ABSL Summit Speakers

Katarzyna Zawodna-Bijoch President and CEO Skanska office business in CEE

Katarzyna Zawodna-Bijoch has been working at Skanska since 2006, and as the CEO of Skanska’s commercial development business unit in Central and Eastern Europe since 2016. Previously she was responsible for the company's operations in Poland. Currently, she is responsible for the company’s strategy and operations in the area of sustainable and innovative office investments in Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary on ten markets in: Warsaw, Prague, Budapest, Bucharest, Wrocław, Kraków, Poznań, Łódź, Katowice, and Gdańsk. She currently manages a portfolio of 450 000 sqm of office space.

Under her leadership since 2016, the CEE unit has been developing extensively, holding a leadership position among regional developers. Since 2016 the company has leased over 740 000 sqm of futureproof office space, and sold 28 buildings for over EUR 1.8 bln.

The company has been focusing on an innovative approach and continues its commitment to sustainable development. Some examples of initiatives implemented at Skanska since she has taken over include:

- acquisition of a company from the flexible office space sector - Business Link in 2018,

- establishing cooperation with Saule Technologies to implement perovskite technology, thanks to which buildings will be energy-independent in the future,

- decision to implement all projects in accordance with the WELL Building Standard™, including the WELL Health-Safety Rating from 2020 related to the microbiological safety of buildings.

Katarzyna was one of the first people in Poland to introduce the LEED certification system on the office real estate market in Poland and the CEE region over 10 years ago, certifying Skanska buildings. She is currently actively working to improve ethical standards in the region. She is a member of the UN Global Compact program councils and the Civic Congress – a cross-environmental civic project promoting sustainable development in Poland. Moreover, she holds the title of LEED Accredited Professional. At the same time, she’s focused on diversity and inclusion, creating an environment of equal opportunities, including barrier-free buildings and empowering women in business.

Katarzyna actively works to improve ethical standards in the region. She is a member of the policy councils at UN Global Compact as well as the Civic Congress – a cross-environmental civil project promoting sustainable development in Poland.

She has received many prestigious RE awards i.e. Personality of the Year (Eurobuild Award) and Top Woman in Real Estate in 2020. Furthermore, Katarzyna is a RICS Fellow, being recognized for her professional achievements and leadership.

Areas of expertise:

- Office real estate market in Central Eastern Europe

- Central and Eastern Europe – macroeconomics and CEE markets

- Ethics and corporate responsibility in business