Iwona Golinska, MBA, President & Founder of Polish Sue Association and Secretary & Member of the Council of Polonia and Poles Abroad under the President of the Republic of Poland attended the 4th US–CEE Connection Weekend: “Transatlantic Challenges in Law, Business & Policy”, held on 12–13 June at Collegium Novum, the historic main building of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.
The main conference programme was hosted by one of the oldest European Universities – The Jagiellonian University (Polish: Uniwersytet Jagielloński).
It is a public research university in Kraków. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world. The university grounds form part of the Kraków Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The event brought together leaders from the worlds of law, business, academia, public policy, and the global Polish diaspora.
A particular highlight for us was the opportunity to meet and engage with other members of the Council of the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad under the President of the Republic of Poland, which was represented by a number of its members, including
Prof. Jim Mazurkiewicz, Chairman of the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce in Texas, Fred Schmidt MBE, Partner at Capital Factory in Austin, Texas, Adrian Kubicki – former diplomat and independent consultant from Poland and Iwona Golinska, MBA – Polish Sue President.
Other distinguished representatives of the US local government and conference supporters included The Mayor of The City of Bryan, Bobby Gutierrez, who was participating in the event with the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce in Texas.
The representation of The Consulate General of the United States of America in Cracow was also present and it was a sign of the importance of the event.
Jagiellonian University in Krakow was represented by Wojciech Bańczyk, Ph.D. – UJ Director of CUA-UJ and American Law Program.
AmCham Poland was represented by Dorota Dabrowski-Winterscheid – an experienced professional who currently uses her experience and network to add value to the Boards of the Polish-U.S. Fulbright Commission, Heritage Polonia, and AmCham Poland.
For us the meeting also provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas relevant to the work of the Council of Polonia and Poles Abroad under the President of the Republic of Poland.
The Council was established by President Karol Nawrocki on the 2nd of May, 2026 to strengthen cooperation between Poland and the Polish diaspora around the world and to build partnerships with various countries including The United Kingdom and The United States of America through Polish communities abroad.
You can read more about the Council of Polonia and Poles Abroad under the President of the Republic of Poland – on the link below:
During the conference we discussed the challenges and opportunities facing Polish communities abroad, and share experiences from the United Kingdom and the United States.
These conversations highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between Polish diaspora organisations and building lasting transatlantic partnerships.
Following the official event, we all attended a networking reception held on the historic grounds of Collegium Novum, which provided a wonderful opportunity to continue discussions, strengthen existing relationships, and establish new connections among representatives of Polonia, business leaders, academics, and public policy experts.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the organisers of the conference, particularly the Host Committee and Program Director Łukasz Chyla, as well as all sponsors, partners, and honorary patrons whose support made this exceptional event possible.
Thank you for the invitation, warm hospitality, and the opportunity to participate in such meaningful discussions that strengthen ties between Poland, the United States, and the wider Polish diaspora.
We look forward to continuing these valuable conversations throughout the conference and building new relationships for the benefit of Polonia communities worldwide.
Here is our photo album from the US-CEE Connection Weekend:
Text / Photos : Polish Sue
Polish Sue 
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