Identifying new directions for developing the city of Poznań is the main task of the Council of Mentors. Convened by the Mayor of Poznań, Jacek Jaśkowiak, this group of 13 authorities from various fields of life is to help in redefining priorities for the development of the city. One of the Council of Mentors is Jens Ocksen - President of the Management Board of Volkswagen Poznań.

The fundamental objective of the new strategy for the city is to attract new residents.

“The city wants to draw in people who are interested in working in key industries - such as Volkswagen, Allegro or Solaris. We also need to create for those people a friendly urban space with efficient public transport,” said the Mayor of Poznań, Jacek Jaśkowiak, during a meeting.

Representatives of key industries associated with Poznań, as well as scientists and people from cultural and artistic circles, were invited to sit on the Council of Mentors. The conclusion of the invited experts will be used to work out key direction for the development of the city over the next decade or so.

Members of the Council include the Dean of the Poznań School of Business, Prof. Marian Gorynia, the world-renowned conductor Agnieszka Duczmal, and public transport expert Dr. Michał Beim. Another member of the Council of Mentors is Jens Ocksen, President of the Management Board of Volkswagen Poznań.

“I’m very glad that Volkswagen Poznań was invited to work on the strategy for Poznań, and that I can represent us on the Council of Mentors. It is both a great honour to sit amongst a group of people who have done so much for the city, and as well a clear signal that the city wants to hear our opinion. To meet the challenges of the modern world and maintain Poznań’s attractiveness, it’s certainly necessary to have a strategy for the city - a road map according to which Poznań is to grow. The discussion points defined by inhabitants and City Hall show that the range of topics is very broad. For me, a particularly important point on that list is urban logistics, that is, the concept for transport within the city. I hope that, together with City Hall, we will develop some interesting solutions.”

The new strategy for the development of the city is to be adopted by the end of the year. So far there have been two meetings of the Council of Mentors.