Conference programme – The Modern Bar Association Conference

 

Conference programme

International Conference
Modern Bar Association
23 – 24 May 2025
Warsaw
Responsibility Beyond Sustainability – ESG and Human Right

 

 

PROGRAMME

 

 

23rd of May, Friday

 

9:30–10:00 | Registration and Welcome Coffee

10:00–10:20 | Opening of the Conference

Welcome by the organizers:

Attorney-at-law Anna Sękowska, Dean of the Warsaw Bar Association

Dr. habil. Kamil Zajączkowski, Director of the European Centre, University of Warsaw

10:20–11:00 | Keynote speech: TBC

Panel I | 11:00–12:15 

New Frameworks for Market Responsibility: Omnibus Package, Competition, and the Deregulatory Perspective

Moderator: Attorney-at-law Dr. Agnieszka Oleksyn-Wajda, Director of the Institute of Sustainable Development and Environment, Lazarski University

Speakers:

Dr. habil., Prof. Kozminski University Bolesław Rok, Kozminski University, RES. Centre for Reimagining Sustainability. Management, Finance and Society; Head of Postgraduate Studies “The ESG Perspective. Responsible and Sustainable Management”

Dr. Jacqueline Kacprzak, Polish OECD National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct, European Affairs and International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy

Dr. habil., Prof. Warsaw School of Economics Ewelina Szczech-Pietkiewicz, Vice-Dean of the Doctoral School, Director of the Institute of International Economic Policy, Collegium of World Economy

Panel II | 12:15–13:30

Capital for the Future: Finance as the Architecture of ESG

Moderator: Zofia Piwowarek, ESG Manager at Santander Bank Polska S.A.

Speakers:

Anna Malinowska, Expert in the Department of Strategy and Risk Development and ESG in the Risk Management Division at Pekao S.A., Member of the Sustainable Investment Forum Poland (POLSiF)

Dr. Anna Grygiel-Tomaszewska, Associate Director at KPMG Poland, Founding Member and Member of the Program Council of the Legal Centre at the Sustainable Investment Forum Poland (POLSiF), Head of Postgraduate Studies “Strategic ESG Transformation in Enterprises” at the Warsaw School of Economics

TBC

13:30–14:15 | Lunch Break

Panel III | 14:15–15:30

What Does Responsible Business Really Mean?

Moderator: Attorney-at-law Sylwia Kołodziej, Director, Legal and Site Contracts at Velocity Clinical Research, Member of the Committee for International Cooperation and Human Rights in the Warsaw Bar Association

Speakers:

Kamil Wyszkowski, CRepresentative | Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Poland, Representative of UNOPS in Poland

Wiktoria Płocha, Sustainability Leader / Sustainability Business Partner at IKEA

Michał Mikołajczyk, Member of the Main Board of the Polish Red Cross, President of the Management Board of the Mazovian Regional Branch of the Polish Red Cross

Attorney-at-law, doctoral candidate Michał Bernat, Partner at Dentons, Assistant Professor and Director’s Plenipotentiary for Equality at the European Centre, University of Warsaw, Member of the Committee for International Cooperation and Human Rights in the Warsaw Bar Association

Panel IV | 15:30–16:45 

Management Board Liability in ESG: Negligence, Overzealousness, Responsibility

Moderator: Attorney-at-law Dr. Katarzyna Barańska, Leader of the Decarbonization Practice at Osborne Clarke, Member of the Committee for International Cooperation and Human Rights in the Warsaw Bar Association

Speakers:

Advocate Dr. Małgorzata Skawińska, Lexalis Law Firm, Head of University Relations at Worldwide Independent Lawyers League

Attorney-at-law Szymon Jelonek, Senior Associate at Dentons, Chair of the Promotion and Professional Development Committee of the Warsaw Bar Association, Co-Leader of the Legal Centre at the Sustainable Investment Forum Poland (POLSiF)

TBC

16:45–17:00 | Summary and Closing of the Conference

Key takeaways from the panels: TBC

17:00-18:30 – Cocktail and Networking

An informal meeting over a glass of wine and snacks – an opportunity for further conversations with speakers and participants.