Piotr Szymański has been associated with the Barka Foundation in Poznań for over 20 years. He studied Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Life Sciences in Poznań and Management at Poznań University of Economics. Before joining Barka, he held senior positions in numerous private-sector companies as well as public institutions.

At Barka, Piotr is responsible for operating a 450-hectare organic farm. He also oversees the foundation’s property management and the implementation of investment projects. His first major project with Barka was the EU-funded EQUAL Project in 2005, which aimed to transfer Barka’s experience in creating jobs through social enterprises to local communities. Within this project, Piotr developed and implemented models for “local partnerships to promote social entrepreneurship”. For this work, the Barka Foundation received the European Parliament Award.

Piotr has gained extensive expertise in social animation, particularly in establishing centres for social integration and social cooperatives in local communities—mainly in eastern Poland. He also supports Barka’s rural community houses as a board member of the Barka associations that manage these facilities.

His hobbies include alpine skiing, volleyball, inline skating, ice skating, and swimming. His special passion, however, is flying—Piotr is a trained pilot and flight instructor.