The Who is Who page introduces the dedicated professionals who lead and support the association, including the Executive Committee, Review Committee, Regional Representatives, and Administrative Staff. Bringing together experienced teachers, trainers, academics, and ELT specialists, they work to foster professional development, innovation, and collaboration within the English language teaching community in Poland.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Magdalena Gałaj | President | president@iatefl.org.pl
Since September 2025, she has been President of IATEFL Poland, bringing nearly 30 years of academic expertise from Lodz University of Technology and the College of Computer Science and Skills to the leadership of our association. A graduate of Lodz University and the prestigious University College London (UCL) Master’s of Teaching programme and a specialist in Andragogy and Coaching, she is dedicated to elevating professional standards for teachers across Poland. In her work, she focuses on the frontier of ELT, specifically on integrating Artificial Intelligence and new technologies to create more motivated, tech-empowered classrooms. As an experienced materials designer and events coordinator, she combines a deep understanding of global trends with a commitment to the “direct contact” and networking that defines our community. Outside of her professional roles, she is a traveler and salsa enthusiast who believes that personal passion and creativity are essential to being an inspiring educator.
Marta Rosińska-Trim | Vice-President | vice@iatefl.org.pl / marta.rosinska@iatefl.org.pl
Marta Rosińska- absolwentka Filologii Angielskiej UŁ, absolwentka studiów podyplomowych Zarządzanie w Edukacji Uniwersytet Cambridge, absolwentka studiów podyplomowych Psychologia w Zarządzaniu w Akademii Leona Koźmińskiego w Warszawie, absolwentaka Szkoły Liderów w Akademii Leona Koźmińskiego, absolwentka kursu dla mentorów British Council, absolwentka kursu RTZ-Racjonalna Terapia Zachowania (Pracownia RTZ, Agnieszka Hottowy), trenerka umiejętności społecznych TUS (Szkoła Trenerów TUS Joanna Węglarz), facylitatorka job crafting (Job Ceafting Polska), starszy wykładowca na Uniwersytecie Łódzkim, Dyrektorka w English Language Centre, UŁ, nauczycielka młodzieży i dorosłych, doświadczona trenerka metodyczna, autorka licznych podręczników i materiałów edukacyjnych dla młodzieży dla Macmillan Education w Polsce i w Ukrainie, współtwórczyni, mentorka, koordynatorka i trenerka w programach Teacher Trainer Academy (nominowanej do nagrody ELTON British Council), Thought Leader Academy (Akademia Liderów i Liderek Edukacji) i ELT Author Academy, dyrektorka programowa Fundacji REJ, inicjatorka ogólnopolskiej akcji ROK RELACJI W EDUKACJI, inicjatorka programu Qlturalna szkoła, Ego czy Eco Lider, VAT, czyli wartość dodana w edukacji.
Joanna Leszkiewicz | Secretary | secretary@iatefl.org.pl
A graduate of University of Wrocław with an MA in English Philology, she is a senior lecturer at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. She teaches General English, EAP and ESP to full-time students, Doctoral School participants, and international students attending preparatory courses. From 1991 to 2015, she also lectured at the Foreign Language Teacher Training College in Wrocław, where she taught practical language subjects and courses in British history and civilisation. An active member of a professional IATEFL Poland for over 30 years, she has served in several board roles and organised numerous training events and conferences.
Born in New Zealand but was brought up in the Middle East and the UK. He has been teaching English in Poland for 24 years and is also an academic manager and teacher trainer. He has written several articles for The Teacher and The IH Journal magazine and loves presenting on the conference circuit. He has given workshops in many countries such as Belarus, Bulgaria, Colombia, Italy, Moldova, Myanmar, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, the UK and many more.
Urszula Majdańska-Wachowicz | Liaison Officer | liaison@iatefl.org.pl / urszula.majdanska-wachowicz@iatefl.org.pl
Urszula Majdańska-Wachowicz holds a PhD in linguistics, an MA in English (Zielona Gora University, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań), and an MA in Polish and Journalism (Zielona Gora University). She has nearly 25 years of public-sector experience, working with students in primary and secondary schools. An English teacher, teacher trainer, and researcher, she currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Modern Languages, Zielona Gora University, where she teaches practical English, pragmatics, ELT, ESP, and supervises BA seminars (for publications: ORCID: 0000-0002-3004-0826). She also teaches English at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Bolesława Krzywoustego w Głogowie. Dr Majdańska-Wachowicz has presented at numerous conferences across Europe and Asia, sharing research and classroom-based experiences, and has proudly represented IATEFL Poland at ETAI Israel (2022), TESOL Greece (2024), TESOL France (2024), ELTA Albania (2025), and EATE Estonia (2025). She has received scholarships from the U.S. Embassy in Poland (2016), Sharing One Language and IATEFL Poland (2024). She co-coordinates the initiative for novice teachers: FROM PRE-SERVICE INTO IN-SERVICE: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PROFESSIONALS-TO-BE (Zielona Gora University, Vistula University, IATEFL Poland). Her love of music, travel, nature, and Pilates inspires both her academic interests and her teaching style.
Anna Gębka-Suska | Treasurer | treasurer@iatefl.org.pl
The founder and director of 4ELT, a passionate teacher, teacher trainer, materials writer, and game designer.
Many years ago, I co-founded the very first private English school for children in Poznań, where I discovered that children learn best when they listen and act. That was why I created Hop4ELT for Kinect, Hide-and-Seek – an app for mobile phones, and Playground – a set of games for interactive floors that teach English through movement.
I have been volunteering for our association for most of my professional life, serving in different roles. I co-organised two IATEFL Poland conferences, sat on the board for many years, twice as president, and now I am the treasurer. I can honestly say that everything I know about teaching I learned at IATEFL Poland.
Michael Doherty | South Region Representative | south.region@iatefl.org.pl michael.doherty@iatefl.org.pl
Michael Doherty is an academic teacher at Ignatianum University in Kraków, where he teaches practical English language skills, Irish and British history and culture, and courses in academic communication. Originally from Ireland, he has been living in Poland since 2003 and has more than twenty years’ teaching experience across primary, secondary, adult and higher education.
Michael is a regular conference speaker at national and international ELT events. His professional interests include artificial intelligence in education, digital pedagogy, multimodal learning, critical AI literacy, phonetics and phonology, and the integration of emerging technologies into language teaching. His recent work explores the pedagogical, ethical and societal implications of AI in education.
As South Region Representative for IATEFL Poland, Michael organises regional professional development events, including the annual South Region Public Speaking Competition, and helps teachers build professional networks face-to-face in a world where communication is increasingly mediated by machines. He believes that technological innovation in education should enhance, rather than replace, the human relationships at the heart of effective teaching and learning.
Anna Laura Kowalska | Conference, Website & Newsletters Coordinator | media@iatefl.org.pl
English Philology graduate with 18 years of experience in ELT. Translator, teacher, and instructor across all education levels. Experienced in NVC communication and building relations in the classroom. Passionate about neurodidactics, she blends modern, brain-friendly methods with practical expertise to support effective language learning and student development. Connected with IATEFL Poland since 2025. Currently a military university teacher in Warsaw.
REVIEW COMMITTEE
Danuta Sołtyska | Review Committee | danuta.soltyska@iatefl.org.pl
I live and work in Warsaw.
I graduated from the Faculty of English Philology at the University of Warsaw. My M.A. thesis supervisor was prof. Jan Rusiecki, one of the founders and the first President of IATEFL PL. I joined IATEFL Pl at the very beginning as I took part in the very first meeting with Alan Maley held in Warsaw in 1991 when IATEFL Poland was started. This means I have been an IATEFL PL member for 35 years. For about 20 years I was the treasurer, then I became a member of the Review Board.
For 45 years I was teaching students of Warsaw University of Technology. For 21 years I was the Head of WUT Language Centre. We organised three IATEFL Pl conferences. Now I teach Seniors of WUT. I love teaching, but I also love being an active part of our Association.
Ewa has been with IATEFL Poland for 30 years, as a member, conference organiser,
member and then the Head of the Review Committee. Professionally, a senior lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages at Wrocław University of Technology. Privately, the mother of three and grandmother of two.
EFL teacher, teacher trainer, neurodiversity coach , IATEFL trustee and treasurer, IATEFL Poland in-service coordinator.
With over 15 years of experience gained across few different countries she is committed to making language education engaging, equitable, and effective while addressing the diverse needs of learners. Inside the classroom, drawing from her deep understanding of language acquisition and differentiated instruction, she strives to empower both students and teachers to reach their full potential.
Beyond the classroom, Viola actively supports teacher development by providing training and guidance to educators on best practices in ELT.
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Lucyna Wilinkiewicz-Górniak | Webinars Coordinator | lucyna.wilinkiewicz-gorniak@iatefl.org.pl
Lucyna Wilinkiewicz-Górniak is a senior lecturer at Cracow University of Economics, specializing in business English and communication. She uses a project-based approach to teaching. A long-time member of IATEFL Poland, she has served as Secretary, Kraków Region Representative, and Webinars Coordinator, supporting professional development in English language teaching.
Michael Doherty | South Region Representative | south.region@iatefl.org.pl michael.doherty@iatefl.org.pl
Michael Doherty is an academic teacher at Ignatianum University in Kraków, where he teaches practical English language skills, Irish and British history and culture, and courses in academic communication. Originally from Ireland, he has been living in Poland since 2003 and has more than twenty years’ teaching experience across primary, secondary, adult and higher education.
Michael is a regular conference speaker at national and international ELT events. His professional interests include artificial intelligence in education, digital pedagogy, multimodal learning, critical AI literacy, phonetics and phonology, and the integration of emerging technologies into language teaching. His recent work explores the pedagogical, ethical and societal implications of AI in education.
As South Region Representative for IATEFL Poland, Michael organises regional professional development events, including the annual South Region Public Speaking Competition, and helps teachers build professional networks face-to-face in a world where communication is increasingly mediated by machines. He believes that technological innovation in education should enhance, rather than replace, the human relationships at the heart of effective teaching and learning.
Małgosia Tetiurka | East Region Representative | east.region@iatefl.org.pl mtetiurka@lscdn.pl
Małgosia is an English teacher, teacher trainer, materials writer and conference presenter with
over 30 years of experience in ELT.
For many years, she worked in pre-service teacher education at the John Paul II Catholic
University of Lublin and the University of Warsaw. She now focuses mainly on in-service
teacher development, supporting teachers through workshops, training courses and conference
sessions in Poland and internationally. She has worked with teachers in many countries,
including China, Croatia, Estonia, Great Britain, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Russia.
Małgosia has written teaching materials for Oxford University Press and Pearson, as well as
online materials for Cambridge English Language Assessment. As a Consultant Trainer for
the Norwich Institute for Language Education, she is the module leader for the Teaching
Young Learners module on the NILE MA programme.
Her IATEFL Poland story began at the second conference in Kraków in 1993, and the
association has been a source of professional inspiration, friendship and great joy ever since.
In her free time, you will most probably find Małgosia growing tomatoes in her little garden,
listening to audiobooks or spending time with her seven grandchildren.
Małgorzata Bukowska-Ulatowska | North Region Representative | north.region@iatefl.org.pl
Małgorzata is an experienced teacher trainer, foreign language education consultant, and editor-in-chief of “Edukacja Pomorska” magazine. She has many years of experience in designing and delivering in-person and online professional development for teachers, with a focus on language education, assessment, and educational innovation.
She is a former President of IATEFL Poland and coordinator of the IATEFL Poland North Region. A graduate of the University of Gdańsk, the University of Warsaw, SWPS University, and several specialist training programmes, she combines strong academic foundations with practical expertise in teaching, training, mentoring, tutoring, research, data analysis, editing, and education management.
Guided by curiosity, lifelong learning, and a belief in the power of education to help people grow, Małgorzata supports teachers and learners with professionalism, openness, and encouragement, helping them develop confidence, reflect on their practice, and discover new possibilities in education.
Magda Dworakowska | Central Region Representative | magda.dworakowska@iatefl.org.
A graduate of Łódź University with an MA in English Philology, a senior lecturer and the head of English teachers at the Centre for Languages and Certification of Łódź University teaching ESP to students of the Faculties of Geographical Sciences and Management as well as Academic English to students of Doctoral Schools. An active member of IATEFL Poland for over 20 years, a regional representative of Łódź Region for 15 years
Joanna Leszkiewicz | West Region Representative | joanna.leszkiewicz@iatefl.org.pl
Joanna Leszkiewicz is an experienced teacher, teacher trainer and Senior Lecturer at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. She has been involved in teacher education for many years, including her work at the Foreign Language Teacher Training College in Wrocław. One of the things she is most proud of is seeing some of her former students become teachers of English – and even having the opportunity to work alongside some of them today.
Her IATEFL Poland journey began with the 2nd IATEFL Poland Conference in Kraków. She has attended every conference since, and the Association has had a lasting influence on her both professionally and personally. Over the years, she became increasingly involved in IATEFL Poland, serving on its Board in various roles. For more than 15 years, she has represented the West Region of IATEFL Poland.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Anna Rogalewicz – Gałucka | Chief Administrative Officer | office@iatefl.org.pl
A graduate of the Faculty of Philology at the University of Łódź, she has over 30 years of experience teaching English as a foreign language. For more than 25 years, she has collaborated with IATEFL Poland and regularly attended its conferences. Among her professional achievements is the introduction of the Public Speaking Contest in Poland. She is a telc examiner and examiner trainer and also represents SOL (Sharing One Language) in Poland. Her professional interests include lifelong learning and communicative language teaching. She is a passionate advocate of learning more than one foreign language.
Vacancy| Personal Data Protection Representative
OUR PATRON
Prof. Jan Rusiecki
OUR IATEFL POLAND AMBASADOR
Alan Maley
HONORARY BOARD
- Maria Birkenmajer Honorary President
- Małgorzata Bukowska-Ulatowska Honorary President
- Anna Gębka-Suska Honorary President
- Danuta Rurańska Honorary President
- Marta Bujakowska Honorary President
- Jarosław Kawałek Honorary President
- Sławomir Nowikowski Honorary President
- Elżbieta Jarosz Honorary President
- Joanna Leszkiewicz Honorary President
- Grzegorz Śpiewak Honorary President
- Anna Gwardyś Honorary President
- Andrzej Obstawski Honorary President
HONORARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
- Bożena Czarniak Honorary Committee Member
- Marzenna Rączkowska Honorary Committee Member
OTHER
- Rachel Launay – The British Council Director in Poland
- Jen MacArthur – the Regional English Language Officer (RELO) for Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova, based at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw
- Kevin Fitzsimons – Fundacja British Council Polska
