Solomiya Omelyan, Chief of the Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia, UNIDO

Solomiya Omelyan joined UNIDO in 2007. In her current capacity as Chief of the Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia, Solomiya Omelyan is responsible for determining regional strategies and programmatic priorities for UNIDO’s services in 27 countries of the region while ensuring that the Organization responds to the specific industrial development needs and requirements of its Member States.  Prior to joining UNIDO, Solomiya Omelyan worked as a Policy Consultant at the United Nations Environment Programme’s Vienna Interim Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention (2005-2007) where she implemented regional projects in the area of sustainable development of mountainous regions. She also worked in the Embassy of Ukraine in Austria, the Committee on Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship at the Parliament of Ukraine in Kyiv and different academic and research institutions.  

Ignacy Niemczycki, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland

Upon the request of Minister Krzysztof Hetman, Prime Minister Donald Tusk appointed Ignacy Niemczycki as the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology. 

From 2008 to 2012, Ignacy Niemczycki served as a government administration employee, including roles in the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Office of the Committee for European Integration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union (EU) in Brussels, where he participated in the negotiations of EU funds for Poland. From 2013 to 2015, Ignacy Niemczycki headed the European Affairs Department at Polityka Insight. Subsequently, from 2015 to 2017, he served as a Public Affairs Manager and Acting Director of International Communications.

Yuko Yasunaga, Deputy to the Director General, Managing Director of the Directorate of Corporate Services and Operations, UNIDO

Yuko Yasunaga is Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Corporate Services and Operations of UNIDO, which is responsible and accountable for the management of the Organization’s human, financial and material resources. He is also the Director General’s Special Representative for Asia. Before this assignment, from 2017 to 2022, Yuko Yasunaga was Head of the UNIDO Investment and Technology Development Office in Tokyo promoting private investment and technology from Japan to developing countries. Prior to working with UNIDO, he served as Vice President at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, promoting research collaboration with the private sector. He has also served as Deputy-Director General for Industrial Science and Technology, Director for mineral resource development, for gas safety regulation and for research and development promotion at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.  

Alejandro Lavopa, Research and Industrial Policy Officer, UNIDO

Alejandro Lavopa is Research and Industrial Policy Officer at the Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming and Policy of UNIDO. He coordinates the production of UNIDO’s flagship publication, the Industrial Development Report, and is responsible for providing policy advice on issues related to industrialization, social inclusion and technology upgrading. He obtained his PhD in Economics and Policy Studies of Technical Change at UNU-MERIT. Before joining UNIDO, Alejandro worked at the Ministry of Economy of Argentina and the University of Buenos Aires. Recent publications include articles in journals, such as World Development and Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, and chapter contributions to key reference books. 

Zuzana Zavarská, Economist, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW)

Zuzana Zavarská is Economist at WIIW. Her research is primarily focused on the economic development and convergence of the V4 economies, their integration into global value chains, as well as the role of foreign direct investment in development. She holds an MPhil degree in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge and an MA degree in International Business from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to joining WIIW, she worked as a Policy Advisor at the Government Office of Slovakia. 

Konstancja Piątkowska, Director of the Economic Analysis Department, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland

Konstancja Piątkowska is a professional civil servant since 2004 and a graduate of the National School of Public Administration. Between 2007 and 2017 Konstancja Piątkowska was Deputy Director of the Department responsible for the EU funds coordination and programming at the Ministry of Regional Development, then in 2017-2019, she acted as Deputy Director for Climate Policy and Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Environment. She was head of the Polish climate negotiators team in 2017-2018, Vice-President of the UNFCCC Bureau for COP23 and lead Polish negotiator to UNEA-4 in 2019. Between 2019 and 2023, Konstancja Piątkowska acted as Head of the Labour Market Strategy Unit in the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, as well as a Member of the Employment Committee in the Council of the EU. She has expertise in international twinning and development aid projects on regional and development policy, European integration, green jobs and the labour market. 

Jan Kobliha, Director of the Sectoral Expertise and Industrial Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

Jan Kobliha is an experienced leader in industrial policy and digital transformation, currently serving as the Director of the Sectoral Expertise and Industrial Policy Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. With over a decade of experience, Jan Kobliha has led national initiatives in technology and innovation, coordinating with the European Commission on key projects, such as the National Action Plan on Clean Mobility or the National Semiconductor Strategy. Previously, he was a Ministerial Counsellor, overseeing digital innovation hubs and participating in European projects on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and industrial strategy. At the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU, Jan coordinated the Competitiveness Council, focusing on the European Chips Act and international Digital Partnerships. Earlier roles include National Expert at the European Commission, where he managed digital innovation hub selection processes, and Export Consultant at CzechTrade, supporting international business development, including a leadership stint in Morocco. 

Jelena Vasić, Head of the Centre for Strategic Analyses, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia

Jelena Vasić has more than 20 years of experience in economic analysis, data collection, monitoring and preparation of various written outputs, including market analysis, sectoral analysis, foreign trade analytics and research and macroeconomic analysis. She works on research papers within regional and municipal economic fields. Over the years, she has actively contributed to a wide range of project activities, as well as specialized research activities tailored to facilitate market development. Before joining the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Jelena Vasić worked at the Foreign Trade Research Institute and advised the commerce sector in Serbia about customs-related topics (GIZ), as well as activities within Ministries of Serbia, International Trade Center, UNECE, OECD, IFC and other institutions. Jelena Vasić holds a PhD from the Faculty of Economics, University of Nis, Serbia. 

Emil Hajiyev, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Economic Zones Development Agency of Azerbaijan

Emil Hajiyev holds a bachelor’s degree in International Economic Relations and an MBA. Throughout his professional career, Emil Hajiyev worked in the construction, chemical, machinery, retail and other sectors across various countries, including the USA, Türkiye, Poland and Azerbaijan. Since 2019, he has been working with the Economic Zones Development Agency of Azerbaijan, where he currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, overseeing the management and development of industrial zones.