There are two members of the Foundation Board: Robert Hojda, the founder of the "KORD" Foundation and the originator and coordinator of the nationwide educational project Tour de Konstytucja, and attorney-in-law Kinga Dagmara Siadlak, co-founder and the president of the "Defensor Iuris" Bar Association, the vice-chair of the Equal Treatment Commission, and the vice-chair of the Image Commission of the Supreme Bar Council.
Food technologist, production and sales manager, and a qualified vocational teacher. He is a small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) development strategist with the expertise in building technological and production processes and conducting personnel training. He has experience in interpersonal and social relations and has worked in international corporations.
Robert Hojda is a social activist supporting the Warsaw Insurgents and the creator of the "Marsz Milczenia'44" (Silent March '44) under the auspices of Wanda Traczyk-Stawska, nom de guerre "Pączek." He is also the founder and president of the Congress of Civic Democratic Movements Foundation (KORD), the organizer of the KORD congresses, and the originator and organizer of the Tour de Konstytucja project.
Attorney Kinga Dagmara Siadlak runs her own law firm, is co-founder and president of the "Defensor Iuris" Bar Association, sits on the bodies of the Koszalin Bar Association, is Chairman of the Committee for Cooperation with Courts and Prosecutors, Chairman of the Image Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Equal Treatment Committee and the Image Committee of the Supreme Bar Council. In 2020, she was awarded in the "Lawyer of the Year" competition. She is very active in supporting various civic projects, including the Tour de Constitution.
She is a specialist in German language by education, but for more than 20 years she has been professionally involved in Public Relations. She worked among others in an information technology company ComputerLand SA, in the Polish Public Relations Consultancies Association, PR Profile Agency and in the Information Society Development Foundation. She is experienced in corporation and social communication. She was responsible for creation and implementation of communication strategy of the Library Development Programme, an extensive social project aimed at the modernisation of Polish public libraries in small towns, initiated and funded by Bill and Melinda Gates (2008-2015).
An automation specialist fascinated with energy-saving propulsion systems. He is a founder and trainer at Akademia Falowników (Inverters’ Academy) whose objective is pro bono education on modern propulsion technology. At present he heads Radomianie dla Demokracji Association (Radomians for Democracy), a grassroots social movement, which acts in cooperation with the citizens of Radom, social organisations and other social movements in order to defend democratic civil rights, taking into account in particular human rights, as well as socio-legal and economic civil liberties.
A young social activist for equality and LGBTQ+ community and the initiator of Equality Diplomas. He is currently working at the Pole Dialogu Foundation (Chance for Dialogue Foundation).
A pedagogist by education, but for nearly thirty years he has been working in the advertising industry. He co-owns a graphic design studio. | He is a volunteer and a social activist involved in the civic movements activities.
A sociologist and civic activist. Since 1982 she has been involved in the Helsinki movement in Poland, prior to which she was a mediator at the Intervention and Mediation Committee of the Mazowsze Region of NSZZ Solidarność (“Solidarity”) in 1980-1981. In 1989 she co-created and since 2008 has been the President of Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. She was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Rebirth of Poland, the Officer’s Cross of the same Order and the Medal “Bene Merentibus Iustitiae” (Merit for Justice). In 2013 she was honoured with Jerzy Zimowski Prize for uncompromising defence of those whose rights are infringed and for tough defence of the independence of watchdog organisations which keep an eye authorities’ activities.
Katarzyna Maj-Wężyk is a leather clothing technician and an entrepreneur. She is a board member of the Radomianie for Democracy Association, a grassroots social movement that operates in cooperation with the residents of the town of Radom, social organizations, and other social groups. Its purpose is to defend democratic civil rights, with a particular focus on human rights, civil liberties, and socio-legal and economic issues.
Katarzyna is also a caretaker of a large group of homeless animals.
Andrzej Chyra is a renowned theatre and film actor and director who is also actively engaged as a social activist, championing causes concerning education, democracy, and the rule of law.
He graduated from the Acting (1987) and Directing (1994) Departments at the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. Recognised for his roles in films such as "Dług" (The Debt), "Komornik" (The Bailiff), and "W imię..." (In the Name Of...), for which he received awards at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia and the Polish Film Awards – Orły (The Eagles). Andrzej Chyra was awarded the Aleksander Zelwerowicz Award for his performance in the play "Anioły w Ameryce" (Angels in America). Since 2008, he has been a member of the Nowy Teatr ensemble in Warsaw. In 2013, he made his debut as an opera director and won the Konrad Swinarski Award for directing the "Czarodziejska Góra" (The Magic Mountain) opera in 2015, which was recognised as the best performance of the year. In 2019, he received the Zbyszek Cybulski Special Award for his overall artistic achievements.
A vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, and a co-founder and for many years leader of Perfect, one of the most important rock bands in Poland. He co-created such hits as Autobiografia (”Autobiography”), Chcemy być sobą (”We Want to Be Ourselves”), Nie płacz Ewka (”Don’t Cry, Eve”). He is also active as a journalist. He was an editor-inchief of music magazine Non Stop (1988-89). He has been writing features for Interia website and Newseek. He had his own TV programme called “Hołdys Guru” (2002-2004). He was a lecturer at Warsaw Film School. He created the Academy of Finest Arts at Pol’and’Rock Festival, formerly Przystanek Woodstock (Polish Woodstock Festival). He is an author of theatrical performances and screenplays.
For many years he has been involved in social and political activities: in 1989 he was in charge of election campaign of Warsaw “Solidarity”. He set up the Dzieci Ulicy oundation (Children of the Street Foundation) and since 2016 he has actively supported civic democratic movements.
Dr. Lex Paulson is the Director of the School of Collective Intelligence at the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique in Morocco, and a lecturer in human rights at Sciences Po-Paris. Trained as a community organizer, he helped craft mobilization and training strategy for the campaigns of Barack Obama in 2008 and Emmanuel Macron in 2017. Lex studied political theory at Yale, Cambridge, and the Sorbonne, and has led projects in democracy and governance for UNICEF, the U.S. State Department, the French National Assembly and the National Democratic Institute. He served as legislative counsel in the 111th U.S. Congress (2009-2011); organized on four U.S. presidential campaigns; and has worked to advance democratic innovation at the European Commission as well as in India, Tunisia, Egypt, Uganda, Senegal, Czech Republic and Ukraine.
Dr Hanna Machińska is an outstanding lawyer and dedicated social activist. Her achievements include introducing European legal standards into Polish law, particularly in the areas of human rights protection and anti-discrimination law. She graduated in law from the University of Warsaw in 1973, where she also obtained her doctorate in legal sciences in 1978.
She specialized in legal logic, European Union law, and environmental protection law. She gained extensive experience through internships at the European Commission and foreign universities. Dr Machińska has worked in expert positions for various Polish ministries and served as the Director of the Office of the Council of Europe in Warsaw. She held the position of Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights from September 2017 to December 2022. She has been honoured with numerous awards and distinctions for her achievements and dedication.
She has a PhD degree in psychology and addiction therapy. In Poland she popularised the treatment based on Minnesota model, relying on the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy. In the Stefan Batory Foundation she coordinates the Regional Alcohol and Drug Programme. She is active in ABCXXI Foundation All of Poland Reads to Kids and in the Congress of Women. She is an authoress of many books e.g. Wybieram wolność, czyli rzecz o wyzwalaniu się z uzależnień (I Have Chosen Freedom. On Breaking Free from Addictions), Zaproszenie do życia (Invitation to Life), Podnieś głowę (Raise Your Head), Sekrety kobiet (Women’s Secrets), W zgodzie ze sobą (In Accordance with Oneself), Rak duszy (Cancer of Soul), O alkoholizmie (On Alcoholism), Poprawka z matury (Retake of Final Exam).
Mirosław Wyrzykowski is a professor at the University of Warsaw and a distinguished lawyer specializing in administrative law, constitutional law, and human rights. He graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw in 1971 and obtained his doctorate in 1975, followed by habilitation in 1986.
From 1988 to 1990, he was the head of the Department of Constitutional Freedoms and Rights at the Office of the Commissioner for Civil Rights. He was a member of the Legislative Council under the Prime Minister's Office. Professor Wyrzykowski established the Centre for Constitutionalism and Legal Culture at the Institute of Public Affairs, where he served as the director from 1996 to 2001. From 2001 to 2010, he was a judge of the Constitutional Tribunal.
He was also a lecturer abroad, including at the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law in Lausanne and the Central European University in Budapest. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and a member of the Committee on Legal Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Collegium Invisibile, and editorial boards of Polish and foreign legal journals.
