Dr Petros Varelidis is the Secretary General for Natural Environment and Water at the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, a position he has held since February 2022. He studied Chemical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens and holds a PhD in composite materials and recycling. He is also a graduate of the Department of Business Administration at the Athens University of Economics and Business. Since 2009, he has served as an adviser to the political leadership of the Ministry of Environment on environmental policy issues. Since December 2019, he has represented Greece at the European Environment Agency. From 2016 to 2021, he served as Director of the Organisation for Natural Environment and Climate Change, formerly known as the National Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development. From 2005 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2015, he served as Environment Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Greece to the European Union. From 2012 to 2013, during the preparation for and the term of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, he served as Environment Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the European Union.