Speakers

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.

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.

A graduate of Warsaw School of Economics (International Economic and Political Relations) and postgraduate studies at Collegium Civitas (forecasting, strategic planning and foresight) and Lazarski University (environmental protection law).

For many years he worked in central and local government public institutions. In the years 2006-2010 he was a councillor of the capital city of Warsaw. In the years 2018-2023, he worked as deputy mayor of the Ursynów District of the capital city of Warsaw. He was responsible for maintaining green areas, cooperation with entrepreneurs and housing resources. Previously, a consultant and expert on sustainable urban development as part of the Smart City Blog project. He was a lecturer in subjects covering the development of smart cities. Speaker, moderator and participant of discussion panels during numerous conferences in the area of ​​the development of modern cities.

He has been a director general at the Ministry of Digitization since 13th December 2023.

A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (international economic and political relations)

Konrad Fijołek was born in 1976 in Rzeszów. A graduate of the Faculty of Sociology at the University of Rzeszów.
A long-time councilor of the City of Rzeszów. On June 13, 2021, he won the early presidential elections of the City of Rzeszów in the first round, and on April 21, 2024, he was re-elected to this office.

PhD (University of Silesia in Katowice). A graduate of the Executive Master of Business Administration studies (Apsley Business School in London and Collegium Humanum in Warsaw) and postgraduate studies in project management at the University of Economics in Wrocław (P2F, AgilePM). In 2018-2021 Deputy Director of the Department of Infrastructure and Communication, Marshal’s Office of the Lubuskie Voivodeship. In December 2021 he started working as the Director of the Development and Innovation Department, where he is responsible, inter alia, for the implementation of the assumptions of the Voivodeship Development Strategy and the Innovation Development Program. He has over 10 years of experience in the implementation of projects financed by the EU funds. In 2017 he started working as an assistant professor at the Department of Regional Policy, Faculty of Economics and Management at the University of Zielona Góra.

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.

CEO of BTTR – advisory on artificial intelligence implementation in cities. Urban AI expert, creator of the Better Code – a methodology for analysis, assessment, scenario creation, and best practices for habitats, utilizing GEN AI. PhD focusing on creating sustainable, healthy, and happy living spaces. International experience gained in London architectural offices, business development in the Middle East, Scandinavia, Poland, and Africa. Serial entrepreneur, creator of brands: Loftware and House of Berries. Business Mentor at Kozminski University in Warsaw. Key team member of the startup At My Place – a Virtual Reality-based platform.

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.

Deputy Mayor of Warsaw, graduate of philology at the University of Warsaw, social activist and culture animator, producer of theater performances and festivals, 2016-2018 deputy director of the Studio Theater in Warsaw; co-author of the “Warsaw 2020 Culture Development Program. City of Culture and Citizens” adopted in 2012 by the City Council as the official cultural policy of Warsaw. In 2018-2020, Head Coordinator for Culture and Public Communication in the City of Warsaw.

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.

Rafał Rosiński holds a doctorate in economics and worked at the Technical University of Koszalin, where he was vice-dean for student affairs. In 2008, he obtained his doctoral degree in economic sciences at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Gdańsk. His scientific output includes more than 50 publications, including two monographs and several articles in foreign journals. In 2009, he was awarded the main prize “Golden Wings of Gazeta Prawna” for the best book in the category “taxes”. Previously, Rafał Rosiński was deputy Marshall of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and a councillor of the Voivodeship Assembly for many years. Rafał Rosiński has been involved with the Polish Economic Society for more than 15 years; from 2020 to 2024 he was president of the Koszalin branch of the PTE, a member of the PTE National Board and a member of the PTE Scientific Council.

Between 2015 and 2024 Deputy Mayor of Lublin for Investment and Development. Long-time manager in municipal companies of Lublin such as Lublin Thermal Energy Company (LPEC) and Municipal Waterworks and Sewage Company (MPWiK). President of the Board of MPWiK since 2024. President of the Board of the Lublin Metropolitan Area Association since 2022.

Deputy Director of Organization Development at the New Mobility Association – PSNM (formerly PSPA), responsible for driving key initiatives. She leads the postgraduate program “New Mobility,” co-hosted with the Warsaw University of Technology. Her role within PSNM involves coordinating collaborations with local governments to curb urban transportation-related air pollution and advance sustainable mobility solutions. She supports the establishment of low emission zones and the enhancement of urban spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. She holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Warsaw and has pursued postgraduate studies in “Energy Market Functioning” at the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH).

Radca prawny, doktor nauk humanistycznych w zakresie historii, muzealnik (posiada najwyższy w polskim muzealnictwie tytuł kustosza dyplomowanego). Ukończył podyplomowe studia public relations oraz szacowania nieruchomości i odbył praktyki niezbędne do uzyskania uprawnień rzeczoznawcy majątkowego.
Wyróżniony odznaką honorową „Za zasługi dla Województwa Wielkopolskiego”.
Za jego pierwszej kadencji wybudowano w Kole ósmą w Polsce ciepłownię geotermalną, która jest własnością należącej w 100% do miasta, miejskiej spółki ciepłowniczej Geotermia Koło Sp. z o.o. Ciepłownia składa się z dwóch odwiertów geotermalnych (produkcyjnego -Koło GT -2 i zatłaczającego Koło GT – 1, wymiennikowni, stacji filtrów oraz rurociągu łączącego dwa odwierty).
Od 23 listopada 2018 r. Burmistrz Miasta Koła.

Manager and coordinator of research and development projects at IRMiR, including the Urban Data Integrator. Author of several publications on smart cities, data management, and urban remote sensing. Editor and co-author of the textbooks “Data Management in Cities,” “Utilizing Data in Cities,” and the report “City Management Using Data.” Initiator and coordinator of the “Urban Data Analysts” collaboration network for local government officials. Creator and manager of the “Raport_AI” project, which generates a municipal report using artificial intelligence models based on expert knowledge. Organizer of the InnoCity Expo urban innovation fair.

Bozena Zajac – MEng Architecture graduate at the Silesian University of Technology with 30 years of professional experience. She serves as the Deputy Head of the Department of Architecture, Planning, and Strategy at the Mysłowice City Hall. Within her responsibilities, she oversees issues related to spatial planning, the Sustainable Development Strategy, and the city’s collaboration with the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis (GZM). She is the co-creator and moderator of the website www.planowanie.myslowice.pl, an advocate for open access to public information, a promoter of accessibility to spatial data databases, and responsible for providing GIS planning data and facilitating extensive public consultations. She is also the initiator and coordinator of the city’s Urban Lab. She has been associated with the City Hall since 2017; prior to that, she ran a design studio for 20 years, working on architectural projects and coordinating construction investments.