ULI Poland Welcomes New Leaders

ULI Poland announced the appointment of new Co-Chairs for its Product Councils and a new Chair of the Young Leaders group. The leadership team shaping ULI Poland’s agenda is joined by: Ilona Otoka (Savills Poland), Michał Witkowski (Colliers), Waldemar Grabka (EQT Exeter), Rafał Stoparczyk (Skanska Commercial Development Europe) and Justyna Glinka (Baker McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy), who, as the newly appointed Chair of Young Leaders, also becomes a member of the ULI Poland Executive Committee.

The new Chair of ULI Poland Young Leaders is Justyna Glinka, Senior Associate at Baker McKenzie Krzyżowski i Wspólnicy sp.k. By assuming this role, she also becomes a member of the ULI Poland Executive Committee. She has been part of ULI Poland since 2022 and joined the Young Leaders Committee in 2024. She takes over from Jan Kowalski, Head of Development (Poland) at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, who led the group in the previous term. Daily, Justyna Glinka works as a legal counsel at Baker McKenzie’s Warsaw office, specialising in legal services for projects in the real estate sector.

Young Leaders is a programme for professionals under 35, offering opportunities to learn, build networks, and engage in ULI’s international initiatives. In Poland, it brings together a dynamic community of emerging leaders in real estate.

“Being part of ULI Poland and actively engaging in its initiatives has been an incredibly rewarding journey. Taking on the role of Chair of Young Leaders is a great honour, but also a responsibility. My priority will be to continue strengthening our network and encouraging new professionals to actively participate in ULI projects. Together, we want to build a more innovative and inclusive community that has a tangible impact on the future of the real estate sector,” says Justyna Glinka.

Product Councils

The new Co-Chair of the ESG Council is Ilona Otoka, Director ESG & Sustainability at Savills Poland. She has 16 years of professional experience in the real estate sector, covering valuations, consultancy, and ESG services. She leads the ESG & Sustainability team at Savills, supporting clients in defining and implementing transformation goals as well as managing ESG risks.

The ESG Council is a platform for exchanging knowledge and experience in the field of sustainable development and responsible investment. It brings together experts specialising in areas such as decarbonisation, energy efficiency, sustainable design, circularity, the implementation of technological innovation, and the creation of social value.

“ESG and sustainable development in real estate is a practice that has been going on for years, although it continues to take on new forms and definitions. In our group, we will discuss approaches that cover the entire life cycle of real estate – from planning, through design and construction, to management and innovation. My ambition is to bring together people who believe that sustainable solutions increase asset value and market resilience, as well as bring real benefits – financial, environmental and social,” says Ilona Otoka.

Urban Living Council

The Urban Living Council, dedicated to the future of the residential sector, welcomes its new Co-Chair – Michał Witkowski, Director in the Corporate Finance & Living Services Department | CEE at Colliers. He is responsible for advisory services in PRS, student housing, senior housing and residential projects, and has 15 years of experience, including board-level roles at Skanska Residential Development Poland and Atlas Estates.

The Urban Living Council is a platform for discussing the future of housing markets – from affordability and availability, through the development of PRS, co-living and senior living, to new investment and social models.

“I want to draw inspiration from global trends in the living sector while firmly anchoring them in the Polish reality. We will look for ways to adapt international experiences to the local market, taking into account customer expectations. New concepts should be embraced with care, analysing how they might be received in Poland,” says Michał Witkowski.

Urban Supply Chain Council

Waldemar Grabka, Investment Director at EQT Real Estate, has been appointed Co-Chair of the Urban Supply Chain Council. He has 25 years of experience in the real estate market and is responsible for the investment, leasing, and asset management of EQT Real Estate’s portfolio in Poland. He previously helped establish EQT Real Estate European operations.

The Urban Supply Chain Council focuses on the future of logistics and industrial assets – their role in supply chains, the impact of technology and automation, and alignment with ESG standards.

“Within ULI, I want to focus on two key areas. First, the future of logistics buildings – how technology, automation, AI, ESG, and labour availability are reshaping the definition of a future-proof investment. Second, creating a platform for collaboration – a space for knowledge exchange between real estate professionals, logistics users, and technology companies to drive innovation and enable better decision-making,” notes Waldemar Grabka.

Urban Destinations Council

The new Co-Chair of the Urban Destinations Council is Rafał Stoparczyk, Project Director at Skanska Commercial Development Europe. His experience spans design, execution, and development across industrial projects, large-scale retail, mixed-use, and office buildings, including high-rise developments in Poland’s largest cities.

The Urban Destinations Council addresses the role of commercial and mixed-use spaces in shaping cities – from workplaces and retail hubs to recreational, cultural, and entertainment destinations.

“It is a great honour for me to take on the role of Co-Chair of the Urban Destinations Council at the Urban Land Institute Poland. This is not only a distinction, but also an opportunity to engage more deeply in the discussion about the future of our cities and the real estate market. Together with the members of the Product Council, I will work to exchange knowledge and experience, promote best practices, and seek inspiration and innovative solutions that will contribute to sustainable, vibrant, and people-friendly projects – places to work, relax, meet, shop, and enjoy culture and entertainment,” says Rafał Stoparczyk.

The new nominations align with ULI Poland’s mission of connecting expertise across different segments of the real estate industry and providing platforms for discussion on key challenges facing the sector. They represent the next step in building an organisation driven by the active engagement of industry leaders.

“The development of product councils and the Young Leaders group is the foundation of ULI Poland’s activities. It is in these formats that initiatives are created that respond to real market challenges – from ESG, through living and logistics, to sustainable urban development. The appointments of Ilona Otoka, Michał Witkowski, Waldemar Grabka, Rafał Stoparczyk and Justyna Glinka are proof that the Polish real estate market has leaders ready to shape the future of the sector in a spirit of cooperation and knowledge sharing. I am delighted that ULI Poland is growing at such a pace and that our programmes are attracting more and more professionals from various areas of the industry,” comments Marcin Juszczyk, Chair of ULI Poland and Managing Partner at Capital Park.