Maria Papadaki

Dr. Maria Papadaki, Ph.D., is a global executive leader and academic professor with over 20 years of experience in risk management, strategy, leadership, blockchain innovation, and business development across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. She has extensive experience in the aerospace industry, having contributed to the implementation, development, improvement, and management of risk frameworks and tools at Rolls-Royce plc. Maria is currently an Associate Professor at the British University in Dubai (BUiD), Managing Director of the BUiD Centre for Risk and Innovation (DCRI), and Head of Strategy, Research and Education at the Dubai Blockchain Center(DBC).

As the Head of Strategy at the DBC, Maria plays a pivotal role in shaping the region's future of blockchain and digital technologies. Her leadership at this renowned center places her at the forefront of industry advancements, where she actively collaborates with global tech leaders, investors, and policymakers to drive innovation in blockchain applications across industries. Her expertise in securing investments, managing strategic relationships, and driving institutional growth places her at the forefront of business development and innovation worldwide. In the UK, she works as a part of the international team in driving the risk management for the £5 million UKRI-funded SALIENT initiative with the University of Manchester, enhancing global security and resilience.

At Rolls-Royce plc, Maria successfully implemented risk management frameworks across most parts of the organization. She initially worked in the ERM Department to improve the ERM system across the organization. She then moved into the Supply Chain Function as a Supply Chain Risk Manager to design, develop, and implement integrated and standardized tools and processes across the organization (Civil, Defense, Energy, Nuclear, and Marine) for improving risk delivery through the global supply chain. In 2013, Dr. Maria Papadaki was seconded as an Interim Head of Risk, leading the risk management for the UK Nuclear Restoration (UKNR), a joint venture between AMEC, Atkins, and Rolls-Royce plc, bidding for the most significant nuclear decommissioning project in the UK (7.2 bn). In 2014, Maria did volunteer work, initiated the idea, and led the development of the first innovation Hub (H2B) in Crete, Greece, on behalf of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce.

At the University of Manchester, Maria worked as a Senior Relationship Manager and Head of the PMO office to support and enhance relationships with the United Arab Emirates. In 2016, Maria was appointed as a Managing Director for Dubai Center for Risk and Innovation (DCRI) and led the development of digital certificates for university graduates, making the university 1st in the Middle East and 3rd in the world in implementing Blockchain technology in education. In 2018, she was appointed as a Board of Directors for the Institute of Risk Management in London (IRM) till 2023. Under this profile, she led the institute's global education and professional standards strategy. Dr. Maria Papadaki is a visiting lecturer at The University of Manchester. Her research is now centered on understanding Enterprise Risk Management in the modern world, exploring how the integration of disruptive technologies can elevate its effectiveness and relevance.

Maria is a TEDx speaker, and her vision is to create a new model for education through a unique ecosystem that uses disruptive technologies to allow people to understand the power of knowledge and its possibility of reaching a stage of perfect intelligence based on the Academy of Plato.