prof. Grzegorz Wrochna
The President of Polish Space Agency
Professor Grzegorz Wrochna serves as the President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA). He was appointed to this position on February 18, 2021.
Prof. Wrochna is a Professor of physics. From 1986 to 1991, he served on the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw. During that time, he worked closely with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) labs, in Geneva and Hamburg, respectively. From 1991 to 1998, while at CERN, he participated in the design and construction of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
Beginning in 1999, Prof. Wrochna served at the Institute for Nuclear Studies, and in 2006 became the director of the Institute, following his leadership of the Astroparticle Apparatus Laboratory. In 2011, he initiated the creation of the National Center for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), and he served as its Director until 2015. At NCBJ, among other achievements, he established the Department of Astroparticle Physics, and involved the institution in several space-related projects.
Prof. Wrochna represented Poland at EURATOM, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, and the Board of Governors of the European Union’s Joint Research Center. During 2017-2018, he served as the President of the Scientific Policy Committee advising the Minister of Science and Higher Education. During 2019-2020, Prof. Wrochna served as Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, where his responsibilities included overseeing cooperation with the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Aleksandra Bukała
The Head of Strategy and International Cooperation Department
Mrs. Aleksandra Bukała graduates from the Warsaw School of Economics in 2001, the Faculty: Management and Marketing. PhD in the area of the Management in 2014. She completed also 1 year post-graduate course in the field of Automation at Warsaw Technical University in 2008.
Mrs. A. Bukała has over 15 years of experience as a Project- and Program Manager in the area of aerospace with a focus on automation and robotics for space applications, as well as space security and safety. Among others, she gathered her experience from research and science entities: Industrial Institute of Automation and Measurements (PIAP) and Warsaw Technical University. She worked for SENER Poland as: Business Development Manager and CEO. Then she took over the position of CEO at Creotech Instruments SA from the space electronics domain. Mrs. A. Bukała takes part in different associations, working groups and committees, like for example: National Centre for Research and Development, CAPTECH EDA GEM3, NATO, Horizon 2020 as an evaluator of applications.
With POLSA from October 2019.
Dr Oskar Karczewski
Head of Research and Innovation Department
has a scientific background with a BA and MSc from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in astrophysics from UCL (2013). Throughout a total of eight years of academic research he studied local and global star formation processes in nearby galaxies, an highly interdisciplinary research area situated at the interface between physics, chemistry and applied mathematics. He participated in several collaborations which used observational data from the Herschel Space Observatory, most notably at Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) in Saclay, France, where he held a personal grant. His observing campaigns include far infrared and radio observations with JCMT (Hawaii, USA) and IRAM (Granada, Spain), respectively.
In 2017 dr Karczewski made a transition to business, where he managed highly innovative Research and Development projects in areas such as sensing technologies for medicine and space, metrology and telecommunications. His responsibilities also included strategy building and business development. His projects received international recognition and funding awards in highly competitive European programmes.
At POLSA, dr Karczewski serves as the Head of Research and Innovation, where he works to support the growing space sector in Poland by creating links between the academia and the industry, by helping build cutting-edge scientific and engineering expertise, and by promoting Polish space companies on the global market.
With POLSA since 2021.
Lt Col Pawel Chodosiewicz
graduated in 2006 as MSc. Eng. in cybernetics from Military Academy of Technology (WAT) in Warsaw, later on supplementing education with postgraduate studies in Human Resource Management at Military Academy of Technology and in Space Management in the New Economy at Warsaw University Of Life Sciences (SGH). Since 2006 he has worked at variety of military posts mainly as the IT engineer (programmer, Cisco administrator and project manager).
Since 2014 he has been working in a field of space technology initially in the Inspectorate for Implementation of Innovative Defence Technologies (3 years in the Space Technologies Division) and now as Section Chief of Defence Projects Department in Polish Space Agency. He is responsible for new technologies reconnaissance, arranging surveys, studies and Polish involvement analysis in number of space areas i.e. small launchers, SATCOM, technology harmonization etc. (at national level and within international context – ESA, EDA, European Commission). Furthermore he is a national delegate to the EU GovSatCom initiative as well as an advisor in the PB-STS ESA.
With POLSA since 2017.
Zbigniew Burdzy
A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (Faculty of Foreign Trade) in 1996 Scholarship holder at the university “Julius – Maximilians – Universität” in Würzburg in 1995, since 2016, employee of the Polish Space Agency. Currently as an Expert in the Department of Research and Innovation.
Representative of POLSA in the consortium implementing the EC project Strategic Research Cluster in Space Robotics (acronym of the PER ASPERA project), in which ESA and national agencies DLR, CNES, ASI, UK Space, CDTI and POLSA take part. Z. Burdzy represents Poland to the ESA Program Board for human space flights, microgravity and exploration PB HME, ESA Committee on Industrial Policy (ESA IPC) and the advisory group on the technology harmonization of European Space Agency IPC-THAG.
In the years 2013 – 2016, an employee of the Space Policy Division in the Department of Innovation and Industry of the Ministry of Economy, performing, among others, the function of the Task Force for the implementation of the ESA Polish Industry Incentive Scheme.
Oskar Zdunek
Chief Specialist in Strategy and International Cooperation Department.
Industrial Liaison Officer of European Southern Observatory and EUMETSAT Contact Point in Poland. At the Polish Space Agency, he is responsible for activities related to satellite navigation, Earth observations, cooperation in the preparation of documents and positions within the work of national, EU and international teams and working groups related to industrial policy and development of the space sector, as well as involved in the SUN project from H2020.
An expert of the Polish delegation to the European Space Agency in the field of satellite navigation and international relations, as well as an advisor in the EUSPA Administrative Board. Previously Office Manager of the Polish Space Industry Association, where he was responsible for disseminating knowledge about the space sector, managing relations with union members, organizing events, conducting internship competitions and managing projects. He is also Member of the Board of Polish Space Proffessionals Association.He graduated with honors from Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw.
Justyna Makulska
Chief Specialist for Promotion and PR
Mrs Justyna Makulska graduated from the Warsaw University in 2004, with a master’s degree in art history, the Academy of Fine Arts in 2007 with a master’s degree in graphic design and the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology in 2012 with Advanced Multimedia postgraduate studies. In Polish Space Agency she is responsible for Promotion and PR. She is an advisor to the Communication Committee (ACC) of the European Space Agency and participates in EU projects carried out with the participation of POLSA, such as Sat4Envi, Entrusted.
In the years 2000 – 2018, she performed various functions in Polish media (e.g. project manager, journalist, art director, graphic designer), incl. in: TVP Polonia channel, TVP Kultura channel, Marketing Department of Polish Television, printed and internet press, worked on the production of films and TV programs.
With POLSA since 2018.
Back
