Experts

Andrea Schmidt

Graduate of Russian Philology and History at the University of Pécs (1993). 1991-1996 pursued Polish Philology Studies in the Eötvös Lóránd University, Budapest. In 1994 obtained MA in Central European Studies and Modern History at the Central European University in Budapest, in 1999 - MA in economics at the Budapest Business School, the College of Finance and Accountancy. Recently student of a doctoral School at the University of Pécs, Faculty of Arts and Political Sciences. 1994-1998 Assistant Lecturer at the University of Miskolc, Department of Modern History. 1999-2001 Program coordinator at the University of Pécs, Institute of European Studies. Since 2003 Lecturer at the University of Pécs, Faculty of Arts, Department of Political Studies. Author of many articles, participant of several joint scientific projects mainly in the field of financial factors of governance, the transitional period of the Central European countries – especially Hungary and Poland. 

Jan Sechter

Jan Sechter

Current Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Poland. Mr. Sechter graduated in 1992 from Faculty of Economics, at the University of Agriculture, Prague. Founder of „Lidové noviny” newspaper. In the nineties he worked in the Department for Culture and Czechs Abroad (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), in 2000 was a head of unit cross-sectional agenda, department of Central Europe Countries, MFA. In the years 2000/2001 – 2007 he was a member of many institutions: Board of Czech-German Future Fund, Directors Board of Fund for victims of Holocaust etc. In 2007-2008 was on duty in Executive Secretary of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research.

Marek Sečkař

Studied at the department of Romance Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Masaryk University in Brno. Since 2001 has worked as an editor of the literary monthly Host, mainly dealing with the section World Literature. Has published articles of political, cultural, artistic and literary orientation in the periodicals HostTvarLiterární novinyLidové novinyPrávoMladá Fronta Dnes, Poslední generace, etc. As a translator has translated into Czech several books from the area of literary theory, philosophy, cultural studies, history of art, as well as works of fiction (mainly “nouveau roman” and French erotic literature).

Hélène Seigneur

After a bachelor degree in translation and interpreting obtained in Italy (IULM-Milan), Hélène set up her own small company in translation French-Italian languages. She specialized herself in the internationalization of the organizations and graduated in 2010 with a Master degree in International project management in the French Alps (University Savoie Mont Blanc). She spent several months as a volunteer in Brazil and Peru to improve her linguistic skills. Settled in Marseille in 2011, her professional career as EU project manager started in 2011, working as a project coordinator for Youth Exchanges and Training courses within the framework of the Youth In Action Programme. In 2013 she worked for 3 years as a programme administrator at the University of Aix Marseille within the International Relations Department. Since 2016, she is in charge of the European & Sport project development offices in Eurocircle. She coordinates transnational and local projects (as applicant or partner organization), within different EU programmes such as Erasmus+, Sport, Creative Europe, Europe for Citizens and Asylum Migration and Integration Funds. 

Janusz Sepioł

Janusz Sepioł

Since 2007 a Senator of the 7th cadence. Former Marshall of the Malopolska Region. Member of associations such as: Polish Townplanners Association, Polish Architects Assiociation, the Social Committee of Krakow Monuments Rehabilitation. Chairman of the Voivodship Uran-Architectural Committee. Graduated at Krakow Technical Academy (Faculty of Architecture). Author of a number of publications in Polish as well as in English and German, concerning architecture and urban studies. Entitled for national architectural designing (1989) and town planning designing (1990).

Rafał Serafin

Graduated form the University of East Anglia in England, the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo in Canada. Since 1990 he has worked in Krakow; one of the founders and the first director of the Cracow Forum for Development – a partnership initiative launched in 1995 by business, university and local government leaders, and social organizations for the development of Krakow. Since 1996 he has been Head of the Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation board – an independent and self-governing foundation, which supports sustainable development at the local level. He cooperates with The Prince of Wales International Business Forum and University of Cambridge. Lecturer at the Tischner European University in Cracow.  

Hebba Sherif

PhD in 1996 from the Cairo University in Comparative Literature. She worked as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Arts at the Cairo University from 1997 until 2002. From 2004 – 2005 she was chosen as member of the jury of Litrix - German Literature Online for selecting German books for Arabic Translation. Since 2010 member of the board of the National Centre for Translation in Egypt. She has been working since 2002 as Head of Pro Helvetia Cairo (Swiss Arts Council), where she was responsible for designing concepts and strategies for exchange artistic works between Swiss and Arab culture. She wrote several articles in German and Arabic about cultural interaction and comparative literature. She has also done translations from German into Arabic. She has participated since 2011 in some independent cultural initiatives, such as independent culture coalition, the national group for cultural policies. Since 2011, she has been interested in the reform of the cultural sector in Egypt and has participated in several events addressing this topic. Now, her focus is on organizing projects related to the own cultural heritage in its relation to the contemporary artistic expressions.

Stanislav Shushkevich

Stanislav Shushkevich

Politician, physicist. Head of the Belarusian Parliament of the Supreme Soviet of the Belarus (1991–1994). On 8th December 1991, together with the Presidents of Russia (Boris Yeltsin) and Ukraine (Leonid Kravchuk), signed the Declaration dissolving the Soviet Union. He supported free market reforms and played a key role in the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Before his Presidency he was a prominent Belarusian Scientist, a corresponding Member of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences; Doctor and Professor in Physics and Mathematics, author of award–winning textbooks (over 150 articles and 70 inventions), and recipient of numerous state awards. Chairman of the political party Gramada running for the 2006 presidential elections. In June 2006 he was awarded the Jan Nowak Jeziorański Award. 

Joanna Skoczek

Current director of Public and Cultural Diplomacy Department in Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Between 2008-2012 director of the EU Presidency Coordination Department, MFA. Since 2005, she had been working in the Office of the Committee for European Integration, among others, dealing with decision making process in the UE as a deputy director of the Integration Policy Department. Previously (2002–2005), she was responsible for coordination of the Ministry of Justice participation in the EU legislative process in the area of judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, monitoring the tasks resulting from the membership, coordinating relations with the Parliament as to the European matters. She graduated from Faculty of Law (Jagiellonian University) and National School of Public Administration in Warsaw. She has been always active in field of youth education and initiatives, e.g. she is co-founder of Cracow Youth City Council.

Paulina Skotnicka

Paulina Skotnicka is a licensed tour guide of Cracow and the Cracow Museum's "Underground Market" exhibition. She is most eager to guide groups around Krakow's Kazimierz district and routes related to Jewish history and culture. She is interested in art in its broadest sense and in social issues. She tries to introduce tourists to local traditions and customs. Paulina Skotnicka gives guided tours in English and Polish, but she also speaks in French

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