Speakers

Since 2017, he has been working in the IT area at Warsaw City Hall, as a head of the Smart City Projects Unit. On a daily basis, he supervises the implementation of IT systems, in particular digital services focused on increasing the participation of residents. He manages the city’s competence center in the area of smart city, supoorting the creation of inclusive city through ICT. At the beginning of his professional career, he was associated with the e-commerce area, where he managed an interdisciplinary product team. Creator of an innovative sales channel for B2B offers in the group purchasing model. A supporter of the idea of building an open city, transparent and involving residents in the co-governance processes.

Graduate of economics, project management and MBA studies (Franklin University). Certified office director (IPMA). Author of the project management policy and methodology at the City Hall, multiple laureates of awards for the best managed project in Poland. Since 2015, he has been developing the Smart City.

Manager and telecommunications market expert, involved with the industry for over 20 years. At NEXERA, he is responsible for commercial decisions, including business and product development, customer relationship management, sales, marketing and PR. He played a crucial role in developing the company and brand from the ground up as one of the first employees and board members of NEXERA. Paweł is the creator of NEXERA’s innovative and exceptionally flexible wholesale offer, which was the first in Poland to enable retail operators to map and sell their services using the BSA model to such a considerable degree. Another one of Paweł’s responsibilities is the publication entitled #RegionyNEXERY, which is prepared under his leadership. This periodical report is one of the most cross-sectional sources of knowledge about Polish Internet users in areas where broadband Internet access is lacking or limited.

In the course of his professional career, Paweł has implemented several dozen operational, strategic and regulatory projects for both local and national operators. He headed or participated in the implementation of the first mass wholesale products in the Polish telecommunications market.

He graduated from the SGH Warsaw School of Economics with honours and is a holder of degrees in Management and Marketing and Quantitative Methods in Economics and Information Systems. He is also a graduate of MBA studies at Manchester Business School. His other achievements include APM and PMP certificates which he was awarded as part of a group of the first project managers in Poland.

In his professional life, he is motivated by his curiosity, which makes him constantly search for answers to fundamental questions in business: why and how? He enjoys challenges and is not afraid to start over. In his free time, he is a musician, instrumentalist, composer and songwriter.

Deputy Mayor of Wrocław since 2007, responsible for investments, economic development and raising external funding. He devised and established a modern institution responsible for organization and supervision of investment projects, which significantly increased city’s organizational capacity in this area (in the years 2006-2009 the volume of implemented investmen projects grew threefold). During Wrocław’s preparations to UEFA EURO 2012 Footbal Championship he was responsible for infrastructural investment projects. He introduced project management methodology to Municipality of Wrocław. He supervises the process of developing PPP projects.

He is engaged in Smart City and Open Data projects and he is responsible for their coordination and implementation. He is also responsible for providing good conditions for development of startup companies through establishing an eco-system Startup: Wrocław.

In 2003-2007, serving as Wrocław Treasurer, he restructured City’s debts and lowered the debt indicators. For the first time in Poland he introduced a wide use of municipal consolidated account. As part of efforts to create new jobs he devised and implemented a programme supporting businesses that were investing in Wrocław and employing new workers.

Since 2001 he has been actively engaged in the work of the Union of Polish Metropoles (UPM). He is a member of UPM’s Commission for Integration
of Development Plans and Municipal Investments, he wrote numerous reviews of bills for Joint Commission of Government and Local Self-government and authored several proposals of amendments in acts concerning self-govermnet.

Smart City and GIS Expert. Author of blog aboutimplementation of Smart City idea in Poland. Author of blog aboutimplementation of Smart City idea in Poland – www.smartcity-expert.eu.
He hasover 10 years of experience in supportinglocaladministration in the implementation of smart technologies. He in particularspecializes in smart citystrategies, digitalspatial management, using of urban data and indicators to assess the city’s performance, ISO37120 and urbangeographicalinformationsystems. He realizedprojects in the field of Smart City Strategy, GIS, e-government, urbansustainable development, urban data analysis and visualization, for amongothers for: Kielce City Hall (winner of manyprestigiousawards for the GIS system, including the awardat the World Smart City Expo in Barcelona), Gliwice City Hall, Dabrowa Gornicza City Hall, Opole City Hall, Toruń City Hall, Urban City Lab in Łódź and Metropolis of Poznań.
As anexternalexpert, he supported the first Polish city chicho btained the ISO37120 “Sustainble Development of Communities: Indicators for City Services and Quality of Life” certificateat the platinumlevelissued by World Council on City Data
He isanauthor of scientificpublicationsamongothers: “Studies of Committee for SpatialEconomy and Regional Planning” of PolishAcademy of Sciences and “Man and Environment” and also the articles published in such magazines as The GIS Professional (USA), Przegląd Komunalny, Inteligentne Miasta i Regiony, Urbanista, Electronic Administration, CAD & GIS.
He is an assistantre search at The University of Science and Art in Katowice (Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Applied Arts; Department of Spatial and Urban Planning Urban Processes and Development Unit) and lecturer at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan.

Krystyna Danilecka – Wojewódzka Mayor of Słupsk since 2018, before Deputy Mayor, 5 time councilwomen. She is an experienced manager with abundance of expertise in leading team in professional manner. Her personality and experience makes her especially suited to guide her team in delicate administrative matters.

Experienced executive manager in mobile banking, digitization and strategy, awarded the title of the Most Influential Woman in the Payment Industry. She started her banking career in Pekao SA banking group. Since 2000, she has been associated with mBank as a co-founder, recently as Director of Strategic Projects in Retail Banking. She acted as a member of the Supervisory Board of Cashless Poland Foundation. She was also an advisor for the European Payment Advisory Committee and Visa Client Council. She was a co-creator of such brands as: mBank, MultiBank, Orange Finanse, BLIK or mojeID and Chairperson of the Bank Card Issuers Council at the Polish Bank Association.
Joanna Erdman graduated in Management and Marketing from the University of Lodz and completed the ‘Leadership in Innovation’ Postgraduate Studies at SGH Warsaw School of Economics. She is also a holder of MBA degree from the Polish-American Management Centre and the University of Maryland.

Managing Director of Association Renovation Wave Poland promoting energy efficiency improvements in the building sector. Previously, Sustainable Development Head Coordinator at the Warsaw City Hall. Graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics with MA and the LSE, where she obtained a PhD in political economy of European integration as well as Executive MSc in Cities. Since number of years involved in projects related to green transition at local and regional level, climate mitigation and adaptation policies, regional policy design and implementation. Member of the Climate & Space Commission at the Ombudsman Office, Civic Congress Programme Council and CitiSense think tank.

Director of the Metropolitan Transport Authority from February 2019. For more than 25 years she has been related to the transport sector, she held, inter alia, positions of President of the Management Board, General Director, and Operations Director of companies owned by the Veolia Transport, Transdev, and Deutsche Bahn Group. She worked also in the Raben Group companies as the Chief Accountant. She graduated in management from the WSB University. She is experienced in managing complex organisational structures, also the dispersed ones.
She feels very well in crisis situations as well as in such that require restructuring. She is proficient in operational management and in finance management. Already during the first year of ZTM management she effectively carried out the process of three hitherto transport operators integration, she cut the costs of the company operations, and also reduced the employment. She initiates and supervises processes that optimise the organisation of public transport in the area of municipalities – members of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis. Under her management the ZTM modernises the business operation standards, implements programmes for staff personal development, building a strong and motivated team, as well as modernises the transport infrastructure, ensuring the top safety standards for transported passengers. She greatly focuses on operations consistent with procedures and professional ethics.

A resident of Sopot, boy scout, and community worker since childhood. Former pupil of the Joseph Golec primary school “no.8” and grammar school no.2 in Sopot.
Doctor of Economics at the University of Gdansk. Graduate of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Technical University of Gdansk. During his studies was Deputy Speaker of the Student Parliament. He completed a postgraduate in Local Government Law, and the School of Management at the University of Gdansk and Central Connecticut State University.
Councilman and vice-president of Sopot since 1990, and president of Sopot since 1998. In the years 1990 to 1998 Councilman of Gdansk Provincial Assembly and chairman of the Environment Committee. He holds the post of Vice-President of the Association of Polish Cities since 2007; delegate to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Co-Chair of the Team for Joint Constitutional Commission of Government and Local Government.
He began his political activism in college as a member of the Young Polish Authorities Movement. He was also co-founder and board member of the VERBUM Association of Academics. He was detained, and deprived of his passport for opposition activities. Co-founder and board member of the Conservative Party and the Conservative fraction.
From 2001 to 2008 was closely associated with the Civic Platform Political Party (PO). He was the plenipotentiary of the Gdansk Region and later a member of the Board of PO (Civil Platform) in the Pomerania region.
He was an employee of the Gdansk Railway Station Project Office from 1988 to 1990.
Honours:
• Papal medal “Pro ECCLESIA ET PONTIFICE” (The Church and the Pope)
• Medal “Pro Memoria”
• Badge of the Polish Minister of Culture “Cultural Activist of Merit”
• Silver Medal of Merit for the Fire Service
• Gold Badge of Merit for Physical Education
• Craftsmen Badge of Honour
• Silver medal for services to the Police
• Gold Badge of PZ Basket
• Grzegorz Palka award, also known as; the local government “Oscar”
An extraordinary member of the World Association of Home Army Soldiers and the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association.

Jacek Karnowski is a lifeguard and founder of the Sopot WOPR (Water Volunteer Rescue Service), holds a yacht and motorboats skipper certificate. He is also a ski instructor.

Tadeusz Krzakowski – a teacher, a member of local government and long-term Mayor of Legnica
Born on 25 January 1957 in Jelenia Góra, he has been connected with Legnica since the 1980s. He graduated from the Physical Education Academy in Wrocław and completed post-graduate studies in the field of Human Resources Management and Promotion of Local Government Units (Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw) and in the field of Education Administration at the Warsaw School of Economics as well as Management of Educational Institutions at the Baltic School of Humanities. He has been a member of the Union of Polish Teachers since 1982. He started working as a teacher in 1982 at the Consolidated Public School in Pieńsk and then at Primary School No. 18 in Legnica. In 1993 he became the headmaster of the Silesian Piast Integration School Complex in Legnica, which he and his colleagues established from the ground up. For years he was an expert in teacher promotion for the Ministry of National Education.
He has been associated with Legnica’s local government since 1990. From 1990 to 1998 he was a member of the City Council. From 1991 to 1994 he acted as a community member of the Legnica’s government. From 1994 to 1995 he held the position of the President of the City Council in Legnica. From 1998 to 2002 he was Vice President of the Lower Silesian Regional Assembly for the first term of office. In 2002 he was elected by the City Council to be the Mayor of Legnica. In 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 he was elected for subsequent terms of office by universal suffrage.
In 2019 he was elected to the Management Board of the Association of Polish Cities. Before that he had been the President of the Review Panel of the Association of Polish Cities for many years.

Tadeusz Krzakowski was awarded: the Badge of Merit for Legnica Province (1997), the Badge of Merit for Legnica (1999), the Medal of the National Education Commission (1999), the Silver Cross of Merit (2005), the Golden Cross of Merit (2011), the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for outstanding merits for self-governance (2016).

Legnica is his home. “I am proud of the city. Being an inhabitant of Legnica means dialogue and cooperation with inhabitants. I always try to work with people and for people, for the common good of the whole community of the city.”

Michal Lakomski is the Mayor’s Proxy for Smart City and the Director of Digitalization and Cybersecurity for the city of Poznan. A graduate of the Poznan University and a respected smart city expert. Michal has been the driving force behind Poznan’s digital transformation since 2017. Responsible for the implementation of innovative systems and e-services for both the residents of Poznan and the employees of Poznan City Hall. Michal is a champion of innovation with a keen interest in open data and new technologies. He is a regular speaker at national and international conferences.

Małgorzata Mańka-Szulik, PhD, Mayor of Zabrze since 2006. In 2015 she was elected as the Chairman of the Board of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union. She participated in works on forming the GZM Metropolis. She is a mathematician. She graduated from the University of Silesia in Katowice. She completed postgraduate studies in management and computer science at the Silesian University of Technology. She obtained a PhD in political science at the Pedagogical University of Krakow. By the decision of the Senate of the University of Economics in 2013 she became a member of the Convention of the University of Economics in Katowice. She is the author of publications in the field of: management of external and internal communication of a local government unit and the use of IT solutions in the social communication process of a local government unit. Previously Małgorzata Mańka-Szulik, PhD initiated the creation
of Poland’s first municipal art school: School of Arts in Zabrze.

Graduate of the University of Economics (former Academy of Economics) in
Wrocław, Department of National Economy (1995-2000), University of Wrocław,
Department of Law and Administration (1997-2002) and Apsley Business School
in London, MBA (2020).
Work experience
20 years of corporate and business experience: company agent and promoter,
business consultant specializing in incorporation, floatation, including formation of
start-ups. Successfully introduced economic entities to the Stock Exchange.
Areas of specialty: IT, e-commerce, energy, advertisement, marketing, brand
strategies and construction.
Co-author of the success of the European Capital of Culture 2016 in Wrocław –
since mid-2015 to March 2017 Communication and Marketing Agent.
On the 21st of December 2018 appointed as the First Deputy Mayor of Wrocław,
supervising the Department of City Development and Strategy and as a
representative for international affairs. Responsible for creation and
implementation of strategic studies for the city, agglomeration, region in the 2050
perspective. In charge of urban planning and land use plans, architecture,
construction administration, city aesthetics, monument preservation, economic
development, geodesy and land cadastre, sustainable development, blue/green
deal, energy. Representative of the city and associations in governmental projects.
President of METREX since 2021 – The Network of European Metropolitan Regions
and Areas.

Beata Moskal-Słaniewska, Mayor of Świdnica. A graduate of full-time master’s studies in journalism and postgraduate studies in European integration at the University of Warsaw. She completed her MBA studies at the Krakow School of Business at the University of Economics.

Since 1990, she has been associated with local, regional and national media. She belonged to the Freedom Union, in 2013 she joined the Democratic Left Alliance, which in 2021 co-founded the New Left. She is co-chair of the Provincial Council of the New Left in Lower Silesia, as well as a member of the National Council. In the 2014 elections, she ran for the position of Mayor of Świdnica, winning in the second round of voting. She was re-elected for another term in the first round of voting with nearly 70% support.

She has been teaching social communication and social policy at the Wałbrzych School of Management and Entrepreneurship for over a dozen years. Since 2019, member of the Management Board of the Association of Polish Cities, deputy representative of the APC in the Committee of the Regions of the Council of Europe. In 2017, she was awarded the “Pearl of Local Government” awarded by the editorial office of “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”. Several times included by “Newsweek Polska” among the 15 best mayors of cities in Poland in this weekly’s ranking.

An expert with over seven years of experience in business development and management. He is a BBA graduate from Ireland, with a track record of delivering results and driving business growth. For the past five years, Szymon has been on a mission to research and develop sustainable business development approaches for Central Europe. 

Currently, Szymon is working with Urbaniqe to build eco-aware solutions for small vehicle transportation. His innovative approach to business development and passion for sustainability have already resulted in the development of new strategies and technologies driving the company’s growth and success.

From 2022, Head of Mobility & Rail Solutions for the CEE region at Hitachi Europe. He develops new business opportunities in the area of Hitachi products and services dedicated to carriers, transport organizers, and resource managers. The scope of his projects includes, among others, ticketing systems, resource management tools, and railway solutions.

For over 15 years he has been associated with the logistics industry in Europe and Asia. He has extensive experience in transport, which he gained while working for the Freightliner group (part of Genesee & Wyoming) and Saudi Arabia Railways. He specializes in the development of IT solutions dedicated to logistics as well as in transport management and fleet maintenance. Speaker at industry conferences devoted to these issues. His main goal is to support enterprises from the public and private sectors in achieving operational excellence, which translates into the provision of the highest quality services to clients.

A graduate of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Prague University of Technology (Czech Republic). For 25 years associated with the IT industry, where he deals mainly with Smart City components and systems. He has held managerial positions in companies such as: Asseco Data Systems S.A., Mennica Polska, Bull Polska, City Parking Group and Aldesa. He was responsible for the implementation and development of ITS and Smart City projects. From August 2014 to June 2016, he was responsible for business development in the field of ITS and Smart City at Asseco Poland. From July 2016, he managed the Digital Urban Infrastructure Division at Asseco Data Systems, and then until February 2021 he was responsible for the Business Development Department in the Smart City Area at Asseco Data Systems, supporting other countries from the Asseco group as part of the competence center. Currently, he is the Sales Director of the Public Atos Polska Sector. In recent years, he has repeatedly served as project manager in projects such as: City Card Systems in Rybnik and Białystok, but also ITS projects: Rzeszów Intelligent Transport System and the Navigation System for parking spaces with their metering in Rzeszów. Being part of the key personnel, he participated in the implementation of the project entitled “An innovative concept of toll collection and settlement of urban services under SmartCity”, in cooperation with the National Center for Research and Development, and in the ITSM project for the European Commission at DG TAXUD. From October 2020, he is the vice-chairman of the SMART committee at the Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications.

Experienced ITS technology and Smart City solutions Consultant and Project Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the intelligent transportation system industry, both for public and private entities. Strong business development and project management professional having education background focused on transportation and logistics from Poznan University of Economics and with a post-graduate studies focused on IT and telecommunications systems from Warsaw University of Technology.

He graduated from MBA studies. For years, he has been developing his managerial competences. An experienced CEO/CMO, he has over 15 years of experience in the mobile telecommunications industry (T-Mobile, Telenor). He believes that the transformation of the approach to business is necessary in today’s world – the digital era.

In particular, he delved into urban mobility technologies that may find their way into the ubiquitous world of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) in the near future. As a result of these considerations, he founded urbaniqe, a visionary and highly innovative urban mobility start-up. urbaniqe’s goal is to provide simple and tangible values to small businesses and people who commute to work by car on a daily basis. Proud husband and father of three children.

Mayor of the City of Podkowa Leśna since 2014.
Member of the Management Board of the Warsaw Metropolis Association, delegate of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, member of the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Operational Program of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship for 2014-2020, leader of the Project to establish the “Masovian Fiber-Optics Union” and member of the Smart City Forum Programme Board, member of the Project Steering Committee ZONE (Integrated Low Emission Reduction System).
He graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology. He studied at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and the Faculty of Administration and Social Sciences. He completed post-graduate studies in Construction Management at the Faculty of Civil Engineering. He has a Certificate of the Polish Association of Construction Managers recognized by the Chartered Institute of Building. He graduated in Real Estate Management from the University of Real Estate Management at the Faculty of Economics.
For many years he has been interested in the activities of local government, the essence of local governance and strategic management in local government units. He is very willing to participate in various cultural, social and charity initiatives which serve the development of the local community.
Mayor Artur Tusiński’s work towards the development of the city found recognition among independent bodies. In 2019 and 2020, he was awarded 1st and 3rd prizes for the best financial management in Poland in the category of municipalities in the Local Government Financial Ranking. In addition, he was twice awarded second prize in the Best-Run Local Governments in Poland ranking by “Rzeczpospolita” in the category of urban and urban-rural-municipalities. In 2020 Podkowa Leśna took the first prize in the nationwide Ranking of Local Governments called “Education-friendly places”. Also in 2020, the jury of the international Innovation in Politics competition awarded the Mayor of the City, Artur Tusiński, for his innovative pro-environmental activities, in particular for his approach to water retention in the process of road construction.

Partner relationship and InPost Green City expert. In Group Integer.pl, he is responsible for working with local governments, state institutions and non-governmental organizations through the management and development of the “InPost Green City” copyright program. The objective of the program dedicated to cities is to pursue a green, sustainable development policy by implementing specific green initiatives and smart city actions serving the city’s inhabitants.
Experience in the area of building partnerships and developing CSR and ESG projects has been gaining for over 10 years, successfully implementing projects in the fields of science, higher education and finance, and participating as a speaker and trainer in key sectoral events. In previous years, director of education projects at the Warsaw Institute of Banking, president of the Students’ Parliament of the Republic of Poland, member of the Presidium of the Polish Accreditation Committee. Co-author of a series of interviews with the rectors of Polish universities on cooperation of science with business published in the Miesięcznik Finansowy Bank.

CEO experienced in managing intelligent solutions and new technologies companies, implementing innovative business and operational models, shaping the market of new services and products by integrating technology and customer’s diversity. Building strategic partnerships.

Krzysztof Żuk – experienced local government leader, elected Mayor of Lublin 3 times. PhD in Economics, researcher and lecturer at Lublin universities. Actively engaged in self-government since 1990.

Chairman of Świdnik Town Council (1990–1996). Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Treasury (2007–2009). Deputy Mayor of Lublin (2006–2007) and (2009–2010). Voted Mayor of Lublin for the first time on December 5, 2010.

Mr Żuk serves as Co-president at Association of Polish Cities (ZMP); a Council and Board Member at Union of Polish Metropolises (UMP); member of Joint Commission of Government and Local Government (KWRiST) representing ZMP/UMP there; Co-chairman of Committee for Public Finance System at (KWRiST).