Ukrainian culture expert, political scientist, editor-in-chief and founder of Independent Cultural Journal "Ї".Studied at the Lviv Polytechnic National University. After Gorbachev’s thaw he became an activist of democratic movement and coorganised the first general strike in Ukraine (at Lviv Factory of Milling Machines). Associated with an informal group of intellectuals “Lvivska Shkola” (Lviv School). He translated a large number of texts and published within samizdat. He isthe editor-in-chief and publisherof theIndependent Cultural Journal "Ї", which has transformed into an influential NGO and a think tank covering issues of civil society, human rights, interethnic relations, cross-border cooperation, multiculturalism, European integration, regionalism, globalisation and anti-globalist movements, ecumenical dialogue, political changes in the region. Initiator and organiser of community campaigns on the promotion of cultural heritage of Halychyna. Co-initiator of an honorary distinction "Order for Intellectual Bravery". Author of more than 400 publications in Ukrainian and foreign media. Awarded with an honorary distinction "Knight of Halychyna" in the nomination "Public Figure" (2001), a distinction “20 Years of the First Democratic Convocation of Lviv Regional Council” (2010), a distinction by Lviv Mayor “Saint George Distinction of Honour” (2011).
Experts
Taras Voznyak
Ed Vulliamy
International reporter for the Guardian and the Observer in London. Honoured with several British journalism awards for his coverage of the war in the former Yugoslavia, including the James Cameron Award in 1994. Named International Reporter of the Year 1993 and 1994. Gratuated from Oxford University and the University of Florence.
Gottfried Wagner
Born 1950 in Kitzbühel, Austria; studied philosophy and literature in Vienna; worked as a teacher, university lecturer and civil servant in the ministry of education. In the 1990s was a director of KulturKontakt Austria: cultural and educational cooperation with Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe. From 2002 to 2009 Gottfried was director of the European Cultural Foundation in Amsterdam. Currently working in the ministry for education, arts and culture, Vienna: as a special envoy for international cultural-political projects. Gottfried acts as an advisor to the MORE EUROPE initiative http://www.moreeurope.org/
Kurt Wagner
Enrolled at the Karl-Franzens-University (KFU) Graz in October 1985 and graduated from Stanford Law School (J.S.M) in 1995 and from KFU Graz as Dr. iur. in 1997. Then he joined the office of the Austrian Federal Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs as personal adviser responsible for international relations, adult education and cultural affairs. In 09/2000 he became head of the educational division in 09/2001 director of KulturKontakt Austria, an NGO working with reform countries in East and South East Europe in die fields of education and culture.
Marta Warant
Sociologist, researcher and Assistant Professor at the Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University. Her Ph.D. thesis focused on citizenship and its various forms among Muslim women in Britain. Her key research interest include gender studies, citizenship and democracy studies and qualitative methodology. From 2005 onwards she has been involved as a researcher and coordinator in various research and educational project dealing with the problems of social exclusion, various forms of inequality, migration and citizenship. Recently she was a researcher at her project “Gender equality and quality of life. How gender equality can contribute to development in Europe. A study of Poland and Norway” and coordinated a project “Research and Expertise in Society”. She worked also as an International Programme Coordinator and was responsible for English-taught MA programme as well as several MA double degree and Erasmus Mundus programmes. A visiting scholar at Western University in London, Canada, University of Oslo, Catholic University of Portugal and Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Oxford University and Cardiff University.
Bjorn Warkalla
Graduated in Political Science from Freie Universität in Berlin. Research fellow at the political sciences department of Freie Universität Berlin.
Jacek Wasilewski
Jacek Wasilewski is a professor of sociology, he teaches at Polish and American Universities. His main field of interest is sociology of the elites. His recent publications include books and articles on political elites and consolidation of democracy in Poland and Central Europe.
Leszek Wieciech
Experienced expert and manager in Public Affairs and Corporate Communication. He specializes in corporate affairs, lobbying, internal and external communication, CSR, fuel sector, road safety and sustainable development promotion and solutions. M.A. (Moscow State University of International Affairs), diploma in Administration (University of Warsaw). Expert in external affairs & communication, experience of studying, working and living in different countries and diversified cultural environment. 1984-99 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland (incl. such posts like Deputy Head of Mission in Islamabad, Deputy Director of Personnel, Consul General of Poland in Edinburgh). Between 1999 and 2006 Government Affairs Manager at BP Polska, responsible for lobbing, external affairs and relationship management. Worked as Government Affairs Manager at BP Polska sp. Z o. o., Public Affairs Consultant at Lemawi Consultant and City Director Warsaw, Clinton Climate Initiative at Clinton Foundation. Currently Director General at POPiHN (Polish Oil Trade and Industry Organisation).
Unni Wikan
Anna Wiśniewski
Counsellor,Consulate General of Hungary in Krakow. Holds PhD in International Economics (Modernization strategies and Monetary Accession: a comparative study of Poland and Hungary, University of Economics and Administration, Budapest, Hungary) and also has a Masters of Arts and Economics degree. Works as Associated research fellow at Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. In 2001 worked as a consultant responsible for Poland in Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary. Schollarships at Jagiellonian University, Catholic University in Lublin, University of Mons-Hainaut, Belgium.
