Speakers

Jarosław Stawiarski

An experienced self-government official and politician.
A graduate in history at the Humanistic Department of the University of Marie Curie Skłodowska in Lublin, an alumnus of postgraduate studies in management.

He was a teacher, headmaster, councillor and a deputy mayor in his hometown Kraśnik. Member of National Parliament for 4 terms. He had served as the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, where as the Vice-Minister had been responsible mainly for financial support of sports infrastructure. Under his management about half a billion PLN was annually spent on new sports facilities. He also supervised the National Stadium, the Central Sports Centre and the Institute of Sport. He is a member of the bureau of the European Committee of Regions and the president of the Presidential Council for Self-Government.

On 21st November 2019 elected for the Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. Passionate about sport both in private and professional terms, always present at the most important sports events. Supports Polish national teams in different disciplines.

Andrzej Duda

Andrzej Sebastian Duda serves as the sixth President of the Republic of Poland. He has held this office since 6 August 2015.

Previously was as an Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Justice in the years 2006–2007. He served as an Undersecretary of State in the Chancellery of the late President Lech Kaczyński. He became a member of the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, after the 2011 parliamentary elections, when he received 79,981 votes for the Kraków area as a candidate of the Law and Justice party. He remained a member of the Sejm until he was elected to the European Parliament in 2014.

Duda ran in the May 2015 presidential election as the candidate for the Law and Justice party. In the first round of voting, he received 34.76% of the total. In the second round, he obtained 51.55% of the vote and became the President of the Republic of Poland. On 26 May 2015, Duda, as president-elect, resigned his membership in Law and Justice party.

Before going into politics President Duda was a researcher and lecturer at the Department of Administrative Law at Jagiellonian University. In 2005 he received a doctoral degree in Law at Jagiellonian University.

Prof. Krzysztof Szczerski

Krzysztof Szczerski was born on 15 April 1973 in Krakow. In 1997, he obtained a master’s degree in political science at the Jagiellonian University, and in 2001, a doctoral degree at the Institute of Political Sciences and International Relations of the Jagiellonian University. From 2013, he has been associate professor at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He became a Professor of Social Sciences in 2018.
Mr Szczerski cooperated with the Office of the Prime Minister (1998-2001) and served as an adviser to the Minister of Health in the field of European integration, regional health policy and health care systems (1999-2000).

In the years 2007-2008, Mr Szczerski was Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the Office of the Committee for European Integration. He was a member of the Civil Service Council to the Prime Minister (2009-2010) and a deputy to the Sejm (2011-2015). In January 2015, he became the representative of the Polish Parliament in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Since August 2015 till now, he is the Secretary of State in the Chancellery of  the President of  the Republic of Poland.In the years 2017-2021 he was the Chief of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Poland.

Currently he is also a lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy of Warsaw, the member of the Council of Polish Institute of International Affairs and the member of the Council of the Institute for Central Europe.

Laurențiu Flueraru

Laurențiu Flueraru is a career diplomat who joined the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Romania in 2020. Previous responsibilities include EU affairs (RELEX Chair during the RO Presidency of the Council of the EU), human rights, sanctions, CFSP missions, regional cooperation (Western Balkans, Black Sea region). For 4 years (2006-2010) he was responsible for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities as a diplomat within the RO mission to the Council of Europe.

Witold Dzielski

Since 2015 Director of the Foreign Affairs Office and since 2021 International Policy Bureau at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. Prior Chief Specialist at the Department of Americas of the Poland’s Foreign Ministry covering a broad range of transatlantic political issues. Between 2007-2012 posted at the Poland’s Embassy in Washington D.C. His portfolio included EU-US relations as well as Polish-Jewish affairs. Prior to his work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dzielski was actively engaged in Poland’s civic society organizations. Among others, he was president and founder of US MATTERS Association; office director at the Pro Publico Bono Foundation; public relations representative for the Oswiecim Institute of Human Rights; lecturer at the Jagiellonian University; and a teacher at the High School of Fine Arts in Kraków. He published in the area international relations, as well as popular fiction. In his free time, he enjoys sports (aikido black belt, former captain of a basketball team).

Andrii Deshchytsia

Ambassador Deshchytsia is a graduate of the History Faculty at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, he earned MA degree at the University of Alberta in Canada and defended his PhD in political sciences. Mr Deshchytsia started his diplomatic career in 1996 in Poland, later on he represented the interests of Ukraine in Finland and Iceland. He was the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, as well as a special representative of the Chairman of OSCE for solving conflicts. After protests in Maidan and escape of the President Yanukovych on 27th February 2014, he was appointed acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. On 7th November, as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine, he presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Poland and officially started his diplomatic mission in Warsaw. Fluent in the Polish, English and Russian language.

Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven

Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven took up his position as German Ambassador to the Republic of Poland on 15 September 2020. Previous positions include Special Ambassador in the German Foreign Ministry for the Alliance for Multilateralism (2020), NATO Secretary General for Intelligence and Security (2016-2019), German Ambassador to the Czech Republic (2014-2016). Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven was born on 12 November 1956 in Munich, Germany. He graduated from New College, Oxford, in 1980 (Master of Arts) and earned a PhD degree from the Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany (1984). He joined the German Foreign Ministry in 1986. Having served at the German Embassies in Paris and Moscow he also held various posts in the Foreign Ministry such as member of policy planning Staff, speech writer of the Minister, European correspondent and Director of European Affairs. From 2007-2010 he was Vice President of the German Intelligence Service.

Akio Miyajima

Ambassador MIYAJIMA arrived in Warsaw in Nov. 2020. A 40-year career diplomat since 1981. Previously Ambassador Miyajima held a post of Ambassador of Japan in Turkey, and served in Washington DC, Seoul, New York (United Nations) and London. Ambassador Miyajima holds a BA degree (Political Science) of Waseda University as well as a MA degree (International Relations) of Yale University.

Margarita Ganeva

Ms. Margarita Ganeva was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. A graduate of the University of Economics in Prague, Czech Republic. Since 1992 she was part of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Ganeva was in charge of different structures of the ministry, such as last as Director of the Economic Relations Directorate. She was DHM and Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. of the Bulgarian Embassy in Prague (2005-2008), Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Slovak Republic (2012-2016) and since May 19, 2021 – Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Poland.

Romana Vlahutin

Ambassador Romana Vlahutin is a career diplomat. Before joining Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1999 she worked as an analyst for the Bassiouni UN Commission for former Yugoslavia, the UN Tribunal (ICTY) in The Hague and the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington DC. As a Croatian diplomat she served in embassies in Washington (Head of Political Section) and Belgrade (Deputy Ambassador), and as the Head of Strategic Analysis and Policy Planning at the MFA in Zagreb (2000-2004). She also served as a Political Director of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (2006-2007). From 2010-2014 she was the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Croatia. Most recently she was posted as the EU Ambassador to Albania (2014-2018). As of 1 March 2019 she has been appointed Special Coordinator and Ambassador at Large for Connectivity in the European External Action Service.
Ambassador Vlahutin is a graduate of Zagreb University (Faculty of Philosophy) and Harvard University (J.F.Kennedy School of Government). She is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

B. Bix Aliu

Bix Aliu currently serves as Chargé d’Affaires at U.S. Embassy Warsaw.  A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Bix began his career in Macedonia and has also represented U.S. interests abroad in Albania, Montenegro, Poland, and the UAE. A native of Chicagoland, Bix holds a Medical Degree from the University of Kosovo School of Medicine and a Master of Strategic Studies Degree from the U.S. Army War College.  He speaks fluent Albanian, Montenegrin, Macedonian, Serbian, and Polish.

Paweł Jabłoński

Born in 1986, Paweł Jabłoński graduated from Warsaw University Faculty of Law and Administration. Attorney-at-law, practised between 2011 and 2018. Deputy disciplinary officer at the Warsaw Bar Association (2016-2018). In 2018 he was appointed advisor to the Prime Minister responsible for international and legal affairs, then a deputy director of International Project Coordination Department at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. In November 2019 he was appointed deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Economic and Development Cooperation, Africa and the Middle East.

Władysław Ortyl

Marshal of Podkarpackie Region, Poland (elected in May 2013), member of the European Committee of the Regions. Degree in aviation construction at Mechanical Department of Rzeszów University of Technology in 1979. From 1992 to 1998 – Chairman of the Board of Mielec Regional Development Agency. From 2005 to 2007 – Secretary of State at the Ministry of Regional Development where he was responsible for the implementation of Integrated Regional Operation Programme and preparation of Regional Operation Programmes, as well as the Eastern Poland Operation Programme and transborder programmes cofinanced by the EU. From 2005 he was also the Member of the Senate where he chaired the National Defence Committee.

Artur Kosicki

Graduate and PhD student at the Law Faculty of University in Białystok. Expert of the Housing Board at the Prime Minister, advisor at the Minister of Investment and Development and to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Lecturer, author of many scientific publications in the field of construction law and spatial planning. Experienced local government employee, associated with the Poviat Starost’s Office and Białystok City Hall.
From 2018 Marshal of Podlaskie Voivodeship.

Milan Majerský

Milan Majerský has rich experience in local self-government (Mayor of the town of Levoča in 2014-2017). He is actively involved in politics – leader of the Slovak political party “Christian Democratic Movement”. He was elected President of the Prešov Self-Governing Region in November 2017. Acting as the President, he ensures the comprehensive development of the region and is in charge of foreign relations. Mr. Majerský focuses on creating good conditions for securing the stability of families, quality health, social care and education.</p>

Zoltán Pajna

An experienced politician. He used to be a member of local government of Debrecen city with county rights in 1994-1998, afterwards he held position as vice-mayor till 2014. Meanwhile he also acted as the president of the Észak-Alföld Regional Development Council in 2010-2011. He was invited to be the president of the General Assembly of Hajdú-Bihar County in 2014. He became the president of the National Association of County Governments in 2019.
His work was acknowledged with the “Vice-mayor of the year” award in 2009 and the Pro Region award – given by the Minister for National Development and Economy – in 2010.
He has taken part in the coordination of European Union Funds since 2004. Due to his positions, he makes every effort for municipalities to be able to achieve their future concepts and for rural population to live in a sustainable, balanced, quality environment.

Mihail Adrian Neatu-Breciuga

Mihail Adrian Neatu-Breciuga is the Vice-President of Dolj County Council, Romania since November 2020. Before taking this leadership office he was a county councillor for 8 years, being close to the needs of the regional community. He is an experienced manager and politician with a solid background in the corporate field. For several years, he has been the manager of the most important energy company in Oltenia Region (Transelectrica) while benefiting from his intensive economic and project management studies.

Michał Mulawa

Graduate of the Political Science at the University of Marie Curie-Skłodowska (local government and local politics) as well as post-graduate studies in social communication psychology at the Faculty of Psychology (UMCS). He completed numerous courses on programming and acquiring external funds, among others from the European Union, OSCE, EEA, Swiss mechanisms and the so called “ambassador” funds.
Expert in programming regional and local development. Member of Regional Assembly of the Lubelskie Voivodeship (2 terms). He was an advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, director of Chancellery of the Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship, university lecturer, plenipotentiary for acquiring external funds as well the spokesman of the Mayor of Krasnik.

Elżbieta Łukaniuk

Responsible for land transport and road safety in the Cabinet of Adina Vălean, Commissioner for Transport since December 2019. She has been working in the field of transport from the beginning of her professional career. Between 2015 and 2019, she worked in the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the EU in the Transport Policy Section, directing the works of this Section from December 2018. She represented Poland in the works of the EU Council working groups on land transport and on intermodal questions, specializing among others in issues relating to rail transport, road infrastructure and Trans-European Transport Network. Between 2008 and 2015, she worked in the Ministry of Infrastructure, dealing among others with international cooperation issues and EU affairs coordination.
She graduated from the International School of Political Science at the University of Silesia and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA).

Maria Koidu

Maria Koidu is working in European Commission Directorate General for Transport and Mobility since January 2014. Her particular areas of responsibility are multi- and intermodal freight transport and combined transport. In 2018, Ms Koidu was working for 8 month for the Council of EU Estonian Presidency chairing and coordinating three Council working group. Between 2007 and 2014 Ms Koidu worked in DG Trade as EU negotiator with international organisations and with non-EU countries in the area of trade in services, including transport services.

Before joining the European Commission, Ms Koidu worked for 10 years in different positions in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia, in particular as head of Division for economic and transport policy, head of Division for trade policy, lead negotiator for economic affairs for Estonia’s accession to EU and as accession negotiator for Estonia’s accession to WTO.

Before joining the Estonian government, Ms Koidu worked in private sector with focus on accounting and export procedures. Ms Koidu has also throughout the years been teaching economics and EU law and economic policies in different Estonian higher education facilities and universities.

Ms Koidu has studied economics, international business administration and chemical engineering.

Mirosław Dybowski

Miroslaw Dybowski is a lawyer with a practice in legislative drafting, a specialist in the transport sector. In the years 2000 – 2008, he was employed in the offices of the Polish government administration, where he was involved in the process of transposition into the Polish legislation of the EU transport law, as well as the international rules of ICAO, JAA and EUROCONTROL.

From 2011 to 2013 he was an expert of the SESAR Joint Undertaking. Since 2013, he has been employed in the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission, where he is responsible for transport investments supported in Poland from the European Structural and Investment Funds.

Miroslaw Dybowski graduated from the Railway Technical School in Gdynia, Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdańsk, as well as the European Integration Studies at the National School of Public Administration.</p>

Czesław Warsewicz

Mr. Czesław Warsewicz is an economist by education. He graduated from the Management and Marketing Faculty of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) and subsequently conducted research at the Postgraduate Doctoral Course of the SGH Strategic Management Faculty in the areas of venture capital and private equity.

He participated in the first Polish edition of AMP – Advanced Management Program organized by the IESE Business School in Barcelona. A specialist in transportation and management. From 1997 to 2006, he worked in  Rolimpex Group ( the stock-exchange listed group) at the position of  the Chief Financial Officer and Management Board Member. In 2006-2009, he served as the President of the PKP Intercity S.A. Management Board. In 2009-2013, he was a Department Director at Patentes TALGO, a leading European manufacturer of rolling stock. From 2015 to 2018, he was a member of the PKP CARGO S.A. Supervisory Board and in 2018 assumed the position of the President of the Management Board.

Andrzej Hawryluk

A graduate of the Faculty of Air Traffic, Air Force Officer Cadet School in Dęblin, Poland (today the Polish Air Force University); the Faculty of Transport, the Warsaw University of Technology, with traffic control in transport as a major; a business management postgraduate programme, Łódź University of Technology.
Associated with the aviation industry from the beginning of his professional career. For many years he was employed in the Polish Airports State Enterprise, as a director of the Employee Affairs Office, deputy Managing Director of PPL – Director of the Investment Division, where he was responsible for the implementation of strategic investments for the enterprise.
Former director of the Aviation Training Center in Polish Air Navigation Services Agency, the department responsible for training of air traffic controllers. Director of the Air Traffic Safety and Crisis Management Office at PANSA. Responsible for the performance of the Safety Manager’s tasks, infrastructure protection as well as coordination and implementation of the overall crisis management system.
He was also a member of the supervisory boards of the following companies: Chopin Airport Development, Gdańsk Airport, LOT Airport Services in Kraków and POZ-LOT Airport Services. He is a member of the supervisory board of Łęczyńska Energetyka Ltd. in Bogdanka.
In June 2020, he was appointed the president of Lublin Airport.

Paweł Gruza

Graduate of the Warsaw University, Faculty of Law and Administration.
An Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Finance since November 2016. Co-author of the tax reform. An Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of the State Treasury from April to November 2016. He managed a portfolio of companies with State Treasury ownership and state legal entities. He worked on reforming supervision over State Treasury companies. An expert and a management board member of Fundacja Republikańska (Republican Foundation) from 2007 to 2016. As a representative of the minister responsible for financial institutions he was also a member of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority.
He was a partner and a management board member of MMR Consulting sp. z o.o., as well as a partner in the tax consultant office GWW Tax from 2007 to 2016. He worked in the Artur Andersen and Ernst & Young consultancy companies from 2000 to 2006. He managed interdisciplinary consultant projects for Polish and international companies from the industrial and financial sector.
Author and co-author of numerous publications on taxes and social security.

Adrian Mazur

Adrian Mazur is Director of the Department of Transport Strategy in the Ministry of Infrastructure. He joined the Ministry of Transport in 2009, and initially was responsible for transport R&D projects and cooperation with Scandinavia. In 2013, he became Head of Transport Innovation Unit and then Unit of Innovative and Sustainable Mobility. In the years 2016-2018 he was the Deputy Director and then Director of Department of Transport Strategy and International Cooperation. Since 2019, he is the Director of the Department of Transport Strategy, responsible, inter alia, for preparation of the financial perspective 2021-2027, revision of the Trans-European Transport Network TEN-T and programming of the transport policy.
He is a co-author of the Strategy for Sustainable Transport Development until 2030 and the transport component of the National Recovery Plan. He has extensive experience in development strategies and policies, international negotiations, sustainable mobility, digitization of transport, and project management. He is the project manager of AV-PL-ROAD – project in the field of road transport automation. He is responsible for the European Mobility Week in Poland and coordinates the cooperation with the network of transport research institutes Poltrin. He is a member of the Supervisory Board of the Polish Space Agency. He holds an MBA degree in “Innovation and Data Analysis” from the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Woodbury School of Business of Utah Valley University.

Maciej Szymanowski

Prof. u. dr hab. Maciej Szymanowski, graduate of Hungarian studies and historian, lecturer at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest, specializing in the subject of Central Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries. Director of the Wacław Felczak Polish-Hungarian Cooperation Institute.

Goran Andrjanić

Goran Andrjanić – croatian-polish journalist, publicist and translator. He worked as journalist in many Croatian and polish media: Jutarnji list, Obzor, Gość Niedzielny, Tygodnik TVP, Fronda, Przewodnik Katolicki, Polska Agencja Prasowa. For six years he was chief in editor of Croatian religious website Bitno.net, and for two years he was editor of Croatian weekly Fokus. He now writes for Polish weekly Sieci and website wPolityce.pl. He writes about religion, politics (3 Seas Initiative) and culture.

Married, wife Barbara, and three children: Antonina, Jan Josip and Ruža.

Łukasz Lewkowicz

Dr Łukasz Lewkowicz – Political scientist. PhD in humanities in the field of political science. Assistant professor at the Department of Political Thought of the Institute of Political Sciences and Administration at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. Senior analyst in the Department of the Visegrad Group of the Institute of Central Europe. Research interests: historical and contemporary Polish-Slovak relations, Slovak foreign policy, functioning of the Visegrad Group and the Three Seas Initiative, cross-border cooperation in Central Europe, political communication, geopolitical thought. Intern at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Bratislava. He completed research internships in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania. Author of numerous scientific articles and books, including author’s monographs: Euroregiony na pograniczu polsko-słowackim. Geneza i funkcjonowanie, Lublin 2013; Federacja Rosyjska w polityce wewnętrznej i zagranicznej Republiki Słowackiej (1993-2020), Lublin 2020; Współpraca transgraniczna państw Grupy Wyszehradzkiej: uwarunkowania, struktury, perspektywy, „Prace Instytutu Europy Środkowej” 2020, no 13.

Marlena Gołębiowska

Marlena Gołębiowska – International Economic Analyst of the Institute of Central Europe. PhD student at the Faculty of Economics, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. Academic lecturer at the Institute of Economics and Finance of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Author of academic papers devoted to the economies of Central and Eastern European countries.

Tomáš Strážay

Tomáš Strážay, PhD – has been working as a Director of the Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (RC SFPA) since September 2019.
Before he had occupied the position of the Deputy Director and Head of the Central and Southeastern Europe Research Program. He had also been editing the International Issues and Slovak Foreign Policy Affairs quarterly. Tomáš is a leading expert in the projects focusing on regional cooperation in Central Europe and EU enlargement. Since 2007 he has cooperated with the European Economic and Social Committee, Committee of the Regions and European Parliament as an expert advisor to the rapporteurs/author of briefing notes. He is one of the founders of the Think Visegrad – V4 Think Tank Platform.
Tomáš Strážay graduated from the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, Bratislava in 1999 and received his PhD. from the Institute of Political Studies at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland in 2010.

Michał Dworski

Michał Dworski – historian, lawyer, coordinator of the Regional Centre for International Debate in Lublin, Plenipotentiary of the Lublin Voivode for International Dialogue, Director of the Historical Research and Analysis Centre of the General Anders Institute, a PhD student at the History Institute of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Author of monographs and scientific articles, scholarship holder of, among others, Polonia Aid Foundation Trust and Fondazione Romana Marchesa J. S. Umiastowska. Decorated with the blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko and “Pro Patria” medals for his social activities.

Marek Dietl

Dr. Marek Dietl is the CEO of GPW (Warsaw Stock Exchange) and the economic adviser to the President of Poland. He has spent almost 20 years in the consulting and venture capital industries. He collected experience as a non-executive board member of more than 25 organizations.
Marek Dietl frequently undertakes community and academic activities. He used to serve as a mediator at the arbitration court of the Financial Supervision Commission and adviser to the President of Energy Regulation Office. Marek Dietl is also an assistant professor at the SGH-Warsaw School of Economics.

Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka

Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka graduated from economic universities with majors in corporate finance management and completed the Advance Leadership Programme at the ICAN Institute of the Harvard Business Review. She is an alumna of the Cambridge University.

Since 1994 till 2016 she worked for the Bank Zachodni WBK (part of  Santander Group). She was in charge of the implementation of strategic projects, including the New Branch Model, electronic banking – MiniBank24 and optimization and rationalization of bank processes. Since 2005 she headed the Logistics and Real Estate Area and since 2008 became a member and then the chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bank Zachodni WBK Property. Since 2012 she was in charge of the organizational culture transformation – project Next Generation Bank and she was appointed as a head of the HR Partnership Area. After accomplishing a number of strategic projects she became a member of the Management Board of Bank Zachodni WBK in 2015. Since 2016 she was promoted to  the President of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) – a state development bank that initiates and implements programs serving the economic growth and improving the quality of life in Poland. She launched a new BGK Strategy, focused on the implementation of actions planned in the governmental Strategy for Responsible Development of Poland. From June 2019, she`s chairman of the supervisory board of the 3SI Investment Fund. The task of the The Fund is aimed at financing infrastructure needs in the 3S region to support integration and strengthen economic cohesion in the EU.

Waldemar Buda

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy and at the former Ministry of Investment and Economic Development. Government plenipotentiary for public-private partnership. Member of Parliament.
Graduated in law at the University of Łódź. Before joining the government, he worked for the central and local administration.
He is passionate about running. Organised many charity runs, as well as those devoted to celebration of important events in the history of Poland.

Paweł Nierada

Paweł Nierada is a graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (Faculty of Finance and Banking), MBA University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. He participated in a number of specialised courses on venture capital, corporate finance, M&A and capital markets.

He has got a long experience in investment banking and capital markets industry. He carried out numerous projects in the area of public and private markets (IPOs, bond and share issues, market analysis), M&A, strategic advice to large corporate entities as well as advice on privatisation (to the Ministry of Treasury and investors) in Poland and abroad.

He is an expert on energy as well as energy strategy and security of the Sobieski Institute in Warsaw.

Over the period 2007-2016 he was the Managing Partner at Rada Partners – a consulting firm in the field of strategic advice, capital markets and holistic approach to company management. In the years 2007-2012 he was the President of the Management Board of Silkroute Securities (Polska) Sp. z o.o., 2006-2007 – director at ERSTE Corporate Finance in Poland – ERSTE Bank Group, 2003-2006 – director of the Financial Advisory Team at Deloitte, 2000-2003 he held a managerial position at NM Rothschild Polska Sp. z o.o., 1997-2000 he was Senior Analyst in Natural Resources and Global Power Team at Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe).

He was a speaker at numerous conferences in Poland and abroad and provided commentaries on capital markets as well as fuel and energy sector for the media. He has got a status of Approved Person awarded by the British Financial Conduct Authority.

Piotr Kuszewski

PhD Piotr Kuszewski is an assistant professor at the Banking Institute of Warsaw School of Economics and head of the postgraduate compliance program at WSE. Piotr Kuszewski is CEO at PTE PZU pension fund. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and Warsaw School of Economics. Piotr Kuszewski was Group CFO of the Digital Care Group, regional manager of April insurance group. He also worked at the State Development Bank of Poland and PZU Życie. Piotr Kuszewski was non-executive board member of PGE Dom Maklerski, Krajowy Fundusz Kapitałowy, and PZU Asset Management.

Leszek Skiba

The CEO of Bank Pekao from April 2020. In the years 2015-2020 deputy finance minister, supervising macroeconomic policy and tax legislation. In 2019-2020 the President of the Council of the Bank Guarantee Fund. Between 2009 and 2015 at the National Bank of Poland working on analyses of the euro area economy. Since 2009, engaged in non-profit activities in the Sobieski Institute. Leszek Skiba is a graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (MA in International Economic and Political Relations).

Mateusz Morawiecki

Polish manager and banker, politician.

On 11 December 2017 he was appointed Prime Minister, Minister of Development and Finance. Prime Minister since 9 January 2018.

Since 29 September 2016 until 11 December 2017 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development and Finance. Since 16 November 2015 he acted as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development.

Morawiecki is an alumnus of the University of Wrocław, Business Administration Central Connecticut State University and Wrocław University of Technology, MBA at Wrocław University of Economics, the University of Hamburg and the University of Basel.

He started his professional career in Cogito Co. in 1992. In 1993–1996 he worked in Enter Marketing-Publishing in Wrocław. In 1995 he completed an internship at Deutsche Bundesbank, and in 1996–1997 he worked at the University in Frankfurt am Main. In 1998 Morawiecki was appointed deputy director of the Accession Negotiations Department in the Committee for European Integration and was a member of the group negotiating the accession of Poland to the EU (banking and finance). Between 1998 and 2001 he worked in Bank Zachodni – first as the advisor to the CEO and next as the Member of the Management Board and Managing Director. In June 2001  Morawiecki became the Member of the Bank Zachodni WBK Management Board and in May 2007 he was appointed to the post of CEO.

In 2013, Morawiecki was awarded the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity for his merits for the benefit of independence and sovereignty of Poland and respect of human rights.

On 23 June 2015 Morawiecki was awarded Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for extraordinary merits in the area of supporting and promoting Polish culture and national heritage.

Jacek Sasin

Born on 6 November 1969 in Warsaw. He graduated from the Faculty of History at the University of Warsaw. On 26 November 2009 he was appointed Secretary of State and Deputy Chief of the Chancellery of the President of Poland. Between 4 June 2019 and 15 November 2019, he held the office of Deputy Prime Minister. On 15 November 2019, was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Assets.

Daniel Obajtek

According to the CEE TOP 500 report published by Coface, the ORLEN Group is one of the largest corporations in Central and Eastern Europe in terms of revenue. In line with the new long-term strategy adopted in November 2020, the ORLEN Group’s key objectives are to be a regional leader in energy transition, develop new renewable power generation capacities, and pursue decarbonisation, while preserving operational efficiency and financial strength in its traditional business segments.

Remigiusz Nowakowski

He has many years of experience in building and implementing business strategies, managing large enterprises and investment projects in the energy and heating sectors, as well as excellent knowledge of the specifics of the energy sector and the rules of the electricity and natural gas market. Proven in practice leadership skills and the ability to manage teams in an international environment. Remigiusz received a thorough education in the field of management, law and energy, obtained at prestigious universities, including Stanford University, Sustainable Banking Initiative, Certificate Course – Poland energy Sector Executive Workshop, California, USA, Certificate Course in Leadership and Managerial Effectiveness in the international Management Institute, New Delhi, India. He completed master’s studies at the University of Economics in Wrocław and law studies at the University of Wrocław. Currently, he is the President of DISE. In years 2015-2016, he was the President of the Management Board of TAURON Polska Energia (the leading Polish energy company). In the years 2016-2019 he was a member of the Board of Directors in EURELECTRIC. In the years 2018 – 2020 – the President of the Management Board of PILE ELBUD SA (construction of power infrastructure). In 2020 – Executive Director, Heating & Cooling, Poland and Baltics in Fortum.

Artur Soboń

Artur Soboń was born on 13 March 1977 in Świdnik. He is alumnus of the Catholic University of Lublin and Warsaw School of Economics. He also graduated from postgraduate studies (Catholic University of Lublin) and doctoral studies (Warsaw School of Economics) in the field of Economics. From 2015 Member of Parliament (Lubelski electoral disctrict). Appointed as the Secretary of State in Ministry of Investment and Economic Development on the 7th of February 2018, responsible for housing and construction. On the 5th of December 2019 appointed as the Secretary Of State in Ministry of National Assest and on the 5th September 2020 he was entrusted with function of Government Plenipotentiary for Renewable Energy and Coal Mining Transition. He lives with his family in Świdnik.

Artur Wasil

Graduated in 2002 from the Faculty of Mining at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow, with a degree in Mining and Geology, specialising in Mining Geotechnics. In 2002 he joined Lubelski Węgiel Bogdanka S.A. where he went through the levels of professional career from a trainee to a team foreman of extraction brigade. Mr Artur Wasil also holds a post-graduate diploma in European Project Management and EU Law obtained at the Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. On the 21st of March 2018 he took the position of the President of the Management Board of Lubelski Węgiel Bogdanka S.A.

Jan Janusz Szewczak

A lawyer, business analyst and an expert in finance, financial law, banking and macroeconomy. He graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw and completed doctoral studies at the Department of Finance and Financial Law.

He also completed academic internships in Amsterdam and Prague. For many years Mr Szewczak had been a faculty member and a lecturer at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw and the Vistula University. He has gained extensive experience in the financial sector. He has sat on the Management Board of PZU Tower, served as Chief Economist of Kasa Krajowa SKOK (credit union), Member of the Sejm (lower chamber of the Polish Parliament) of the 8th term, Chairman of the Standing Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, and Deputy Chairman of the Public Finance Committee and member of the Digitisation Committee of the Sejm.

He is an economic journalist and the author of numerous opinions and expert reports on business processes and ownership transformations. His interests include economic history and privatisation processes in Poland and abroad.​

Jacek Janiszek

Manager with over 20 years of experience, related with the energy and chemical industry. He has been associated with Grupa Azoty PUŁAWY since 1996, also as the director of the Corporate Department. In 2017-2018, he was the President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty PUŁAWY. Since May 2020, he has been the Vice-President of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty Puławy, responsible ia., for Departments Investments, Technology and Development and the Energy Division. He completed postgraduate studies in the field of “Enterprise management in the common European market” at the Warsaw School of Economics and Strategic Leadership Academy.

Robert Perkowski

Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. He oversees, among other things, policies and programmes aimed at exploration and production of natural gas and crude oil, production of helium and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as coordinates procurement strategies within the Company and the PGNiG Group. He is an economist, a former local government official and a published author.

Grzegorz Muszyński

A graduate of the Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin University of Technology and University of Illinois. Economist and manager with extensive experience. He was, inter alia, the President of the Management Board of the Lublin Airport, member of the Management Board for investments at PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A., Vice President of the Management Board of BGK Nieruchomości S.A. and PFR Nieruchomości S.A. and representative for the organisation of the National Property Stock. He served on the Supervisory Board of PKP S.A.  Currently, he is the President of the Management Board of JSW Innowacje S.A.

Sylwia Pawlak

Graduate of the Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, as well as the Vienna University of Technology. Holder of D.Sc. degree. Completed her doctoral studies at the Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IMIM PAN), where she also began her professional career. Next she joined the Wrocław Research Centre (currently PORT), and then went on to work for ENERGA S.A. Since 2019, serving as Innovation Director at Grupa LOTOS S.A.

Grzegorz Puda

Born on 13 July 1982 in Bielsko-Biała. Manager, member of the local government, lecturer. He graduated from the University of Agriculture in Kraków with the diploma of MSc, Eng. in Zootechnics. He gained his professional experience both in Poland and abroad, where he worked for leading companies. In Poland, he worked for several years at one of the largest financial institutions in Europe. Before being elected to the Sejm (the lower chamber of the Polish Parliament), he was successfully developing one of the companies in Bielsko-Biała as a manager. He also lectured at one of the universities in Bielsko Biała. He gained experience in local government by working, among others, as a coordinator at the district authority (starostwo powiatowe) and a councillor of the Bielsko-Biała Town Council. He served almost three terms as town councillor, until the elections to the Sejm in 2015. Member of Parliament for the 8th and the 9th term. In the Sejm he held the positions of Vice-Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee and Secretary of the Sejm.

On 15 July 2019 he was appointed Secretary of State in the Ministry of Investment and Economic Development. He held the same position in the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, which was created as a result of the transformation of the Ministry of Investment and Economic Development. Since 23 July 2019, he has also been the government plenipotentiary for the organisation of the World Urban Forum in 2022 in Katowice.

On 6 October 2020 he was appointed the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In his private life, he is a sailing enthusiast and a lover of animals who works for them in a parliamentary team.

Andrzej Jaworski

Founder and President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Food Market, which brings together over 120 entities from the agri-food sector, from July 2020 President of the Management Board of the VRG Group. Previously, he successfully managed large enterprises, including as a Member of the Management Board of Krajowa Spółka Cukrowa S.A., Member of the Management Board of Grupa PZU S.A./PZU Życie S.A. Since 2016, the Chairman of the Council of the Institute of Memory and Identity John Paul II. He graduated from, among others doctoral studies at the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warsaw, EMBA at the University of Applied Sciences in Dresden and WSHiU in Poznań. Member of the Sejm of three terms, Chairman of the Public Finance Committee.

Zdzisław Szwed

A graduate of the Lublin University of Technology at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. He completed postgraduate studies in Management and Finance in Public Administration, Logistics, Corporate Finance Management and Master of Business Administration. He has over 30 years of professional experience. Member of the Chełm City Council for two terms. A social activist, in the years 2005-2021 President of the Chełm Self-Government Society. Member of Regional Assembly of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. He is also Member of the Board of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. Privately, a fan of cycling and ice swimming. Co-founder of the Chełm Biking Group and a member of the Lublin Ice Swimming Club.

Tomasz Olenderek

A graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw and the Faculty of Administration at the University College in Płock. He completed postgraduate courses in Financial Management and Marketing at the Warsaw University of Technology and in Psychology in Business at WSB in Toruń. A Member of the KSC Management Board in 2006–2018, and from 2019 till at present. In 2004–2006, elected by employees as their representative in the KSC Supervisory Board. From the very beginning he associated his professional career with the sugar industry, starting at the Sugar Plant Borowiczki in Płock. He also was a vice-chairman of the Plant Committee of NSZZ “Solidarność” of KSC Employees. In 2020, he was awarded a departmental decoration “For Services for Agriculture”.

Michał Wiśniewski

Michał Wiśniewski supervises Innovation and Development Division in NSCA. A graduate of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, IESE Business School University of Navarra and MBA studies at the University of Warsaw. He gained experience in the private and public sectors, incl. the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Environment, Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Olsztyn and the Ministry of Digital Affairs.

Daniel Alain Korona

Born on March 19, 1963 in Warsaw, an anti-communist opposition activist, doctor of economic sciences at the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the University of Warsaw. In 1994-2007, research worker at the Institute of Economic Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, lecturer at several universities. He has represented citizens in tax, administrative and court proceedings. From 2008, president of the Polish Association Euro 2012, member of the supervisory board, chairman of the board and then president of the management board of Elewarr in 2006/2007 and again president of the company from November 1, 2018.

Tomasz Solis

Member of the Founding Group of the Horticultural Cooperative in Boby and Supervisory Board, Delegate of the General Meeting of the Lublin Chamber of Agriculture, Chairman of the Horticulture Commission, Chairman of the commission for legal acts, Member of the Board of Lubsad Producer Group, Founder and Chairman of the Board of WITABO Producer Group, Director of the Centre of Foreign Trade and Promotion of Lublin Wholesale Market JSC, Director of the Processing Plant in Motycz and Poniatowa, Director General of Lublin Wholesale Market JSC, Vice-chairman of the board of the Polish Fruit Growers Union, The originator and organizer of the International Conference „Berry Trends”, Representative of the Polish Fruit Growers Union in works of the committees and working groups of the European Commission in Brussels, Member of the Working Group „Fruits and Vegetables” COOPA i COGECA in Brussels, Member of the Board of the International Raspberry Organization (IRO), Vice-chairman of the IRO, Vice-chairman of the Gardening – Processing Plant Polish Forum, Vice-chairman of the Association of Cider Amateurs, Member of the Polish Wine-making Council.

2018

Chairman of the Polish Chamber of Local and Regional Products, Lublin Delegation

2006/2021

Councellor of the Lublin Voivodeship (Sejmik) Regional Parliment

Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

Jarosław Gowin

He is responsible for the national economic policy – i.e. for entrepreneurship, industrial policy, innovation and technology, digital transformation, green economy and international economic relations. His tasks also include issues related to employment and prevention of unemployment; labour relations and labour conditions; remunerations and employee benefits; collective labour relations and disputes as well as trade unions and employer organisations. Another area includes construction, land use and land management, housing and tourism.

Michal Kanownik

As the President of Digital Poland Association (ZIPSEE), he has been representing the largest manufacturers and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment in Poland for 16 years. Connected with Digital Europe, an organization of Europe’s largest association of the ICT sector, where twice held the position of Board Member. Chosen by the minister of digital affairs to take a seat in the ministry’s Council for Digitization. He is an initiator of nationwide debates regarding changes in copyright law, taxing, environment protection as well as public procurement and cybersecurity. As a manager in IT and consumer electronics industry with many years of experience, he is actively engaged in development and promotion of digitization in Poland. He successfully supports substantive and honest discussion  regarding member – companies of Digital Poland Association, which comprise a significant share of consumer electronics and IT industry investing in Poland.

Olga Semeniuk

Graduated from Inter-Faculty East Slavonic Studies at the University of Warsaw and the Faculty of Administration and Social Sciences at the Warsaw University of Technology. In addition, she completed a course for future leaders of public service at the National School of Public Administration named after the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczyński.

She has many years of experience in government administration. In the years 2016-2019 she worked at the Ministry of National Defence and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. During her studies, she completed an internship at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland.

Since 2018 she has been a councillor of the Capital City of Warsaw and chairwoman of the Local Government and European Integration Committee. In the years 2014-2018 she was a councillor of the Wola District, where she headed the Committee on Security, Public Order and Economic Activity.

Since 2011, he has been cooperating with Polonia and Poles abroad. In the years 2011–2016 she was working in non-governmental organizations, including the European Institute for Democracy (EID) and the Freedom and Democracy Foundation. She is a consultant of the OSCE

Coordinator of several projects, including: “Guardians of National Remembrance”, “Memory of Cursed Soldiers – Run in the Wolf Trail” run. She is also involved in broadly understood initiatives related to supporting Poles in the East.

Andrzej Kozłowski

Andrey Bachvarov

Ph.D. in Computer Science with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence. Frequent speaker on how AI helps solve real business issues. Serial entrepreneur with domain knowledge in renewable energy and electric distribution networks. He managed investments over EUR 100 mil invested in the above. Founder and investor in a data analytics startup that uses automated drones to collect and then AI to analyze visual data for predictive maintenance in the energy sector. Founder of a software company building R&D centers for corporations and high-tech startups.

Gabor Matrai

He studied at the University of Economics as an economist. He started his professional career in Budapest, at leading Hungarian commercial banks in 1987. In 1990, he joined Sandoz/Novartis AG, as CFO.  He also worked as Investment Director of leading venture capital funds: Hungarian-American Enterprise Fund and FirstHungary Fund.

From 1998, he represented FirstHungary in a regional transaction establishing the largest cable operator by Sony, Disney, Time Warner and LibertyGlobal.  After the closing of this transaction, he joined to LibertyGlobal, as Director of Strategy.

In 2010, he was assigned to the Vice-President, National Media and Infocommuications Authority, Hungary and I was also elected to Vice-Chair of BEREC.  Currently, he works as Director and Board Member of IVSZ. He is also an ExB & Ops. Committee member of DIGITALEUROPE.

Jake Ward

President of the Connected Commerce Council (3C), a membership organization for small businesses empowered by digital tools and technology. 3C provides thousands of small businesses access to tools, resources, and support to start, run, and grow. 3C advocates on behalf of its membership for state and federal policies that promote small business success and sustainability.

Prior to founding the Connected Commerce Council, Jake was a co-founder and CEO of the Application Developers Alliance, the world’s leading advocate for software developers. Ward is a frequent presenter at industry conferences and contributor to news stories and editorials. Jake has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of small business interests.

Tomasz Zdzikot

Legal counsel, a graduate of the Law Faculty at the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. He completed PhD studies at the Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences. He completed the Top Public Executive program co-organized by IESE Business School in Barcelona and the Lech Kaczyński National School of Public Administration. He also completed the Higher Defence Course at the National Defence Academy and postgraduate studies in Local Government and Regional Development at the Warsaw University, postgraduate studies in Management in Public Administration at the Leon Koźmiński University of Entrepreneurship and Management.
Undersecretary of State from 2015 to 2017, and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Administration from 2017 to 2018, and Government plenipotentiary for the preparation of state administrative bodies for cooperation with the Schengen Information System and the Visa Information System.
From 2018 to 2020, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, where he also served as the Minister’s Plenipotentiary for Cybersecurity from 2019 to 2020. Long-time local government officer in the City of Warsaw and in the Masovian Regional Assembly.
Since 2020, Tomasz Zdzikot serves as CEO of Poczta Polska S.A.

Przemysław Czarnek

Born on 11 June 1977 in Koło, central Poland. He graduated from the Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in 2001. Afterwards, in 2006, he obtained a doctoral degree in legal sciences on the basis of the work „Principles of the rule of law and social justice in the systemic practice of the Third Republic of Poland” and, in 2015, a postdoctoral degree in legal sciences on the basis of his achievements and the dissertation “Economic freedom. The first pillar of the social market economy”.

He is a professor at the Catholic University of Lublin. He specializes in constitutional law and is the author of several dozen monographs and scientific articles.

He was the Lublin voivode in 2015 – 2019. During this period, he was involved in the implementation of the structural reform of schools and institutions in the voivodeship and actively participated in the debate on the shape of the education reform.

He was elected to the 9th term Sejm of the Republic of Poland (the lower house of the Polish parliament) in 2019, gaining over 87,000. votes. As a member of the Polish parliament, he performs the duties  of the deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

He was appointed the Minister of Education and Science on 19 October 2020.

Jacek Jan Gołębiowski

Director of the Center for Research on the Polish Diaspora and Polish Pastoral Care of the Catholic University of Lublin, Plenipotentiary of the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad. In 2016, I received a prestigious grant from the Minister of Science and Higher Education as part of the National Program for the Development of Humanities competition for the implementation of a research project on Polish cultural heritage in the USA. I am also a contractor of grants from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister for the inventory of Polish parishes in the United States and Canada.

Scientific specialization: universal history and history of Poland in the 20th century, history of Polish emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, history of the Spanish-speaking countries and the history of the Mediterranean world.

Research interests:

– Central and Eastern Europe in Polish political thought at home and in exile

– the cultural heritage of Polish emigrants in America

– Polish diaspora education in the United Kingdom

– the press and publications of Polish emigration after World War II

– outstanding representatives of Polish emigration in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

– Polish education abroad

Pavol Mačala

Slovak personalist, specialises in personalism of Slavs, former Head of the Department of History at the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the Catholic University in Ružomberok, Director of the Slovak Institute of History in Martin, in 1998-2002 advisor to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia

Marek Milosz,

Professor at the Lublin University of Technology at the Department of Computer Science, where he has been working since 1982. He is expert in software engineering, database management, business process modeling, human-computer interfaces, digital project management and digital competencies.

He is a consultant of science research carried out by the European Commission in the field of digital competencies for European citizens. He is a author or co-author of 55 books, over 500 scientific articles, a supervisor of over 250 diploma theses and an auxiliary supervisor of 4 doctorates.

He was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit “For merits in the development of computerization in Poland” and the Golden Cross of Merit, “For the development of IT”.

Mikołaj Różycki

University of Warsaw and Warsaw School of Economics graduate.

Between 2016-2018 he was appointed President of the FIRE Foundation, part of the Industrial Development Agency Group.

Between 2004-2016 he worked at the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, the National Agency for education programmes of the European Commission in Poland, where for over 10 years he managed numerous teams implementing strategic education programmes including “Youth in action” and “Erasmus+”.

He co-led numerous training and educational projects on a national and international level. He evaluated applications for funding in the Polish-Lithuanian Exchange Fund, the Civic Initiatives Fund, the “Good Idea” programme and in corporate foundation programmes.

Furthermore, he participated in numerous consulting and analytics endeavours for large, medium and small businesses, including start-ups. He co-led the “FIRE Innovation Centre for Early Stage Businesses” and the trial programme “Good Idea” supporting innovators, which was co-executed with the Polish Development Fund (PFR).

For more than a decade he was engaged in social work with children and youth. He volunteers for several NGOs.

Since 2006 his written work on matters of Economics, Social Policy, Sports, Tourism and Marketing has been published on the internet and in the press. He was Chief Editor of the website www.mlodziez.org.pl, he co-led the website www.marketingsportowy.pl and co-created the academic monthly “Koncept” since its very beginning. He used to work in press offices of companies and organisations during nationwide social and economic events.

Mieczysław Ryba

Mieczysław Ryba, Ph.D., historian, prof. WSKSiM, researcher at the Catholic University of John Paul II; for several years head of the Department of the History of Political Systems of the 19th and 20th centuries; currently – the Department of the Spanish World, Politics and International Relations. President of the Club of Catholic Intelligentsia prof. Czesław Strzeszewski in Lublin. In 2007–2011, he was a member of the College of the Institute of National Remembrance. From November 2020, a member of the Advisory Team at the Ministry of Education and Science. On November 11, 2015, he was awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for outstanding services in disseminating knowledge about the recent history of Poland, for achievements in scientific and didactic work. Currently a member of the Chapter of the Order of Polonia Restituta. 

He was a long-term councilor of the city of Lublin (deputy chairman of the City Council for eight years). Currently, vice-chairman of the Parliament of the Lubelskie Voivodeship. 

Miha Kovačič

Miha Kovacic has over 25 years of working experience in the travel industry. Tourism is part of the family being already the fourth generation working in tourism. Started with Kompas Tour Operator but soon got infected by the meetings indsutry. Continued with Kompas, DMC and PCO, later joined Grand Hotel Union, largest convention hotel in Ljubljana. Current position is CEO of the Slovenian Convention Bureau. After more than a decade Miha still passionately develops and promotes Slovenia as a meetings and incentive travel destination. Miha Kovacic is also the organiser of Conventa, the meetings and incentive travel trade show of »New Europe«. First Conventa was organised in back 2009, now already planned 13th edition.

Maciej Nykiel

Expert in innovative business management in travel sector. Years of experience and proven successes in performing as a founder, CEO, MD and board member of tourism companies and projects. Specialization in online sales, digitization, e-commerce, call center, franchise systems. Economics graduate: foreign trade. Former CEO of Neckermann, Managing Director Fly.pl and Director of Ecommerce and Marketing at TUI Poland. Currently, the President of the Management Board of the tour operator Nekera.

Adam Mikołajczyk

An international place branding expert, passionate about marketing and the cities. More than 20 years associated with territorial marketing and tourism consulting. Experienced trainer and consultant, both for business and governments units.

Graduate of Lodz University (Poland), with the major of “special economy – managing the city and the region” (has spatial planning permission). A student of the The Chartered Institute of Marketing (London/Warsaw) and the Stonebridge Associated College.

Between 2000 – 2003 consultant for the Polish Agency of Tourism Development and a co-founder of the first tourism marketing &amp; branding strategies for cities and regions in Poland (including Pomerania and West Pomerania Region, Suwalki tourist district, city of Malbork, Polczyn Zdroj and Suprasl etc.).

From 2010 co-founder and CEO of Best Place – European Place Marketing Institute – a new consulting organization that aims to help places to become attractive brands, focusing on Central and Eastern Europe. Currently Best Place Institute is a key partner for major city and region branding projects in Poland (Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk, etc.). As well as an important partner for international projects (Ukraine, Georgia).

Also from 2010, an adviser to the President of the Polish Promotional Emblem Foundation in the scope of creating and implementing the Poland Brand Economic Strategy. Associate of the Association of Polish Cities in projects for small and medium-sized cities in Poland.

A jury member of many competitions, for example for the ‘Polish Advertising Competition KTR’, ‘EFFIE Awards’, ‘Best Tourist Product’ (Polish Tourist Organization competition) and on the ‘Best Promotional Publications’ (“Zlote Formaty” competition).

Speaker at dozens of conferences in Poland and abroad, including the first conference in Russia devoted to the city marketing (City Marketing and Development Congress, Moscow), the first congress of tourism marketing in Lviv (Win with the Lion, Lviv, Ukraine), first place branding conference in Brazil (Place Branding Seminar DIRECTIONS) and CITY NATION PLACE Conference in London (UK).

Engaged by the British Council to the international group of experts ‘City Idea Bakers’. Two-time winner of Mieczyslaw Orłowicza award for the best press and television materials to promote the Polish tourism.

ANDRZEJ GUT-MOSTOWY

Secretary of State in the Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Technology and the Prime Minister’s Plenipotentiary for the promotion of the Polish brand.

Co-creator of the Polish Tourist Voucher program and many solutions included in the anti-crisis shield and the tourist shield.

Graduate of the University of Economics in Kraków in the fields of tourism economy (M.A. studies) and regional economy (Ph.D. studies).

Member of the Polish Parliament for the 3rd term: 2005-2007, 2007-2011, 2011-2015

He speaks English.

Agnieszka Puszczewicz

Agnieszka Puszczewicz graduated from Jagiellonian University in management, has a PhD in international relations at the University of Warsaw. She has postgraduate diplomas at London School of Public Relations and the University of Economics in Krakow.

Since 1995, she has been associated with Croatia privately and professionally. She has many years of experience in tourism acquired in the private sector, both in Poland and Croatia. Since 1 November 2017, she is a managing director of the Representative Office Croatian National Tourist Board in Poland.

Martin Pavlík

Martin Pavlík has been combining his professional life with tourism and sports for several years. His experience was shaped in various directions, from restaurants, hotels, to event organization or participation in journalistic tours. From autumn 2020, he is responsible for the presentation of Slovak tourism in Poland. He is also actively establishing contacts with Polish partners in the field of cooperation in the presentation of the region of Central and East-Central Europe.

Mindaugas Sinkevičius

Mindaugas Sinkevičius (born 20 June 1984 in Jonava), Lithuanian politician, President of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania, Mayor of Jonava district municipality, former Minister of Economy of Lithuania, member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union. He graduated from Vilnius University, Mykolas Romeris University and the ISM University of Management and Economics. In 2015 he defended his doctoral dissertation at ISM.

Artur Pielaszek

Graduated MA in Tourism and Doctoral School at the Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw. He has over 15 years of experience in working in the tourism industry, including incoming, outcoming and MICE. Passionate about incentive travel programs and international events. For almost 8 years worked at LOT Polish Airlines where he was responsible for marketing activities at the global markets in over 50 countries around the world. He specializes in trade marketing and marketing strategy.
Currently, he is responsible mainly for marketing activities around the world at Polish Tourism Organization.