On 7th March 2016 during the opening session of the 23rd edition of the “Welconomy Forum in Toruń” – one of the biggest economic events in Poland – prof. Henryk Skarżyński, the director of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing and the World Hearing Center, received the title of an Ambassador of Integration and Cooperation of 2015.
This honourable title is awarded annually by the Policy Council of the “Integration and Cooperation” Association for remarkable success and abilities to integrate and cooperate in different fields of life, which influence the improvement of the economic situation in Poland.
The tile of the Ambassador of Integration and Cooperation of 2015 was awarded to prof. Henryk Skarżyński, M.D., Ph.D., dr. h.c. multi, director of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing and the World Hearing Center, national consultant in otolaryngology, president of the Clinical Science Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences, vice-director of the Main Council of the Research Institutes; Krzysztof Krystowski, Vice Chairman of the Finmeccanica Helicopter Division; Zbigniew Matkowski, owner of the Fosfan S.A., Adam Tański, Minister of Agriculture and Food in 1991 and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2003, prof. Andrzej Tretyn, Rector at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Jerzy Wenderlich, Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of the VI and VII term, Jan Wyrowiński, Deputy Marshal of the Senat of the Republic of Poland of the VIII term, Arkadiusz Piętak, senior captain of the Provincial Headquarters of the National Fire Department in Toruń (an award for popularisation of safeness among children and youths under the Campaign for Safe and Ecological Holiday).
In previous years the board of directors of the “Integration and Cooperation” Association honoured the following persons with the title of the Ambassador of Integration and Cooperation: prof. Bronisław Geremek, historian and politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1997-2000, prof. Zbigniew Religa, prominent heart surgeon, politician, Minister of Health in 2005-2007, prof. Stefan Meller, diplomat, historian, journalist, Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2005-2006, prof. Jerzy Buzek, politician, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland in 1997-2001, President of the European Parliament in 1997-2001, Józef Oleksy, politician, Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland in 1993-1995 and 2004-2005, Prime Minister of Poland in 1995-1996, Michał Kulesza, lawyer, co-author of the government reform.
Welconomy Forum in Toruń is one of the biggest economic conferences in Poland, providing a venue for discussion about the shape of the Polish economy in a global world. The conference and its panel discussions focus on current problems of Poland and Europe, with a special emphasis on the Eastern Partnership. Each year the Forum gathers nearly 2000 persons including politicians, businessmen and scientists from Poland and abroad. The 2-day conference includes numerous thematic panels, business meetings and cultural events.