus Diaspora Forum, the Top 100 Global Power Leaders at the Global Business Conclave, and the Exemplary Leader of the Year 2025 in Human-Centric AI Governance (Global 200 Inspirational Leaders) at the White Page Leadership Conclave 2025 award ceremony.
Pantelis Vladimirou is the CEO and Co-Founder of Webarts, a leading digital agency in Cyprus founded in 2008. With over 20 years of experience in the digital landscape, Pantelis is a seasoned marketing strategist specializing in performance-driven growth and digital transformation. Under his leadership, Webarts has evolved into a “digital-born” powerhouse that helps 300+ high-value organizations achieve measurable impact through human-centric, data-driven strategies. Pantelis is passionate about the intersection of technology and creativity. He currently focuses on how cutting-edge tools and Artificial Intelligence can be leveraged to optimize marketing strategies, foster deeper brand-customer connections, and drive sustainable business success in an ever-changing digital world.
Mini Track Chairs
Prof. Dr. Abbas Fadhil Aljuboori is currently working at Gulf College – Department of Computing Sciences – Muscat – Sultanate of Oman
And also in his bio.
as Deputy Dean of Scientific Affairs and Head of Cyber Security Engineering Department. He has a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Dongguk University, South Korea. He was a Fulbright Visiting scholar at the University of Central Oklahoma, USA in 2017. He is a Member of several of Academic and Professional Societies and is an Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board Member and Reviewer of many eminent International Journals and Conferences worldwide.
Dr habil. Maria-Magdalena Popescu is a Full Professor and a doctoral coordinator at Carol I National Defence University in Bucharest, Romania. With a background in humanities and social sciences, with extensive experience in security and defence issues. she has also authored over 100 research papers and scientific publications, with international visibility. Dr POPESCU has given international lectures as a guest at universities in Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, UK; Poland, Ireland and Peru. She is also an editor for Taylor & Francis journals and a scientific reviewer for Elsevier and SAGE ones. Maria POPESCU is also a member of scientific committees for European conferences ECSM, ECEL; ECCWS, ECGBL, GALA. Her research interests spin around strategic communication, narrative and discourse analysis, digital diplomacy, social media, strategic culture, cognitive security, information warfare and societal security
Christiana Varda is a Lecturer and Course Leader of the BSc (Hons) Media Production at UCLan Cyprus. She is also a Research Associate at the Media Cognition and Learning Research Group at the Department of Communication and Internet Studies at the Cyprus University of Technology. Her research interests include media literacy, misinformation and epistemic cognition. As a learning scientist, her research is grounded in the understanding that effective learning occurs at the intersection of individual cognition, social interaction, and designed environments. Her recent work centres on the design of new technologies that can support epistemic engagement with online information.