OVERVIEW
To see coverage of the International Media Tour in Poland Today magazine, click here.
To see a short video of the International Media Tour, click here.
Poland Today, for the second time, brought leading international journalists covering business and economics to Warsaw. The topic of the ‘INTERNATIONAL MEDIA TOUR’ was ‘FROM EMERGING TO DEVELOPED’.
After 27 years of continuous growth, Europe’s fastest-growing economy was boosted by FTSE Russell’s upgrade from Emerging to Developed in September 2018. One year later, on the 15th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the EU, 20 years after joining NATO, and 30 years since Poland became a free market economy, it was time to remind the world of Poland’s economic & business success story – with the future set to be even better.
Participating titles:
Australia: Australian Financial Review
Baltics: The Baltic Times
Brazil: Valor Economico
China: Xinhua News Agency
Czech Republic: Seznam.cz
France: La Tribune
France: Challenges
Hungary: Vilaggazdasag
Israel: Calcalist
Italy: Il Sole 24 Ore
Japan: Nikkei
Norway: State of Globe
Portugal: Expresso
Romania: Ziarul Financiar
Slovakia: Trend Magazine
South Korea: The Chosun Ilbo
Turkey: Anadolu Agency
UK: Forbes Europe
Ukraine: Ekonomichna Prawda
USA: New York Times
PARTICIPATION BY INVITATION ONLY
AGENDA
-Dominik Rozkrut PhD, President of Poland Statistics
–Tomasz Puch, Head of Office and Industrial Investment, JLL
–Jaroslaw Zagorski, Commercial & Business Development Director and Member of the Management Board, Ghelamco
–Dorota Latkowska, MRICS, co-Founder & Partner, REINO Partners
–Joanna Kurowska, Director Operations Luxury & Managed, Northern Europe, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
–Jędrzej Iwaszkiewicz, Co-Founder and VP Business Development, The Heart, Corporate Center for Digital Ventures
–Paweł Panczyj, Strategy & Business Development Director, ABSL
–Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw
–Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź
–Jacek Jaśkowiak, Mayor of Poznań
-Grzegorz Miechowski, President of the Management Board, co-founder, 11 Bit Studios
-Joanna Zielińska, CEO and Investment Director, Black Swan VC Fund
–Paweł Wieczyński, CEO, DataWalk SA
–Gabe Gotthard, CEO, DataWalk Inc.
–Michał Sokolski, co-Founder and CEO, Star Drifters
–Mike Kennedy, co-Founder, Talent-Alpha
-Maciej Adamczyk, Member of the Management Board, COO, XTPL
–Karolina Kuś, Representative of the Board
–Professor Witold Orłowski, Chief Economic Advisor, PwC Polska
–Marcin Szymczak, Export Manager, KROSS
–Bogy Cimoszko Skowronsky, Board Member, MIT Enterprise Forum Poland
–Eliza Kruczkowska, Innovation Director, Polish Development Fund
–Izabela Olszewska, Board Member, Warsaw Stock Exchange
–Tomasz Rudolf, Founder, The Heart, Corporate Center for Digital Ventures
–Sylwia Ziemacka, Poland Today (Moderator)
–Tadeusz Kościński, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance
–Krzysztof Senger, Vice President, Polish Trade and Investment Agency (PAIH)
–Rafał Milczarski, CEO & President of the Management Board, LOT Polish Airlines
–Mikołaj Wild, Government Minister & Proxy for CPK
–Piotr Malepszak, Acting President, CPK
–Marc Santora, Warsaw Bureau Chief, New York Times
–Galin Kalachova, Deputy Editor, Ekonomichna Prawda (Ukraine)
–Hans van Leeuwen, Europe Correspondent, Australian Financial Review
–Razvan Botea, Journalist, Ziarul Financiar (Romania)
–Richard Stephens, Poland Today (Moderator)
SPEAKERS

Rafał Trzaskowski
Mayor of Warsaw
Rafał Trzaskowski, who is a member of PO (Platforma Obywatelska - Civic Platform party), was elected Mayor of Warsaw on 21 October 2018. Trzaskowski was previously a member of the European Parliament from 2009 - 2014. He also served in Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government as Minister of Administration and Digitisation (2013 - 2014) and as Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2014 - 2015). “I set out my vision for Warsaw last year, at the very beginning of the electoral campaign. ‘Warsaw for all’ – that was the title of my political manifesto. It is three words long, but it reflects what I aim to do. I want to transform Warsaw into a city that helps and protects all its citizens, regardless of their age, occupation and origin. I want to make sure that Warsaw becomes a city that provides a better quality of life for everyone. For many years, Warsaw was focused on building and improving city infrastructure, and rightly so: we desperately needed new metro lines, trams, new streets and water-treatment plants. Now, with so many crucial investments completed – thanks to my predecessor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz’s remarkable achievements – it is time to add a new accent.” says Trzaskowski.

Hanna Zdanowska
Mayor of Łódź
Hanna Zdanowska has been the Mayor of the city of Łódź since 2010, overseeing - and leading - a complete transformation of this post-industrial city with a population of just under 700,000. Located right in the heart of the country, the city has invested heavily in infrastructure, both in and around Łódź. It is also positioning itself as both a transport junction and hub, and as a centre of advanced business services, attracting major international companies such as Fujitsu, Infosys, Tomtom, Philips, Accenture and Ericsson. “We are at the beginning of the largest urban regeneration projects in the history of Łódź. It is a major challenge not only from the investment side, but also from a social and economic standpoint. Commercial developers believe in Łódź because they see that we consistently implement our growth strategy to make Łódź a beautiful city and a great place to live in,” says Zdanowska.

Jacek Jaśkowiak
Mayor of Poznań
Jacek Jaśkowiak has been Mayor of Poznań since 2014. He is a social activist, sports activist and former entrepreneur. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, postgraduate studies in accounting, finance and taxes. He is a GFPS scholarship holder at the University of Bielefeld in Germany. “I strive to make Poznań a truly European city with suitable infrastructure, efficient public transportation, accessible culture, attractive places for rest and recreation, and above all, an active civil society. The fact that inhabitants want to help us create an open Poznań, where everyone can feel good, is something that I care about. The city is for all people and their needs and expectations are the most important guidelines for me when planning both individual investments and for the entire development strategy,” says Jaśkowiak.

Tadeusz Koscinski
Undersecretary of State
Ministry of Finance
Tadeusz Koscinski recently moved to the Ministry of Finance (July 2019) from the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology, where he was responsible for activities strengthening the foreign expansion of Polish companies, for increasing investment, developing the digital and non-cash economy. He was also responsible for the promotion of the Polish economy in the country and abroad, as well as shaping and implementing the principles of the European Union's trade exchange with third countries. He supervised the reform of the Special Economic Zones, thanks to which almost all of Poland is an attractive place to invest, and he was engaged in the process of enabling electronic invoicing in public procurement. Previously, Koscinski worked at Polski Bank Rozwoju S.A., Bank Przemysłowo-Handlowy, Bank Śląski and Bank Pomorski, and at two banks in London. He was born and educated in London, and is a graduate of Goldsmith’s University.

Krzysztof Senger
Executive Vice President
Polish Trade & Investment Agency (PAIH)
Krzysztof Senger has over 12 years of experience in international business, as well as in investment finance and project management, working in consulting for PwC and Deloitte. He is also an international expert in negotiations of free trade agreements with the EU (the DCFTA) and has participated in international projects related to innovation and R&D. The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) supports both the foreign expansion of Polish business and the inflow of FDI into Poland. In 2017 and 2018, PAIH achieved record results in the value of foreign investments obtained for Poland, exceeding EUR 2 billion per year. PAIH has also set up 70 trade offices around the world in the past 18 months, part of the government’s strategy to open opportunities for Polish companies to grow internationally.

Marek Dietl
President of the Management Board
Warsaw Stock Exchange
Marek Dietl has served on the Supervisory Boards, Audit and Investment Committees of more than 20 companies, as well as an advisor and expert to many institutions including the President of Poland, the President of the Energy Regulatory Office, the Court of Arbitration of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority and the National Bank of Poland. The Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) is the biggest exchange in Central and Eastern Europe. Last year it launched its new #GPW2022 strategy to support Poland’s economy. “We are set to compete with the 24 most advanced economies of the world following Poland’s promotion from Emerging Markets to Developed Markets status by FTSE Russell,” he said.

Izabela Olszewska
Member of the Management Board
Warsaw Stock Exchange
Izabela Olszewska holds a degree from the Department of Finance and Statistics, Warsaw School of Economics, and a PhD from the Department of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw. She attended the International Institute for Securities Market Development programme offered by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. She has worked in the capital markets since 1992, initially as Analyst at Bank Handlowy’s Capital Operations Centre and since 1999 with the Warsaw Stock Exchange. She held a number of business and sales management functions at GPW, working with investors and companies, both local and international, from many sectors. She held the position of Managing Director for Development and was responsible for the development of the product offering of the regulated market and alternative markets. Izabela is Member of the Supervisory Board of Bondspot since October 2015. She sat on the supervisory boards of the Polish Power Exchange (TGE) and InfoEngine. She was delegated by the Supervisory Board of both BondSpot and TGE to temporarily perform the functions of President of the Management Board. Until June 2018, she was a Member of the Board of Directors of Aquis Exchange, London, as Non-Executive Director. She has worked for many years with Krajowy Depozyt Papierów Wartościowych (Central Securities Depository of Poland) as a member of the Advisory Board.

Boguslawa (Bogy) Cimoszko Skowronsky
Board Member
MIT Enterprise Forum Poland
Bogy is an investment banker, corporate finance specialist, VC fund manager and investor. She is passionate about helping technology startups grow. Deep relationships in the tech community of US, Switzerland, and Poland. Experience gained from working in international corporates: Exxon Research & Engineering, Exxon Chemical, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development – London, UBS AG – Zurich, Fincoord Ltd – Zurich. Founder and CEO of Capital Solutions, founder of Nomad Fund. Assists companies in capital raisings, especially from the capital market, and in the business model and strategy development. BS Degree from MIT and MBA degree from Harvard Business School. Member of the MIT Club of Poland and Switzerland, and Harvard Club of Poland.

Eliza Kruczkowska
Chief Innovation Officer
Polish Development Fund
Chief Innovation Officer with 10+ extensive international experience in management, startup advisory, technology, public affairs, and communication, in both, public and private sphere. She is coordinating first in the CEE region program called “Start In Poland”, aimed at building a vibrant startup and venture capital ecosystem including €500m in investment in VC funds and online one-stop-shop for startups and innovators in Poland. As ex-CEO of Startup Poland, a grassroots organization she aimed at helping build a better startup ecosystem in Poland. Has experience in developing and executing strategies, managing teams and knows how to build biz dev strategy.

Piotr Malepszak
Acting President
Solidarity Transport Hub Poland
Piotr Malepszak is the Acting President of Solidarity Transport Hub Poland and is responsible for planning, design and construction of the air-and-rail hub. He is a Member of the Board and is in charge of the railway component of the investment. Previously, he was a Member of the Board of Koleje Dolnośląskie (Lower Silesian Railways) and worked with PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe as the Director of the Railway Road Office and the Board's Representative for Railway Revitalisation. Solidarity Transport Hub Poland (CPK in Polish), due to be built in the centre of Poland, is the country’s biggest and most important infrastructure project which will serve as an air, rail and road transport hub for the country and the region. It involves the construction of a new hub airport 40 km from Warsaw, reconfiguration and extension of Poland’s rail network with CPK as its hub, and the extension of the nearby A2 motorway along with numerous ring roads and the development of a new ‘city’ neighbouring and servicing the hub.

Mikołaj Wild
Government Minister
CPK

Rafał Milczarski
CEO & President of the Management Board
LOT Polish Airlines
In 2017 Rafał Milczarski was elected as President of the AIRiE Association (Airlines International Representation in Europe) as well as being appointed as President of Polish Aviation Group (PGL). He co-founded Baltic Rail, one of the first private railway carriers of goods in Poland. Together with UK’s Freightliner Group, he founded Freightliner PL and is the founder of Freightliner DE, a German subsidiary Freightliner PL, and the Association of Independent Railways. According to Flight Global, LOT is today the fastest-growing airline in Europe. Last year, LOT carried 6.8 million passengers, 25% more than the year before. It plans to reach the level of 9 million passengers this year and exceed 10 million in 2019. LOT flies to over 110 destinations across the world.

Jaroslaw Zagorski
Commercial & Business Development Director and Member of the Management Board
Ghelamco
Jaroslaw has grown with the commercial real estate market and has been one of its drivers, first as an agent and then as a developer, the role he plays now. Ghelamco, a company of Belgian origin, is one of the most successful developers on the Polish market, in which it has operated for over 20 years. Ghelamco has recently sold its flagship project, the 65,000 sqm (leasable) Warsaw Spire office tower, jointly owned with Madison International Realty, to Immofinanz in a deal worth EUR 386 mln. The company is currently developing the Warsaw Hub and the Warsaw Unit - all three projects around the same roundabout in the post-industrial district of Wola. Ghelamco was the first developer to recognize this area as a potential business district and have been the main drivers of its transformation. The company is also restoring two pre-war residential apartment buildings in central Warsaw.
Joanna Kurowska
Director of Operations
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
Joanna is responsible for driving sustainable hotel performance for IHG and owners of IHG’s managed estate in Northern Europe. Born and raised in Warsaw, she graduated summa cum laude in Political Science from the University of Warsaw and the Institute d’études politiques de Lyon; she also holds a post-graduate Diploma in Management Accounting & Controlling from the University of Lodz and CIMA from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK). Poland is an important growth market for IHG in Europe and a market with a great success story. In the last 10 years, the number of hotels in the country has almost doubled. IHG currently has 11 hotels open in Poland across the brands of InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Indigo. An additional 19 hotels are in the pipeline, with the majority to open by 2021, effectively tripling IHG’s system size in the country and expanding the brand portfolio by two additional brands: Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites.

Dorota Latkowska
Co-Founder & Partner
REINO Partners
Dorota Latkowska, MRICS, is one of Poland's most experienced real estate professionals with almost 25 years of experience in the market. REINO Partners, of which she is co-founder and managing partner, is a privately held, independent fund and investment management platform focused on real estate investment in Poland and the CEE region. The company has been investing so far in Polish regional markets including Cracow, Wroclaw, Poznan and Tri-city however further expansions are expected still this year. REINO Partners has recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with Australian investment company RF Corval to invest EUR 750 million in an asset management platform for the CEE region focusing on office, industrial and residential sectors." The company has also raised high volumes from Polish investors.

Dominik Rozkrut
President
Statistics Poland
Dominik Rozkrut represents the Polish official statistics in the high-level meetings within the statistical systems of various international organizations. In his capacity of Statistics Poland’s President, he presents Poland’s national position at European Statistical System Committee (ESSC), Conference of European Statisticians of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (CES UNECE), United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) as well as in the Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (CSSP OECD). Dominik has also been elected as a member of the executive or advisory bodies setting strategic work directions of the mentioned international organizations. These are: European Statistical System Partnership Group (ESS PG), Vision Implementation Group (VIG), Friends of the Chair Group on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (FOC-FPOS), CSSP OECD Bureau and most recently he became a member of the CES Bureau and the UNECE High Level Group on Modernisation of Official Statistics. Moreover Dominik Rozkrut is chairing the Task Team of the UN Global Working Group on Big Data for Official Statistics dealing with Training, Skills and Capacity-building and serves as a member of the EU Business-to-Government (B2G) Data Sharing group.

Tomasz Puch
Head of Office and Industrial Investment
JLL
Tomasz Puch has 20 years of experience in commercial real estate market. He manages a team of experts specializing in sale/acquisition transactions of office and warehouse projects in Poland. His main area of expertise includes providing strategic consulting services to leading investment funds operating in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. Tomasz works with property owners in the process of creating sale strategies, leads sale process, and has experience in debt and equity raising projects. He advises in sale/acquisition transactions of both individual projects and real estate portfolios. Tomasz has extensive expertise in the area of office transactions on regional markets. The volume of investment transactions finalized with his advisory totals €10 billion.

Jędrzej Iwaszkiewicz
Co-Founder
The Heart

Paweł Panczyj
Strategy & Business Development Director
ABSL
Since 2012 Pawel has been working full time as the ABSL Managing Director. In the last 5 years he, among others, defined and created the 7 ABSL local chapters, supervised cooperation with ABSL strategic Partners in key fields of sector’s growth, supervised business development activities supporting ABSL projects including Annual and International Conferences and recently enlarged the organization with one more local chapter in Szczecin.

Grzegorz Miechowski
President of the Management Board
11 Bit Studios
Joanna Zielińska
CEO
Black Swan VC Fund

Paweł Wieczyński
CEO
DataWalk SA

Gabe Gotthard
CEO
DataWalk Inc

Michał Sokolski
CEO
Star Drifters

Mike Kennedy
co-Founder
Talent-Alpha

Maciej Adamczyk
COO
XTPL

Professor Witold Orłowski
Chief Economic Advisor
PwC Polska
Well-known Polish economist, professor and lecturer. Head economic advisor or PwC, member of the National Development Council. In 2011, he was appointed as a special advisor to Budget European Commission. He was an advisor to vice-Prime Minister Leszek Balcerowicz, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski and a member of the Economic Council to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. In the 90s, he worked at European Integration Bureau and at the World Bank. He acted as a head advisor to Jan Kułakowski – the main negotiator of Poland’s EU membership. He also joined the National Development Council formed by President Lech Kaczyński. For the last years, he has been constantly present in the public sphere and active in the area of macroeconomics. As a lecturer of Warsaw University of Technology Business School (MBA) he maintains contact with the representatives of economy, innovations and business from the world, exchanging knowledge and experience.

Tomasz Rudolf
Founder
The Heart