The British-Romanian Chamber of Commerce is glad to organize the event entitled The Smart Cities and Urban Innovation – Integrating travel and sustainability, which will take place on the 14th of November, at Hotel Traian Iasi, starting with 10 AM.
The Smart Cities and Urban Innovation Event is a comprehensive conference focusing on the development and implementation of smart technologies in urban environments, with a special emphasis on enhancing travel experiences and promoting sustainability. The event brings together city planners, technology providers, sustainability experts, travel industry professionals, and policymakers to explore innovative solutions for creating smart, sustainable, and traveler-friendly cities.
Key themes:
- How smart city technologies can enhance urban mobility and travel experiences.
- Sustainable urban development practices and technologies.
- The importance of collaboration between various stakeholders in the travel, technology, and urban planning sectors.
- Case studies and best practices adopted by smart cities of Romania
Agenda:
10:00-10:30 – Registration of the participants and welcome coffee
10.30-10.45 – Opening remarks by the BRCC
10.45-12:00 – Panel discussion and Q & A
12.00-12:15 – Closing remarks
12.15-14.00 –Coffee Break and Networking
Event Moderator:
Alexandru Debrezeni – Member of ANEVAR
With significant experience in business and Public Affairs, Alexandru Debrezeni is a member of ANEVAR and a partner in the MAPPS Master Appraisal company.
Speakers confirmed so far:
Paul Butnariu – President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iasi
Born on May 4, 1960, in Botoșani, where he attended high school, he later settled in Iași.
He graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Iași, Faculty of Construction and Installations, class of 1985.
His undergraduate studies were complemented by various advanced courses: a master’s in European Business and Financial Management from “Petre Andrei” University in Iași, postgraduate studies (master’s equivalent) from the University of Minnesota (USA) and Babeș-Bolyai University, as well as mediation and trainer courses.
Since 1985, he has developed his career in the construction sector, including civil and industrial constructions, railways, roads, bridges, and installations, implementing projects throughout the North-East region and beyond.
He held positions as section chief and chief engineer, and since 1999, he has served as the General Manager of SC Construcții Feroviare Moldova SA Iași, a company that, at one stage, employed over 2,000 workers, technicians, engineers, and economists.
Since 2000, he has been the President of Compania Construcții Feroviare SA.
He has been actively involved with the Iași Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 2000: as a member of the Board (2000-2008), Acting President (2008-2015), and President (2015-present).
He also holds positions such as Vice President of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, head of the Committee for Economic Development Strategies, and executive president of the Romanian Railway Builders Association.
He is a founding member of the Rotary Club Iași and served as its president during 2007-2008. Additionally, he co-founded and presided over the Association “Al. I. Cuza nr. 20” Iași, and is an active founding member of the “Moldova Wants Highways” Association.
He maintains a non-political stance, upholding neutrality as President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He actively promotes the economic interests of Iași County, collaborating with Romanian and foreign business delegations, diplomatic representatives, members of the Romanian Parliament, and government officials. He has led economic missions and business delegations abroad to present the economic and community opportunities in Iași.
Razvan Timofciuc – Deputy Mayor of Iasi
Local Councilor (2016 – 2024)
Eight years of experience in the Local Council, contributing to over 150 projects and initiatives for urban development in school, road, and tourism infrastructure.
Deputy Mayor (February – October 2024)
He coordinated infrastructure projects and urban mobility solutions, with a focus on sustainability and digitalization.
Member of the Urban Planning and Territorial Development Commission
He reviewed urban plans and supported a balance between economic development and quality of life.
Focused on smart solutions for modern, sustainable urban development.
Bogdan Coconoiu – Corporate Affairs Manager – Anima Wings
His professional career has been exclusively within the aviation industry since graduating from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies – Faculty of Commerce (with a specialization in Commodity Science and Quality Management, and a Master’s degree in Commercial Business Administration in 2002). In 2016, he graduated a training course as a Public Procurement Expert and has undertaken numerous courses over the years in Gabriel/Amadeus reservation systems, Customer Experience, Airline Business, among others.
At TAROM, from January 1998 to June 2024, he worked in various sectors within the Commercial Department, including the Smart Miles – Frequent Flyer Program, Romania Marketing, TAROM Agency in Rome, TAROM Agency in Milan, Station Manager at Milan Malpensa Airport, and Head of Corporate and Group Services.
Since July 8, 2024, he has joined the AnimaWings team as Corporate Affairs Manager. Among the ongoing projects at AnimaWings is the launch of operations with new Airbus 220 aircraft, starting from March 3, 2025, with three regular flights on the Iași-Bucharest route (Monday/Wednesday/Friday).
Cristina Căluianu – National Expert for Romania – European Accessibility Resource Centre AccessibleEU
Cristina Căluianu is one of the founding members of CED Romania, a non-profit organization promoting accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities. A pioneer in accessible tourism in Romania, she serves as the National Expert in the European Accessibility Resource Centre AccessibleEU, and as an independent evaluator for the European Commission’s “European Capital of Smart Tourism” competition.
Cristina will discuss accessibility and accessible tourism, and she will present AccessibleEU and the European Accessibility Act – a Directive that will impact tourism and travel industry across the EU since June 2025.
Lestat MONROE- RDCC Founder & Board Member and Vice President Orasul Meu, Culorile Mele
Paris-born, Lestat has spent two decades building successful businesses in printing, online retail, recycling and real estate, as well as advising investors in the Eastern Europe region and the Middle East. Turning heads and changing mentalities, he is one of the leading advocate for Diversity & Inclusion in Romania and the region.
Lestat has teamed up with Dentons, EBRD, EIB, Fokker, IKEA, ING Bank, Kaufland, Mega Image, Raiffeisen Bank, REDI, Visa, Vodafone and others to form the Romanian Diversity Chamber of Commerce — the first business organization of its kind in the world created to promote diversity of all kinds in business.
Most recently, Lestat created MyEcoBox a recycling program dedicated to promoting a “new attitude towards waste”. MyEcoBox is the first comprehensive recycling solution in Romania that provides a simple and convenient way for individuals, businesses, brands and retailers to responsibly dispose of hard-to-recycle waste. Finally, Lestat is the proud co-parent of Lucrezia and Orazio, his 14-year-old twins.
Adrian Pantazica – Project Director at Corporate Office Solutions
Adrian Pantazica is a dedicated professional with over 12 years of experience in project management. Specialized in electronics, he has successfully coordinated diverse teams and managed complex projects, delivering outstanding results. With a solution-oriented approach and excellent communication skills, Adrian has demonstrated exceptional skills in strategic planning, risk management and process improvement. He holds relevant certifications, and is passionate about innovation and continuous development.
Gold Partner:
Institutional Partner:
Camera de Comert si Industrie Iași
Strategic Partners:
Romanian Diversity Chamber of Commerce
Media Partners:
Join us to shape the future of a more sustainable and digitalized world!
Please note that this event will be conducted in Romanian.
Kindly note that this event is free of charge and and both members or non-members are more than welcome to attend!
