The Connection with Komvos’s AI’nclusion Initiative

The event forms part of AI’nclusion – Artificial Intelligence Without Exclusions, the initiative through which Komvos develops partnerships and projects that promote the understanding and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

AI’nclusion addresses different groups across society, connecting technological development with education, family life, work and active citizen participation. Its initiatives include introducing the MIT Day of AI educational programme into Greek schools and training educators to bring this knowledge into their school communities.

The event extends this discussion into two additional areas: the family as a setting for everyday engagement with artificial intelligence, and public administration as a driver of innovation.

Nikos Mavridis Opens the Discussion

The opening remarks will be delivered by Dr Nikos Mavridis, Head of Komvos’s AI’nclusion initiative. He will discuss the challenges facing economies and societies in the age of artificial intelligence, as well as initiatives connecting technology with education and the world of work.

His remarks will cover the MIT Day of AI, MIT’s international microcredentials in artificial intelligence and Professor Daron Acemoglu’s approach to developing forms of AI that enhance workers’ capabilities and contribute to more broadly shared economic progress.

Nikos Mavridis holds a PhD from MIT and is an academic and consultant specialising in artificial intelligence and robotics. He is Vice-President of the Hellenic Artificial Intelligence Society and a member of the MIT Educational Council.

He has served as Senior Director of AI at Aramco Digital and Principal Data Scientist at SAP’s Global Center of Excellence. His academic career has included appointments at New York University Abu Dhabi and United Arab Emirates University. He is also the creator of Ibn Sina, the first Arabic-speaking humanoid robot.

Who Is Melissa Saoudy?

The event’s keynote guest is Melissa Saoudy, Founder and CEO of The Why, a Dubai-based strategy, innovation and foresight consultancy working with public organisations and businesses across the Gulf.

She began her professional career in the United States and moved to the United Arab Emirates in 2012. She has contributed to significant initiatives across the country’s innovation ecosystem, having served as Senior Manager at EY, Programs Lead at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Accelerator and Strategy and Policy Expert at Abu Dhabi’s Early Childhood Authority.

In 2022, she founded The Why, which designs and implements strategies connecting public policy, social impact and innovation. She holds a Master of Studies in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge and leads the Dubai chapter of CamEntrepreneurs, the official entrepreneurship and investment network for University of Cambridge alumni.

Through more than a decade of work across the UAE innovation ecosystem, she has developed an independent professional perspective on the conditions that enable innovation strategies to acquire an institutional foundation and evolve into partnerships and practical applications.

Artificial Intelligence and Families: Preparing Society for a New Era

In the first part of her talk, Melissa Saoudy will present her analysis of how artificial intelligence is transforming childhood and family life.

AI tools are already influencing how children learn, search for information, create and communicate. Parents and caregivers need practical knowledge, a shared vocabulary and reliable guidance to participate actively in this transition.

Drawing on international evidence and her experience at the intersection of social policy and public innovation, she will explore the emerging opportunities and challenges for families, the capabilities parents need and the key questions governments and public institutions in the United Arab Emirates, Greece and elsewhere should be asking.

She will also present a practical framework for preparing families and societies for the age of AI, covering digital literacy, trust, inclusion, child development, parental empowerment and the responsible adoption of technology.

This theme lies at the heart of AI’nclusion: becoming familiar with artificial intelligence begins with understanding how it works and develops through critical thinking, digital skills and responsible practices.

Govpreneurship in Practice: What Does Entrepreneurial Government Require?

The second part of the event will explore govpreneurship: the application of entrepreneurial thinking, experimentation and a focus on results within public administration.

Drawing on publicly documented initiatives in Dubai, Melissa Saoudy will examine the institutional conditions and behaviours that enable governments to collaborate with innovators, test new approaches, learn quickly and translate strategy into practical policy.

Examples will include the Dubai Future Accelerators, Dubai Future Academy, Dubai Future Labs, Area 2071 and the Museum of the Future. Together, these initiatives offer a starting point for a broader discussion on how leadership, institutional culture, experimentation and public-private collaboration can support sustained public-sector innovation.

What Can Greece Draw Upon and What Requires Adaptation?

Melissa Saoudy and Nikos Mavridis will then come together for an open conversation exploring the bridge between the United Arab Emirates and Greece.

The discussion will focus on principles that can be applied across different settings, including institutional culture, leadership, experimentation, public-private collaboration and AI readiness. It will also consider the adaptations required for each approach to respond effectively to Greece’s institutions, national priorities and particular social and economic conditions.

This conversation is especially relevant to Greece, as it concerns collaboration between public administration, academia, businesses and innovation networks. It also addresses the crucial task of creating an environment in which ideas can be tested, evaluated and developed into practical solutions.

The evening will conclude with an open discussion with the audience and a networking session.

Event Information

Title: From Dubai to Athens: AI, Families and Entrepreneurial Government
Date: Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Time: 18:00–20:30
Venue: SAKA, Athens College campus
Language: English
Registration: The Dubai Way: Govpreneurship in the Age of AI — and AI for Families