Speakers

Suparno Banerjee is Vice President of Government and Cities for Nokia Global Enterprise. In this role he leads a global team that shapes Nokia’s vertical segment strategy as well as business development efforts. Suparno and his team drive Nokia’s solutions and thought leadership in products, services and new business models related to connectivity, IoT, and analytics to enable digital transformation of cities and public sector agencies. The team also develops initiatives that extend Nokia’s value proposition to emerging areas, create new partnership models and for Nokia, expand its markets and drive long-term revenue growth.

Prior to joining Nokia, Suparno was Vice President of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) Public Sector Industry and was responsible for HPE’s Public Sector business. In a previous role at HPE, he was a member of the Office of the CEO and drove various new growth initiatives across the enterprise. During his career at HPE, he held positions responsible for HPE’s business strategy for Asia Pacific and Japan region during which time he was based in Beijing and then Singapore. He also held various leadership positions that had responsibilities for HPE’s products and services portfolio in the Public Sector vertical.

Earlier, Suparno was a Director with Deloitte Consulting and led the start-up of Deloitte’s Federal Government consulting practice in the US. Previously, he was an industry leader for IBM where he helped start IBM’s Government Industry consulting business. He also served as a faculty member at IBM’s Advanced Business Institute. Before joining IBM, Suparno led KPMG’s emerging markets technology consulting organization. Suparno’s career includes stints at the World Bank and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. He has worked with government and commercial clients around the world during his 30+ year career.

Suparno is a recognized thought leader in Smart Cities and Digital Government Transformation. He serves on two World Economic Forum panels – the newly formed panel on “Platform Economy and Systems” and as a member of the Steering Committee for “The Future of Urbanization”. He is a frequent advisor to policy makers, senior executives and presenter to industry analysts on topics related to Smart Cities, Digital Government and the enabling role of technology in complex transformations. He has authored numerous white papers on the topic of urbanization and technology-enabled transformation in government.

Suparno holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration.

He serves on the Board of TalentNomics Inc., a start-up, global, not-for-profit that focuses on developing the next generation of women leaders and increasing the global talent pool of women for executive and board positions.

Regional civil servant, social activist, teacher and sportsman. During his social service he also has acted as the councilman in Ostrovian County. In the years 2010-2014 he has been the vice-starost of Ostrovian County. Currently, he is the Mayor of the city of Ostrov Mazowiecka since 2014. In years 1989-1990 he has acted as the chairman of the Independent Student Association at School of Physical Education. Graduate of the AWF (Jozef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw), Warsaw University in the field of geography and administration, SGGW ( Warsaw University of Life Sciences) in the field of property management. He has worked as a teacher for 20 years, including 9 years when he was the Principal of School Complex in Ostrov Mazoviecka. Since 1983 connected with Folk Sports Club OSTROVIANKA, at first as an lifiting weights athlete and then as a coach and the club president. The co-funder of the association called People with passion. The initiator of local ornithological meetings. The co-organiser of regular scientific and educational events in Ostrov Mazowiecka: Regional Conference – Passion. Culture. Heritage, The Development Forum of Ostrov Mazowiecka and Yearbooks of Ostrov Mazoviecka.
Husband and father of three.

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.

Piotr Grzymowicz, PhD – Mayor of Olsztyn since 2009, in the years 2001-2007 Vice Mayor of Olsztyn, responsible for economic development and investment, civil engineer.
Before I joined the self-government, I had the opportunity to work on several large-scale investment projects in Poland and in Germany. In time, I was also entrusted with the role of major construction investment projects manager. It was an excellent experience which proves to be very useful in my current line of work. I always tend to explain my self-government partners that what the city needs for development is active and competitive business, whereas business expects favourable conditions for conducting economic activities.
I am very fortunate that my term of office coincides with the time of considerable European Union financial support. However, we have not been given these funds once and forever and the end of the decade is certainly going to bring an end to them, it is therefore so crucial to maximize this remarkable opportunity. This in one of my priorities and, hopefully, it is successfully implemented. Olsztyn is developing and accelerating!

Jacek Jaśkowiak was born on 10 March 1964 in Poznań. He is a devoted community worker, sports activist, and former businessman. He graduated from the Faculty of Law, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, where he also earned his postgraduate studies degree in accountancy, finance and taxation. He was awarded a scholarship from GFPS (Association for Student Exchange in Central and Eastern Europe) to the University of Bielefeld in Germany.
He gained his professional experience in commercial companies in the 1990s. His past employment includes e.g. working for Dr. Jan Kulczyk at Kulczyk Tradex. From 1997 to 2014, he ran his own company, providing accountancy and advisory services to foreign entrepreneurs. Together with business investors, he contributed to creating employment for thousands of people in Poland.
Owing to his public activity, in 2010, he was appointed as a candidate for Mayor of Poznań, representing the urban movement My-Poznaniacy. He ran for the office of the Mayor of Poznań in 2014.

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.

Graduate of the University of Economics (former Academy of Economics) in Wrocław, Department of National Economy (1995-2000) and University of Wrocław, Department of Law and Administration (1997-2002). 18 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 the First Deputy Mayor of Wrocław, supervising the Department of City Developement and Strategy. In charge of urban planning and land use plan management, architecture, construction administration, city aestetics, monument preservation, economic developement, geodesy and land cadastre.
Privately: married with two daughters.

Artur Pielech – the President of the Board and CEO of FBSerwis SA – a polish company founded by Ferrovial and Budimex providing integrated services for environment and infrastructure as well as energy efficient solutions in Facilities Management for public and commercial clients.Previously, he worked for Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and held various management positions in logistics (CTL Logistics) and retail distribution sectors (RUCH SA).

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.

Artur Szymczyk – he graduated from the Faculty of Civil and Sanitary Engineering of the University of Technology in Lublin and finished postgraduate studies in Management Accounting and Controlling, Tax Law, and Energy Audit. Till January 2013, he worked for the Lublin Heat Power Company [LPEC]. He held different positions at that time, starting from a seasonal worker, through an inspector, manager and ending with the main accountant’s post. In 1998-2002, he was the member of the Supervisory Board of the company. In February 2013, he was appointed as a member of the Management Board of the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company in Lublin [MPWiK] where he was also a main accountant. In 2001-2005, he held the position of the Secretary of the Konstantynów Estate Council and the Deputy Chairman of the Estate Management Board. He underwent a number of trainings and courses in energy, tax, balance, and public procurement law. He is vested, among others, with the powers of having a seat in Supervisory Boards of the State Treasury Companies.

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.