Michał Guć
Deputy Mayor of Gdynia

A civil engineer, with a degree also in economics. His responsibilities within the City Hall cover development policy, European projects, NGOs, councils of Gdynia districts, senior citizens activation, social aid, building administration and the science and technology park. He is chairman of the Gdynia County Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Gdynia Council for Senior Citizens.

He began community activities in the 1980s with the independent scouting movement and "Solidarność" - then operating underground. He worked towards the establishment of the Scouting Association of the Republic of Poland. His next experience was the re-establishment of the YMCA in Gdynia, where he worked as programming director and then president, at the same time serving on the Executive Committee of the European Alliance of YMCAs in Switzerland.

He supported the civil society and local governments within programmes implemented by international NGOs as well as European and US government programmes. He did so not only in Poland, but also in Hungary, Croatia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Mongolia. Ten books and dozens of articles on local government and NGOs written by Mr Guć have been published in Poland and other countries.

He has initiated and developed a model programme of cooperation with NGOs - the first in Poland. This novel solution, usually referred to as "the Gdynia model" and winning a prize in a PHARE municipal innovation competition, has become a model for many Polish towns and cities. He was the first winner of an award of the Foundation in Support of Local Democracy For in recognition of his contribution to the development of the civic sector.

His wife Iwona is a community midwife in the districts of Wielki Kack and Karwiny and an antenatal instructor. They live in the district of Dąbrowa, with their son Maciej. Their passion is travelling.


Aleja Marszałka Piłsudskiego 52/54
81-382 Gdynia
Sekretariat "B1", room. 121
Phone - sekretariat: (+48 58) 66 88 014
fax (+48 58) 62 08 226