17-18.02.2025, Kraków

Prof. Mario Monti

Former Commissioner for Internal Market, Financial Service, Customs and Taxation

Mario Monti is Senator for life of the Italian Republic and Honorary President of the Institute for European Policymaking.

He served as Prime Minister of Italy (2011-2013) and Minister of Economy and Finance (2011-2012).

He had been member of European Commission for ten years (1995-2004): first as Commissioner for the Single Market (1995-1999), and later for Competition (1999-2004).

At EU level, he produced the “Report on a New Strategy for the Single Market” (2010) and chaired the group created by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission that released the report on “The Future of EU Finances and Own Resources” (2017). He also chaired the Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development convened by WHO/Europe (2020-2021).

He founded and chaired IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), and Bruegel, the European think-tank based in Brussels.

Born in Varese, Italy, in 1943, he graduated from Bocconi University and pursued postgraduate studies at Yale University. He was Professor of Economics at the University of Trento, at the University of Turin, and then at Bocconi, where he was Rector between 1989 to 1994.

Kerstin Jorna

Director General at European Comission

Kerstin Jorna is a German national and a civil servant at the European Commission where she has held various positions, amongst others as Head of Cabinet of several Commissioners and different Director posts.

Mrs. Jorna is the Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Before, Mrs. Jorna was Deputy Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs. Mrs. Jorna also held positions on the Board of the European Investment Bank, the European Investment Fund as well as the European Innovation Council Fund.

Krzysztof Paszyk

Minister of Economic Development and Technology

Krzysztof Paszyk, at the request of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, was appointed by the President of the Republic of Poland on May 13, 2024, as the Minister of Economic Development and Technology.

Krzysztof Paszyk is a lawyer, local government official and parliamentarian. In 2005, he graduated from law studies at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. In 2006, he started his local government and parliamentary career.

From 2006 to 2010, Krzysztof Paszyk was a councillor of the Oborniki County. From 2014 to 2015, he was a councillor and chairman of the Wielkopolska Regional Parliament. Since 2015 (from the 8th to the 10th term) he has been a Member of Parliament on behalf of the Polish People’s Party (PSL).

He was a member of the Digital Affairs, Innovation and Modern Technologies Committee, the Extraordinary Committee for changes in codifications, the Justice and Human Rights Committee, the Legislative Committee and the Health Committee. In 2017, elected member of the parliamentary Amber Gold investigative committee.

Mary Veronica Tovšak Pleterski

Director for Single market enforcement at DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW) in the European Commission

Mrs Tovšak Pleterski was an economic advisor to the President of the European Commission until June 2021 and before that a director at DG for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN) in charge of investment, growth and structural reforms.

At the European Commission, she also had a position of director for European and International carbon markets at DG for Climate Action (CLIMA) and a position of principal adviser at DG for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNET). Before joining the European Commission in 2009, Mrs Tovšak Pleterski was the Deputy Permanent Representative in the Permanent Representation of Slovenia to the EU. In this capacity she chaired the COREPER1 (committee of deputy permanent representatives) during Slovenian Presidency of the EU in 2008. She started her career in the Ministry of foreign affairs of Slovenia and served as a Slovenian diplomat in Strasbourg, New York and Brussels.

Mrs Tovšak Pleterski holds a Master degree of International Affairs in economic policy management from Columbia University (New York) and Master of Arts degree in European Studies from Katholieke Universiteit in Lueven (Belgium). Earlier she acquired a degree of a Bechelor of Science in Computer Sciences at the University of Maribor, Slovenia.

Michał Baranowski

Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology

Michał Baranowski is a political scientist, think tanker and author of numerous publications on transatlantic relations, European policies and the European security order.

He was born in Warsaw, where he graduated from Jan Zamoyski High School. He studied economics and political science at Mercer University in the USA, at Oxford University and at Maastricht University, where he obtained a Master’s degree in European Public Affairs in 2005.

In 2005 he started his career as a think tanker and analyst in the Brussels office of the independent US think tank GMF.

Long-time employee of the transatlantic Marshall Foundation – the German Marshall Fund of the United States. From 2005 to 2011, he worked in the Brussels office of the GMF, where he was in charge of transatlantic cooperation, with a particular focus on Central Europe and the Eastern Partnership countries.

From 2008 to 2011, he worked in Washington, leading a project on transatlantic trade. In 2011, he opened the Warsaw office of the GMF, which was then the first Western think tank with a permanent office in Warsaw. From 2011 to 2021, he developed the Foundation’s activities in Poland and on the eastern flank of the European Union. In 2021, he became Managing Director of GMF East, whose activities covered Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic States, the V4 and Romania, where his team prepared a report on the Marshall Plan for Ukraine.

He has frequently appeared in Polish and international media analysing the economic and international situation.

He is a mountain lover, cyclist and avid apnea diver. He is married and has three children.

Elżbieta Bieńkowska

European Commissioner (2014-2019) for SingleMarket, Industry, Entrepreneurship

Chairwoman of the Board Center for European Policy Studies, Brussels.

President of the University of Silesia’s Council.

Graduate of Jagiellonian University, Oriental Philology Faculty and National School of Public Administration in Warsaw, MBA studies in Warsaw School of Economics.

Scholar of British Foreign Office, European Union and German Marshal Fund.

From 1996  worked in regional administration in Silesia, Poland, as Governors Plenipotentiary for Regional Development Strategy ( 1997-1999) and from 1999-2007 Head of European Department in Silesian Regional Authority and Director of Regional Centre for Enterpreneurship

From 2007-2013 – Minister of  Regional Development in Poland responsible for planning, preparing and implementation of the EU Structural and Cohesion Funds for Poland  as well as European Economic Area Programmes,  coordinating regional and national development  programs. On top of that responsible for the preparation  of the national long and medium term regional development  and urban policy.

2013-2014  – Deputy Prime MInister, Minister of Infrastructure and Development managing infrastructure projects inc.roads, railways, air transport and maritime policy.

2011-2014  – Senator

2014-2019 – member of the European Commission, Commissioner for Single Market, Industry and Enterpreneurship with portfolio including european legislation and undertakings for the industry( inc.automotive ) SMEs, Single Market enforcement, Space and Defence Programms .

Awarded Kingdom of Norway Order of Merit and Order of Merit of Republic of Greece.

Stefan Schwarz

President of European Labour Mobility Institute

President and co-founder of the European Labour Mobility Institute. Co-organizer of the European Labour Mobility Congress – the largest cyclical event in Europe dedicated to the posting of workers within the freedom to provide services in the European Union. Member of the Labor Mobilis award jury, which honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to promoting and supporting labor and service mobility within the European internal market. Entrepreneur, labor market expert, and advocate of responsible business practices. A graduate of the Cracow University of Economics. In 2013, he participated in the roundtable discussions as part of a European Commission project that developed guidelines on respecting human rights in the HR sector. Author of articles on human rights published in the UN Global Compact Yearbook, among others.

Paulina Piskor

CEO at Contrain Group sp. z o.o., Board member at Contrain Poland sp. z o.o. Temporary Employment Agency posting workers to foreign user employers

Paulina has been responsible for the creation and development of business models for the provision of expert services in temporary labour, posting of workers in the common European market, as well as other modern HR services at Contrain for over 6 years. She is a full member of the European Institute for Labor Mobility.

Paulina’s goal is to create an environment where people’s talents and creativity make it possible to create innovative, and therefore effective solutions. She supports the realization of employee goals in both business and social contexts.

Last year Contrain celebrated its 25th anniversary. In recent years the company has been twice awarded the Forbes Diamonds award, HR Dream Team, the title of Employee Friendly Employment Agency and 3rd place in Poland in the Best of Wellbeing at Work competition. Contrain regularly takes the top spot in the Employee Delegation category of the Polish HR Forum ranking.

Prof. Maciej Szpunar

First Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union

Maciej Szpunar is First Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union and Professor at the University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland). He obtained his LL.M. from the College of Europe, Bruges. He has held the office of Advocate General since 2013. In 2018 he was elected First Advocate General for the period 2018-2021. In 2021 AG Szpunar was re-elected First Advocate General until 2024. Maciej Szpunar was the Undersecretary of State at the Office of the Committee for European Integration (2008-09) and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010-13). AG Szpunar is a member of the Research Group on Existing EC Private Law (‘Acquis Group’) and the European Group for Private International Law. He is an associated member of the International Academy of Comparative Law and serves on the Board of Trustees at the Europäische Rechtsakademie in Trier. He is the president of the Polish Association of European Law.

Prof. Herwig Verschueren

Professor of International and European Social Law at the University of Antwerp

Herwig Verschueren is emeritus professor of International and European Labour and Social Security law at the University of Antwerp (Belgium). He also worked as a civil servant at the European Commission in the field of free movement of workers and the co-ordination of social security schemes from 1992 to 2004.

His research concentrates on European social law and more specifically on the legal position of migrating EU citizens with regard to labour and social security rights. He is the author and co-author of books, articles and reports on these issues. He frequently gives lectures at international seminars and conferences. He is an expert member of the European academic network “MoveS” (Free movement of workers and EU social security coordination).

For more details, please consult:

www.uantwerpen.be/en/staff/herwig-verschueren

Jakub Boratyński

Director for Networks and Governance in the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW) at the European Commission

As Director for Networks and Governance in the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW) at the European Commission, Jakub Boratyński deals with Single Market policies related to services, the recognition of professional qualifications, skills and market surveillance. Furthermore, the directorate is responsible for supporting industrial networks and alliances including the Industrial Forum, the European Enterprise Network and cluster organisations as well as the coordination of DG GROW communication and outreach activities and relations with the European Parliament and Council.
Between 2014 and 2021, Jakub worked in the European Commission’s Directorate-General Communication Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT) with a primary focus on cybersecurity. Among others, he was involved in legislative negotiations (NIS1 and NIS2 Directives, Cybersecurity Act), the preparation of the Commission’s Recommendation for a common EU approach to the security of 5G networks, the EU cyber-security strategy’s actions on resilience and cooperation with the EU Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA).
Previously (2009-2013), Jakub was the Head of Unit ‘Organised Crime and Relations with EMCDDA’ at the European Commission’s Directorate-General Home Affairs, which had the lead responsibility for the fight against cybercrime, corruption, sexual abuse of children and confiscation of criminal assets. In relation to cybercrime, he was involved in the negotiation and drafting of two directives (on cyber-attacks and sexual exploitation of children) and the establishment of the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3). Previously, he worked on EU relations with Russia (Directorate-General External Relations).
Before joining the European Commission, Jakub was a Director at the Stefan Batory Foundation in Warsaw and before that, a Policy Officer with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Jakub is a graduate of the London School of Economics and the University of Warsaw (international relations, law).

Henning Ehrenstein

Head of Unit for Skills, Services and Professions in the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs in the European Commission.

Prior to that in 2020-2022, Henning was Deputy Head of the Energy Intensive Industries and Raw Materials Unit, leading its hydrogen team. In 2014 to 2020, Henning already acted as Deputy Head of the Services Directive and Policy Unit, following five years in the Single Market Policy Unit of the Commission’s Directorate-General for the Internal Market (2009 – 2014). From 2005 to 2009, Henning worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, representing the interests of clients in EU policy-making and legislative procedures. A German national, Henning holds an MA in Economics and Politics from the University of Edinburgh.

Tanel Feldman

Immigration Law Associates

• Founding partner at Immigration Law Associates (established in Belgium in 2000).
• Partner at COMIC (Corporate Migration Centre) – smart digital solution for compliance in the area of employment and posting of workers in Europe, supported by specialised law firms network.
• Member of various associations such as ELMI, ELI (European Law Institute), IBA (International Bar Association), PWA (Posting of Workers Alliance), IPN (Immigration Partners Network) etc.
• Main concentration of practice is EU law, in particular, law concerning employment and social affairs : I advise both EU and international companies (corporations, SMEs, non-profit organizations and individuals), in matters related to employment (i.e., working conditions, health and safety at work, discrimination), moving and working in Europe (free movement of EU nationals, third-country nationals right of work, posted workers), social affairs (EU social security coordination), and as regards application of EU law (implementation of EU laws by Member States).

Jo Antoons

Attorney and Managing Partner of Fragomen’s Brussels office, member of European Commission Expert Group on Economic Migration

Jo Antoons is an Attorney and Managing Partner of Fragomen’s Brussels office. In this role, she supports multinational and medium-sized corporations and individuals with effective and efficient immigration solutions for both inbound and outbound moves into Belgium and Luxembourg. In addition, Jo leads Fragomen’s EU-wide Strategic Mobility Solutions and Government Strategies and, represents Fragomen in the European Commission Expert Group on Economic Migration.

Jo has spoken as an immigration law expert at numerous national and international seminars and has authored a list of publications related to economic migration.  Jo’s thorough knowledge of all aspects of global mobility, ranging from immigration to social security and labour law and posted worker solutions, gives her a well-rounded strategic view of immigration-based advice on behalf of her clients and government stakeholders.

Zbigniew Bartuś

Journalist and columnist for Forsal.pl and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna

Zbigniew Bartuś – columnist for Forsal.pl and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, journalist for over 30 years covering economic life, initiator of close cooperation between economic organizations, universities, local governments and business environment institutions in Małopolska, host and moderator of key economic events, originator of the DGP Economic INFORum. He has received scholarships from Reuters and the U.S. Department of State. Winner of several dozen journalistic awards and distinctions, m.in. Economic Journalist of the Year, Grabski Main Award, Kwiatkowski Award, Grand Prix of Małopolska Journalists, nominations for the Grand Press. Member of the Board of the Auschwitz Victims Remembrance Foundation, activist of Rotary International, member of the Alumni Association.

Maciej Witucki

President of Confederation Lewiatan

Maciej Witucki is the President of Confederation Lewiatan – the leading employers’ organization in Poland, since June 2019. Between 2016 and 2019 he served as the vice-president of Confederation Lewiatan. Additionally, he is the Vice-Chairman of the Presidium of the Council of Social Dialogue. Moreover, since November 25th 2022 he holds the position of one of the Vice-Presidents of BusinessEurope.

 He is also a member of the international Business Advisory Council for Ukraine, which advises MDCP (Multi-Agency-Donor-Coordination Platform) – a multilateral donor coordination platform for Ukraine.

 Additonally, he forms part of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Council, of the Council of the European Council on Foreign Relations, the International Advisory Board of GLOBSEC as well as the International Business Advisory Board of the Kozminski University and the Council of the Geremek Foundation. Maciej Witucki was also a founder of the Poland-Haiti Foundation and a co-founder of the “Dorastaj z Nami” Foundation.
He completed his undergraduate studies at the Poznan University of Technology, and continued his education at the Ecole Central Paris (France), where he concluded his postgraduate studies.

His business career started in Cetelem Bank. From 2005 he acted as the President of the Management Board of Lukas Bank. He joined the Orange Group in 2006, where he was the President of the Management Board. From 2016 he served as the president of the Management Board of Work Service. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Orange, also sitting on the Supervisory Boards of TISE, Uniqa, Krynica Vitamin.

Michał Kacprzyk, PhD

Partner | Attorney-at-law | Doctor of juridical science | LL.M.

Michał supports clients in the People & Culture area wherever there is an international element in employment, including in particular immigration law and global mobility.

In particular Michał specialises in corporate immigration – legalisation of work and residence of foreigners in Poland, advising on obtaining visas to Poland, international mobility of employees,posting of workers as part of provision of services,working remotely from abroad, development of the so-called Employment Hubs in connection with relocation of employees to Poland as well as outsourcing of services.

He is responsible for the Immigration & Global Mobility practice and the Visa Practice.

He is recommended by international raking Who is Who as an expert in Corporate Immigration. He is also considered as a Thought Leader.

Michał is a member of The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and International Bar Association (IBA).

Martynas Barysas

Director for Internal Market at Business Europe

From 2016 to 2018 he was administrator at the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee secretariat in the European Parliament. From 2011 to 2015 he served as a special attaché for Internal Market in the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU. During Lithuania’s EU Council Presidency (2nd half of 2013) he was the Chair of EU Council’s Working Group on Competitiveness and Growth and earlier Director for Economic Policy and EU Affairs at the Ministry of Economy in Vilnius, Lithuania. From February 2018, he has been Director for Internal Market at BusinessEurope responsible for overseeing the development of the organisation’s positions on the governance of internal market, including free movement of goods and services.

Marcin Nowacki

Vicepresident of Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers

In 2006–2007, director of the Investor Acquisition Department at the Łódź Special Economic Zone S.A. In 2008–2009 he was the director of the Entrepreneurship Department at the Marshal’s Office in Łódź (Regional Government). He participated in the management of over 40 investment projects with a total value exceeding EUR 1 billion. Marcin has been involved in the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP) since 2011. Today ZPP belongs to the group of three largest employers’ organizations in Poland.

As part of the ZPP, he coordinates corporate and sectoral relations departments. Marcin also oversees all foreign relations and partnerships, including the ZPP Representation in Brussels, participating in critical regulatory processes for Polish entrepreneurs in the EU. Initiator and head of the European Enterprise Alliance, an organization of entrepreneurs registered in Brussels associating with organizations of employers from Central and Eastern Europe.

A graduate of international relations at the Faculty of International and Political Relations of the University of Lodz, a scholarship holder at universities in England, France, and China. In 2009-2012 he was the chairman of the Alumni Association of his Faculty at the University of Lodz. For many years active in the movement of think tanks in Europe and the United States. A graduate of the Atlas think-tank MBA program. Marcin has been a member of the Social Dialogue Council (RDS) since 2018 and has been a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) since September 2020.

In 2022, Marcin was honored with the Steven M. Sass Economic Freedom Award by the Heritage Foundation. In April 2023, Marcin Nowacki assumed the role of Chairman of the EU-Ukraine Civil Society Platform in Brussels.

Renata Juszkiewicz

President of the Management Board of the Polish Trade and Distribution Organization

Since 2008, President of the Management Board of the Polish Trade and Distribution Organization, which brings together the largest international retail chains in Poland. Vice President of the Lewiatan Confederation, representing the interests of employers in Poland and the European Union, and Vice President of EuroCommerce, a European trade organization based in Brussels. Chairwoman of the Central and Eastern European Trade Council, presenting modern trade in the region to EU institutions. Chairwoman of the Program Council of the Congress of Modern Distribution, which is a unique event addressed to presidents of key international retail chains operating in Poland and FMCG concerns, as well as experts and representatives of government and state administration.

Dr Alexander Tesche

Chief Compliance Officer STRABAG SE in Wien

Dr Alexander Tesche, born 15 February 1958, studied economics at the University of Cologne, where he also received his doctorate.

In 1986, he began his professional career in Duisburg at Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH. In 1994, he moved to STRABAG AG in Cologne as Head of Group Controlling. From 1999 to 2004, he was Managing Director of Bayerische Hausbau GmbH in Munich with business activities in Germany and Eastern Europe.

From 2005, he worked for STRABAG SE again, initially from 2006 to 2022 as a member of the Executive Board of the subsidiary Ed. Züblin AG in Stuttgart. Since April 2021, he has been Head of the Corporate Responsibility Office of STRABAG SE in Vienna and in this function also oversees the stakeholder management of STRABAG SE.

Peter Hrbik

Head of Legal Department, German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Peter Hrbik graduated from the Faculty of Law of Comenius University in Bratislava and subsequently worked in the field of advocacy in Bratislava. Since 2013, he has headed the legal department of the Czech-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and focuses primarily on advising German investors on entering the Czech Republic and on issues related to cross-border posting of employees and provision of services within the EU. Since 2019, he has also acted as a representative of the ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven in the Czech Republic.

Nadja Duykers

Director of the Department for Competition and Consumers at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs

Ms. Nadja Duykers, Director of the Department for Competition and Consumers at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. She is in particular responsible for the policy areas internal market and consumer protection.

Tomáš Prouza

President at the Confederation of Commerce and Tourism of the Czech Republic. Vicepresident of the Czech Chamber of Commerce and of EuroCommerce

Tomáš Prouza (1973) is the President of the Czech Retail and Tourism Association and a Vice-President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce. He is the Chair of the Single Market Committee at Eurochambres and a Vice-President of EuroCommerce.

Before returning to private sector in 2018, he was State Secretary for EU Affairs of the Czech Republic (2014-2017). His previous experience includes working for the World Bank in Washington, D.C. and being a Deputy Minister of Finance responsible for financial markets, European Union and fiscal policy, as well as co-founding and operating two successful startups.

Philippe Adriaenssens

Policy Director at European Round Table for Industry (ERT)

Philippe Adriaenssens is Policy Director at the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), where he is responsible for single market, energy policy, competitiveness and reducing the reporting burden.

He has been the driving force behind the publication ‘Renewing the Dynamic of European Integration: Single Market Stories from business leaders’ as well as ERT’s recent Technical Study and Compendium of 100+ Single Market obstacles, gathering a coalition of 25 European business associations.

Philippe has 15+ years of professional experience in EU affairs. He worked previously in the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various consulting firms. He was President of the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) and graduated from College of Europe in Bruges.

Grzegorz Sikorski

Director of the Provincial Labor Office in Katowice

Since 2003 he has been associated with the Provincial Labor Office in Katowice, as a vocational counselor, specialist dealing with employment restructuring at the Częstochowa Steelworks, Manager of the WUP Branch in Częstochowa, Deputy Director of this Office, and since 2014. Director of the Provincial Labor Office in Katowice. Previously, he worked at the Railway Vocational Activation Agency, where he was in charge of employment restructuring at railroad companies in the Silesian province during the restructuring of PKP.

Graduated from the Higher School of Pedagogy in Czestochowa with a specialization in Vocational Counseling and Labor Intermediation, and completed postgraduate studies at the Academy of Economics in Katowice – Management in the specialty of Local Government in European contacts.

From 2008 to 2023 an academic teacher at the Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, where he taught classes in the field of social work, vocational counseling and the labor market. For the past 15 years, he has cooperated with the Hochschule der Bundesagentur fur Arbeit in Mannheim, conducting joint projects and teaching activities, as well as collaborating in the practical training of the university’s students in Poland.  Awarded the Golden Badge “For Merit to the ZDZ”, the Badge “For Merit to the University of Silesia” and the Golden Badge “For Merit to the Silesian Voivodeship”.

Grzegorz Sikorski has been Chairman of the Steering Committee of EURES-T Beskydy – a cross-border partnership between labor market institutions of Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland – since 2015.

Since Poland’s accession to the European Union, he has been a member and Chairman of the Project Evaluation Committee in and a member of the Monitoring Committees of regional programs in successive EU financial perspectives until now. In 2024 he served as Chairman of the Convention of Directors of Provincial Labor Offices. Long-time member of the Expert Team for the Labor Market of the Union of Provinces of the Republic of Poland. Member of the Silesian Experts Forum and the Silesian Council for Vocational Education – appointed by the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship.

Andrzej Bańka

Deputy Director of the Department of Ownership Supervision and Economy – Marshal's Office of the Małopolska Region

Economist, manager, expert in management and marketing.

A graduate of Public Economy and Administration at the Krakow University of Economics and MBA management studies at the Krakow Business School of the Krakow University of Economics.

Experienced leader in working for the private and public sectors, as well as international corporations. He has completed numerous consulting projects in the area of ​​marketing and finance, acting as a leader of task teams. Author and co-author of numerous projects for the development of entrepreneurship and innovation with the participation of EU funds.

Coordinator of work related to the implementation of the Regional Innovation Strategy of the Małopolska Region, in particular in the area of ​​smart specializations of the region. Actively seeks new areas for implementing innovations in the economy.

Long-time editor-in-chief of the “Business in Małopolska” magazine, which deals with investment, export and economic promotion. For many years involved in cooperation with the economic local government and business environment institutions in servicing investors and developing and supporting entrepreneurs looking for new areas of expansion. On behalf of the Małopolska Region, responsible for supervising the activities of the Business in Małopolska Center, an initiative operating in the form of a one-stop-shop for business.

Member of the Małopolska Council for Business Succession and Transfer and the Provincial Labour Market Council.

Passionate about automotive, sports and art. A fan of ecological solutions and technological innovations.

Marek Benio PhD

Lawyer, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Vice President of the European Labour Mobility Institute

• Chairman of the Congress Organizing Committee and Moderator of the entire event
• Honorary member of the Małopolska Branch of the Polish Social Insurance Association, founder of the Foundation for Public Administration and Economy
• Creator of the Legal Posting Workshop – a mechanism for transferring knowledge between the academic, business, and administrative environments
• Participant in public consultations and author of key legal opinions on the implementation directive, revision of the basic directive, and regulations on the coordination of social security systems
• Academic teacher, lecturing on labor law and social security at the Krakow University of Economics and the University of Gdańsk
• Advocate of Oxford-style debates, tutor and promoter of over 200 master’s and diploma theses
• Twice awarded the “Mentor” student award in the Innovator category

Marek Benio PhD

Lawyer, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Vice President of the European Labour Mobility Institute

• Chairman of the Congress Organizing Committee and Moderator of the entire event
• Honorary member of the Małopolska Branch of the Polish Social Insurance Association, founder of the Foundation for Public Administration and Economy
• Creator of the Legal Posting Workshop – a mechanism for transferring knowledge between the academic, business, and administrative environments
• Participant in public consultations and author of key legal opinions on the implementation directive, revision of the basic directive, and regulations on the coordination of social security systems
• Academic teacher, lecturing on labor law and social security at the Krakow University of Economics and the University of Gdańsk
• Advocate of Oxford-style debates, tutor and promoter of over 200 master’s and diploma theses
• Twice awarded the “Mentor” student award in the Innovator category

Prof. Catherine Barnard

Professor of European Union and Employment Law at the University of Cambridge

Prof. Catherine Barnardis a British academic, who specialises in European Union, employment and competition law. She has been Professor of European Union and Employment Law at the University of Cambridge since 2008. She has been a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridige since 1996, and is the college’s Senior Tutor

Prof. Herwig Verschueren

Professor of International and European Social Law at the University of Antwerp

Herwig Verschueren is emeritus professor of International and European Labour and Social Security law at the University of Antwerp (Belgium). He also worked as a civil servant at the European Commission in the field of free movement of workers and the co-ordination of social security schemes from 1992 to 2004.

His research concentrates on European social law and more specifically on the legal position of migrating EU citizens with regard to labour and social security rights. He is the author and co-author of books, articles and reports on these issues. He frequently gives lectures at international seminars and conferences. He is an expert member of the European academic network “MoveS” (Free movement of workers and EU social security coordination).

For more details, please consult:

www.uantwerpen.be/en/staff/herwig-verschueren

Jo Antoons

Attorney and Managing Partner of Fragomen’s Brussels office, member of European Commission Expert Group on Economic Migration

Jo Antoons is an Attorney and Managing Partner of Fragomen’s Brussels office. In this role, she supports multinational and medium-sized corporations and individuals with effective and efficient immigration solutions for both inbound and outbound moves into Belgium and Luxembourg. In addition, Jo leads Fragomen’s EU-wide Strategic Mobility Solutions and Government Strategies and, represents Fragomen in the European Commission Expert Group on Economic Migration.

Jo has spoken as an immigration law expert at numerous national and international seminars and has authored a list of publications related to economic migration.  Jo’s thorough knowledge of all aspects of global mobility, ranging from immigration to social security and labour law and posted worker solutions, gives her a well-rounded strategic view of immigration-based advice on behalf of her clients and government stakeholders.

Tanel Feldman

Immigration Law Associates

• Founding partner at Immigration Law Associates (established in Belgium in 2000).
• Partner at COMIC (Corporate Migration Centre) – smart digital solution for compliance in the area of employment and posting of workers in Europe, supported by specialised law firms network.
• Member of various associations such as ELMI, ELI (European Law Institute), IBA (International Bar Association), PWA (Posting of Workers Alliance), IPN (Immigration Partners Network) etc.
• Main concentration of practice is EU law, in particular, law concerning employment and social affairs : I advise both EU and international companies (corporations, SMEs, non-profit organizations and individuals), in matters related to employment (i.e., working conditions, health and safety at work, discrimination), moving and working in Europe (free movement of EU nationals, third-country nationals right of work, posted workers), social affairs (EU social security coordination), and as regards application of EU law (implementation of EU laws by Member States).

Agnieszka Paszkowski

Associée - DBA- International Business Services

A graduate in Finance and Banking from the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) and in Management and Economics from the University of Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée, Agnieszka Paszkowski brings 18 years of experience in fostering French-Polish collaboration.

Since 2007, she has led the French-Polish department at DBA Accounting Office, providing comprehensive solutions in delegation, accounting, taxation, and social security for Polish companies operating in the French market.

Her dedication to the French-Polish ecosystem includes active cooperation with local administrations such as the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Paris, the Polish Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Finance. Through these partnerships, she assists Polish investors and entrepreneurs in navigating the complexities of the French market.

Ewald Obberhammer

Corporate Migration Centre

Oberhammer Rechtsanwälte GmbH is specialised in the fields of immigration and employment law, in particular related to foreign employment in Austria and international secondments to Austrian companies as well as private international clients wishing to set-up businesses in Austria. This encompasses advising clients in labour law and corporate law issues, answering questions regarding immigration law, drafting employment/project/assignment agreements, applying for visas and many more related issues. Our clients trust in our expertise in the area of corporate migration. Furthermore, we offer all necessary ancillary services such as personal accompaniment to appointments with the relevant authorities and supporting clients on applying for subsidies and co- and health insurances.Our clients thus have the advantage of being serviced by a legal one-stop shop.

Marta Zięba-Szklarska

Expert in Human Resources, Payroll, and Cross-border Employment, Interim Manager in the area of Consulting and Business Development in Poland and in international projects, a board member of the European Labour Mobility Institute

• Expert, practitioner, and Interim Manager in the area of International Employment (Cross-Border Employment) within the framework of cross-border service provision and remote work, labor law, taxes, social security, HR, Personnel Management, Payroll in Poland and international projects.
• Owner of the World of HR Group – outsourcing of accounting, personnel management, and payroll.
• Board Member of the European Labour Mobility Institute. Certified “EFG® and EFC®” and Director of International Development at the European Federation of Financial Professionals in Poland.
• Author and co-author of publications in the area of personal finance for posted workers, social responsibility of financial institutions, FinTech/InsurTech. Engaged in social projects, in the professional activation of disabled people, and in managing PFRON costs with the International REAXUM Foundation.
• Ambassador of Women’s Entrepreneurship and Mentor in the programs of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Foundation and VITAL VOICES Chapter Poland.
• Lecturer at the University of Economics in Poznań in the field of new technologies (personal finance, employment, digitalization/automation, and AI in labor mobility).

Frederic De Wispelaere

Research expert at HIVA–KU Leuven

His main fields of research are intra-EU labour mobility and EU coordination of social security systems. He coordinates the EU project ‘POSTING.STAT’. This project brings together a consortium of universities and research centres from 11 different Member States to enhance the collection, analysis and reporting of administrative micro-data on intra-EU posting.

Karolina Schiffter

advocate, partner, PCS | Littler

Karolina has almost 20 years of experience in handling immigration law and labour law cases. A valued expert in the field of immigration law and employee relocations, she has built one of the largest immigration and global mobility teams operating within a law firm in Poland. Karolina regularly publishes articles in daily newspapers and scientific journals in addition to being an active member of international organisations, regularly invited as a speaker to international conferences. She won first place in the 5th edition of the “Rising Stars Lawyers – Leaders of Tomorrow 2016” competition. Karolina has been recognized among the 25 Top Women Lawyers in Business in 2023 by Forbes Women and the Women in Law Foundation.

Prof. Daniel Eryk Lach, LL.M. (EUV)

Associate Professor at the Department of Labor Law and Social Security Law, Faculty of Law and Administration, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

• Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy in Munich
• Author of over 140 scientific works on theoretical and legal issues of the healthcare and long-term care system, also from constitutional and cross-border perspectives, as well as social security law and labor law.

Joanna Stolarek

Senior Lawyer | Tax Advisor | Certified Compliance Officer

Since 2004, Joanna has been supporting clients in People & Culture, with a particular focus on personal income tax, social security and health insurance.

In particular Joanna specialises in incentive schemes based on shares / financial derivatives, organised by both Polish and foreign companies,implementation of tax- and insurance-efficient remuneration systems
(in particular those based on business activities or transfers of copyrights using 50% tax-deductible costs, international postings to / from Poland,assessing the tax and insurance implications of providing additional non-wage benefits to employees,remote working,assessing the tax and insurance implications of the termination of cooperation.

Member of the Tax Council of the Polish Confederation Lewiatan. Joanna is a Management Board Member of the “Remuneration Institute” Association, of which Raczkowski Law Firm is a strategic partner.

Marc Geer

Senior Global Operations Director for Fragomen

Marc is Senior Global Operations Director for Fragomen with over 20 years’ experience in the immigration sector. A mechanical engineer by profession, Marc works directly with the firm’s executive team to manage strategic firmwide projects, involving geographic expansion, new product strategy, technology, and innovation programs, sitting at the nexus between operational efficiency and technology innovation. Marc has been part of the architectural teams responsible  for many of the firm’s technology initiatives, realizing technology adoption to solve complex and varied problems that enhance the service and support of all Fragomen’s computing platforms. Marc also participates actively in the firm’s strategic development of new technology and related deliverables, and it is in this role that Marc has been exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence as a new frontier for immigration services.

Joanna Janicka

Payroll & Labour Compliance Manager at Contrain Group sp. z o.o. Temporary Employment Agency posting workers to foreign user employers

Dr Kamil Matuszczyk

Assistant professor, University of Warsaw

Dr. Kamil Matuszczyk is an esteemed assistant professor at the University of Warsaw’s Faculty of Political Science and International Studies and a researcher at the Centre for Migration Research. With a PhD in political science and administration, his expertise spans international labor migration, domestic care sectors, population policies, and labor market dynamics. Dr. Matuszczyk has led significant research on the employment of foreign workers in the domestic care sector across Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, funded by the National Science Centre’s Preludium and Etude grants. His dissertation on state policy towards care migration, supervised by Prof. Maciej Duszczyk, earned him a prestigious award from the Institute of Labour and Social Affairs. A prolific participant in European projects on worker posting, seasonal migration, and irregular migration, he has also contributed to global discussions on labor and migration. Dr. Matuszczyk has been a visiting scholar at several notable institutions including the Central European University and Humboldt University. His work with Kulczyk Investments has produced influential reports on labor relations and the impact of new technologies on the labor market in Central and Eastern Europe.

Ewelina Książkiewicz

Legal Manager/GDPR Officer - Contrain Group

A lawyer and sociologist, member of the Bar Association of Wielkopolska. In the past, she provided comprehensive legal services to business entities, as well as support in judicial and administrative proceedings. At Contrain, she is responsible for developing and implementing innovative legal solutions in new technologies, information security and compliance with personal data protection regulations.

Ewelina specializes in labour, data protection and new technology law. Her areas of expertise include EU, international and Polish law, with a particular focus on regulations concerning the cross-border provision of services.

Her activities contribute to ensuring the operational compliance of companies within the Contrain, which translates into stability and security of operations. With her knowledge and skills, she supports the development of the company’s strategic initiatives, working with managers in all areas of the company.

Joanna Narkiewicz-Tarłowska

Managing Director and Tax Advisor at Vialto Partners Poland

Joanna Narkiewicz-Tarłowska is a certified tax advisor and the Managing Director at Vialto Partners Poland. She has 25 years of experience in tax advisory for individuals and social security matters. Before joining Vialto Partners, she worked for over 20 years at a consulting firm from the “Big Four.”

She is a graduate of the Poznań University of Economics (Faculty of Management) and a former scholarship recipient of the Minister of National Education and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Her expertise includes international employee and private individual transfers, international remote work, employment structures and compensation for employees and executives, incentive programs, taxation of employee benefits, capital programs, and other employment-related matters. She advises both Polish companies and international corporations, as well as private individuals. She has personally participated in international assignments in Germany and the USA.

Joanna conducts numerous training sessions and is a speaker at many national and international tax conferences. Additionally, she is the author of hundreds of press and online articles and a recognized expert in various television and radio programs on personal taxation. She is a co-author of the book “Double Taxation Agreements. Commentary” (2011, Wolters Kluwer), as well as numerous tax publications, including a tax settlement guide for 2002 (Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, 2023), a tax guide for Ukrainian citizens for 2023 (Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, 2024), and online commentaries on the Personal Income Tax Act (Legalis, C.H. Beck).

Jadwiga Chorązka

Leader of the Global Mobility Team at Vialto Partners Poland

Jadwiga is a Partner and the leader of the Global Mobility Team at Vialto Partners Poland, which comprises over 70 specialists in tax and immigration. Prior to this role, Jadwiga served as a Director at PwC.

Jadwiga holds a degree from the University of Economics in Wrocław, Poland, where she earned her Master’s in Economics. She is also a certified tax advisor. Her expertise lies in advisory services related to personal income tax, social security, and Polish immigration matters. Her areas of focus include employment and remuneration structures, taxation of employee benefits, and international assignments of employees.

At Vialto Partners, Jadwiga oversees Global Mobility Technology and Digital Innovation services, emphasizing the automation of Global Mobility processes for clients. Her approach to technology aims to simplify and streamline the processes associated with employee relocation.

Jadwiga is a published author of numerous articles and speaker at lectures on personal taxation. She is a co-author of the book “Double Tax Treaties: Commentary” (2011, Wolters Kluwer) and has contributed to online commentary on the Polish Personal Income Tax Act (Legalis, C.H. Beck).

Emilia Piechota

Managing Director responsible for providing immigration services in Poland and other CEE countries at Vialto Partners

Emilia Piechota is a Managing Director responsible for providing immigration services in Poland and other CEE countries at Vialto Partners.

She holds a degree from the University of Szczecin (Faculty of Economics) and Baruch College at the City University of New York. She has also completed postgraduate studies in tax law at the University of Warsaw.

Before joining Vialto Partners, Emilia worked at renowned international consulting firms.

She specializes in various aspects of global mobility, including immigration law, taxation, and social security matters. She is an expert in the legalization of work and residence for foreign nationals in Poland.

Emilia has extensive experience managing projects for Polish publicly listed companies and international organizations, covering immigration matters, efficient compensation structures, and taxation of both foreign employees in Poland and Polish citizens working abroad.

She has frequently conducted training sessions and spoken at conferences on global mobility topics.

David Wernsing

Founding partner of Luscuere & Wernsing Advocaten

David Wernsing is one of the founding partners of Luscuere & Wernsing Advocaten, and specializes in international labour migration. David advises an extensive range of companies throughout the European Union that are working in the Netherlands on the aspects of immigration law, offering holistic solutions.

In addition to advising clients, David frequently litigates against the Dutch government in fine cases, or other immigration cases, which has led to changes in national policies, and also litigated before the European Court of Justice in relation to the posting of third-country nationals.

David is swift and pragmatic when possible, while being profound and tenacious when needed. David is a member of the Specialists Association of Migration Lawyers. He advises on all aspects of Dutch immigration law, with a focus on labour migration.

Dr. Julia Uznanski, LL.B.

Managing Director of Uznanski Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH – The Labour Migration Law Firm, in Berlin

Dr. Julia Uznanski, LL.B. is German-Qualified Attorney and Managing Director of Uznanski Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH – The Labour Migration Law Firm, in Berlin advising national and international companies on all German Labour Migration Law, Global Mobility and Business Immigration matters: E.g. hiring foreign nationals in Germany, secondments to and from Germany, working remotely abroad for a German company.

Grzegorz Ogórek

Director in the Legal and Tax Department at Vialto Partners Poland

Grzegorz is a Director in the Legal and Tax Department at Vialto Partners Poland. He has over 20 years of experience in tax advisory for individuals and social security matters. Previously, he served as a Senior Manager at PwC.

He is a graduate of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Law.

He specializes in personal income tax, social security, and legal aspects of international employee transfers. He provides advisory services on employment and remuneration structures for employees and executives, international remote work, taxation of incentive and capital programs, employee benefits taxation, and other employment-related matters.

He is the author of numerous press articles and an expert featured in television and radio programs on personal taxation and social security. He is also a co-author of the Tax Guide for Ukrainian Citizens for 2023 (Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, 2024) and an online commentary on the Personal Income Tax Act (Legalis, C.H. Beck).

Sophie Maes

Partner of the Belgian employment law firm Claeys & Engels

Sophie is partner of the Belgian employment law firm Claeys & Engels.  Sophie advises national and international clients on various aspects of international employment including business immigration, all aspects of individual and collective employment law and social security law. She assists clients with posting employees to Belgium, structuring arrangements such as salary splits, multi-state employment, transfers, commuters, (hybrid) cross-border remote workers, business travel, satellite employees and digital nomads as well as with starting up activities in Belgium, restructurings and acquisitions. Sophie often works closely with other members of Ius Laboris on transnational projects and queries. Besides, Sophie gives advice on various day-to-day HR issues and general employment law enquires.

Sophie often speaks at internal and external seminars in Belgium and abroad on global mobility and is author of various articles. She is co-author of the book “Arbeidsmigratie in België: tewerkstelling buitenlandse werknemers”. Sophie is member of the Belgian association of employment lawyers, the European Employment Lawyers Association (EELA) and the International Bar Association (IBA).

Davide Vieni

Labour Mobility Consultant - Italy

Attorney since 2015, Davide Vieni operates as consultant in the field of labour law, focusing on transnational aspects.

Fluent in English and ordinary member of the European Labour Mobility Institute, Davide is also Country Consultant for COMIC in Italy

Ada Zaorska

President of the Polish Home Care Association

She has been working continuously in the care industry for the elderly, disabled, and people with mental disorders since October 1993, running the Nursing and Care Agency “Egida” and founding an association with the same name.

Over these 30 years, she has cooperated with Assistance Centers in Lublin, Świdnik, Lubartów, and Puławy, and since 2012, in collaboration with Optimum pro Senior company, she has been delegating caregivers to clients living in Germany.

Thanks to her commitment and work, over 10,000 clients and several thousand caregivers, who regularly undergo training to enhance their qualifications, have already benefited from care.

Currently, she provides private care for about 85 seniors from Lublin and its vicinity and for 72 seniors in Germany (live-in care).

Wim Cocquyt

Client Engagement Director - Fragomen Europe

Wim is Fragomen’s Client Engagement Director for Europe and he also co-leads the firm’s EU advisory team developing and offering Fragomen Europe integrated services. He is currently based in our Brussels office. In the first year he joined the firm, he led the Luxembourg immigration practice. Wim provides immigration and advisory related services to clients based or with operations in Europe. He particularly advises clients on the social security and employment related aspects in the context of immigration and co-develops Fragomen’s Government Strategies initiatives in relation to Europe.
Prior to joining Fragomen, Wim spent a significant number of years as an Executive Director and the Immigration and Social Security leader of the Global Mobility department in a big four firm, based in Rome, Italy. He gained vast experience in leading large global mobility projects and covering all advisory aspects, with multi-national clients from a range of different industries, including banking, industrial products, automotive, pharmaceuticals and consumer retail.
Wim speaks Dutch, English, Italian, French and German.
Education
• Roskilde University Center, Certificate in International and European Social Security Law, 1991
• Catholic University of Leuven, Master of Laws, 1991
• Catholic University of Leuven, B.Phil., 1990

Dr Karolina Ziemianin

Head of German Desk - European Labour Mobility Institute

Attorney at the District Bar Council in Warsaw, Doctor of Laws, academic teacher.

She is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Szczecin. Part of her studies took place in Germany at the University of Rostock.
Her professional interests include, in particular, substantive and procedural civil law, contract law, corporate law and labor law, including European law. She is the author of legal publications relating to, among others, to taking evidence in a civil lawsuit and to liability for damages. The practical dimension of these issues is particularly important to her. In his research, he therefore takes into account aspects resulting from his legal practice, in which he advises entrepreneurs at the pre-trial and court stages.

Dr Marcin Kiełbasa

Legal scholar and legal advisor, currently serving as an assistant professor at the Department of Public Economic Law and Labor Law at the Cracow University of Economics

Doctor of Legal Sciences, legal advisor (Krakow Bar Association), and assistant professor at the Department of Public Economic Law and Labor Law at Cracow University of Economics (UEK). He is also a translator of English and Italian, including freelancing at the Court of Justice of the European Union and teaching at the Department of Translation Studies at Jagiellonian University. He graduated from the American Law School of the Jagiellonian University, the Catholic University of America School of Law, and completed postgraduate studies in Labor Law at Jagiellonian University.

A recipient of scholarships from the National Science Center, the University of Vienna, Ruhr Universität Bochum (RUB), and the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence among others. He is an expert and participant in several international and Polish grants concerning internal EU market mobility, cross-border aspects of worker posting, labor law, and social security.

He has authored dozens of scientific publications on labor and social security law, particularly on cross-border aspects and the posting of workers within the EU. His professional and academic interests include labor and social security law (including European aspects with a focus on practical cross-border issues), worker posting (including its practical aspects), and economic law—particularly the law of the EU internal market and public economic law (including business operation regulations).

In these fields, he provides consultancy to Polish and international entities.

Dr Marek Benio

Lawyer, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Vice President of the European Labour Mobility Institute

• Chairman of the Congress Organizing Committee and Moderator of the entire event
• Honorary member of the Małopolska Branch of the Polish Social Insurance Association, founder of the Foundation for Public Administration and Economy
• Creator of the Legal Posting Workshop – a mechanism for transferring knowledge between the academic, business, and administrative environments
• Participant in public consultations and author of key legal opinions on the implementation directive, revision of the basic directive, and regulations on the coordination of social security systems
• Academic teacher, lecturing on labor law and social security at the Krakow University of Economics and the University of Gdańsk
• Advocate of Oxford-style debates, tutor and promoter of over 200 master’s and diploma theses
• Twice awarded the “Mentor” student award in the Innovator category

Dr. Julia Uznanski, LL.B.

Managing Director of Uznanski Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH – The Labour Migration Law Firm, in Berlin

Dr. Julia Uznanski, LL.B. is German-Qualified Attorney and Managing Director of Uznanski Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH – The Labour Migration Law Firm, in Berlin advising national and international companies on all German Labour Migration Law, Global Mobility and Business Immigration matters: E.g. hiring foreign nationals in Germany, secondments to and from Germany, working remotely abroad for a German company.