Special Secretary

Yannis Mastrogeorgiou
Yannis Mastrogeorgiou is the Special Secretary of Foresight Strategy since March 2022.  

From 2019 to 2022, he served as the Secretary General of Communication and Media in the Presidency of the Greek Government. 

He was previously the Director General of the Konstantinos Karamanlis Institute of Democracy and director of the think tank “DIKTIO for the reformation of Greece and Europe” (2013-2018).

Yannis has also served as Director of Communications and Special Adviser to the Greek Minister of Education, as well as Special Advisor to the Minister of Development and to the Greek Parliament. He has worked in the field of communications and advertisement in multinational companies and was also a Marshall Memorial Fellow of the German Marshall Fund (GMF).

He has studied history, in the National Kapodestrian University of Athens, international relations, European Political Economy and law in the University of the Aegean and the Athens University of Economics and Business. 

He is a PhD candidate of the Science of History and Philosophy of the University of Athens.

Mission

The mission of the Special Secretariat is:
  • Applying foresight to detect future challenges, risks and opportunities for the country 
  • Supporting the long-term planning of the government in order to assure the resilience and strategic autonomy of the country 
  • Supporting the active participation of the Greek society in shaping the future 

Organisation

The Special Secretariat of Foresight is composed of the Foresight Office, which consist of the following three Departments:  

Cooperation and Networking Department

  • Creating a network of public servants specialized in applying foresight tools for public sector organizations
  • Assisting public sector organizations in future thinking & planning
  • Organizing future labs and other similar activities
  • Educating the public on future thinking and increasing futures literacy

Research and Documentation Department

  • Designing and implementing research projects, and collaborating with universities and research institutions,
  • Participating in national, European and international research projects,
  • Developing and managing digital tools, analyzing big data and integrating research findings into the Secretariat’s initiatives

International Relations Department

  • Observing EU and other international organizations’ activities regarding foresight and long-term planning
  • Organizing and preparing the country’s participation in discussions and procedures within European and international foresight networks
  • Coordinating the implementation of European and international foresight projects

Foresight

Foresight is a systematic, participatory and interdisciplinary approach in investigating the mid-term and long-term future. 

Foresight methods involve, inter alia, the processing of alternative future scenarios, aiming to properly prepare us to address challenges, risks or even opportunities. 

On a governance level, it contributes to policy making that enhances the country’s resilience, with an emphasis on adaptability and sustainable development. 

Working group

The unpaid working group is established for the delivery of the “Greece 2050” project.
The relevant Decesion

Decesion 99/4-4-2022 (Β’1603)