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. Since taking office, Skourides has prioritized industry engagement, holding over 1,300 meetings to map Cyprus’s AI adoption landscape. He actively connects research centres and startups with industry, facilitating proof-of-concept collaborations and guiding policy around digital infrastructure, AI, and emerging technologies. He has accelerated Cyprus’s internationalization, playing a key role in securing MoUs with Japan, Israel, and the UAE, and initiating strategic partnerships with Singapore, the USA, and India. 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. Skourides is committed to positioning Cyprus as a regional hub for AI innovation, startup growth, and technology leadership.  A passionate advocate for an AI-powered future with humans at the centre, Skourides embodies a model of leadership that is both visionary and humanistic, catalyzing transformation across generations and borders. His leadership has received international recognition. In 2025, he was honoured with the CYDIA Impact Award at the Cyprus Diaspora Forum for his contribution to the internationalization of Cyprus’s research and innovation ecosystem. That same year, he was named among the Top 100 Global Power Leaders at the Global Business Conclave, held at the House of Lords in London, and was inducted into the G100 Denim Club, where he serves on the Global Advisory Council for Humanity, Innovation, and Technology. In September, he was honoured with the title of Exemplary Leader of the Year 2025 in Human-Centric AI Governance (Global 200 Inspirational Leaders) at the White Page Leadership Conclave 2025 award ceremony.