The event brought together representatives of public administration, state security services, the Polish Armed Forces, academia, business, and civil society organizations. Over the course of two days, participants discussed the most pressing challenges related to national security, the resilience of critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, healthcare security, financial security, and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

This year's edition of the Forum took place at a time of rapidly evolving security challenges. Throughout the debates, participants repeatedly emphasized that today's threats—from cyberattacks and hybrid operations, through disinformation, to risks affecting critical infrastructure and public health security—require close cooperation between the state, business, and civil society. Strengthening national resilience and developing joint responses to emerging challenges formed the central theme of discussions during the 5th Security Forum.

Official Opening of the Forum

The Forum was officially opened by Maciej Mackiewicz, President of the Management Board of the AntiFraud Association Against Economic Fraud; Mateusz Komorowski, President of the Management Board of the International Institute of Civil Society; Karol Reczkin, Member of the Board of the Security Forum Foundation; and Adam Wieczorek, Deputy Mayor of the City of Łódź.

From the very beginning, speakers stressed that modern security can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of military threats. The growing number of crises, from armed conflicts and cyberattacks to economic pressure, health emergencies, and disinformation—requires building national resilience through cooperation across all sectors of public life.

Risks Arising from Strategic Dependencies

The opening session focused on the risks associated with economic, technological, and geopolitical dependencies. Presentations were delivered by Maciej Witucki, Chairman of the Main Council of the Lewiatan Confederation; Colonel Angela E. Reber, Commander of the NATO Allied Counterintelligence Command; and, in a recorded address, Andrzej Poczobut, journalist and Vice-Chairman of the Union of Poles in Belarus.

The speakers emphasized that national security increasingly depends on the ability to reduce strategic dependencies, diversify supply chains, and build domestic capabilities in key technologies, infrastructure, and industry. They also highlighted the importance of international cooperation and strengthening the resilience of NATO member states against hybrid threats.

The keynote speeches were followed by a moderated discussion led by Karol Reczkin, featuring Colonel Angela E. Reber and Brigadier General Jarosław Stróżyk, PhD, Head of the Military Counterintelligence Service. The discussion focused on the evolving nature of intelligence and counterintelligence threats, the role of allied cooperation, and the importance of information sharing among agencies responsible for national security.

Social and Health Security Risks

Following the lunch break, participants joined parallel thematic sessions, one of which focused on social and health security risks.

The session was introduced by Mateusz Komorowski. Presentations were delivered by Superintendent Michał Aleksandrowicz, Head of the Department for Combating Organized Drug Crime at the Central Bureau of Investigation of the Polish Police (CBŚP); Lieutenant Colonel Doctor of Health Sciences Anita Podlasin, Deputy Commandant of the Military Medical Training Centre; and  Konrad Ciesiołkiewicz, PhD, Head of the Centre for Information Society Analysis at Korczak University.

The speakers addressed issues including national health security, threats arising from organized drug crime, the preparedness of the healthcare system for crisis situations, and society's resilience to information and psychological crises.

The panel discussion was moderated by Mateusz Komorowski and featured Arkadiusz Grądkowski, President of the POLMED National Chamber of Medical Products; Aneta Grunwald-Fitas, Director of the Health Department at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration; Barbara Misiewicz-Jagielak, Director of External Relations at Polpharma; and Łukasz Pietrzak, Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector.

The panelists emphasized the need to build strong partnerships between public administration, the healthcare sector, and the pharmaceutical industry. Particular attention was paid to pharmaceutical security, the continuity of medical device supply chains, and preparing the healthcare system to operate effectively during emergency situations.

The Resilience of Critical Infrastructure During Hybrid and Full-Scale Warfare

Another major theme of the first day focused on the functioning of critical infrastructure.

The opening addresses were delivered by Wojciech Wrochna, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy and Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure, and Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Senator of the Republic of Poland, Chairman of the Senate Legislative Committee and member of the Senate Team for Nuclear Energy and Renewable Energy Sources.

The speakers emphasized the importance of energy security, strategic infrastructure investment, and the development of the energy sector as fundamental pillars of national resilience.

The panel, moderated by Daniel Dragan, an expert at the Foundation of the Council of Eastern Europe, brought together representatives of Ukraine: Hanna Bondar, Member of the Supreme Council of Ukraine and Chair of the Subcommittee on Spatial Planning, Urban Development, and the Development of Occupied Territories; Oleh Dunda, Member of the Supreme Council of Ukraine and member of the Polish-Ukrainian Parliamentary Friendship Group; Andrii Herus, Member of the Supreme Council of Ukraine and Chair of the Committee on Energy; and Nataliia Slobodyan, PhD, Manager for Climate Change, Ecology, and International Cooperation at DTEK.

The discussion focused on Ukraine's experience in maintaining the operation of critical infrastructure during wartime, rebuilding energy systems, and addressing the challenges faced by European countries in protecting critical infrastructure against both kinetic and cyberattacks.

Alongside the panel discussions, roundtable sessions were also held, providing a more interactive forum for exchanging experiences among experts, representatives of public administration, and business leaders. Their purpose was to explore the issues raised during the debates in greater depth and to create a platform for discussing practical solutions aimed at strengthening national resilience.

Financial Risks

The afternoon session on financial security was chaired by Maciej Mackiewicz. The debate featured Adrian Jabłoński, Corporate Affairs and Communications Director at JTI Poland; Arkadiusz Myrcha, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice; Paweł Pik, Regional Prosecutor in Gdańsk; and Zbigniew Stawicki, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Finance and Deputy Head of the National Revenue Administration.

The panel focused on combating economic crime, preventing fraud, improving the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, and strengthening cooperation between public administration and the private sector. The participants emphasized that ensuring the state's financial security requires not only modern analytical tools but also the efficient exchange of information between public institutions and businesses.

From Ransomware to State Destabilization: How Cybercrime Affects Public Security

The growing importance of cybersecurity was the focus of the next panel.

The session opened with introductory remarks by Paweł Bliźniuk, Member of the Polish Parliament (Sejm) and Chair of the Standing Subcommittee on Cybersecurity. The discussion was then moderated by Sławomir Chmielewski, Director of Security and Compliance at Orange Polska and Member of the Management Board of the Polish National Chamber of Commerce for Electronics and Telecommunications.

The panel featured Tomasz Lizak-Zięcina, Director of Development and Innovation at Siltec; Paweł Olszewski, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Digital Affairs; Junior Inspector Wojciech Olszowy, Commander of the Central Cybercrime Bureau; Marcin Rogalski, Cybersecurity Solutions Manager at Egida IT Security Solutions; and Michał Włodarczyk, Systems Engineer at Dell Technologies.

The experts pointed out that contemporary cyberattacks increasingly extend beyond the economic sphere and have become a powerful tool for destabilizing states and disrupting critical infrastructure.

The discussion covered the resilience of public administration, businesses, and operators of key services, as well as the development of cooperation between the public and private sectors in addressing cyber threats.

This part of the programme also featured a continuation of the roundtable discussions. Complementing the plenary sessions, these smaller, interactive meetings enabled Forum participants to engage in in-depth discussions on selected topics, with a strong focus on sharing experiences and developing practical recommendations for public institutions and the private sector.

Infrastructure Risks

The evening session focused on infrastructure security.

The panel was moderated by Witold Drożdż – Member of the Management Board for Strategy and Corporate Affairs at Orange Polska and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Polish Nuclear Power Plants. The discussion featured Michał Domaradzki – Executive Director for Control and Security at ORLEN, Magdalena Gaj – President of the Management Board of Exatel, and Michał Andrzej Olszewski – Member of the Management Board of ORLEN Termika.

The discussion addressed energy, telecommunications, and industrial security, as well as the importance of investing in modern infrastructure and strengthening the resilience of critical systems. The panelists emphasized that close cooperation between public administration and major infrastructure operators remains one of the key prerequisites for responding effectively to today's evolving security challenges.

Keynote Address

The programme continued with a keynote address delivered by Brigadier General Krzysztof Bondaryk, Director of the Department of Security and Defense Affairs at the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.

In his speech, he discussed the role of public administration in strengthening national resilience and highlighted the importance of effective coordination among the services and institutions responsible for national security.

Technology Alone Is Not Enough – Why People Are the Real Competitive Advantage Today

Running in parallel was a panel devoted to skills and competencies.

Moderated by Rafał Durowicz, Customer Success Manager at BPX, the discussion brought together Wojciech Maciejczak – Director of Regulatory Security at Orange Polska, Dr Katarzyna Nosalska – Director of the Digital Competence Development Centre at the Ministry of Digital Affairs, Paulina Ostrowska – attorney-at-law and President of the AI Security Foundation, and Jan Puchniewicz – Compliance and GDPR Officer at PSE Inwestycje.

The speakers stressed that even the most advanced technological solutions cannot replace well-trained professionals. The discussion focused on developing digital competencies, fostering a strong organizational security culture, promoting education, and raising employee awareness as one of the most important pillars of cyber resilience.

Offensive Security

The final expert panel of the first day focused on offensive cybersecurity.

The discussion was moderated by Piotr Borkowski, Founder of the AI Security Foundation, with Colonel Paweł Doniec, Deputy Commander of the Cyber Defense Forces Component Command, serving as the keynote speaker.

The conversation explored contemporary methods of conducting cyber operations, the importance of active cyber defense, and the development of national capabilities to counter digital threats.

Gala Dinner

The first day of the Forum concluded with a gala dinner.

The participants were addressed by Brigadier General Radosław Kujawa, Secretary of State at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister and Secretary of the College for Special Services.

During the evening gala, the Security Forum Award was also presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to strengthening national security and resilience. This year's recipient was Brigadier General Radosław Kujawa.

Day Two of the Forum – A Strategic Perspective

The second day of the Forum was devoted to a strategic outlook on security and the future of international cooperation.

A presentation on information threats and digital security was delivered by Givi Gigitashvili, Resident Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab. He discussed the contemporary challenges posed by disinformation, influence operations, and the need to strengthen the resilience of democratic societies.

A New Architecture of Digital Trust – Privacy, Security and Competences

The Forum's final panel was moderated by Anna Matusiak-Wekiera, legal counsel and privacy expert. The discussion featured Artur Klepacki, Director of the IT Department at the Personal Data Protection Office, Tomasz Krawczyk, representative of the AI Security Foundation, and Barbara Sawina, Head of the Information Protection Coordination Unit at Orange Polska.

The panel focused on the challenges of personal data protection, the use of artificial intelligence, building trust in digital services, and the competencies required to function effectively in an increasingly digital world. The speakers emphasized the importance of balancing technological innovation with the protection of privacy while ensuring an appropriate level of security for both citizens and public institutions.

Conclusion

The 5th Security Forum confirmed that effectively addressing today's complex threats requires close cooperation between public administration, security services, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations. The discussions held over the course of the two-day event demonstrated that security must now be understood as an interconnected system encompassing defense, the economy, critical infrastructure, healthcare, finance, and cyberspace.

This year's edition of the Forum served as a valuable platform for exchanging experience and best practices, while fostering the development of solutions aimed at strengthening national resilience in the face of rapidly evolving threats. The conclusions drawn from the debates clearly highlighted that building lasting security requires long-term cooperation among all stakeholders in public life, accompanied by sustained investment in people, skills, and advanced technologies.