The Polish Congress Ambassadors Gala, organized by the Polish Tourist Organization – Poland Convention Bureau, the Conferences and Congresses in Poland Association and the Silesia Convention Bureau, was held on March 21, 2024. The event took place at the Walcownia Muzeum Hutnictwa i Cynku (Rolling Mill of the Museum of Metallurgy and Zinc) in Katowice, which is a unique post-industrial space.
During the Gala, Polish Congress Ambassadors and Ambassadors for 2022 and 2023, selected by the Chapter, were honored. The Polish Congress Ambassadors program, implemented in cooperation with the Polish Tourist Organization and the Conferences and Congresses in Poland Association, aims to promote Poland as an attractive destination for international congresses and conferences. This year’s Gala was also co-organized by the Silesian Tourist Organization – Silesia Convention Bureau.
During the ceremony, guests were welcomed by the President of the Board of the Silesian Tourist Organization Adam Wawoczny and Rafał Szmytke, President of the Polish Tourist Organization. President Wawoczny welcomed all those gathered at the event in the Silesian province, which hosted the Gala.
- We are extremely pleased that the Polish Congress Ambassadors Gala came to Katowice for the third time. Co-organization of such an honorable event creates ample opportunities to build a positive image of our region among guests from all over Poland. It is no coincidence that we meet in the post-industrial spaces of the Zinc Rolling Mill. This is the best proof that the industrial heritage of the Silesian Voivodeship is its distinguishing feature – said Adam Wawoczny, emphasizing the development of congress infrastructure as an element leading Poland to the world’s top. PTO President Rafał Szmytke stressed the importance of obtaining congresses and conferences for the development of the country and its position on the international arena, emphasizing the role of involvement of people of science, culture and business in this process.
Acquiring congresses, conferences, international events is a tremendously arduous, difficult, often many years’ work, consisting of applying, soliciting for a given event to be organized in Poland. It is precisely the involvement of people of science, culture and business in acquiring these congresses, conferences and meetings that is an important element in the importance of this sector in the Polish economy – said Rafał Szmytke.
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Paula Fanderowska, president of the Association of Conferences and Congresses in Poland, stressed the importance of cooperation and the determination of the Ambassadors and Congress Ambassadors in attracting such events to Poland.
- We are meeting here in a very wide circle. It is said that to get a congress you need an orchestra, you need cooperation. Above all, the most important figures and spiritus movens for congresses and conferences are the Ambassadors of these events. It is their determination, their effort and their commitment that determines whether our cities and regions will host future events.
She also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet in such a unique space as the Rolling Mill of the Museum of Zinc Metallurgy, , which reflects the post-industrial identity of Silesia.
Prof. Marek Pawełczyk, Chairman of the ACP Program Chapter, also spoke, emphasizing the transformation of Silesia from a region of heavy industry to an area where science and high-technology industry dominate, as well as the region’s wealth of tourist attractions. Professor Pawełczyk additionally proudly recalled that Katowice was awarded the title of European City of Science 2024.
The gala brought together a wide range of representatives from business, academia and other fields of public life, demonstrating the importance they attach to the development of Poland’s congress sector. Among the new Ambassadors who joined the ranks of the honorees are representatives of different backgrounds, which confirms the versatility of Poland’s promotional activities on the international arena.
Honored Ambassadors of Polish Congresses in 2024
The following individuals were honored at the 2024 Gala in Katowice, Poland:
- dr hab. Małgorzata Barańska, Wydział Chemii Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie
- dr hab. Aleksander Bursche, Wydział Archeologii Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
- dr hab. Katarzyna Dziubalska – Kołaczyk, Prorektor ds. nauki, Szkoła Nauk o Języku i Literaturze, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
- Dr hab. n. med. Andrzej Mariusz Fal, Państwowy Instytut Medyczny MSWiA/Polskie Towarzystwo Zdrowia Publicznego
- dr hab. Magdalena Frąc, Instytut Agrofizyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
- Dr Paweł Gajdzis, Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny/Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Piastów Śląskich we Wrocławiu
- Pani Małgorzata Grobelna, Fundacja JiM
- dr hab. inż. Marek Gzik, Politechnika Śląska – obecnie Wiceminister Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego
- Dr hab. Mirosław Jarosiński, prof. SGH, Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie
- Dr hab. Anna Jupowicz – Ginalska, prof. UW, Wydział Dziennikarstwa, Informacji i Bibliologii, Uniwersytet Warszawski
- Dr hab. Justyna Kowalska, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny
- dr hab. Barbara Kożusznik, Uniwersytet Śląski
- UAM dr hab. Agnieszka Kryszczyńska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, Instytut – Obserwatorium Astronomiczne – dyrektor,
- Dr n. med. Jacek Mazek, Samodzielny Publiczny Szpital Kliniczny im. A. Grucy w Otwocku
- Pani Agnieszka Pleti, Fundacja Poland Business Run
- dr hab. Magdalena Rudzińska, Kierownik Katedry Technologii Żywności Pochodzenia Roślinnego, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy im. Augusta Cieszkowskiego
- Dr Barbara Smorczewska, Polskie Stowarzyszenie Psychologii Organizacji oraz Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach
- Dr hab. inż. Marek Szostak, prof. PP, Politechnika Poznańska/Stowarzyszenie Rotopol
- Dr hab. inż. Janusz Walo, prof. Uczelni, Wydział Geodezji i Kartografii Politechniki Warszawskiej
- Pan Piotr Węgrzyn, Fundacja Candela
- Pan Łukasz Wilczyński, Europejska Fundacja Kosmiczna
- dr hab. n. med. Zbigniew Zagórski, Założyciel Grupy Medycznej OCHO
The Polish Congress Ambassadors Gala is not only an opportunity to honor those who have contributed to the congressional development of the country, but also a platform for the exchange of experience and inspiration for further promotional activities. It also allows for closer cooperation between various institutions and individuals involved in promoting Poland as an attractive destination for hosting international business and scientific events.
Co-organizer of the ACP Gala, Silesia Convention Bureau is a consortium of companies and organizations operating in the MICE industry in the Silesian province. It has been operating since January 2023 as part of the Silesian Tourist Organization and is dedicated to promoting the region as an attractive destination for organizing business events.
The office has invited its consortium partners to cooperate in the organization of this year’s ACP Gala: Dream Events Poland, Catering24, Mercure Katowice Centrum and Business Service Galop. This year’s ACP Gala was hosted by Michal Zalewski of dobrzepowiedziane.com, also a partner of the event.
The event was highlighted by an artistic performance by the Song and Dance Ensemble “Śląsk” im. Stanisława Hadyny showing a performance entitled “Folk Solution”, which combined electronic music, contemporary dance and folk culture inspirations.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice is a consortium member of the Silesia Convention Bureau.