About Us

Katarzyna Pawlak – CEO
Contact: kasia[at]mfc.org.pl

Katarzyna Pawlak, Microfinance Centre’s CEO has been serving on the Management Board of the MFC. She is an expert at GECES – Expert Group on Social Economy at the European Commission. Since 2014, she oversees the Centre’s strategic partnership with the DG EMPL at the European Commission. In the years 2005-2014, she served on the Board of Social Performance Task Force, USA and took an active role in developing global microfinance sector standards (Universal Standards for Social Performance Management). She also served on the Management Committee of European Financial Inclusion Network based in Brussels (2016-2018) and the Board of Partner Microcredit Foundation from Bosnia and Herzegovina (2006-2012). In 2009-2017, she was leading the SP Fund – a global USD 1,2 million fund financed by the Ford Foundation supporting over 50 microfinance associations and 500 microfinance institutions across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America to mainstream the responsible finance standards locally. She was chosen “Woman of the Year 2008″ by the international organization Women Advancing Microfinance. She graduated with honors from Warsaw School of Economics and holds Canadian Executive MBA degree from the University of Quebec at Montreal/Warsaw School of Economics. In her free time, she is actively supporting local cooperatives and collectives based in Warsaw engaged in inclusive arts and culture activities as well as fair alternative food distribution.

Ewa Bańkowska – Deputy Director
Contact: ewa[at]mfc.org.pl

Ewa has been with MFC since October 2005. She has been managing MFC projects and developing content in various topics of responsible finance: social performance management, client protection, financial health. She has been supporting MFIs in marketing research, institutional assessments, product development. She leads MFC initiatives for capacity building in digitalization of MFIs. With a background in market research, her previous professional experience covered marketing research in the banking sector and market analysis for the B2B service global alliance. Ewa holds an MSc in Quantitative Methods and Information Systems from Warsaw School of Economics and a postgraduate diploma from Warsaw University in psychology of consumer’s behaviour.

Justyna Pytkowska -Research, Program Manager
Contact: justyna[at]mfc.org.pl

Justyna manages research projects and is the author of the annual publication on the state of microfinance industry in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. She also conducts market research studies in the demand for microfinance products (credit, savings, microinsurance), access to finance and the use of financial services, indebtedness, using a variety of research techniques (focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, questionnaire-based surveys). She has 20 years experience working in development in Eastern European countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States and 12 years experience in conducting microfinance research. This includes hands-on experience in conducting qualitative research and quantitative data analysis using statistical software, writing and publishing articles on the state of microfinance in the region.

Pavol Kapsdorfer – Network and Partnership Manager
Contact: pavol[at]mfc.org.pl

Pavol has over 20 years of experience in development finance/banking; relationship management; assessment of SMEs and finance institutions and their ESG impact; project coordination, capacity building and consultancy. Major part of his career he spent with socially responsible investor Oikocredit International. He was responsible for the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (portfolio of approx. EUR 100 mil.), developing new markets and business relationships with financial intermediaries and SMEs. Pavol will support existing and encourage new partnerships; coordinate initiatives, projects and capacity building services in line with MFC strategy.

Beata Biela – Advocacy Manager

Contact: beata[at]mfc.org.pl

Beata has professional experience both in social economy sector and in business entities. She worked in TISE within social economy division both in granting loans to social economy entities and in Social Venture Capital. Before that she worked in Caritas Somalia in Africa, at Finance Commission of Caritas Internationalis in Rome, PAH. In the past, she worked in business entities like PKN Orlen (capital investments), PKP (capital group controlling), Pfeifer&Langen – previously BSO Polska (controlling and business development), Ernst&Young (due diligence, corporate finance, audit). She graduated from Warsaw School of Economics in the line of Finance and Banking as well as Management and Marketing. She also completed postgraduate studies of Geopolitics and Geostrategy, Global Development, MBA. She is a CFA charterholder. Currently she is pursuing postgraduate studies of Geoeconomy.

Maria Salamon – Project Coordinator

Contact: maria[at]mfc.org.pl

Maria has been with MFC for over a year now, gaining her professional skills in Communication and Project Coordination. Currently she is responsible for coordination of Transform Together Fund Project (TTF). Previously to working at MFC, Maria was actively engaged in Warsaw University Students’ Coucil,  AEGEE – European Student’s Association, and oikos International (students’ community for sustainable development), organizing various events and student exchanges.

Joanna Żukowska – Projects Coordinator

Contact: joanna.zukowska[at]mfc.org.pl

Joanna has joined Microfinance Centre in the end of May 2022. She is the digital and business development expert, the creator and promoter of modern education. Previously she has worked in non-governmental organizations focusing on education projects and empowering women projects. She was the pioneer and leader, and created the biggest entity on the Polish digital press distribution market. Joanna has 20 years of experience working in creating and development start-ups. She graduated from Warsaw School of Economics, Foreign Trade Faculty. She holds the postgraduate diplomas from Warsaw University in European Integration and from University of Humanities and Economics in education management and in pedagogics.

Joanna Sosnowska–Orynska  – Communications Coordinator

Contact: joanna.sosnowska[at]mfc.org.pl

Joanna has over 15 years of experience in delivering communication strategies and marketing campaigns across governmental and non-governmental organizations, PR agencies, state-owned companies, and small and medium enterprises. She has strong organizational skills, having managed high-level UK diplomatic visits to Poland and co-organized large-scale projects, including the UK Delegation’s participation in the NATO Summit in Warsaw, the first-ever Polish-British Belvedere Forum in Warsaw, and the visit of TRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Poland.

At MFC, Joanna is responsible for internal and external communication and creating, delivering, and evaluating marketing and communication strategies.

In her free time, Joanna enjoys walking with her adopted mongrel – Dodo, visiting galleries and museums, and is involved in social activities focused on protecting the climate and wild nature. She is also a member of the food cooperative ‘Dobrze’ in Warsaw.

Olga Yeroshenko – Project Officer

Contact: olga@mfc.org.pl

Extensive experience in business community development and operations (administration, GR, HR, event management) is supported by 8 years of CEO position of Ukrainian real estate club and 5 years of ownership and management of Property Media Publishing. Main areas of expertise: PR campaigns and GR advocacy, project management and marketing, events organizations. Since start of the war in Ukraine Olha participates as a real estate consultant of the National Council of Ukrainian Recovery Plan and invited expert of “Reconstruction of Cities” Group by IMF Recovery Plan for Ukraine. In April, 2022 Mrs. Yeroshenko founded the Charity Organization “Housing for IDP”. More information about Olga can be found at http://www.facebook.com/olga.solovei.

Marcin Sawicki – Finance and Administration Coordinator

Contact: marcin[at]mfc.org.pl

Marcin is taking care of Microfinance Centre’s finance and administration since August 2020. He is responsible for general budgeting in the organization and HR-related services for the MFC Team. Audits, grant financial reporting and invoicing are also his areas of operations. Prior to joining MFC, Marcin worked as a lead financial planner – using SAP and other modelling tools he was planning and forecasting budgetary operations. He’s a graduate in Finance and Banking of Warsaw School of Economics, he also studied in Vienna. One of his biggest hobbies is traveling.

Grzegorz Galusek

In recognition for 22 years service in MFC Management Board

It is a great honor for the MFC to give an appreciation for Grzegorz for his contribution to MFC for over 22 years of its development as a leading microfinance network. Grzegorz started to work for MFC in 1999 and has been an outstanding CEO all these years. Step by step he has managed to grow MFC from first obtaining the status of a CGAP/World Bank Training hub for microfinance, later together with the team he successfully implemented the policy agenda for microfinance in a cooperation with the Soros Foundation, GIZ and CGAP. One of his great successes is the introduction of the customer protection standards, promoting customer protection certification globally. Over those years Grzegorz has initiated the MFC annual conference as the flagship service of the MFC, which has continued over the years and is recognized as one of the best global networking events. He has helped to establish the strategic partnership with members of MFC, international donors and global financial institutions. He has always been committed to the social impact of the sector and its focus on the final beneficiary in microfinance. His strong leadership has led MFC to adopt social finance principles and focus on the benefits of the final client as the DNA of the organization. He has brought significant value into each and every achievement of the MFC.