Speakers

He has been operating actively for the development of local government in Poland for over 20 years already. He gained experience in public activity in non-governmental organisations, carrying out projects in the fields of education, health care, social assistance and sport.

For several years, he coordinated organisational works of Polish Film Festival in Gdynia and organised events promoting Polish culture abroad. At the same time, conducting his own business activity in Poland and Great Britain, he implemented projects dedicated to business with the use of solutions based on new technologies.

He has been officially involved in works of Gdynia local government since 2006. First as a Councillor of the Gdynia City Council and then also as the Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for non-governmental organisations issues, he coordinated cooperation between Gdynia local government and the third sector entities. He supervised organisation of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship which was held in Gdynia in 2014 and proved to be a great success.

Bartosz Bartoszewicz has been the Deputy Mayor of Gdynia for Education and Health Issues since 2014. His efforts focus also on the integration of management systems, including the issues of “smart cities”.

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.

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.

President of Xylem Water Solutions Polska since 2017. He has 18 years of experience in international corporations, in the construction and industrial segments. He has worked in the positions of President, Managing Director and Sales Director in companies such as Lafarge, UTC, Pilkington.

Elżbieta is a graduate of the Faculty of Tourism at AWF University, Krakow and has also completed postgraduate studies in Coaching in Business at Krakow University of Economics.
Now she is responsible for business development and collaboration with key partners of First Data Poland, especially in the transport and public sector.
She began with POLCARD in 1995. For seven years she managed the Retail Sales Department comprising 70 sales representatives responsible for cooperation with more than 38,000 customers in the areas of payment processing and customer service.
From 2013 to 2016 Elżbieta has managed the Key Accounts Department responsible for relations with the biggest clients of FDP.
Elżbieta enjoys skiing and is married with two daughters.

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.

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!

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.

Beata Moskal-Słaniewska, Mayor of the City of Świdnica. A graduate of full-time Master studies of Journalism and postgraduatestudies of European Integration at the University of Warsaw.
For over 20 years she had been associated with local, regional and nationwide media. She had been the editorial assistant and the editor in chief of a local newspaper “Wiadomości Świdnickie”, also she had been in charge of other local newsstands. She had cooperated with the Polish Catholic weekly “Niedziela”, Polish Radio Wrocław or the newspaper “Słowo Polskie”.
In a local government elections in 2010 on behalf of Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) she was elected a councillor in the City Council of Świdnica. In 2014 she had successfully run for the presidency in Świdnica town – she had won in the second ballot.
For years she has been involved in local social issues. She is an initiator of the event for children called “Nice Star”. Beata Moskal-Słaniewska collaborates with many NGOs, such as the Association of Friends of ill Children “Heart”. She is the co-founder of the Association of Women in Świdnica.

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.

Deputy Mayor of Poznań

Born in 1978 in Poznań, graduate of the University of Poznań at the Faculty of Political Science (2002) and Faculty of Law (2007). Graduate of the School for Young Social and Political Leaders (School for Leaders Foundation in Warsaw).

Highly experienced local government official – since 2001 active as district councillor, from 2006 three times elected to Poznań City Council. In 2014 designated for the first Deputy Mayor of Poznań – he is responsible for municipal policies and actions in the areas of education, public safety, municipal transport, urban regeneration and acquiring European Union funds for the City development.