Stefanos Fotiou
Director, Office of Sustainable Development Goals & Director Un Food Systems Coordination Hub @FAO
Signup · Get unlimited contacts
WORK HISTORY
Director, Office of Sustainable Development Goals & Director Un Food Systems Coordination Hub @FAO
Rome, IT
Served as inaugural Director of both the FAO Office of SDGs and the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, building the institutions from inception, assembling high-performing interdisciplinary teams and positioning them as central coordination platforms within the UN system. Designed and operationalized governance frameworks, mandates and coordination mechanisms that enabled governments, UN entities and partners to align policy priorities and institutional processes across multiple policy domains. Led analytical and policy work supporting national reform agendas, developing diagnostic approaches on regulatory environments, economic policy and institutional readiness to translate strategic priorities into implementable programmes. Built and managed large-scale international coalitions and partnerships, including high-level global convenings and intergovernmental processes that strengthened coordination across governments, multilateral institutions and development partners.
EDUCATION
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Natural Resource Economics
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Forestry and Natural Environment Management
University of Macedonia
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Information Systems
SKILLS
ABOUT STEFANOS FOTIOU
I am an international development and sustainability strategist with three decades of experience at the intersection of economic policy, environmental sustainability and global governance. Over twenty of those years were spent inside the UN system, where I served in senior and director-level roles across three agencies — UNEP, UNESCAP and FAO — working at the table where global sustainability policy is shaped, negotiated and brought to life.My work focuses on helping institutions navigate major transitions — toward resource-efficient growth, circular economies, resilient food systems and innovative climate action. I specialize in linking strategy, governance and regulatory design so that policy ambition translates into implementable frameworks and long-term competitiveness. Throughout my career I have supported governments, regional institutions and international organizations in shaping sustainable development strategies, strengthening governance systems and driving institutional change. This includes transition diagnostics, policy monitoring, foresight and organizational leadership — building multidisciplinary teams, international coalitions and large-scale financing mechanisms across global and regional initiatives. I bring deep technical grounding in sustainability — climate change, food systems, circular economy, SDGs, green transition, 2030 Agenda — consistently linked to economic performance and institutional resilience. I also have extensive regional experience in Asia-Pacific, where I led initiatives and partnerships across governments, development partners and international organizations for over a decade. I advise, write and convene — with the conviction that systemic change requires both deep institutional knowledge and the freedom to challenge it.
This profile is compiled from publicly available professional sources. Unifers is not affiliated with or endorsed by LinkedIn. Request removal of this profile.