Keynote speakers
About / Keynote Speakers
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu
Romania’s first and only cosmonaut
DHC of Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu is Romania’s first and only cosmonaut, making history with his spaceflight aboard Soyuz 40 from May 14-22, 1981, as part of the Soviet Intercosmos program. A graduate of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Politehnica University of Bucharest (1976), Prunariu was selected in 1978 for training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. His mission on the Salyut 6 space station involved scientific experiments in astrophysics, medicine, and materials technology, contributing significantly to Romania’s role in space exploration. Post-mission, Prunariu held key positions, including head of Romanian Civil Aviation (1990-1991) and president of the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA) from 1998-2004. Currently, he serves as an expert for the Romanian Association for Space Technology and Industry (ROMSPACE), a member of ROSA’s board, and president of the Astronautics Commission of the Romanian Academy (since 2015). He also represents Romania at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics. As a retired lieutenant general, Prunariu remains active in international consulting and education, collaborating with universities and projects like Blue Abyss. Honored with titles such as “Hero of Romania” and “Hero of the USSR,” Prunariu was named an honorary citizen of Alba Iulia in 2025 for his scientific contributions. An author of numerous books and articles, he continues to inspire through lectures and efforts to promote space science.
Simona Constantinescu
President of the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR)
President of the Tourism Advisory Board
Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism
Simona Constantinescu is the President of the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR) and President of the Tourism Advisory Board within the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism. With over a decade leading ANA Hotels, Romania’s largest hotel group by revenue, she has spearheaded the company’s transformation and adaptation through major challenges, from economic crises to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through her national and international roles in employer representation (FIHR, HOTREC), she contributes to shaping strategies for the development of Romanian tourism and promoting a sustainable and competitive hotel industry. She holds an Executive MBA from ASEBUSS & University of Washington Seattle, a Master’s in Governance and Board Practice from Henley Business School & Envisia, and is a graduate of the Academy of Economic Studies – Faculty of Economics in Foreign Languages (now FABIZ).
Robert Komartin currently holds the position of Head of Travel Sellers, Central Europe at Amadeus IT Group. This role entails leading sales and distribution strategies for travel agencies across Central Europe, with a focus on digital innovation and transformation in the travel sector. With more than twenty-seven years of directorate and board membership, people management, project management and consulting, Robert fulfilled positions of director, managing partner, managing director/general manager, business group lead, department manager, project manager and senior consultant with leading companies such as Amadeus IT Group, Teamnet, TAROM, SIVECO Romania, LLP Group, Microsoft, Oracle, and KPMG. He holds a BSc degree in Information Systems and Economics, a MSc in Management Information Systems, a LLM in Business Law and a PhD in Economics; also, he taught various Project Management curricula for Microsoft, Oracle Education, Academy for Economic Studies in Bucharest and Codecs – Open University.