Speakers

Maria Andrzejewska – since 2008 she has been the director of the UNEP/GRID-Warsaw Centre. Graduated from the Faculty of Geography at the University of Warsaw with over 25 years of experience in environmental projects. She is an UN Environment expert in the field of spatial data analysis, including satellite data. From 2016 involved in preparation of the Global Environment Outlook 6 and the scope of the World Environment Situation Room, both implemented by UN Environment. Expert of the European Commission in topics related to the INSPIRE directive.
Initiator of the Partnership for the implementation of the environmental goals of sustainable development “Together for the environment” (2016), a platform for partners’ (public administration, embassies, scientific institutions, business, local governments, ngo and others) cooperation in the area of sustainable development, in particular circular economy, urban development, education for sustainable development, biodiversity protection.

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.

Katarzyna Błachowicz is a member of the Management Board of the Cluster of Waste Management and Recycling – National Key Cluster. Centrum Kooperacji Recyklingu – non for profit system Ltd. coordinates, among others actions, Cluster’s strategy. The cluster is a platform for cooperation and establishing connections between enterprises, scientific centers, local government, administration and institutions from the business environment in order to implement the policy of innovation and development at both national and regional level. Katarzyna Błachowicz is a specialist in the field of environmental protection. She has 10 years of experience as an editor-in-chief of the “Recycling” journal, after which she became the editor-in-chief of the “Energy and Recycling. Circular economy” monthly – a result of the fusion of the two magazines. She is currently a member of the monthly Program Council. She participated in contests related to recycling as a member of the jury – among others in the “STREFOWA” project: “Polish food waste hackathon and #reducefoodwaste projects. Moreover, Katarzyna Błachowicz publishes articles in the field of recycling, waste and the circular economy. She also organizes and moderates industry debates, conferences and events.

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.

Bartosz Dominiak, Smart City Expert&Blogger, Deputy District Mayor of Ursynów District of Warsaw
A graduate of Warsaw School of Economics (International Economic and Political Relations at ) and Collegium Civitas (Forecasting, Strategic Planning and Foresight). He has many years of experience working in public institutions, both central and local government. He was a member of the Warsaw City Council (2006-2010). He specializes in PR and external communication issues, including new media channels.
He is an independent consultant and smart city expert. Since 2015 he has been in charge of Smart City Blog. Since December 2018 he has been a deputy district mayor of Ursynów District of Warsaw.

Claire is currently the Head of the Future of Transport Strategy team within the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, a UK government unit across the Department for Transport and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. She has previously held roles in transport innovation policy, understanding and mitigating environmental impacts of transport infrastructure projects, and establishing a national environmental reporting framework with the New Zealand Government. Claire holds PhD in Geography from the University of Auckland

MSc. Eng., Arch. Mirosław Hegemejer – graduate of the Faculty of Architecture of the Warsaw University of Technology; he gained professional experience both in Poland and abroad working in construction companies and design offices; for many years also he ran his own business in the design and investor consulting in the area of construction and architecture; Project Manager of the Felicity Shopping Center investment in Lublin; designer of large housing complexes, hotel Hetman in Rzeszów and Lublin Orkana SPA; in 2005-2012 Chairman of the Municipal Commission of Urban Planning-Architectural in Kazimierz Dolny and Nałęczów; Member of the National Council of the Chamber of Architects in 2010-2018; from 2011 associated with the Lublin City Office; in the years 2011-2017 he was the Director of the Architecture and Construction Department – the City’s Chief Architect; from 2017 the Director of the Planning Department;

Paweł Jaworski – philosopher and urban designer, researcher of urban development. Creator of the unique method of experimental urbanism comprised of social, urban and transport research, designing public space and participation. In 2017, he prepared the first regeneration project of urban street in Poland by testing temporary development together with its day-to-day users (Livable Street 3 Maja in Dąbrowa Górnicza, the “Model Urban Revitalization” program). In a similar way, he created the concept of changes on the streets and squares of Cracow, Gorzów Wielkopolski and Warsaw. Currently, he is involved in the transformation of the Old Town in Szczecin.

An expert in the energy industry with 20 years of professional experience. He gained experience in energy distribution and transmission companies as well as in consulting companies. A longtime publicist in the field of energy market in economic media. A consultant in the field of system solutions in the power industry cooperating with government institutions and the Parliament. The first president and co-founder of the only Polish organization of companies in the field of energy storage technologies (electricity, heat, hydrogen and cold) and electromobility (vehicle charging infrastructure, battery and hydrogen technologies) and energy management in energy clusters.

Co-Founder and CEO of SiDLY, technological startup, producer of innovative telemedical system. PhD at the Warsaw School of Economics, graduate of the Faculty of Cybernetics at the Military University of Technology, and University of Warsaw. Has received around 30 awards in managament and innovative area. Author of 15 publications from IT, IoT, new technology fields.The company she runs has achieved the title of one of the best companies in the Entrepreneurial Poland National Ecosystem. Awarded the 1 of 30 European innovators by American Forbes. Lover of new technologies and telemedicine.

Marcin Korolec is a lawyer, long-standing advisor, government administration worker, and negotiator. President of Electric Vehicles Promotion Foundation, since September 2016. Member of the Board of Transport and Environment since April 2019. He was Polish Climate Minister 2014 to 2015, Minister of the Environment from 2011 to 2013 and Minister for Trade, between 2005 and 2011. Between 2005 and 2015 represented Poland in more than 120 European Union Council Ministers Meetings (Councils: Energy, Trade, Environment, Climate, Competitiveness,). Marcin was President of the COP 19 in 2013 and also co-led the European Union’s delegation at the 2011 UNFCCC Conference in Durban.
Involved in managing institutions concerned with environment and climate protection, both Polish and international, currently Member of Advisory Board of Baltic Development Forum, he represented Poland in the Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF): Board Member – Chair of the Ethics and Audit Committee (2013 – 2015). He established Green Weimar Triangle – cooperation between Environment Ministers from France, Germany, Poland (2013). Member of the UNIDO Green Industry Platform Advisory Board (2013-2015). 2011 he represented Poland in the Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Member of the EU-Russia Gas Advisory Council (2010/2011). Marcin Korolec was a member of the Supervisory Board at the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management 2010 – 2011.
In the years 1998-2004 he worked at the Office of the Committee for European Integration in the cabinet of Ministers: Jan Kułakowski and Danuta Hübner, where he supervised preparations for Poland’s accession to the EU in areas of negotiation as free movement of goods and people, agriculture, competition and consumer protection policies.
He is the author of scientific publications about Polish accession negotiations and an academic lecturer. Mr. Korolec is fluent in English and French. He is married to Olga Korolec and the father of four. His hobbies include long-distance running and skiing.

Vice-President of the Board in Sprint S.A., responsible for sale of ITS solutions, Smart City and projects related to ICT systems integration and public security. Involved in ICT industry for more than 20 years. A graduate of Gdansk University of Technology and MBA program at Kozminski University.

Bartosz Mazur – PhD in economic sciences, specialist in managing of public transport systems including railways. Currently official advisor of President of Rybnik in the area of integrated transport, responsible i.a. for introducing Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for optimisation of bus connection network as well as for the coordination of timetables. Previously worked at Regional Office of Silesian Voivodeship and in the HQ of the Regional Carriages railway company. Also was a director of Katowice branch of Office of Railway Transport. Author of few dozens of articles published in scientific and professional magazines as well as conference papers. As an independent consultant worked at many projects for territorial units and governmental agencies.

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.

First Deputy Mayor of Konin responsible for social affairs, education, culture and sport
Before: The Head of Development and Strategy Department in County Starost in Konin where he dealt with the economic, tourism and cultural promotion, organizing foreign cooperation and obtaining funds, including from the EU. The originator of the project ,, Aglomeration of Konin”.
He was a lecturer at Higher School of Personel Management in Konin: PR in public institutions, Promotion of local goverment units; Marketing in public administration; Interpersonal communication and at State University of Applied Sciences in Konin (PWSZ): communication and negotiations in public administration.
He gained experience in promotion and publishing houses while he was working in the Information and Promotion Center of the Sanctuary in Licheń and PWSZ in Konin
For many years, professionally connected with the journalistic setting: he cooperated with Poznań branches of TVN and Wyborcza Newspaper, for many years he was a journalist in the local station Radio Konin. He was the Head of the Sanctuary Press Office in Licheń.
He is a UAM (University of Adam Mickiewicz) graduate. He completed post-graduate studies at SGH Warsaw School of Economics and State University of Applied Sciences in Konin
Keen on : tourism, especially bicycles and canoeing – he commits his free time to this passion.

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).

Filip Piotrowski, former vice president of Polish Zero Waste Association, currently involved in projects regarding legal changes, supporting local governments and enterprises in implementing zero waste rules. As a member of teams for creating new social campaigns and innovative infrastructure solutions, he works together with local governments to reduce the amount of municipal waste. Also as a scientist at the Department of Urban and Population Studies IGSO PASc. he implements projects related to social diversity, whose important component is the use of data related to the waste collection and treatment system. He holds an MA in Sociology from Warsaw University (2004). His research interests are focused on environmental sociology, new institutionalism, crisis management, visual sociology, urban study and cultural diversity.

sociologist, member of the board of the Association of Creative Initiatives “ę”, lecturer at the Institute of Applied Social Sciences of the University of Warsaw conducting scientific activities in the sociology of aging, social gerontology and sociology of the family. Member of the Expert Committee on Elderly People in the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights.

Marcin K. Skwierawski has been the Deputy Mayor of the City of Sopot since 2014.
He is 39 years old. He graduated two courses at the University of Gdańsk – sociology and management.
At the City Hall of Sopot he has passed through the all stages of career development – starting as the inspector and becoming actually the Vice President of the City. His character is determined by two features: diligence and enthusiasm, which inspires everyone from surrounding.
He was always involved in community activities. He started in elementary school with participation in local self-government and then continued his activity in high school. During his studies, he was the chairman of the students’ government department. He is currently an active member of the Civic Platform.
While he studied sociology, he also launched his cooperation with the Laboratory of Social Research of the University of Gdańsk. He gained his professional experience both in Poland and the United States.
As the Deputy Mayor of Sopot he is responsible for the development of the city, EU funds, municipal economy, housing, environmental protection, investments as well as architecture and urban planning.
He supervises the preparation and implementation of projects intended to apply for EU funds. He supervises the preparation and implementation of the council’s housing program in Sopot. He is responsible for an innovative project in the field of SMART CITY, implemented within the framework of Public-Private Partnership, which applies modern technologies for energy management in public buildings.

A graduate of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic). For 20 years in the IT industry, dealing mainly with Smart City components and systems. He held managerial positions in companies such as Mennica Polska, Bull Polska, City Parking Group, and Aldesa, where 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 to September 2018 he managed division of the Digital City Infrastructure at Asseco Data Systems, currently managing the development of business in the Smart City Area at Asseco Data Systems.

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.

Dr Liu Thai-Ker is a renowned architect-planner. He is the founding chairman of Morrow Architects & Planners Pte Ltd, which started on 1 December 2017. Before setting up his own firm, Dr Liu was the senior director of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd., a multidisciplinary consultancy firm which he joined in 1992. In addition to architecture projects in Singapore, Liu has also been invited to provide both architecture and urban planning services in around 40 cities outside Singapore.  Among these city planning projects, the sizes range from a few hundred thousand people to 12 million people. Dr Liu has been concurrently the founding chairman of the advisory board of Centre for Liveable Cities, since 2008.  The Centre for Liveable Cities is a knowledge hub created under the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, focusing on urban development related issues.

Dr Liu is often described as the father of city planning in Singapore. This accolade is a recognition for his 24 years’ of service in the Singapore government; first, as chief architect and CEO of The Housing and Development Board (HDB) where he saw the completion of over half a million dwelling units; later as chief planner and CEO of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA), which he spearheaded the major revision of the Singapore Concept Plan 1991.
In the cultural arena, Liu served as chairman of the National Arts Council and chairman of the Singapore Tyler Print Institute.  In the field of architectural education he served as the chairman of advisory committee for the School of Architecture, National University of Singapore. Additionally, he has been appointed adjunct professor of the School of Design & Environment and of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy as well as the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University.

The entire professional career linked to the implementation of EU and Norwegian funds at various levels of management.
Currently, together with his team, involved in supporting local government units as potential beneficiaries of EU funds, as well as with the same team acting as the Local Development Program Operator.
He has worked on several thematically diverse calls for proposals and managed with many projects, including grant projects, the latest of which were selected as part of the call titled Human Smart Cities. Smart cities co-created by residents.
Privately: husband, father, runner, triathlete, enthusiast of modern technologies.

A graduate of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Agricultural and Technical University in Bydgoszcz, has a doctoral degree in the discipline of environmental protection and shaping at the University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz. Engineer, manager of municipal enterprises. President of the board in GWDA company in Pila, Leader of the Energy Cluster of Pila. Member and chairman of supervisory boards (authorized to sit on the Supervisory Board of State Treasury companies). Coordinator of the Working Group on Hydrogen Technologies in Pila, actively participating in the activities of the Hydrogen Platform of Wielkopolska Region. Coordinator of the project “Hydrogen energy storage in a Power-to-gas system with a hydrogen distribution system” in the city of Pila, including the construction of infrastructure for generating energy from renewable sources, storing it in the form of hydrogen and using in the fuel cells. Leader of the project “ Research and Development Center in the city of Pila” at the Consortium. The originator and creator of the first Polish online waste exchange. Member of the European Compost Network Council, plenipotentiary of the municipal sector of the Chamber of Commerce of Northern Wielkopolska Region, court expert in the District Court in Poznan in the field of environmental protection. Co-founder and vice president of the Biorecycling Association, member of the National Forum of Directors of City Cleaning Plants. Trying to make the foundations for the implementation of the Circular Economy package in Poland and to create solutions on a local scale using the small steps method (the first Polish Repair Cafe, Zoomy Fashion Circular). Member of the Program Council of the Institute of Circular Economy.

Dr. Jean-Peter Ylén is a Principal Scientist and Team leader of Smart City Impact Assessment team at VTT in Espoo, Finland. He is the product owner of VTT CityTune® solution used widely in solving complex challenges in city context. Recent application fields include topics, such as, energy optimization, sustainable traffic policies, managing youth social exclusion and mental health challenges, improving quality and productivity in construction, determining leverage points for regional attractiveness, developing regional circular economy and planning future hospital.