Dr Yianni Spanos
Expo City Dubai
vice president - sustainability
Dr Yianni Spanos
As Vice President – Sustainability at Expo City Dubai, Dr Spanos oversees all the Sustainability department’s activities, including implementation of new initiatives, reporting and safeguarding the quality of the living environment, with a broader focus on sustainability certifications and decarbonisation.
Dr Spanos’ leadership is integral to Expo City’s role as the UAE’s first Green Innovation District, combining his technical expertise with high-level strategic insights to ensure the District’s environmental mission remains on track.
A strategy and sustainability leader with more than 20 years’ experience in energy transition, climate change and sustainable strategies for major projects, Dr Spanos is known for his ability to develop and deliver advanced solutions that recognise the interconnectedness of different programmes, align technical delivery to budgets, and support stakeholder communication and engagement on sustainability. He has provided consultancy and advisory services for developing projects across sectors such as education, healthcare, hospitality and leisure, renewable energy, sports, real estate and urban planning. Dr Spanos has been in the Arabian Gulf region since 2013, working closely with world event organisers and developers of future global destinations.
A chartered engineer, holding a PhD in Physics from Coventry University and a Global Executive MBA from INSEAD, his undergraduate and postgraduate academic studies focused on engineering, construction
management and building services. Dr Spanos is a member of the Energy Institute, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
