Presentation of the 3rd Edition of “Practical Sustainability Strategies” by CSE President Nikos Avlonas

Athens, October 9, 2025

To mark its 20th anniversary of international leadership in sustainable development, the Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) held the official presentation of the 3rd edition of the globally acclaimed book “Practical Sustainability Strategies: How to Gain a Competitive Advantage” by Nikos Avlonas, CSE President and Founder.

The event took place on Wednesday, October 8th, at the Goulandris Natural History Museum in Kifissia. The book is published by Wiley, one of the world’s leading publishing houses, and is distributed globally.

A Dual Celebration

The evening was a double celebration—marking both the release of a landmark book on sustainability strategy and two decades of CSE’s global leadership and impact in the field of sustainable development, with a strong presence both in Greece and internationally.

Since its establishment in 2005, CSE has evolved into one of the most recognized global organizations in Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance).

Operating across 30 countries and 5 continents, CSE has achieved remarkable milestones:

• Trained and certified over 10,000 professionals in ESG and Sustainability across 90 countries.
• Partnered with 150+ leading organizations and corporations representing 15% of global GDP.
• Developed sustainability strategies for major institutions such as the European Investment Bank, Oracle, NASA, and the Government of Dubai.

Keynote by Nikos Avlonas

During his address, Nikos Avlonas, President and Founder of CSE, emphasized the importance of a strategic approach to sustainability, stating:

“Sustainability is not a luxury—it is a tool for competitive advantage and value creation when implemented with strategy and consistency. The new edition of my book outlines the practical methods and tools we have successfully applied through CSE over the past 20 years.”

Distinguished Guests and Speakers

The event featured distinguished representatives from the business, institutional, and academic communities, including:

• Vassilis Xypolytas, Mayor of Kifissia, who spoke about the city’s sustainability initiatives and its collaboration with CSE.
• Vasiliki Lazarakou, President of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission, who highlighted the importance of corporate governance and social impact.

Several notable figures also shared remarks on the book and CSE’s contribution to sustainable development:

• Zacharias Ragoussis, CEO of Pfizer Hellas, who underlined the connection between innovation and responsible growth, and praised the CSE President’s contribution to sustainability strategies.
• Prof. Eric Soderquist, Athens University of Economics and Business – Head of the International MBA.
• Christos Karapiperis, former Governor of AHEPA Hellas.
• Dimitris Efstathiadis, CSR Manager of Sklavenitis.
• Michalis Filippidis, CSR Director of ION.
• Prof. Michael Sheridan, Professor of Sustainable Development at the State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz.

The event was moderated by Nicolas Vafeiadis, journalist at ANT1 TV, who highlighted the international success of the book—now considered a global bestseller—and praised CSE’s two decades of empowering leaders and organizations to integrate sustainability into their core strategies.

About the Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE)

As one of the pioneers in linking business strategy with sustainability, CSE has, for two decades, empowered companies, governments, and academic institutions to design and implement ESG strategies that create meaningful value for society and the environment.
With its unique experience and practical tools, CSE continues to advance global sustainability through education, certification, and consulting excellence.

📍 More information:
www.cse-net.org | info@cse-net.org