PARTICIPANTS

Malgorzata Jarosinska-Jedynak

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy

Oversees the subject of implementation of EU funds under programs: Social Development, Eastern Poland and Regional Programs. Her duties also include coordinating the implementation of the new programming period for 2021-2027 and overseeing the Accessibility Plus program (she co-authored the Accessibility Act). She previously served as Minister of Funds and Regional Policy. For more than a dozen years she has been involved in EU funds, regional development and local government issues.

Dominik P. Jankowski

Security policy expert, diplomat, think-tanker. Currently serves as Policy Adviser in the Office of the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

Polish security policy expert, diplomat, think-tanker. Currently serves as Policy Adviser in the Office of the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, responsible for among others energy security issues. From 2018 to 2022, he served as Political Advisor and Head of the Political Section at the Permanent Representation of Poland to NATO. Experienced negotiator - in recent years he has led negotiations on, among others, NATO's first ever Climate Change and Security Action Plan, the possibility of expanding the NATO Pipeline System to the Alliance's eastern flank and energy security reports for the NATO summits in London (2019), Brussels (2021) and Madrid (2022). He has previously worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Bureau and the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces.

He completed his doctoral studies at the Warsaw School of Economics. Graduate of the Harvard University (2021-2022 Arms Control Negotiation Academy - ACONA), the War Studies University (2010) and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna (2009). In 2013, he conducted research at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. In 2019, he was a fellow of the CEPA think-tank in Washington, D.C. (James S. Denton Transatlantic Fellowship). He is a regular contributor to some of the world's most important think-tanks (e.g. MSC, GMF, ACUS, RAND, CSIS, IISS, SWP, DGAP). Author of more than 250 publications, which have been published in 20 countries worldwide.

Selected publications: "NATO in the Era of Unpeace: Defending Against Known Unknowns" (Central Europe Institute, Lublin-Brussels, 2021), "NATO and the Future of Arms Control" (NATO Defense College, Rome, 2021), "Russia and the Technological Race in an Era of Great Power Competition" (CSIS, Washington, 2021), "Enhancing energy security on NATO's eastern flank: the case of the NATO Pipeline System" (Institute of Energy Policy, Rzeszow, 2022). Lecturer both in Poland (KSAP, ASzWoj, SGH) and abroad (e.g. Germany, Portugal, Hungary, Georgia, Belgium).

Michał Kurtyka, PhD

Minister of Climate and Environment (2019 – 2021)

He is a graduate of the prestigious École Polytechnique in Paris and a Fellow in quantum optics at the National Institute of Standards and Technologies, located near Washington, D.C., where he worked under Nobel Prize winner in physics William D. Phillips. During his studies, he also specialised in economics, with a particular focus on industrial and market organisation, studying under Professor Jean Tirole, winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Economics. In international economics, he studied at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve. From 1 January 2016, he served as Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Energy, where he was directly responsible for technological development and implementation of innovations in the energy sector, implementation of climate and energy policy in the oil and gas sector, conducting international relations with states and international organisations. He was also responsible for overseeing the state's shareholding in Poland's largest oil and gas energy companies.

On 27 April 2018, he was appointed Government Plenipotentiary for the Presidency of COP24 - the UN Climate Summit in Poland. On 2 December 2018, he became President of COP24, which was a great success enabling the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. Since July 2018, he served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment. On 15 November 2019, he was appointed as the first Polish Minister in the newly established Ministry of Climate. On 6 October 2020, his portfolio was expanded to become the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

He has unique international experience. He was the first Pole to be a G7 speaker on environmental issues, President of the Council of Ministers of the International Energy Organisation (IEA) in 2019 and of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 2021.

Dawid Cycoń

Chairman of the ML System, co-founder and leading shareholder

Graduate of the Faculty of Management at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow with a specialisation in Production Management. For 12 years, he was an independent specialist and manager in marketing and sales divisions of such companies as: Optimus S.A., FAKRO Sp. z o.o. (and s.c.), Reynaers Polska Sp. z o.o.

Originator and co-founder of ML System S.A., which successfully debuted on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in June 2018. At ML System S.A., he also serves as Chief Executive Officer. He is responsible for the product development strategy based on the transfer of research results to industrial scale. Originator and implementer of the Photovoltaic Research Centre of ML System S.A. Creator of 11 patents, 3 patent applications and 6 utility models covered by protection rights, as well as publications in the field of photovoltaic cells and modules.

From 2019, he is a Member of the Entrepreneurship Council to the President of the Republic of Poland, and from 2020. Member of the Economic Council of the Faculty of Management and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Rzeszów University of Technology. Winner of the award granted by the Polish Business Council in the 'Vision and Innovation' category and a number of awards for the development of the ML System S. A. Company, including: Company of the Year from the sWIG80 index, Stock Exchange Company of the Year, Economic Award of the President of the Republic of Poland, European Leadership Awards.

Jarosław Sęp, BEng, PhD, DSc, ProfTit

Vice-Rector for Development and Business Cooperation, Rzeszow University of Technology / President of the Board of the Subcarpathian Hydrogen Valley Association

Professor of technical sciences, specialist in production process management and optimisation, Vice-Rector for development and cooperation with the environment at the Ignacy Łukasiewicz Rzeszów University of Technology, first Deputy Rector for the 2020-2024 term. In 1988, he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Machine Construction at the present Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics of the Rzeszów University of Technology and was employed at the Department of Machine Technology, where he has worked continuously until today.

In 1995, he was awarded a doctoral degree, and in 2007 - a post-doctoral degree in technical sciences in the discipline of machine construction and operation. Based on the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland of 28 July 2014, he was awarded the title of professor of technical sciences.

Prof. Jarosław Sęp's scientific and research activities focus on issues related to the discipline of mechanical engineering. After taking up the position of Vice-Rector of the Rzeszów University of Technology, he became actively involved in activities related to hydrogen management. Among other things, she is involved in the creation of the Podkarpackie Hydrogen Valley. She is a member of several organisations, including vice-president of the Polish Tribological Society and vice-president of the Polish Production Management Society, and a member of the Mechanical Engineering Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences (since 2016) - chairing the Exploitation Section. He has participated in the implementation of more than 50 scientific and research projects and works commissioned by external entities, and is the author or co-author of 30 expert reports and opinions. He received numerous awards from the Rector of the Rzeszów University of Technology. He was a scholarship holder of the Foundation for Polish Science for Young Science Workers. In 2016, he was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit and the Medal of the Commission of National Education.
He is currently President of the Polish Tribological Society.

Mariusz Ruszel, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.

Rzeszow University of Technology / Chairman of the Ignacy Lukasiewicz Institute for Energy Policy

Political scientist, university professor in the group of research and teaching staff in the Department of Economics of the Ignacy Lukasiewicz Faculty of Management at Rzeszow University of Technology. President of the Ignacy Lukasiewicz Institute for Energy Policy. Editor-in-chief of the scientific journal "Energy Policy Studies". Originator and chairman of the organizing committee of the cyclical Scientific Conference "Energy Security - Pillars and Development Perspective".

Winner of the scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for an outstanding young scientist (2017). Member of the Independent Scientific Evaluation Group (ISEG) of NATO's Science for Peace and Security program (2022-2024). Reviewer for many international and national scientific journals.
Specializes in energy security and national energy policy.

Maciej Kołaczkowski 

Manager Advanced Energy Solutions Industry, World Economic Forum

At the World Economic Forum in Geneva, he is building a new segment focusing on advanced energy solutions such as clean hydrogen, SAF, new nuclear, energy storage, demand management and carbon footprint. Previously at Forum leading the oil and gas sector. Previously at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he was involved in gas supply negotiations, the construction of the LNG Terminal in Swinoujscie and energy cooperation in the EU and the region. He started his career at PGNiG, where he worked on commercial strategy and supply diversification. He is an economist by education. He studied at the University of Wrocław, Mannheim, SGH and Geneva. Member of the Supervisory Board of the Bogliasco Foundation.

Anna Mikulska, PhD

Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University

Research Associate at the Center for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. In this role, she co-leads the research programme "Energy and Geopolitics in the Eurasia Region." Her research focuses on energy markets and geopolitics in the EU, the former Soviet bloc and Russia. Her current interests include: 1) the use of natural gas as a geo-economic tool; 2) exploring ways to use US LNG exports to strengthen European energy security; and 3) energy security and transition in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Mikulska also works with the Foreign Policy Research Institute and teaches graduate seminars in energy policy and energy geopolitics at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). Mikulska is also a member of the scientific council of the Ignacy Lukasiewicz Institute for Energy Policy in Rzeszow. Her academic work has appeared in the Journal of World Affairs, Orbis, European Journal of Political Research, Party Politics and Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Party. She also writes for Hill, Forbes, Axios, The Conversation and the Wall Street Journal. Mikulska speaks Polish, English, German, Persian (Farsi) and Russian. She holds a law degree from Adam Mickiewicz University, a master's degree in international relations from the University of Windsor, Canada, and a PhD in political science from the University of Houston, USA.

Philippe Van Exem 

Civil Co-Chair of the NATO Petroleum Committee

Mr. Philippe Van Exem graduated from the University of Ghent/HOWEST as a Chemical Engineer with a special degree in biochemistry. In 1983 he joined the Belgian Armed Forces as a Logistics Officer, and later served as the NATO fuel terminal and pipeline manager in the Antwerp region, Belgium; Deputy Head of Operations and Fuel Quality Manager for the Belgian and Luxembourg section of the Central Europe Pipeline System; Technical Director of the Belgian National Agency for Pipelines; Technical Authority for petroleum products in the Directorate for Material Resources of the Belgian Armed Forces where he put in place the structures and organization for petroleum reform for the Belgian Armed Forces. In 2005, Mr. Van Exem joined the NATO International Staff as the Petroleum Staff Officer, assuming the role of the Civil Co-Chair of the NATO Petroleum Committee in 2019.

Henning Gloystein 

Director, Energy, Climate & Resources, Eurasia Group

Eurasia Group is the world's leading political research and advisory firm, helping companies across the world manage the risks and opportunities that flow from politics.

Henning Gloystein is Senior Director for Energy, Climate, and Natural Resources at Eurasia Group, based in London. He covers geopolitical risk in oil and natural gas supplies, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, as well as green industrial trends. Prior to returning to London in 2021, Henning was based in Singapore for seven years, covering the rise of Asia/Pacific as the world’s biggest consuming region of natural resources. Henning started his career in energy analysis at commodity pricing agency Platts in 2007, where he was responsible for pricing European wholesale power, natural gas, coal, and carbon markets. Henning has a dual Master’s Degree in History, Politics, and Science & Technology from Humboldt and Technical University in Berlin.

Marek Ustrobiński

President of the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company in Rzeszow

Civil engineer. He graduated from the Faculty of Construction and Environmental Engineering at Rzeszów University of Technology. For 16 years, he was Deputy Mayor of Rzeszów. He was responsible for city investments and city infrastructure. During that time, Rzeszów implemented hundreds of investments subsidised by the European Union. Among other things, a modern water treatment system was created, the sewage and water supply networks were expanded. The sewage treatment plant was modernised. Rzeszów's transport system was significantly improved, and many new public buildings were constructed, including schools, kindergartens and sports halls. Rzeszów was connected with A4 motorway and S19 motorway. The structure of the public transport fleet was changed. Rzeszów was the first city in Poland where the majority of city buses are powered by natural gas. Electric buses are also running on the streets. Most of the city's investments in a number of sectors including roads, energy, IT or sanitation were supervised and coordinated by Deputy Mayor Marek Ustrobinski.Managed by Marek Ustrobinski, MPWiK Rzeszów ranks among the leaders in the use of Renewable Energy Sources. The company owns photovoltaic farms covering an area of 4.5 hectares, and builds smaller installations on buildings owned by the company. It produces electricity and heat from biogas using the cogeneration process. Rzeszów's MPWiK has started producing soil improver from sewage sludge.Before becoming vice-president of Rzeszów, Marek Ustrobiński worked at, among others, the Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Dróg i Mostów.