Speaker

Panagiotis Simandirakis was born in Kera Kissamos in 1982.

He is a graduate of the Department of Economics and holds a master's degree in Applied Economics and Finance with a specialization in European integration, from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens.

He worked as a financial consultant at "Athenian Development", while he is co-owner of the family craft "Cretan Foods Simandiraki".

He was the general secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in the Western Crete Department, while he is an elected member of the Central Delegation of the Greek Chamber of Commerce.

In 2010, he was elected for the first time as a Regional Councilor of Crete with the combination "Crete First Power" of Stavros Arnautakis, first in votes in the Chania Regional Unit, and participated as a regular member in the Economic Committee of the Region of Crete.

In 2014 he was re-elected and served as Deputy Regional Governor for Education, Lifelong Learning and Employment until 2017. From 2017 to 2019, he served as mandated Regional Councilor for Education & Lifelong Learning.

He participated for the first time in the Municipal Elections of 2019 and was elected Mayor of Chania as head of the "For Chania" coalition, while he was re-elected to the position in October 2023.

Finally, he is the initiator and President of the Organizing Committee of the Rokkas Festival.