Day I
Session I The future of cities from an international perspective
Jerzy Kwieciński
Minister of Investment and Economic Development
On 9 January 2018, Jerzy Kwieciński was appointed Minister of Investment and Economic Development.
On 20 November 2015, Jerzy Kwieciński was appointed Secretary of State in the Ministry of Economic Development.
In 2005-2008, he was Deputy Minister of Regional Development. He was directly responsible for coordinating the national development policy and the cohesion policy (National Development Strategy 2007-2015 and the National Cohesion Strategy 2007-2013) and for negotiations with the European Commission. He also participated in the preparation of operational programs. Since May 2008, Jerzy Kwieciński has been the President of the Management Board of the European Center for Enterprise Foundation and the Deputy President of the Management Board of the European Center for Enterprise (a limited liability company).He was an expert of the Business Center Club in the area of regional development and structural funds. He has also provided consulting assistance with respect to the World Bank reports.
Jerzy Kwieciński graduated from the Faculty of Material Sciences at the Warsaw University of Technology, where he also earned his PhD degree. In 1996, he completed an MBA program. He has also completed the Postgraduate Management Studies for Executives at the Warsaw School of Economics. Jerzy Kwieciński has worked as a university teacher and a researcher at the Faculty of Materials Science at the Warsaw University of Technology, and has carried out research and development projects in the area of industry. In 1993-2004, he worked in the European Commission Representation in Poland.
He is the Chairperson of the Convention of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.
In 2015, Jerzy Kwieciński became a member of the National Development Council appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland.
Maimunah Mohd Sharif
Executive Director, UN-Habitat
Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif (Malaysia) is the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), appointed at the level of Under-Secretary-General by the Secretary-General, following an election by the General Assembly on 22 December 2017. On 22 January 2018, Ms. Sharif assumed her post at UN-Habitat’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. She succeeds Dr. Joan Clos of Spain.
Prior to this appointment, Ms. Sharif was the Mayor of the City Council of Penang Island, Malaysia. In 2011, she became the first woman to be appointed President of the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai. As mayor, she led the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai to achieve its vision of a “cleaner, greener, safer and healthier place to work, live, invest and play.” She is a champion of Gender-Responsive Participatory Budgeting and Planning, integrating gender perspectives into the governance process. During her tenure, the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai was the first Local Authority to implement and achieve six quality-based management ISO certifications.
Ms. Sharif began her career as a town planner at the Municipal Council of Penang Island in 1985. In 2003, she was promoted to Director of Planning and Development, a position she held until November 2009. As Director, she was responsible for the preparation of structure and local plans and was directly involved in the development management of Penang City’s projects and landscape. She also led a team which planned and implemented urban renewal projects in George Town. In November 2009, as its General Manager, Ms. Sharif established George Town World Heritage Incorporated and managed the George Town World Heritage Site, which was inscribed by UNESCO in July 2008.
Born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, on 26 August 1961, Ms. Sharif holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Town Planning Studies from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, UK and a Master of Science in Planning Studies from the Malaysia Science University. She has received several awards, including, “Planner of The Year 2014” by the Malaysian Institute of Planners, the 2016 Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award during Habitat III in Quito, for her contribution in sustainable planning in Seberang Perai and from the Penang State Government. On 11 January 2018, she received an award from the Malaysia Book of Records recognizing her for being the first Asian woman to be appointed as Executive Director of UN-Habitat. She is married to Mr. Adli Lai and has two daughters.
Normunds Popens
Carlos Piñerúa
Carlos Piñerúa is World Bank Country Manager for Poland and the Baltic States. In his role, he oversees World Bank operations in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. He comes from Venezuela. He is an economist by training, with professional expertise in banking and financial sector issues and competitiveness. He joined the World Bank in 2008. Before his post in Poland, for two and a half years he was the Country Manager in Croatia. Prior to that he worked in Indonesia and Turkey. Prior to his career at the World Bank, he worked for 15 years at the International Monetary Fund in the Middle East and Central Asia Department.
Nicolaas Beets
Mr Nicolaas Beets (b. 1953) has a Masters Degree in Business Administration at the University of Delft (1979). He is a career diplomat in the Dutch Foreign Service. He started his career as a junior diplomat at Dutch embassy in Sudan, Indonesia and Suriname.
From 1995 - 2000 Mr Beets worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Head of the EU Enlargement Taskforce (1995-2000).
After 2000 he has been appointed as the Dutch Ambassador to the following EU Member States: Finland (2008-2012), and Latvia (2000-2004). Furthermore he has been Ambassador in Kuwait (2012-2015) and Saudi-Arabia (2004-2008).
From October 2015, the Dutch Minister of the Interior has appointed Mr Beets as Dutch Special Urban Envoy. One of his tasks has been to establish the Urban Agenda for the EU as agreed in the ‘Pact of Amsterdam’ during the Ministerial Meeting of Ministers for Urban Affairs during the Dutch Presidency on May 30th, 2016. He is currently engaged in promoting the ‘Pact of Amsterdam’ and the 14 Thematic Partnership which were agreed upon.
Mart Grisel
Mart Grisel is an urban strategist with more than 15 years of experience working at the interface between policy, research and practice at the European and wider global level. He is a knowledge partner of national governments, European institutions and the UN. Mart is the founder and director of the European Urban Knowledge Network EGTC (EUKN EGTC). He has a long track record in policy-oriented research commissioned by various Presidencies of the Council of the EU and was closely involved in the establishment of the Urban Agenda for the EU and the UN New Urban Agenda. In addition to knowledge support to EUKN members, including Poland, 2019, Mart’s is closely involved in the preparation of the German Presidency of 2020 and research projects related to the Urban Agenda for the EU and the SDGs.
Emmanuel Moulin
Kieran McCarthy
Kieran McCarthy is an elected member of Cork City Council and an Irish delegate member of the European Committee of the Regions (COR). He holds membership of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) and has personal interests in the new Skills Agenda, informal and formal education, lifelong learning, the Digital Single Market, smart specialisation, science and innovation in regions and cities, cities and regions of the future, youth and sport, socio-cultural effects of IoT. He is Rapporteur on the opinions (1) Digitising European Industry and (2) Building a European Data Economy Kieran also sits on the Commission for Territorial Cohesion and EU Budget (Coter) with personal interests in representing small cities and rural regions in Cohesion Policy, and the dissemination to EU citizens of the work of EU structural funds. He is currently the COR’s rapporteur on an assessment of the EU Urban Agenda. He holds a PhD in Cultural Geography from University College Cork and has interests in ideas of landscape, collective memory, heritage construction, narrative and identity structures. Kieran is the author of 22 books on Cork and its region.
More on Kieran’s work can be seen at www.corkheritage.ie and www.kieranmccarthy.ie
Session II The urban dimension of policy development, actions, activities supporting the development of cities in the context of the implementation of New Urban Agenda and SDG 11 – the government and self-government perspective
Jerzy Kwieciński
Andrzej Adamczyk
Minister of Investment and Economic Development
On 9 January 2018, Jerzy Kwieciński was appointed Minister of Investment and Economic Development.
On 20 November 2015, Jerzy Kwieciński was appointed Secretary of State in the Ministry of Economic Development.
In 2005-2008, he was Deputy Minister of Regional Development. He was directly responsible for coordinating the national development policy and the cohesion policy (National Development Strategy 2007-2015 and the National Cohesion Strategy 2007-2013) and for negotiations with the European Commission. He also participated in the preparation of operational programs. Since May 2008, Jerzy Kwieciński has been the President of the Management Board of the European Center for Enterprise Foundation and the Deputy President of the Management Board of the European Center for Enterprise (a limited liability company).He was an expert of the Business Center Club in the area of regional development and structural funds. He has also provided consulting assistance with respect to the World Bank reports.
Jerzy Kwieciński graduated from the Faculty of Material Sciences at the Warsaw University of Technology, where he also earned his PhD degree. In 1996, he completed an MBA program. He has also completed the Postgraduate Management Studies for Executives at the Warsaw School of Economics. Jerzy Kwieciński has worked as a university teacher and a researcher at the Faculty of Materials Science at the Warsaw University of Technology, and has carried out research and development projects in the area of industry. In 1993-2004, he worked in the European Commission Representation in Poland.
He is the Chairperson of the Convention of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin.
In 2015, Jerzy Kwieciński became a member of the National Development Council appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland.
Jadwiga Emilewicz
The Minister of Infrastructure
On January 9, 2018 he was appointed as the Minister of Infrastructure.
Since 2005 he has been a member of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland in the V, VI, VII and VIII term. A long-term vice-chairman of the Sejm Infrastructure Committee, and a member of the Communications Committee with Poles Abroad. He participated in the work of the following subcommittees: for construction as well as spatial and housing affairs management, for monitoring the use of European Union funds and for land transport affairs.
Mr Adamczyk specializes in road and railway infrastructure and construction issues. In the parliament he dealt with, inter alia, the government's draft law on road companies of special purpose, an amendment to the "Construction law", and a draft bill on the simplification of the investment process in housing construction.
As a councillor of the Kraków Poviat he presided over the Infrastructure Committee for two terms.He is a member of the Małopolska Chamber of Civil Engineers.
He holds university degree in economics.
Sławomir Mazurek
The Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology
On January 9, 2018 she was appointed Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology.
On November 27, 2015 appointed to the position of Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Development.
In the years 1999-2002 she worked in the Foreign Affairs Department of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. In 2009 she became the Head of the Museum of the Polish People's Republic in Krakow. She is a councillor of the Małopolska Regional Assembly and the Chairwoman of the Innovation and Modern Technology Committee.
A graduate of the Institute of Political Sciences of Jagiellonian University. At the Faculty of International and Political Studies of the Jagiellonian University, she opened her doctoral thesis. She is a scholarship holder at the University of Oxford and the American Council on Germany program, the Dräger Foundation, ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius. Since 2003 associated with the Tischner European University. Fr. Jozef Tischner in Krakow. Social activist, author of many scientific publications. Former president of the Better Poland Foundation.
She speaks English, German and French.
Mother of three sons.
Bartłomiej Pawlak
Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of the Environment
He is a graduate of the Faculty of Historical and Social Sciences of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW) in Warsaw. He graduated political science with a specialty in political systems and local self-government, as well as the Postgraduate Intercollegiate Study of Evaluation and Assessment of Natural Resources at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences and Warsaw School of Economics. He is also a graduate of IESE Business School.
He gained his first experience at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage where in 2001 he worked in the Cabinet of the Minister. Then in the Masovian Marshal Office he worked for one of the board members responsible for European funds. In 2003-2006 he was a spokesperson at Stołeczne Przedsiębiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej SA in Warsaw.
In 2006-2007 he was the spokesperson for the Minister of the Environment, he was also a member of the Polish delegation to the climate summit in Nairobi and the Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2007. Then in the National Water Management Authority he was responsible for the promotion of European funds. He was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection in Olsztyn. Later he ran his own business implementing projects in the field of communication and strategic consulting.
Back in his student days, he was involved in the work of the Young Conservatives Association where he was responsible for social communication. He represented students at the UKSW Senate, while in the Independent Association of UKSW Students he led the work of the "Kuźnia" Discussion Club.
He is a member of the Association for Sustainable Development of Poland and the Respublika Academic Corporation.
Władysław Ortyl
Vice-President of the Management Board of the Polish Development Fund
Manager with experience in the financial, advisory and public sectors.
Currently a board member of the Polish Development Fund, and formerly a board member of BGK Nieruchomości. As the president of BOŚ Eko Profit S.A., he created tools for comprehensive investment support based on one-stop-shop principles. Previously also associated with the PKO BP SA Group where he was responsible among others for the restructuring and creation of a new operational management model, and with PGNiG SA where he implemented a strategy in the area of consolidation of foreign trade and upstream activities. He also acted as a manager in international consulting companies (Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young) where he was responsible among others for services for Polish entrepreneurs. A graduate of the University of Warsaw, Executive Studies in Finance, and Postgraduate Studies in the Diplomatic Service. Scholarship holder of the Herbert Hoover Institute, and Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars.
Mariusz Skiba
He graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at I. Łukasiewicz Rzeszów University of Technology (engineer title, specialty - aviation constructions).
In 1979-1992 he worked at the Research and Development Centre of Wytwórnia Sprzętu Komunikacyjnego in Mielec as a specialist - constructor. In the years 1992-1998 he was the president of the management board of the Regional Development Agency MARR SA in Mielec. In 1997 he founded the IN-MARR Entrepreneurship Incubator Association in Mielec.
In 1998-2005 he was the councillor of the Podkarpackie Voivodship, and a member of the board (1998-2002), and Deputy Marshall (2001-2002). He dealt with, among others, programming and implementation of European Union assistance programs, the World Bank Rural Development Programme, spatial planning, and regional development. In 2000-2003 he was a member and vice-chairman of steering and monitoring committees for assistance programs, such as Phare '99, Phare Socio-Economic Cohesion, Phare Reconstruction, Sapard and the World Bank Rural Development Programme. In 2001-2003 he was a member of the Supervisory Board of Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu SA and from 2002 to 2005 he was the plenipotentiary of the Regional Development Agency MARR SA and from 2004 to 2005 a member of the Regional Steering Committee of the Regional Development Programme.
In 2005 he was elected to the Senate of the Republic of Poland. He held his senatorial mandate until May 2013. At that time in 2005-2007 he was the secretary of state in the Ministry of Regional Development, and in the Senate, he was among others chairman of the National Defence Committee, and vice-chairman of the Local Government and State Administration Committee;
On May 27, 2013, the Sejmik of the Podkarpackie Voivodship entrusted him with the function of the Marshal of the 4th term. On November 28, 2014, he was elected the Marshal of the Podkarpackie Voivodship for the fifth term, and on November 19 the Voivodship councillors entrusted him with this function for the 6th term of office.
Since 2015 he has been a member of the National Development Council under President Andrzej Duda and since 2016 a member of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union. In January 2019 he became the vice-president of the Union of Voivodships of the Republic of Poland.
In 2015 he was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta, Commander's Cross by President Andrzej Duda.
Władysław Ortyl has been a member of NSZZ "Solidarność" since 1980 (he was among others a member of the Board of the Rzeszów Region, chairman of the Committee at WSK and OBR-PZL Mielec company, vice-president of the Sekcja Krajowa Przemysłu Lotniczego). He is also a member of the Catholic Action and the Genius Loci association.
Married, two adult daughters and six grandchildren.
Paweł Grzybowski
Jacek Wiśniowski
Mr. Paweł Grzybowski was born in Rypin on January 3, 1976. He started working for the self-government in 2002 as the Councillor of the City Council of Rypin. He was the Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Sport. In the 2006-2010 term after re-election to the City Council Rypin, he became its vice-chairman. In 2010 he took the position of the Mayor of Rypin for the first time. He successfully runs for re-election in 2014 and 2018. As the Mayor of Rypin, he actively works for the self-government. He represents the city in the Union of Polish Cities the Union of Związek Gmin Ziemi Dobrzyńskiej, Związek Gmin Północnego Mazowsza (until the self-dissolution), and Stowarzyszenie Lokalna Grupa Działania Region Północ. As a delegate of the Association of Polish Cities, he actively works in the European Committee of the Regions. In addition to work at plenary sessions, he joins the work of the NAT Commission (Commission for Natural Resources), and SEDEC (Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research, and Culture Commission).
In addition, for many years he has been a member of the Social Council of SP ZOZ and the Poviat Labour Market Council. During his tenure, he organized twice the Rypin Economic Forum and many social and economic meetings with representatives of various levels. He is involved in the organization of sports ventures, as well as initiates many local and regional activities.
Tomasz Ożóg
Since 2014 the Mayor of the Lidzbark Warmiński. An economist by profession, a long time entrepreneur and a local government official. Member of the Board of the International Coordinating Committee of the Cittaslow Cities. Vice-coordinator of the Polish Cittaslow City Network. Vice President of the Polish Cittaslow Association. Member of the Management Board of Dom Warmiński. Coordinator of the innovative programme "Lidzbark Warmiński Bez Wad Postawy", and the creator of the first in Poland pedestrian crossing in 3D graphics. Speaker and chair of discussion panels at Conferences, Economic, and Self-Government Forums.
Interests: law, economics, sport.
Lucjusz Nadbereżny
From 2014 the second Deputy Mayor of the Town and Municipality of Skawina. A graduate of the Jagiellonian University in the field of International Relations, and the International Center of Education at the Cracow University of Technology in the field of Sustainable Urban Development Management. In the years 2003-2004 he was an assistant of the project coordinator in the Preparation Center for Absorption of Assistance Funds of the Institute for Strategic Studies. In 2004 he served as a clerk at Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture. In the years 2004-2009 coordinator of programs implemented by the Institute for Strategic Studies Foundation. Since 2009 the Mayor's plenipotentiary for acquiring external funds in Skawina. He has experience in social work, an expert in the substantive evaluation of the Civic Initiatives Fund, a collaborator of the Foundation for European Research "Sarmacja", and a member of the Local Action Group "Blisko Krakowa". He completed numerous courses and trainings including "Fundraising in non-governmental organizations", "Environmental impact assessment", "Strategically for development - New approach to development policy in the national and EU dimension, and the implications at the local level", "Improving effective cooperation in JST partnerships", and "Małopolska Academy of Professional Competences - Project Manager”.
In Skawina Municipality he is responsible for, among others, the implementation of the Mobility Plan, the Municipal Revitalization Programme, and the Smog Eradication Programme, as well as for the coordination of the implementation of the Skawina Municipality Development Strategy. A strong supporter of integrated transport and urban greenery, propagator of the development of public spaces, especially those friendly to residents, pedestrian zones and clean air.
Day II
Session I National Urban Forum– assumptions and expectations in the context of strengthening and coordination of the urban dimension in development policy
Remy Sietchiping
Manuel de Araújo
Remy Sietchiping leads the Regional and Metropolitan Planning Unit at UN-Habitat. He oversees the development of strategic programmes of the UN-Habitat including National Urban Policy, urban-rural linkages, smart cities, metropolitan development and the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning and its application to health sector. He manages an active global portfolio in over 40 countries. Prior to join UN-Habitat, Dr. Sietchiping was Project Leader of the Global Land Tool Network where he coordinated the work on tool development processes particularly on access to land and tenure security, land management and planning, land information, land policy and legislation and land-based financing. He has over 25 years working experience in the UN systems, academia, private sector, public sector and NGOs in Australia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Jamaica and worldwide. Dr. Sietchiping has over 40 publications including books, peer-reviewed articles, papers in proceedings and reports. He speaks French and English. He holds a Ph.D in Geography from the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Jiří Vlček
Mayor of Quelimane City Milunicipality, Mozambique. Global Executive Member, ICLEI. Vice-President for Africa, ICLEI. Member of the National Council, Mozambican Association of Cities. Founder and Chairperson, Centre for Mozambican and International Studies (CEMO). Senior Lecturer, Catholic University. PhD in International Development, University of East Anglia, UK. MSc in Development Studies, University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Sandra Gizdulich
Jiří Vlček, born 1973, graduate of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Environmental Studies programme, Charles University in Prague (2003). Since 2016 working at the Urban Policy Unit of the Ministry of Regional Development CZ, focusing mostly on urban mobility and related issues, especially within the framework of the thematic partnerships under the Urban Agenda for the EU.
EU Erasmus programme participant (Århus University, Denmark 2002), GIS Øresund Summer University programme participant (Lund, Sweden 2003), Robert-Bosch Foundation programme participant (Germany 2009-10).
2011-12 European Commission temporary employee (translator at DG Translation). Since 2006 onwards working in the Czech public sector and developing various fields of policy with environmental impacts (organic farming at Ministry of Agriculture, international relations at Ministry of Environment, tobacco control at Ministry of Health and most recently urban development at Ministry of Regional Development).
Tilman Buchholz
Ms S. Gizdulich is an Urban Planner specialized (PhD in 2003) on Integrated Territorial & Urban Development Policies and Programmes. She was the person responsible for the URBAN II Programmes working at DG REGIO (2001-2005) where she negotiated and managed the Italian URBAN programmes. For the EIB, where she worked as a permanent agent (after having passed a selection), she evaluated integrated urban project proposals and monitored the approved ones. For the Italian central administration she has been monitoring the urban projects implemented through the Regional Operational Programmes; she drafted the National Operational Programme dedicated to the metropolitan areas and the territorial & urban chapters of the Partnership Agreement; she has been following the Urban Agenda for the EU (i.e. revising the Amsterdam Pact, being the member of the UDG, enabling Italian cities to be sustained, etc.) that she had the opportunity to actively disseminate in its own country.
Tadashi Matsumoto
Deputy Head of Division Urban Development Policy, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, Berlin
Responsible for National Urban Development Policy, Federal Congress on National Urban Development Policy, Coordination between federal and regional level, Research on integrated urban development, Urban Dimension of Structural Funds (ERDF), European affairs in urban development, Bilateral relations in urban development in Europe, Member of Urban Development Group, Member of URBACT Monitoring Committee, Chair of the Assembly of the European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN).
Since 1995 Tilman Buchholz served for several Federal Ministries in Bonn and Berlin: Federal Ministry for Spatial Planning, Building and Urban Affairs, Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Housing, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, covering various issues from National Spatial Planning, European Territorial Cohesion (Interreg), International Transport Relations, Twinning programme, Protocol to urban development issues.
Studied Geography, Public Law and Economics at the Universities in Hamburg and Bayreuth.
Marc Darder
Kamil Wyszkowski
Head of Action in Urban Habitat, Regional Ministry of Territory and Sustainability, and Coordinator of the Urban Agenda for Catalonia
Marc Darder is Head of the Action in Urban Habitat Unit at the Regional Ministry of Territory and Sustainability of the Government of Catalonia, since November 2016, and coordinates the elaboration process and further implementation of the New Urban Agenda at the regional level. As a representative of the Government of Catalonia, he participates in the elaboration of the Urban Agenda for the EU in the Partnership on Sustainable Use of Land and Nature-Based Solutions.
Architect and urban planner, won a Socrates scholarship at the Department of Architecture of the Aalto University (Helsinki, Finland), received his MSc degree in Urban Planning from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), and currently is a Ph.D. candidate. He has a broad professional expertise on urban and territorial Planning at the local and regional levels. He has also been Head of the Urban Planning Enforcement Unit (2011-2016), and technical advisor in the Expropriation Jury of Barcelona.
Daniel Baliński
Representative and President of the Board of Global Compact Network Poland (GCNP). Since 2002 he has worked in United Nations System. Between 2002 and 2009, in United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was responsible for international and multilateral cooperation and for the development of programs in Europe and Asia. Under UNDP, he has worked in dozens of countries, implementing development programs based on transfer of knowledge from Poland. He has worked in UNDP headquarters in New York and Bratislava Regional Center (Service Center for the 24 Country Offices in (South-) Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union). Since 2009 to 2014 Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Office in Poland. Since 2004, a Representative and General Director of Global Compact Network Poland (United Nations Global Compact coordinates the UN system's cooperation with the private sector within the UN Business Action Hub and through the Global Compact programs are created involving business, cities, universities, government, NGOs: more: ungc.org.pl). Since 2011 Director of Know How Hub (established as part of UNDP Poland, currently managed by GCNP).UN and EU policy expert, in particular in the field of business and administration cooperation as well as mobilization of the private sector to implement the UN development goals and standards. Specialist in development, multilateral and knowledge transfer, climate policy and anti-corruption activities.
Andrzej Porawski
Deputy Director, Department for Development Strategy, Ministry of Economic Development Public administration officer with a long-standing experience in programming and implementation of development policy, structural funds, and especially its territorial dimension in Poland.Since 2004, starting with employment at the Ministry of Economy and Labor and later i.e. the Ministry of Regional Development he was involved in the elaboration of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, the National Cohesion Strategy 2007-2013 and later the National Strategy for Regional Development 2010-2020 and the Partnership Agreements 2014-2020. Within implementation functions he was involved in – among others – coordinating the preparation and implementation of Integrated Territorial Investments (main territorial instrument under Cohesion Policy supporting integrated actions for sustainable urban development). Currently, as Deputy Director in the Department for Development Strategy of the Ministry of Economic Development, he is responsible for national urban policy and strategic projects under territorial development policy deriving from the new main development strategy for Poland (Strategy for Responsible Development).
A delegate to the first, second and third National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarity", member of the "Solidarity" Civic Committee to Lech Wałęsa (from the last recruitment); member of the electoral staff of the CK "S" in Poznań in 1989, then director of the Office of MPs of the Civic Parliamentary Club in Poznań; 1990-91 - chairman of the CK of the Poznań voivodship.
In the years 1990-98 and 2002-06 he was a councillor in the city of Poznań, and in the years 1998-2002 - a councillor of the Wielkopolskie voivodeship regional parliament. In the 1990-94 term he was a member of the City Council of the City of Poznań.
Since 1991 he has been the director of the Office of the Association of Polish Cities.Since 1999 he has been the secretary of the Joint Commission of the Government and of the Local Government on the part of local government.
In the years 1992-1993 and 1997-2001 he cooperated with the Office of the Council of Ministers and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister in the field of constitutional reforms.
In 1998-2002 he was again a member of the Statistics Council from 2014.
In the years 2008-2016 he was a member of the Main Urban and Architectural Commission, and in 2010-2016 and again as of 2018 - the Scientific Council of the Institute of Urban and Regional Development in Krakow.He is a member of the Chapter of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
In 2015 he received the title of the "Member of a Local Government of the 25th anniversary" from the local government paper "Wspólnota". In 2016 he received the "Fundament Rzeczpospolitej" - Professor Michał Kulesza Award.
Włodzimierz Hrymniak
Dorota Perło
Ph.D. of economic sciences in the field of economics, employed as an assistant professor in the Department of Econometrics and Statistics at the Faculty of Economics and Management of the University of Bialystok. From 2014 Director of the Office of the Board of the Białystok Functional Area Association. Specialist in the field of regional and local modelling and forecasting (including soft models, HERMIN model).
Author of several dozen scientific publications and expert opinions including assessing the effectiveness of the impact of EU funds on regional development, sustainable development modelling, monitoring the situation of young people on the labour market, effective debt management in a local government unit. She is a co-author of the socio-economic development strategy developed at the regional, sub regional, and local level, she cooperates with many local government units, as well as with the central government administration.
From 2015 Member of PTS Branch in Bialystok, in 2010-2014 Member of the Board of Experts for Economic Affairs at the office of the President of the City of Bialystok, Member of the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Operational Program of the Podlaskie Voivodship for 2014-2020, and the Steering Group for Evaluation of the Regional Operational Program of the Podlaskie Voivodship for years 2014-2020.
Jacek Woźniak
Jacek Woźniak – expert in the field of regional development and cities. Graduate at Law Faculty at the Jagiellonian University, Erasmus program scholarship holder at the Regensburg University. Open doctoral guidance at the Economic University in Katowice. In years 1999-2018 deputy director and director of departments responsible for regional development in Marshal’s Office of Podkarpackie Region, Marshal’s Office of Malopolska Region and Municipality Office of Krakow. Participated in preparation and negotiation of regional operational programmes, as well in monitoring, evaluation and implementation. Directing works and co-author of City Krakow Development Strategy till 2030, Development Strategy of Malopolska Region 2010 -2020, Development Strategy of Podkarpackie Region 2000-2010, also originator and co-author of Development Strategy of South Poland. Originator of assumptions of regional urban policy in Malopolska Region, one of the first such initiatives among polish regions. Promoter and originator, with Prof. A. Kukliński, conference series ‘Konferencje Krakowskie’ (2008 – 2016). Experience in work in the field of regional development policy in Georgia. Member of Committee for Spatial Economy and Regional Planning, Polish Academy of Science, Regional and Spatial Policy of Poland and Europe Problems Committee as well Scientific Council of Institute for Development of Cities and Regions. Author of ca. 30 science articles and expertises, including for Ministry of Regional Development and European Parliament, related to regional development policy, management of the EU founds, urban policy.
Stefania Koczar-Sikora
Mrs. Stefania Koczar-Sikora deputy director of the Regional Development Department of the Marshal's Office of the Śląskie Voivodship. She oversees the development of strategic documents, industry policies and programs for the region, as well as the programming and evaluation of the Regional Operational Program of the Śląskie Voivodship. Co-founder of the Intermentoring model developed under the EQUAL IW. Experienced in the support and implementation of projects financed by European funds since 2002.
Maciej Aulak
Session II The role of cooperation in sustainable urban development - exchange of experience and joint learning in order to implement integrated urban policy
Andrzej Porawski
A delegate to the first, second and third National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ "Solidarity", member of the "Solidarity" Civic Committee to Lech Wałęsa (from the last recruitment); member of the electoral staff of the CK "S" in Poznań in 1989, then director of the Office of MPs of the Civic Parliamentary Club in Poznań; 1990-91 - chairman of the CK of the Poznań voivodship.
In the years 1990-98 and 2002-06 he was a councillor in the city of Poznań, and in the years 1998-2002 - a councillor of the Wielkopolskie voivodeship regional parliament. In the 1990-94 term he was a member of the City Council of the City of Poznań.
Since 1991 he has been the director of the Office of the Association of Polish Cities.Since 1999 he has been the secretary of the Joint Commission of the Government and of the Local Government on the part of local government.
In the years 1992-1993 and 1997-2001 he cooperated with the Office of the Council of Ministers and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister in the field of constitutional reforms.
In 1998-2002 he was again a member of the Statistics Council from 2014.
In the years 2008-2016 he was a member of the Main Urban and Architectural Commission, and in 2010-2016 and again as of 2018 - the Scientific Council of the Institute of Urban and Regional Development in Krakow.He is a member of the Chapter of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
In 2015 he received the title of the "Member of a Local Government of the 25th anniversary" from the local government paper "Wspólnota". In 2016 he received the "Fundament Rzeczpospolitej" - Professor Michał Kulesza Award.
Aldo Vargas-Tetmajer
Coordinator of the National Contact Point of the URBACT program at the Association of Polish Cities. Supervises the activities of Polish partners of URBACT projects, promotes calls for contests in the program and achievements of project networks in the field of urban development programs. He also facilitates workshop meetings for urban partners of the URBACT network.
Maria Andrzejewska
Maria Andrzejewska UNEP/GRID-Warsaw Centre Director
She graduated from the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies at the University of Warsaw with a master's degree in geography in the field of cartography. During her professional work at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Geodesy and Cartography she improved her skills in acquiring and analysing information on the environment. She has been associated with the UNEP/GRID-Warsaw Centre since 1992. Since 2008 he has been the Director of the Centre.Mrs Maria Andrzejewska realized scientific and research projects whose main goal was environmental research using geoinformation, and remote sensing technologies, visualization of spatial data, preparation of environmental reports, implementation of ICT in ecological education, social participation in environmental management, standardization in spatial planning.
She is an expert in the field of spatial planning representing the Polish side in the European work on the specification of INSPIRE data for the Land use theme, as well as the UNEP expert in GEO-6, involved in the Assessment Methodologies, Data and Information Working Group. She has been awarded three times together with the UNEP / GRID-Warsaw team by the Minister of the Environment for special scientific and research achievements in the field of protection, development, and use of the environment and its resources.
Roman Walaszkowski
Paweł Wojciechowski
Economist, local government official, an expert on EU funds
A graduate of the Faculty of Management and Marketing at the Rzeszów University of Technology, currently a postgraduate student of the "MBA - Innovation and Data Analysis" carried out by the Polish Academy of Sciences together with the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University. Has over 9 years of experience in working in local government units including 8 years in managerial positions mainly related to the implementation of investment projects financed from EU funds. He worked for over 5 years in a non-governmental organization dealing with the implementation of consulting and training projects and intermediation in granting subsidies for SMEs.
Currently, as the Deputy Mayor of Hrubieszów, he is responsible among others for supervising the implementation of the project: "Rewitalizacja Śródmieścia Hrubieszowa szansą na eliminację zjawisk kryzysowych oraz ożywienie społeczno-gospodarcze miasta", implemented from the funds of the Ministry of Investment and Development as part of the "Model revitalization of cities" competition. In addition, in connection with the selection of Hrubieszów as a partner city in the project "Partnership City Initiative. Learning cities "- the revitalization network he plays the role of the Local Partnership Coordinator in the project.
Session III How to improve actions for the development of cities thanks to the tools of monitoring and evaluation of urban policies?
Grzegorz Wolszczak
Grzegorz Wolszczak is an Urban Development Specialist at the World Bank office in Warsaw, Poland. He supports Polish authorities in overcoming regional development bottlenecks in areas ranging from spatial planning and spatial data infrastructure (SDI), enhanced energy efficiency of single family houses, technology transfer, to more business-friendly environment. Grzegorz also works on result-oriented public intervention, where monitoring and evaluation play a key role, and supports flood management projects in Poland. He actively practices various sport arts from rock climbing and mountaineering, to volleyball, swimming, cycling and running.
Dominika Rogalińska
Przemysław Śleszyński
A member of scientific and problem committees of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Geographical Sciences of the PAS (scientific secretary), Demographic Sciences of the PAS, Migration Research of the PAS, Spatial Development of the PAS. A member of scientific societies including the vice-chairman of the Polish Geographical Society, and chairman of the Commission for the Geography of Settlements and Population of the PTG, member of the Main Urban and Architectural Commission. He deals with socio-economic geography, and spatial management including spatial structures of population and enterprises, development of cities and regions, migration, transport geography, spatial planning, landscape aesthetics.
Author and co-author of over 300 publications in this field of which the most important are:
- Śleszyński P., 2018, Polska średnich miast. Założenia i koncepcja deglomeracji w Polsce, Klub Jagielloński, Warsaw, 156 pages
- Śleszyński P., Bański J., Degórski M., Komornicki T., 2017, Delimitacja Obszarów Strategicznej Interwencji Państwa: obszarów wzrostu i obszarów problemowych, Prace Geograficzne, 260, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management PAS, Warsaw, 295 pages
- Kowalewski A., Markowski T., Śleszyński P. (ed.), 2018, Studia nad chaosem przestrzennym, Studia KPZK PAN, 182, vol. 1-3, Warsaw, 840 pages
- Śleszyński P., 2017, Wyznaczenie i typologia miast średnich tracących funkcje społeczno-gospodarcze, Przegląd Geograficzny, 89, 4, page 565-593
- Śleszyński P. (ed.), 2013, Wskaźniki zagospodarowania i ładu przestrzennego w gminach, KPZK PAN Bulletin, 252, Warszawa, 156 pages
- Śleszyński P., 2013, Delimitacja Miejskich Obszarów Funkcjonalnych stolic województw, Przegląd Geograficzny, 85, 2, page 173-197
- Śleszyński P., 2007, Gospodarcze funkcje kontrolne w przestrzeni Polski, Prace Geograficzne, 213, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management PAS, Warsaw, 320 pages
- Śleszyński P., Bański J., Degórski M., Komornicki T., Więckowski M., 2007, Stan zaawansowania planowania przestrzennego w gminach, Prace Geograficzne, 211, IGiPZ PAN, Warsaw, 284 pages
- Węcławowicz G., Bański J., Degórski M., Komornicki T., Korcelli P., Śleszyński P., 2006, Przestrzenne zagospodarowanie Polski na początku XXI wieku, Monographs, 6, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management PAS, Warsaw 212 pages
- Śleszyński P., 2004, Kształtowanie się zachodniej części centrum Warszawy, Prace Geograficzne, 196, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management PAS, Warsaw, 331 pages + Appendix.
Coordinator and participant of several dozens of grants and projects implemented for international institutions (including ESPON programs), as well as central and local public entities (including ministries of development, infrastructure, transport, construction, agriculture, education, and science) including 13 years as coordinator of annual governmental reports on the status and advancement of planning work in municipalities. In addition, he participated inter alia in the preparation of the following documents: Report on the state of spatial development of the country (2000-2006), Study of spatial development of the area along the Polish-German border (2006), Concept of Spatial Development of the Country until 2030 (2011), National Strategy of Regional Development (2012), Delimitation of Municipal Functional Areas of capitals of voivodships (2012), Report on economic losses and social costs of uncontrolled urbanization in Poland (2013) and many evaluation studies, mainly in transport.
In 2016 he became an expert for Strategy for Responsible Development in the area of "Territorial cohesion".
Karol Janas
Head of the City Policy ObservatoryGeographer graduated from masters and doctoral studies at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management of the Jagiellonian University. Since 2009 an employee of the Institute of Urban Development and Regions. Co-founder and head of the IRMiR Municipal Policy Observatory. His research interests focus on the problems of socio-economic changes in post-socialist cities and regional development in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Particular emphasis is placed on the social and cultural dimension of the studied phenomena. The supporter of the participative approach. Manager and coordinator of international projects. Expert and enthusiast of the city of Nowa Huta to which he devoted his doctoral thesis.
A passionate traveller and ... cyclist.
Areas and research interests: urban studies; urban regeneration; regional development; territorial identity.