• Lidia Gryszkiewicz

    Lidia Gryszkiewicz, PhD, is an innovation and impact specialist who has been helping to co-create innovative, sustainable, participatory, culturally rich, user-friendly and attractive cities and regions. She initiated and developed strategies and methodologies for muti-stakeholder urban innovation labs, as well as co-developed strategies for one-off citizen engagement campaigns. She has worked on international projects as well as local initiatives to co-develop urban sites together with their (future or existing) inhabitants, visitors and users. Her expertise ranges from participatory governance and collaborative innovation, through social innovation and impact measurement, to knowledge economy and entrepreneurship support. Lidia has worked predominantly in the fields of urban design, social cohesion, economic development, spatial planning, cultural policies and sustainable development.

    Currently a Managing Director at The Impact Lab (Luxembourg), Lidia has 16+ years of strategy consulting and applied research experience spanning Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (Luxembourg), Limitless (Luxembourg), Arthur D. Little (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels), PricewaterhouseCoopers (Amsterdam), KPMG (Warsaw).

    Lidia holds a PhD in innovation management from Louvain Academy (Belgium), a Master in International Business from Maastricht University (The Netherlands) and a Master in Management and Strategy from University of Lodz (Poland). She has completed the Creating Shared Value programme at Harvard Business School (USA) and the Oxford Impact Measurement Programme at the University of Oxford (UK). Lidia is also an author on topics such as innovation in urban settings, social impact measurement, or service innovation in knowledge economy, and she has served as an invited lecturer at Central Saint Martins – University of the Arts London, University of Luxembourg and the School of Public Administration at Krakow University of Economics.

    Lidia has supported various European organisations (European Commission, European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), Research Executive Agency, Enterprise Europe Network) and national governments (Slovak Government's Operational Programme Research and Innovation; Ministry of Education, Research, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovakia; Institute of Advanced Sustainability Studies / Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany; Luxembourg’ Ministries of Economy, Culture, Sustainable Development and Climate) in the development and/or evaluation of (inter)national policies, programs and networks. As member of the “Innovation in SMEs” Advisory Group for Horizon 2020 – The Framework Programme For Research and Innovation in Europe, Lidia was one of the first international advisors helping develop the flagship SME support programme in Europe, SME Instrument. As national delegate, she helped co-create the international innovation standards (ISO and CEN). She has worked and lived in Poland, US, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Asia and is able to bring an international perspective to any project.

    How can I support you and your URBACT network?

    1. PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE, COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION & CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
    For the last 15 years I have been helping city mayors, ministers, secretaries of state and CEOs of non-profits and large urban developers alike to create participatory governance for economies, cities and organisations. I have (co-)designed and used collaborative changemaking, co-creation, citizen participation and human-centred design methodologies to help develop strategies for national-level programmes as the cofounder of The Impact Lab. I collaborated with local authorities as well as with urbanists, heritage consultants, architects, landscape specialises, engineers, designers and developers to help collaboratively revitalise cities in social, cultural, environmental, and economic respects. Illustrative experience:

     

    2. SOCIAL INNOVATION
    My expertise focuses on design, implementation, and evaluation of social innovation approaches, from very local initiatives to international programmes. Illustrative experience:

     

    3. IMPACT MEASUREMENT / MONITORING AND EVALUATION
    Being trained at the Oxford Impact Measurement Programme, my approach is laser-focused on how to design any activity in a way that will deliver real and measurable improvements. I have designed strategic impact frameworks, theories of change, evaluation systems and SDG impact frameworks and reviewed countless impact claims agains EU impact criteria. Illustrative experience:

    • - co-developed strategic impact framework and monitoring and evaluation programme the European Capital of Culture 2022 (cross-border programme, approx. USD 75 million budget, 19 municipalities, impact portfolio of 150+ international projects)
    • - served ad independent expert for impact monitoring, evaluation and validation of hundreds of proposals, projects and programmes by the European Commission, European Education and Culture Executive Agency, Research Executive Agency, European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), national governments and more
    • - trained and coached multiple officials as well as technical teams in impact monitoring and evaluation, research methods, and data collection
    • - co-authored an impact assessment readiness framework featured by the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

     

    4. KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
    My approach combines expertise as academic and applied researcher, consultant, entrepreneur, independent expert advisor and mentor in the topics of knowledge economy. Illustrative experience:

    • - worked as independent expert for several Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) of EIT
    • - subcontracted as expert for the EIT-HEI DISCO project on the development of innovation and entrepreneurship skills
    • - developed knowledge economy solutions as R&D engineer with Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
    • - managed strategic projects at PricewaterhouseCoopers' Online and Knowledge Management department
    • - advised clients on R&D, education & training, innovation, tech industry, human capital at Arthur D. Little (Benelux)
    • - co-founded the Limitless consultancy focused on innovation skills and competences development.
    • - researched service innovation capabilities development in knowledge-intensive organisations
    • - served as startup mentor at the Founder Institute.

     

    5. CULTURAL STRATEGIES FOR CITIES
    I have co-led projects focused on the cultural programming and development of strategic concepts for heritage sites, cultural revitalisation of urban neighbourhoods, and strategies for cultural participation on municipality, regional and cross-border levels. My approach to culture is largely rooted in enabling citizen/multi-stakeholder participation in culture, social impact measurement of culture, and applying solid strategic management to culture. I have advised Ministries of Culture and Tourism, and worked with local culture and tourism clients. Illustrative expertise:

     

    Available for Lead Expert role and Ad-hoc expertise missions

    Expert can perform the Lead expert role and Ad hoc expertise missions at network and programme level in relation to:

    1. The design and delivery of (transnational) exchange and learning activities
    2. Thematic expertise:
      > Social innovation
      > Participatory governance
      > Knowledge economy
      > Culture
    3. Methods and tools for integrated and participatory approaches:
      > Integrated and participatory design of strategies
      > Monitoring and evaluation for effective implementation
  • Karolina Orcholska

    Karolina is a highly motivated, energetic, confident, articulate and open-minded person with 15 years’ experience in public administration, mobility, SUMP, sustainable transport, EU projects and engineering. Karolina has work experience, which has required a keen eye for detail and the ability to analyse and disseminate disparate data and to communicate clearly and effectively under severe time constraint pressures in challenging conditions. She is very experiemced and proficient user of URBACT relevant methodologies for an integrated planning process and specifically in the use of participatory and co-creative tools.  Karolina loves people and working with them - in her opinion people are the key factor for the project succes. She believes that cities should be design for people! Her biggest dream andambition is to see cities that are desinged for people and she is detemined to support cities in achieving this. As a skilled Project Coordinator focused on maximising team efficiency and productivity with proactive cross-functional communication and organised approach, Karolina can provide expertise in organizig and running a participatory and integreted planning process.  She has ability to develop schedules, monitor deadlines and coordinate resources. She is also a strong communicator and a team player.

    Available for Lead Expert role and Ad-hoc expertise missions

    Expert can perform the Lead expert role and Ad hoc expertise missions at network and programme level in relation to:

    1. The design and delivery of (transnational) exchange and learning activities
    2. Thematic expertise:
      > Mobility
    3. Methods and tools for integrated and participatory approaches:
      > Integrated and participatory design of strategies
  • Marcelline Bonneau

    Marcelline Bonneau, via Resilia Solutions, is working on projects for societal transition of city administration.

    Via my role as a URBACT Programme, Lead Expert (REFILL, BIOCANTEENS) and Ad Hoc expert (MAPS), together with my position as an expert to the UIA Antwerp Circular South project and to the UIA TAST’in FIVES project, New European Bauhaus expert and AMI expert (as the REGIO Communities of Practitioners' Manager), and within a variety of other local and transitional projects, I support integrated governance processes via peer-to-peer learning amongst EU cities.

    After having worked in consultancies evaluating European public policies and programmes, doing impact assessments and bringing technical assistance, I now contribute to reinforcing the link between local and European levels via learning and exchange.  I propose services from facilitating co-creation processes (methodology designs, facilitation of activities, experimentations, …) and stimulating participation (via community management, visualization, …). In addition I do research and analysis and contributes to various project via ad hoc oral and written contributions.

    Sustainable food (especially responsible for the URBACT Food Knowledge Hub), sustainable consumption, foodwaste, circular economy, climate change, energy transition, (innovative) public procurement, grassroots initiatives, temporary use of vacant spaces, social innovation, Just Transitions, are some of the topics I cover. Leadership, governance, urban planning, integrated approaches, empowerment are some of the transversal approaches I investigate.

    By combining theory and practice, I have for 15 years been working with public authorities and local initiatives. I am focusing especially on the interactions between stakeholders via co-creation towards a more resilient society. This way, I have supported the development of local action plans and strategies, communication and stakeholder engagement and mobilisation strategies, set-up of local councils, identification of EU funds opportunities and capacity-building for EU funds applications, ...

    With a background in public policy and management of the environment, I seek to link theory and practices, grassroots activities and strategic ones, the local and EU levels (incl. Urban Agenda Partnerships).

    All my details (projects, publications, articles, media, conferences, blog articles, CV, ... ) can be found on Resilia Solutions' website: http://resilia-solutions.eu/


    Details of validated thematic expertise

    (NB: more fields of expertise can be found on my CV)

    Circular Economy

    Projects:

    Publications, articles and presentations:

    Climate Adaptation

    Projects :

    • 2019-2022, URBACT Programme Expert responsible for Climate adaptation
    • 2023, City of Schaerbeek (Belgium), on the "Support for the design of a strategy for mobilizing stakeholders in the Schaerbeek territory as part of the Climate Plan",
    • 2022-2023, Bruxelles Environnement, Supporting municipalities and CPAS in the implementation of Good Food projects in connection with the call for climate action projects

    Publications, articles and presentations:

    Energy Transition

    Projects:

    • 2019-2022, URBACT Programme Expert responsible for Energy transition

    Publications, articles and presentations:

    Food

    Projects:

    • 2019-2022, URBACT Programme Expert responsible for Food
    • 2023, City of Ixelles, FoodWasteWatchers@Ixelles
    • 2023, Bruxelles environment, Assistance in the coordination, animation and communication of the Good Food 2 Strategy
    • 2023, Administration Communale de Schaerbeek, Animation, facilitation and organization of the participatory process for the creation of the sustainable food advisory council of the city of Schaerbeek and co-creation of a local strategy
    • 2022-2023, Bruxelles Environnement, Supporting municipalities and CPAS in the implementation of Good Food projects in connection with the call for climate action projects
    • 2019, URBACT, Thematic Programme Expert, Food Expert
    • 2019-2022, UIA Expert for TAST’in FIVES
    • 2018, URBACT, BioCanteens network
    • 2018-2019, Brussels environment, FoodWasteWatchers
    • 2018-2019, Brussels environment, Food surplus collection for dummies
    • 2016, Coordination of the RABAD living lab within the frame of ULB-led “Choud’Bruxelles”
    • 2016, Brussels environnement, Cogardenning/Cojardinage
    • 2015,Etterbeek City council, “Sustainable table” toolkit
    • 2015, Bruxelles environment, Support to the co-construction of a Strategy on Sustainable Food and Urban Agriculture in the Brussels capital region

    Publications, articles and presentations:

    Available for Lead Expert role and Ad-hoc expertise missions

    Expert can perform the Lead expert role and Ad hoc expertise missions at network and programme level in relation to:

    1. The design and delivery of (transnational) exchange and learning activities 
    2. Thematic expertise:
      > Food
      > Circular Economy
      > Climate Adaptation
      > Energy Transition
    3. Methods and tools for integrated and participatory approaches:
      > Integrated and participatory design of strategies
      > Monitoring and evaluation for effective implementation