Barcelona Meeting Point

Zbigniew Wojciech OKOÑSKI was born on the 12-th of February 1949 in Gdansk (Poland). He is married since 1973 and has three sons. Eva his wife is a teacher of Polish language and chairman of the Lion’s Quest Programme in Poland. Mr. Okoñski has a Master’s Degree in Economics (1973), and Agriculture (1981). In 1996 he participated in Executive Global Leadership Program at Michigan University Business School.
Since March 1998 Mr. Okonski has been the Vice-President of the Management Board of PROKOM INVESTMENTS S.A., in Warsaw, the investment vehicle for the Prokom Group. The company owns shares or act as a strategic investor in companies within several industry sectors, including software integration, biotechnology, petroleum industry, construction and real estate development. He is personally responsible of running and coordinating the 169 hectare mixed use development “Miasteczko Wilanów” in Warsaw.
His extensive political experience began in 1980’s while he was organiser and a hairman of Solidarity Trade Union in Navimor Co – the Foreign Trade Organisation where he worked (1973-1988).
His career at Navimor ended on the level of Manager of Ships Department In charge of international sales.
In June 1990 he was elected a member of Gdañsk City Council.
From February 1991 till September 1994 he held the position of the Undersecretary of State, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations in the governments Mr K. Bielecki, Mrs H. Suchocka and Mr W. Pawlak; responsible for export promotion, control and coordination of export and import of defence equipment; trade relations with former Soviet countries and Asia;
In March’95 he became the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Poland; resigned in Decemer’95 after President Lech Walesa lost the elections for the second term;