Our Team

Wawrzyniec
Smoczyński

Social activist, manager, and consultant. Wawrzyniec worked for 13 years as an award-winning journalist and editor, covering international affairs, economics, and politics for the Polish weekly Polityka. He later founded Polityka Insight, Poland’s leading provider of policy analysis, advised banks and corporate clients on political risk and served as head of strategy at USWPS, Poland’s largest non-public university. He is interested in communal processes, the formation of civic bonds, and political polarization. Wawrzyniec is a co-founder and president of the NCF Management Board, where he is responsible for social impact and communication.

Zuzanna
Rudzińska-Bluszcz

Attorney-at-law, former head of the Warsaw office of ClientEarth, and currently Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Poland. From 2015 to 2021, she served as lead coordinator for strategic litigation at the Office of the Polish Ombudsman. Previously, she worked as an defense attorney, judge of the Higher Disciplinary Court of the Bar, and member of the Women’s Rights Committee of the Polish Bar Council. Zuzanna is a co-founder of NCF.

On December 13, 2023, Zuzanna was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice. In line with NCF’s conflict of interest policy, she suspended her participation in the Foundation's work for the term of her public service. The Board of Founders confirmed this decision by a formal resolution.

Mikołaj
Lewicki

Sociologist, assistant professor at the Faculty of Sociology, University of Warsaw, affiliated with the Institute for Advanced Studies in Warsaw. His research focuses on economic and cultural sociology, mechanisms of market construction, socio-economic development, and mortgage debt. He is the author of books on Polish modernization discourses ("The Future Cannot Begin") and mortgage credit ("The Social Life of the Mortgage"). Mikołaj is a co-founder of NCF.

Joanna
Zięba

Cultural studies scholar, assistant professor at the Institute of Polish Culture, University of Warsaw, and president of the “Cathedral of Culture” Association. Her research interests include social history, traditions of civic engagement, and forms of cultural participation. She educates cultural animators and co-creates the Social Arts degree program at the University of Warsaw. As a trainer and expert, she collaborates with NGOs and cultural institutions across Poland. Joanna is a co-founder and a member the NCF Management Board, responsible for dialogue facilitation and local engagement.

Joanna
Matera

Social psychologist. From 2019 to 2021, she worked as a research assistant at the Center for Research on Prejudice at the University of Warsaw. Educator at Amnesty International. Graduate of the “Humanity in Action” Human Rights Academy. Joanna leads NCF’s social and political dialogue track and facilitates dialogues and workshops.

Katarzyna
Binda

Cultural anthropologist and Serbian studies specialist. Since 2010, she has worked with NGOs, supporting grassroots social change and creating spaces for dialogue and social innovation. Kasia leads NCF’s climate and environmental dialogue track and facilitates dialogues and workshops.

Kasia
Chrapka

Finance and administration specialist in NGOs. Previously worked at the Komeński Institute, Civis Polonus Foundation, and Reportage Institute Foundation. Kasia manages NCF’s office.

Agata
Pietrzyk-Sławińska

Graduate of the Institute of Polish Culture at the University of Warsaw. Psychosocial skills trainer. Head of the Department of Museum Education at the Royal Łazienki Museum. Collaborates with NGOs, cultural institutions, informal groups, and local communities. Agata facilitates dialogues and chairs the NCF Council.

Olga
Białobrzeska

Social psychologist, assistant professor at SWPS University, affiliated with the Center for Research on Social Relations. Her research concentrates on the role of community in human life, currently focusing on everyday kindness. Olga is a member of the NCF Management Board, responsible for research and dialogue methodology.

Anna
Zielińska-Rakowicz

Graduate of international relations and postgraduate management studies. She supports companies in building lasting relations with the public sector. Managing director at the Electric Vehicles Promotion Foundation. Experienced in project and event management. From 2013 to 2017, she was deputy director and acting director at the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), responsible for strategic development. Anna is a member of the NCF Council.

Magdalena
Latuch

Cultural studies scholar, facilitator, trainer, and community animator. For over a decade, she has led tutoring processes (individual and group) for local community leaders. She also leads workshops in social project management. Magda facilitates dialogues and is a member of the NCF Council.

Karolina
Dorożała

Cultural studies scholar, facilitator, and social project manager. She has coordinated projects and led teams in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Karolina conducts NCF workshops.

Maciej
Jaszcza

Social media specialist and videographer. Previously worked at the Polish Green Network. Maciej manages NCF’s social media.

Iwona
Oskiera

Sociology student at the University of Warsaw. Active in projects related to culture and future education in the NGO sector. Member of the Students’ Forum “Business Centre Club”. At the NCF, she manages commissioned projects for companies and organizations.

Witold
Chorąży

Sociology student at the University of Warsaw. Member of the Student Association of Economic Policy. Interested in political sociology and quantitative research. At NCF, Witek works as an administrative specialist and Management Board assistant.

Izabela
Meyza

Cultural anthropologist, communication trainer, and mediator. She supports teams in developing communication skills and navigating conflict. Long involved in Polish-Jewish dialogue. She leads workshops for teachers on discussing controversial topics with students and strengthens leaders in communicating across differences. Iza facilitates dialogues at NCF.

Aleksander
Szałański

Political scientist. Leads social projects on air quality improvement in cities at the Electric Vehicles Promotion Foundation. Previously, he worked at the Chancellery of the Sejm and in PR agencies. Olek is a member of the NCF Council.

Marta
Szycman

Social scientist, facilitator, mediator, and market researcher with 20 years of experience. Marta conducts social research for NCF’s projects and facilitates dialogues.

Michał
Jastrzębski

Cultural animator. He works in the education sector, with experience in diverse communities in Poland and abroad. He lectures at Cherkasy National University (Ukraine) as a part of NAWA Lecturers Program and collaborates with the  Polonicum Center at the University of Warsaw. Michał facilitates NCF dialogues.

Kasia
Zwolak

Graduate of international cultural studies, comparative civilization studies, and gender studies at the Jagiellonian University, and of humanitarian aid studies at the University of Geneva. She previously worked at the Polish Humanitarian Action, Congress of Women, British Embassy in Poland, and Norwegian Refugee Council. Kasia is NCF’s Director of Development and Finance.

Konrad
Sobczyk

Mediator, facilitator, supervisor, and conflict resolution trainer. For over a decade, he has co-managed the mediation center Mediatorzy.pl. His work focuses on dialogue and helping people move from mutual accusations to mutual understanding and acceptable agreements. Konrad facilitates dialogues at NCF.

Jarosław
Gwizdak

Lawyer, board member of the Institute of Law and Society INPRIS. Served as a judge from 2003 to 2019 and as president of the Katowice-West District Court from 2013 to 2017. After 20 years in the judiciary, he knows that justice and dialogue are found elsewhere.

Friends of the NCF

Marcin
Bruś

Economist, advertising director at Allegro. For over 20 years, he observed how cooperation can be built - and destroyed - in large and small organizations. Worked in Poland and abroad for international corporations. Advises Polish companies with diverse cultures and values. Graduate of the Leadership Academy for Poland.

Joanna
Sawicka-Skibińska

Joanna Sawicka-Skibińska
Historian and Senior Political Affairs Analyst at Polityka Insight. Specializes in monitoring social and political trends, data analysis, and local government developments. Has worked with Polityka Insight since 2013, previously with the “Polityka” weekly. From 2014 to 2019, editor at the magazine “Kontakt”.

Wanda
Hydel

Hebraist and student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Manages social media for the Rethinking Refugees initiative. She coordinated the NCF project “What Connects Us?” and is now a member of the NCF Council.

Emilia
Kaczmarek

Graduate of Public Life Studies at SWPS University. Since 2017, she has created and supported social projects. Winner of Forbes 25under25 competition in the “Diversity Support” category.

Michał
Brzeziński

Economist, assistant professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Warsaw. Specializes in research on poverty, economic inequality, and wealth distribution. Michał also researches the political economy of democracy in Poland. Author of dozens of publications in international academic journals. Social expert at the Polish Committee of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN Poland).

Sonia
Sokołowska

Social and resocialization prevention specialist. Gained experience in corporations, where she developed processes, acquired business clients, and built supply chains. Sonia was NCF’s office manager.

Dominika
Blachnicka-Ciacek

Sociologist, assistant professor at the Faculty of Sociology, University of Warsaw. Her research focuses on the relationships between place, space, and memory in post-war areas, hospitality toward migrants, and urban integration projects. She translates her academic interests into filmmaking and curatorial work. Holds a PhD in visual sociology from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Matylda
Naczyńska

Student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Collaborates with social projects and NGOs, mainly as a graphic designer. At NCF, Matylda handled graphic design and website maintenance.

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