Polska Izba Inżynierów Budownictwa

Wlodzimierz Szymczak, New President
of the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE)

Wlodzimierz Szymczak is the New President of the European Council of Civil Engineers. He took over Presidency of ECCE on 18th October 2014, during the 60th ECCE General Assembly Meeting, in Warsaw, Poland, succeeding Fernando Branco. Mr. Szymczak will serve a two year term for the Period 2014 – 2016. Wlodzimierz Szymczak had been appointed ECCE Vice President/ President Elect on 27th October 2012, during the 56th ECCE General Assembly Meeting in Dubrovnik, in Croatia. He was the ECCE National Delegate of the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers (PCCE) since 2010.

QULIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY

Włodzimierz Szymczak C.Eng. , M.Sc.(Eng.) graduated from Warsaw University of Technology, Poland (1979), Department of Environmental Engineering. He majored in Heating and hot water supplying systems and facilities, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning. He is a Chartered site engineer (from 1981). He is also licensed by Polish Ministry of Treasure for acting as a member of the Supervisory Boards of Public Corporations (from 2002).

At the time being he is President of the Board and Co-owner of the Investment Enterprise Sp.z o.o. (medium size Developer Company, 2005 – present) as well as Vice – Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Cooperative Bank of Piaseczno since 2001. He was Head of the Technical Supervisory Department, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland (2003 – 2005). He was President, Managing Director and Site Manager of a few private and public companies operating in construction industry and services (1980 – 2003) and Vice – President of the Board and Product Manager at Astone Technologies Inc., Toronto, Canada (1990 – 1991).

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers:
  • Member of the National Council,
  • Expert at the Small and Medium Companies (2008 – 2010),
  • Member of the Standing Committee for International Cooperation (2010 – 2014),
• Mazovian District Chamber of Civil Engineers - Judge of the Disciplinary Court,
• ECCE – National Delegate for Poland (2010 – 2014),
• ECEC – Member of the Small Business Act Working Group (2008 – 2010).

New Executive Board of the European Council of Civil Engineers Elected at the 60th ECCE General Meeting

General Assembly of the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) has elected new Executive Board at the ECCE Executive Board Elections that took place on 18th October 2014 at the 60th ECCE General Assembly Meeting in Warsaw, in Poland.

The composition of the new Executive Board will thereafter be composed of the following persons:

After suggestion of the ECCE President, Wlodzimierz Szymczak, Mr. Vassilis Economopoulos, ECCE Past President and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Associate Membership, was appointed Representative of the ECCE President on Public Relations.

60th ECCE General Meeting and International Conference “Modern solutions in the bridges construction”

The 60th ECCE General Meeting was held on 17th – 18th October 2014, in Warsaw, in Poland, hosted by the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers (PCCE). The International Conference “Modern solutions in the bridges construction” was held on 17th October 2014, organized by ECCE and PCCE, as part of the 60th ECCE GAM.

The President of the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers, Mr. Andrzej R. Dobrucki opened the 60th ECCE GAM with a welcome speech and Mr. Janusz Piechociński, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Mr. Olgierd Dziekoński, Secretary of State in The President’s Office, honoured with their presence the event giving opening speeches. Among the distinguished guests that also attended the event were the following: Mr. Pawel Ziemski, the Deputy General Inspector of Building Control, Mr. Leszek Rafalski, General Director of the Road and Bridge Research Institute, Mr. Wojciech Radomski, Chairman of the Committee of Civil Engineering Polish Academy of Sciences, Mr. Ryszard Trykosko, President of the Polish Society of Civil Engineers and Technicians, Mr. Jaromir Kuśmider, President of the Publisher of the PCCE, representatives of the insurance company Ergo Hestia, with board member Mr. Adam Roman and from the PCCE members of the National Council, conference speakers and last but not least the Chairmen of regional chambers.

This Meeting was even more special for ECCE as the presentation of the second book prepared by the European Council of Civil Engineers on the subject of cultural and technical heritage in civil engineering and architecture took place. The book “Footbridges – Small is beautiful” which is the outcome of the hard work of the Task Force on Civil Engineering Heritage as well as of all the ECCE Members, was finally accomplished and published.

The New ECCE President, in his first speech stressed that the European Council of Civil Engineers should focus on strengthening our cooperation with European Union’s Institutions, as we need to have an impact on the decisions of the EU, because they shape the legal and organizational environment, create social and political climate in which Civil Engineers are educated and work. He highlighted that more attention should be paid to construction companies and other institutions employing Civil Engineers because not only do we need them as our Associate Members but this way we will achieve two goals. On one hand we will gain alternative source of income for our organization, and on the other hand ECCE will embrace full area of Civil Engineering Profession interest. This will be done by putting attention to issues such as economic growth, investment, unlocking the potential of the small and medium businesses, competitiveness and innovativeness of the economy, to simplify and make clear and transparent the tax system, creating political and social climate supporting entrepreneurship. Finally, he underlined that he is committed to support ECCE to achieve its main goal which constantly is strengthening of the Civil Engineer Profession in Europe.

Engineers, in particular civil engineers, make their very unique contribution to the surrounding world, shaping the environment in which we work, live and relax and making our world a better and safer place to live. The results of their activity remain with us throughout decades and centuries. Therefore civil engineers have gained their due status of the public trust profession.

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ the majority of European engineers, including civil engineers, are the core of the European economy. On whether, we can boost the SMEs sector, if we can release the energy slumbering in it, if we will be able to create successfully a political and social climate promoting and supporting entrepreneurship in our countries, the success of Europe depends on.

The European Council of Civil Engineers would like to express its gratitude to the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers for the successful organization of 60th ECCE General Assembly and Conference and their exceptional hospitality.