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Creating a better business environment
20th April 2009, Hyatt Regency, Warsaw
With much of the world economy in recession this year, the BPCC is seeing increased interest in Poland from UK companies seeking a growth market within the EU. Is Poland an attractive alternative for foreign businesses in the time of crisis?
The BPCC 6th Annual Conference will address some of the hottest topics for international businesses today, including financing public infrastructure projects, overcoming barriers to investment and corporate social responsibility. VIP speakers and well known experts will help answer your questions on how to survive the crisis.
White paper initiative – get your voice heard
The BPCC 6th Annual Conference is about action not just words. The conference is designed to address issues that are of real importance to businesses in today’s environment and to ensure that your voice is heard. Therefore we are already planning the next steps to ensure the discussion doesn’t end when you step out of the conference room to enjoy a cocktail at the Business Mixer and Annual Awards!
The BPCC will be circulating a white paper as a follow up to the session on overcoming investment barriers and Polish business environment. Whilst “crisis” is of course a negative time, it also an opportune moment to make get your voice heard and to make changes. The BPCC 6th Annual Conference will be a platform for you to air your views on the obstacles you have encountered to doing business in Poland and the BPCC white paper will be sent to Deputy Minister of Economy, Adam Szejnfeld, and Chariman of the Parliamentary Committee Przyjazne Pañstwo (“Friendly State”), Miroslaw Sekula to ensure these views are heard by those who can make a difference.
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Registration:
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Programme
09:25 Welcome, David Thomas, BPCC Chairman
09:30 – 09:45 Official opening by HM Ambassador, Ric Todd
09:45 - 10:45 Economists’ debate: How should Poland overcome the challenges of the global crisis?
- Marcin Mróz, Chief Economist, Fortis Bank
- Witold Or³owski, Chief Economist, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Maciej Reluga, Chief Economist, BZ WBK
- Wies³aw Szczuka, Chief Economist, BRE Bank
- Moderator: Jan Cieñski, Financial Times
10:45 - 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 - 12:00 Panel discussion:
How will the global recession shape the future of investment in Poland?
- Prospects for greenfield investment
- How do private equity funds perceive opportunities on the Polish market?
- The evolution of Poland’s investment attractiveness
- Marek Czarny, Partner, Wierzbowski Eversheds
- Adam Kostrzewa, Partner, TPA Horwath
- Agata Mê¿yñska, Director, Economic Information Department, Polish Information and Foreign Investments Agency
- Barbara Nowakowska, Chairman, Polish Private Equity Association
- Moderator: Micha³ Dembiñski, Head of Policy, BPCC
12:00 - 12:45 Invest with confidence - legal regulations related to public private cooperation
Arwid Mednis, Partner, Wierzbowski Eversheds
13:00 - 14:15 Lunch - Miros³aw Seku³a, Chairman of the Przyjazne Pañstwo (Friendly State) Committee
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14:15 - 14:45 Presentation: Overcoming investment barriers: Will the crisis result in the removal of bureaucratic hurdles?
Robert Gwiazdowski, Chairman, Adam Smith Centre
14:45 - 15:30 Panel discussion: How do foreign investors perceive the Polish business environment?
- Maciej Jankowski, CEO, Commercial Union
- Micha³ M³ynarczyk, Managing Director, HAYS
- Con Murphy, Managing Director, PM Group
- Tomasz Trzós³o, Head of Capital Markets and Investments CEE, Jones Lang LaSalle
- Moderator: David Thomas, Chairman, BPCC
15:30 - 16:00 Leadership in the time of crisis: building customer loyalty - Dorota Duda, Managing Partner, Academy of Service Excellence
16:00 - 16:20 Coffee Break
16:20 - 16:50 Case study: Best practice in CSR policy - Jerzy Toczyski, Chairman, General Manager, GlaxoSmithKline
16:50 - 17:45 Panel Discussion: Benefits of investing in CSR
- How can companies create a positive impact on society?
- Does CSR pay off?
- Operating in a socially responsible way
- Investment in local communities for solid business reasons
- Cooperating with the government to shape and promote CSR policies
- Marek Kosycarz, Director of CSR, Microsoft
- Marta Pokutycka, Head of Communications, Cadbury Wedel
- Iwona Sarachman, Head of Corporate Affairs, Tesco
- Jerzy Toczyski, Chairman, General Manager, GlaxoSmithKline
- Moderator: Katarzyna Gontarczyk, Stowarzyszenie Autokreacja
17:45 Business Mixer and BPCC Annual Awards 2009 |
SPEAKERS:
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Ric Todd Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland
Ric Todd arrived in Warsaw on 11 October 2007 to take up his appointment as British Ambassador to Poland. Ric was born in 1959 in Sussex but grew up in the Midlands. He was educated at Lawrence Sherrif Grammar School, studied history at Oxford, and joined the FCO in 1980. He was posted to Cape Town/Pretoria 1981-4, dealing mainly with Namibia; Czechoslovakia from 1987-9; and Bonn 1991-5. Between 1995 and 2001 he did two secondments in the Treasury, dealing first with Agriculture, EU and "mad cows" and then EU Co-ordination and Strategy. He was a UK member of the EU Economic Policy Committee. He has worked twice in FCO Economic Relations Department. In 2001 he went to Slovakia as Ambassador, then he became Finance Director of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London from 2004-2007. He arrived as Ambassador to Poland in October 2007. Ric is very interested in Central European history and language. He likes walking in woods and looking at buildings. He hopes to travel extensively around Poland. He has already spent time in Krakow and Gdansk whilst learning Polish. He hopes to travel extensively around Poland. He has already spent time in Krakow and Gdansk whilst learning Polish. Ric is married to Alison and has three children. |
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Miros³aw Seku³a Chairman of the "Friendly State" (Przyjazne Panstwo) Committee
Miros³aw Seku³a has a post-graduate diploma in Project Management from the Silesian University of Technology. His previous positions include Chairman of Zabrze City Council, Deputy Mayor of Zabrze and Chairman of Parliamentary Public Finance Committee. Between 2001 and 2007 Seku³a was the President of the Supreme Chamber of Control (State Audit Office). He is currently a Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform) Member of Parliament and holds the position of Chairman of Przyjazne Pañstwo (Friendly State) Committee which is aimed at reducing bureaucratic barriers in Poland and Vice-Chairman of the State Control Committee. |
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Barbara Nowakowska - Executive Director Polish Private Equity Association (PPEA).
The Polish Private Equity Association was established in 2002. Its mission is to promote and develop the private equity/venture capital industry in Poland and to represent the interests of the Polish private equity community in Poland and abroad. Prior to joining PPEA in 2003, Barbara Nowakowska served as a board member of an independent Polish telecom operator El-Net S.A and a restructuring director in an industrial conglomerate, Elektrim S.A. Her professional background includes five years with the largest Polish private equity fund manager Enterprise Investors and two years with the Ministry of Privatisation. Barbara Nowakowska holds an MA degree in economics.
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Maciej Reluga, Bank Zachodni WBK S.A. Chief Economist
Maciej Reluga is a graduate of Economics from Warsaw University, Faculty of Economic Science and also has a degree in Financial Management from the University of Namur, Belgium. His career began early when he worked as an analyst in the Department of Statistics at the National Bank of Poland whilst still studying. In 1998 he took the role of economist at ING Bank where he was responsible for analysis of the Polish economy and financial markets. Since 2002 he has been Chief Economist at Bank Zachodni WBK S.A.. He is the author of many publications and articles in specialist and daily newspapers and magazines. He speaks Polish, English and French. |
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Dorota Duda, Managing Partner, Academy of Service Excellence
Dorota Duda, MBA is highly experienced in working in executive management positions for a number of well recognised brands on the Polish market, including Empik, where she was responsible for employee development and customer service quality standards. For two years she has been running Academy of Service Excellence in Poland and works closely with Chris Daffy, one of the UK’s best-known customer service experts. |
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Marcin Mróz, Chief Economist, Fortis Bank
Marcin Mróz started his career as a market economist in 1997 after graduating from Warsaw School of Economics. As a regional economist / strategist in Wood and Co. he was responsible for macro economics and market analysis of Central and Eastern Europe and then in 2001 he joined Societe Generale as a Senior Economist covering the Polish economy. Since 2006 he has been Chief Economist at Fortis Bank, Poland. Marcin Mróz is the author of numerous articles and a member of the Polish Association of Business Economists. |
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Witold M.Orlowski is a macroeconomist working on the economics of transition and the European integration. Former economic advisor to the President of Poland. Founder of NOBE, one of Poland’s leading economic think-tanks, Dean of the Warsaw University of Technology Business School. Chief advisor to PricewaterhouseCoopers Polska.
Studied at the University of Lodz and Harvard. 1993-1997 at the World Bank, 2001-05 chief economic advisor to the President. In the past also advisor to the Chief Negotiator of the EU membership of Poland, member of the Macroeconomic Council of the Ministry of Finance, consultant to many international and national bodies. Author of 6 books and 150 scientific publications. |
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Wies³aw Szczuka, Ph.D.
Chief economist of BRE Bank S.A. since March 2006. For many years associated with the Ministry of Finance, where he held, among others, the positions of the director of Foreign Departament and Vice-Minister responsible for public debt management and international relations. Played a significant role in restructuring and reducing Poland’s external public debt and in introducing Polish Treasury securities to the international capital market. In years 1997-2004 worked as an Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetarny Fund in Washington. Served also at the Polish Embassy in Tokio. Graduated from the Foreign Trade Faculty of the Warsaw School of Economics, where he later spent almost 14 years doing research work with a focus on international finance. Graduated also from the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. |
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Maciej Jankowski – chief executive, Commercial Union Poland group
Graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics. Joined Commercial Union Poland Life Insurance Company in 1993 as accountant and was later appointed deputy finance director and finance director. From 1997 to 1998 he worked at Commercial Union Assurance Company plc in London in business risks department. Completed trainings at Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and passed exams giving him right to work as chartered accountant in the UK and most other OECD countries. From 1998 to 2003 he was deputy general manager of Commercial Union Pension Fund company managing Poland’s largest pension fund. From 2003 to 2008 CFO of CU Poland group companies. In 2008 appointed chief executive of CU Poland group which is part of Aviva group – the world’s fifth-largest insurer and UK market leader. |
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Agata Mê¿yñska – Director of Economic Information Department in Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency.
Her field of work includes research, analysis and strategic planning. Previously worked in the field of strategy and analysis in Ministry of Regional Development and Governmental, where among other she was involved in preparation of National Development Strategy and in the Governmental Center for Strategic Studies. She has also worked in the field of structural funding in Polish Tourism Organization and Ministry of Economy, Labour and Social Policy, as well as supporting numerous project providers. She holds Master’s degrees in Public Economy and International Relations from Warsaw School of Economics. Currently prepares Ph.D. dissertation concerning transaction costs of legal regulation in the field of structural funds. |
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Marta Pokutycka, Corporate Affairs Manager in Poland.
Responsible for internal and external communication, as well as NGO relations and sustainability strategy for Cadbury in Poland. She was also one of the creator of voluntary program for employees in Poland. She also had a chance to learn what voluntary work means in practice by getting experience in several community projects in Poland, as well as taking part in international CSR project in Ghana on cocoa plantations.
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Iwona Sarachman – Corporate Affairs Manager at Tesco Polska Sp. z o.o.
She has been working for Tesco since June 2008. Her responsibilities include external and internal communications and CSR strategy. Prior to that she was the head of Public Affairs and Communications department at Coca-Cola Poland Services. Her professional career also includes working for Philip Morris Polska S.A. and 10 years of work in the petroleum industry. During that time she worked for an American petroleum corporation Amoco and in BP global headquarters in London. In every job Iwona was responsible for community work and relationships with non governmental organizations. Iwona has MA in English language from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and MBA from Teesside University (GB) and Kraków University of Economics |
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Jerzy Toczyski - General Manager’s GSK
Jerzy Toczyski, MD, is a graduate of Medical University in Gdañsk as well as MBA studies of Business University in Warsaw and Thames Valley University in London. He joined GSK as a medical representative in 1992. In following years he held several positions within sales and marketing, including the position of Business Development Manager for Central-Eastern European area. As Strategic Marketing Manager he played a key role in creating new GSK organization after GlaxoWellcome and SmithKline Beecham merger in 2001. Before his nomination to General Manager’s position in 2008, Jerzy broadened his experience and expertise in all areas of GSK portfolio. |
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Marek Kosycarz – Citizenship Director, Microsoft Sp. z o.o.
Marek Kosycarz graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology, faculty of Mechatronics. He also holds MBA diploma from the Business School of the Warsaw University of Technology. In Microsoft Kosycarz is in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility. He coordinates implementation in Poland of the global campaign “Unlimited Potential”. Before joining Microsoft he was a Brand Practice director at leading PR consultancy Burson-Marsteller, board member of Wunderman advertising agency (Young&Rubivam group) and Corporate and Regulatory Affairs director at British-American Tobacco where he was responsible for “Social Reporting” – a dialogue with the company key stakeholders, government affairs and contacts with the media (spokesperson). Kosycarz is a board member of “Responsible Business Forum” (“Forum Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu”) and member of Business Center Club. |
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Adam Kostrzewa - Corporate Finance Partner
He graduated from the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Warsaw in 1990, with a major in international business relations. In 1990-1994 Adam worked at Towarzystwo Doradztwa Inwestycyjnego, executing numerous Mergers & Acquisitions projects. In 1994-1998 and 2001-2003 he worked for Ernst & Young. In 1998-2001 Adam acted as the Management Accounting Director of Commercial Union Polska. In 2003 he opened his own consulting company and focused on performance improvement and Corporate Finance. Since January 2009 Adam has been a partner at TPA Horwath CF Sp. z o.o., specialising in the Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions services. Adam combines the experience in the area of accounting and consulting gained in co-operation with financial institutions with comprehensive consulting regarding business improvements. During the course of his career Adam has developed and executed a number of enterprise acquisition transactions, acting in certain cases as a supervisor representing the investor. |
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Marek Czarny Partner, Wierzbowski Eversheds
Marek is an attorney-at-law and partner with Wierzbowski Eversheds in Poland, where he is responsible for the banking and finance practice. Marek Czarny specialises in capital markets, banking law, foreign investments and commercial contract law. Marek has considerable experience in business law both in Poland and abroad. From 1992 to 2001 he was a lawyer, and subsequently a partner, with international law firm Clifford Chance. Marek Czarny is a graduate of the Nicolas Copernicus University of Torun and of the University of Kent at Canterbury, where he earned a BA (Hons) diploma in English law. He also holds the title of doctor of law conferred by the University of Gdansk. Marek is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and as an attorney-at-law in Poland. He has written several publications on the subject of privatisation, insolvency and foreign investments, and has been a speaker at many conferences and seminars in Poland and abroad. |
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Con Murphy Dyrektor Zarz±dzaj±cy, PM Group
Con Murphy is Managing Director of the Polish operation of PM Group, the international provider of professional services in engineering, architecture and project management and one of the largest architectural, engineering and construction management firms in the country. Con’s expertise in the delivery of fast-track projects in Europe has been developed over the course of 15 years working in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Poland. Previously he worked in the Civil Engineering sector in Ireland and the UK. Con is a graduate of University College Cork and holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Contract Law from Trinity College Dublin. |
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dr Arwid Mednis Partner, Wierzbowski Eversheds
Arwid Mednis is a partner at Wierzbowski Eversheds. He specializes in telecommunications law, personal data protection law and PPP projects. During the years 1991-2001 Mr Mednis represented Poland in the Personal Data Protection Committee at the European Council in Strasbourg and was the Chairman of the Committee from 1998 to 2000. He was an expert for the Parliament committee elaborating the draft Personal Data Protection Act. He advised banks, insurance, marketing and other type of companies with regard to the data protection. He is an author of many publications related to personal data protection, e-business, telecommunications law and administrative law. Arwid Mednis is an expert in the field of public-private partnership projects. He was involved in investment projects with private partner participation in Gdañsk (Saur-Neptun Gdañsk project), Tychy, Poznañ and Bielsko-Bia³a. He was a member of Polish Confederation of Private Employers Leviatan team involved in a PPP bill preparation, and served as an expert on administrative law to the Friendly State Parliamentary Committee. He is also an active member of Centrum PPP – foundation with a main purpose to promote public-private undertakings in Poland. |
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Tomasz Trzós³o, head of Capital Markets Team at Jones Lang LaSalle in Poland
Tomasz Trzós³o - head of Capital Markets Team at Jones Lang LaSalle in Poland and responsible for activities of the Polish investment team, with the supervisory role for capital markets advisory services of JLL accross Central Europe (involving JLL offices in Prague, Budapest and Bucharest). The activities of the team incluse sales and acquisition advice, debt financing advice, structured equity financing mandates and general financial advisory. Tomasz has over ten years experience in the Central European capital markets. Since joining, he has participated in numerous investment and financing deals including sales, acquisitions, sale and leaseback transactions, development debt, investment debt and equity raising projects. |
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Michal Mlynarczyk a Managing Director of HAYS Poland
Michal Mlynarczyk a Managing Director of HAYS Poland, a global leader in specialist recruitment is a University of Sydney graduate with Master of HRM title and Applied Social Sciences of Warsaw University. With over 10 years experience in recruitment and HR industry working for major international companies in Poland and abroad. |
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Robert Gwiazdowski
Robert Gwiazdowski Graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw. In 1994 received Ph.D title followed in 2009 with postdoctoral degree. At 2004 Mr. Gwiazdowski assumed a position of President of Adam Smith Centre – first independent research institute in Poland since 1989. He is author of “ Justice and effectiveness of taxation” and “Progressive and proportional taxes” and many commentaries regarding tax and economic topics in Polish TV and radio stations, author of numerous publications. He is independent member of many companies’ supervisory boards. He has run a business within legal, tax, and finance consultancy, trading as Gwiazdowski Consulting |
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