The PCCC was started by a small group of volunteers and was established as a full Chamber of Commerce in 2004. With six board members, a president, an executive director, over 60 member companies, and strong support from the Canadian Embassy, it has become one of the strongest Polish-Canadian business organizations in Poland.
The Polish-Canadian Chamber of Commerce aims to promote economic, cultural and commercial relations between Poland and Canada that lead to “real” investment and trade.
The PCCC offers its members and patrons a variety of services including:
For more information on the Chamber, its upcoming activities or on how to become a member, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Polsko-Kanadyjska Izba Gospodarcza
ul. Wiejska 17 lok. 13
00-480 Warsaw, Poland
Bernhard Otterstein was born and educated in Vancouver, Canada, where he graduated with honours from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. He has worked with numerous corporate, governmental, and institutional entities in North America, Europe and Asia in the areas of economic analysis, strategic project and investment planning, new market development, as well as cross-cultural communications. He has been directly involved in projects in the fields of real estate, engineering, energy, biotechnology and IT/telecommunications.
Over the past 15 years, Mr. Otterstein has gained first-hand experience in identifying and promoting innovative, emerging technologies and related business opportunities, taking them from early stage to market via private equity investment and the active co-management of several start-up ventures.
A graduate of the University of Warsaw English Philology faculty and Business at the American Studies Center with a Master’s Degree, she has worked as a Polish-English translator and interpreter. Since 2002 she has been the co-owner and Managing Partner of Bireta Professional Translations, where she oversees the Project Management and Translation Department, IT Department and ISO procedures. She also specializes in building long-term relationships with clients and is responsible for translation quality and information security procedures.
She lived for many years in Canada, skied in Alaska and jumped from a helicopter. She is a proud mom of Adam and Pola.
I have been a PCCC member for over 15 years and have always cherished the comradery, networking, business cooperation and Canadian heritage PCCC supports.
I am a Canadian Citizen and have held various leadership roles where I have successfully driven business development and strategic partnerships. My expertise lies in facilitating cross-cultural collaborations and creating opportunities for businesses to thrive in international markets. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with both Polish and Canadian businesses, gaining a comprehensive understanding of their unique challenges and opportunities.
Andrzej Siess was born in Łódź and educated at Wroclaw University. He has lived in Warsaw since 1980. At the beginning of 90’s last century he has begun to cooperate with Raben, Dutch family company owned which established its logistics business 27 years ago in Poland. Now days Raben Group runs its business in Poland and CEE region. Raben employs 10.000 people, have 1.000.000 sqm for rent and manage 8.000 trucks in daily business. He has worked as Board Adviser to Raben Group Management for many years. Also represents Raben in Foreign Chambers of Commerce as well as Domestic and International Institutions like Polish Chamber of Commerce, Polish Investment & Trade Agency and many others.
Paul Fogo is a managing partner in JF Legal Jakubaszek & Fogo sp. k. Previously for 12 years he was an attorney in US-Canadian law firm with three offices in Poland. Mr. Fogo is married and he and his wife, Elizabeth, have one child, Matthew. Paul lives in Poland almost 20 years. Paul focuses his practice on advising both foreign and local investors on EU law, share purchase agreements, technology licensing agreements, real estate acquisition and development. Paul received his law degree from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC in 1998. While finishing his law degree, he studied Polish commercial law at Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Prior to entering law school Paul worked for ten years as a real estate agent.
George Havaris is an English law-qualified lawyer (Solicitor or the Senior Courts of England and Wales) and a Partner at LSW (Warsaw). Prior to being elected to the Board of the PCCC, George served as the President of the Advisory Council to the PCCC.
Focusing primarily on corporate and corporate finance, he has vast experience in working cross-border M&A and financing transactions. He heads both the Canada desk and English law desk at LSW. He routinely advises both domestic and international clients (corporates, private equity sponsors, venture capital funds and strategic investors) on their cross-border M&A and financing activity, as well as lenders and borrowers on secured and unsecured investment grade, leveraged and emerging market financings (syndicated, club and bilateral loans), mezzanine as well as debt restructurings.
George is also a recognized lawyer in the emerging Polish cannabis industry, serving as an expert panelist at the Central European Cannabis Forum for a few years as well as conference organized by the International Cannabis Bar Association. He’s led workshops and lectures for businesses looking to break into this exciting new field.
Prior to relocating to Warsaw, George spent several years in the Banking and Corporate departments at Linklaters LLP in London, Moscow and Warsaw. George has also had the privilege of living and working in various counties, including: Canada, Greece, UK (Scotland and England), Poland and Russia.
George is a Registered Foreign Lawyer with the Regional Chamber of Legal Advisors (OIRP) in Warsaw and the President of the Supervisory Board of HERMES (the Association of Greek Entrepreneurs in Poland).
George is originally from Toronto, Canada, and has over 19 years of experience in the legal profession.
Hubert Durlik is the owner of ICS POLSKA and he represents Canadian and European manufacturers on the Polish market. Mr. Durlik graduated from Technical University In Gdańsk with a Msc degree in Electrical Engineering, after which he worked in Toronto, Canada for several years as an electrical engineer for major electrical contractors In the country. In 1998 he completed the Canadian Executive MBA program offered by Warsaw School of Economics in conjunction with University of Calgary In Alberta. Currently Mr. Hubert Durlik resides in Poland where in addition to managing a security company, he also remains active in domestic, as well as international security associations as POLALARM& ASIS. He is salso one of the founding members as well as a board member of the Polish Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
An Business Development leader and Executive Consultant with a strong understanding of running a practice or sector within an international company.
Has a strong track record in achieving results with business growth, customer satisfaction, and success developing brand and service in Polish market.
Understanding of a few vertical industries including Telecoms, Banking, Insurance.
Sectors: Banking, Insurance, Mobile Telecoms
Specialties: Consulting, Management Consulting, Enterprise Architecture, Integration
Services: Outsourcing, Management Consulting, Enterprise Architecture, Programme Management
Katarzyna Stachowicz – Rudzińska became the Executive Director of the Polish Canadian Chamber of Commerce in July 2023, furthering bilateral business relations and promoting economic collaboration between Poland and Canada.
Since February 2022, Katarzyna Stachowicz – Rudzińska has been serving as the Director of the Office of Mobility and International Projects and a lecturer in the Management Department at the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów. In this role, she teaches courses in Marketing Management, Innovative Marketing and PR, Business Negotiations, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Reporting.
Entrepreneurial by nature, Katarzyna Stachowicz – Rudzińska has been operating their own business, Apt2U, since 2018, specializing in short- and long-term property rentals domestically and internationally.
Katarzyna Stachowicz – Rudzińska has a long-standing career with the Podkarpackie Marshal’s Office, starting in 2001. As the Head of the Economic Cooperation Department, she organized international business visits and events, managed promotional campaigns, and implemented a European Union-funded projects. Prior to this, she coordinated international cooperation efforts, including official and working visits, foreign delegations, and the promotion of the voivodeship.
From 2006 to 2007, Katarzyna Stachowicz – Rudzińska served as the Director of the Podkarpackie Regional Office in Brussels, where she promoted the region on the international stage, lobbied for the voivodeship in European institutions, facilitated economic contacts, and advocated for EU funds.