Demetris Skourides is a visionary leader in research, innovation, and technology, serving as the Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus. He drives the country’s strategic direction in science and technology while shaping global conversations on AI, digital transformation, and innovation policy. He chairs the AI Taskforce and the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation, and he holds influential roles as a board member of JRC, a member of ESAF, the Future 100 Global Power Leaders, the Ignite Cyprus Initiative, and PRIMA: Partnership for Research & Innovation.

Demetris Skourides holds a BSc in Computer Science, with an emphasis on Software Engineering, from Arizona State University, USA, and an MBA from Henley Management College, UK. Among other things, he has been trained in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data monetisation, and sales, in programs at Columbia, Stanford, MIT, and Harvard Universities respectively.

Demetris Skourides has worked with technology giants Oracle and Amazon Web Services. He joined Oracle Cyprus in 2006 after two years at the Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation and has since followed an international career with Oracle, taking on management roles across South East Europe and Commonwealth countries. Among others, he held executive positions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Asia-Pacific countries, as a Cloud & ISV Solutions transformation leader.

Demetris Skourides spearheaded the establishment of Cloud Partner Centres of Excellence in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, South Korea, Kenya, and South Africa, which enabled partners to innovate, create new solutions, and bring them to market, creating new revenue streams.

In his most recent role, he worked at Amazon Web Services, Dubai, UAE, as Industry Strategist for EMEA Commercial Sales, driving innovative solutions for the financial services, retail, manufacturing, and energy sectors.

The Chief Scientist chairs, ex officio, the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation.