The directors of the Copernicus Academy Office and the Copernicus Research Centre have been appointed.
On 25 April 2023, the Presidium of the Copernicus Academy under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Górski adopted important resolutions concerning the operation of the institution, including granting permission to the Secretary General of the Copernicus Academy to appoint the Director of the Nicolaus Copernicus Research Centre and the Director of the Academy Office.
The two directors newly appointed by the Academy’s Presidium are both well-established academics and have management experience, which will ensure the development and stability of both units.
Prof. Witold Mazurek Director of the Copernicus Academy Office
Witold Mazurek is a holder of a post-doctoral degree in the discipline of security sciences and a professor at the Ignatianum Academy in Krakow, a graduate of the Pedagogical University in Krakow, post-graduate studies at the University of Warsaw and the Master of Business of Administration at the University of Social Sciences in Lodz.
He obtained his doctoral degree at the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce and his post-doctoral degree at the Higher Police School in Szczytno. He completed an internship at the National Security Bureau.
He began his career in the uniformed services with an officer’s exam at the Wyższa Szkoła Oficerska Wojsk Lądowych in Poznań. In 2002, he joined the Prison Service and graduated from the SW Officer School. From 2007 to 2015 he served as an officer in the Internal Security Agency. Since 2015, he has worked in the Military Counterintelligence Service. In 2016, he was seconded to the position of Head of the Prison Service Department at the Ministry of Justice.
In February 2022, he was awarded the Medal of the National Education Commission for his special contribution to education and upbringing. In September 2022, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Education and Science.
Dr Jakub Piechota Director of the Copernicus Academy Research Centre
Jakub Piechota is a lawyer with extensive professional experience. He completed his master’s degree at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the Catholic University of Lublin, and then obtained his doctorate in legal sciences at the same university. He is currently continuing his academic work towards a habilitation in law.
He underwent his legal training at the District Bar Council and is registered on the list of legal advisers at the District Chamber of Legal Advisers in Warsaw.
In the past, he also worked as Head of the Contract and Litigation Department at “Popiołek, Adwokaci i Doradcy” Kancelaria Adwokatów i Radców Prawnych Sp.K., where he dealt, inter alia, with legal services for Polish and foreign entrepreneurs.
Since 2004, Jakub Piechota has been a lecturer at several universities, such as the Catholic University of Lublin, the WSEA Bytom, the Jagiellonian College in Toruń, the Polonia Academy in Częstochowa, the Polish Academy of Banking and Administration in Warsaw and the Janski Academy in Warsaw. He lectures on civil law and civil procedure, commercial law, commercial law, public procurement law and EU law.
ZM AK photo Waldemar Kompała