The international "Ambassador of Polish History" award is an honorary distinction established by the IPN's President. It is granted to individuals and organizations in recognition of their outstanding contribution to commemorating the history of the Polish Nation and supporting the IPN in its statutory activities in the field of research and education.
The award is presented to individuals and institutions active outside Poland and especially involved in cultivating Polish historical memory, committed to preserving, promoting and enhancing the knowledge of Poland’s recent history, and to uncovering forgotten facts and people who have rendered great services to the Polish Nation.
Among this year’s laureates there are social activists – both Poles and friends of Poland – from the United States, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Argentina, and the United Kingdom. Through their dedication and passion, they have made a significant contribution to preserving Polish historical memory, tradition, and culture.
"Today, you will become acquainted with the profiles of individuals who, in various corners of the world, bring Polish history to light. I would like to express my profound gratitude to them for devoting their time and energy - despite living far from our homeland - to preserving the memory of Poland and conveying the truth about its past and its heroes to the global community,"- stated Mateusz Szpytma Ph.D., the Deputy President of the Institute of National Remembrance.
Waldemar Biniecki, speaking from the United States, emphasized that it is the responsibility of the Polish diaspora to promote Poland’s historical legacy, which is rooted in a deep love for the homeland. He further affirmed his continued commitment to raising awareness of Polish history across the United States.
Piotr Kentnowski acknowledged that, when he first embarked on this journey, he did not anticipate the extent of what remained to be uncovered. He added that caring for the burial sites of fellow countrymen abroad constitutes a meaningful expression of our national maturity.
In a letter read out by Joanna Rode-Pawlikowska on behalf of Barbara and Krzysztof Pawlikowski from New Zealand, the honorees emphasized that although they have resided in New Zealand for over forty years, their hearts remain firmly bound to Poland.
Mauro Radici from Italy spoke of the profound emotion he felt upon being present in Poland:
"I find myself in the capital of a nation so close to my Italian heart. I accept this award not only on my own behalf, but also in the name of all Poles and Italians who believe that remembrance can forge brotherhood. History strengthens human bonds. It was Poland that taught me the meaning of patriotism - for you know how to act, not merely speak," - he remarked.
The ceremony was attended by, among others: His Excellency Paul Ballantyne, Ambassador of New Zealand; Vincenzo Spinelli, First Secretary of the Embassy of Italy; Anna-Lena Rückheim-von Hassell, Head of the Cultural Section at the German Embassy; Łukasz Witek, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland; Adam Pleskaczyński Ph.D., Director of the IPN National Education Office; Konrad Graczyk Ph.D., Deputy Director of the IPN Historical Research Office; Mateusz Marek Ph.D., Deputy Director of the IPN Office of International Cooperation, as well as the laureate’s friends and families.
The laureates of this year’s “Ambassador of Polish History”, were presented with their awards during a ceremony held on 22 October 2025 at the Faculty of History of the University of Warsaw.
Waldemar Biniecki – a lecturer, Polish-American community activist and editor-in-chief of the legendary Kuryer Polski of Milwaukee, which has been relaunched after 70 years. He also serves on the editorial board of the magazine Gwiazda Polarna. Mr Biniecki is a member of the Association of Polish Journalists. From 2018 to 2024, he served as a columnist and feature writer for Tygodnik Solidarność. Currently, he is a commentator on American affairs for Polish media outlets such as Do Rzeczy, Tygodnik Solidarność, and Wszystko co Najważniejsze. He also publishes extensively in Polish diaspora press in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Throughout his work, he consistently advocates for the development of a pro-Polish lobbying presence around the world and remains actively engaged in supporting Polish communities abroad. In recognition of his contributions, Mr Biniecki was awarded the Maciej Płażyński Prize in 2022 in the category of Polish diaspora media journalist.
Mauro Radici – one of the founders of the Polovers community, a dedicated promoter of Polish history and culture in Italy, and an advocate of Polish-Italian friendship. For many years, he has worked to raise awareness about the fate of the 2nd Polish Corps and has been instrumental in commemorating the contribution of Polish soldiers to the liberation of Italy, especially in the Marche and Macerata regions. He has initiated and co-organised numerous commemorative events honouring Polish soldiers, during which he frequently speaks about the achievements of the 2nd Corps. Mr Radici collaborates closely with Polish institutions, including the Embassy and Consulate in Rome, the Honorary Consulates in Ancona and Florence, as well as the Institute of National Remembrance. He supports Polish schools in Italy and co-organises educational and sports initiatives for children and youth. He creates bilingual storytelling content in Polish and Italian, produces documentaries, television reports, and promotional materials. A key area of his activity is promoting Polish history through social media. Thanks to his efforts, the Museum of the 2nd Polish Corps in Józefów near Warsaw, has established cooperation with its counterpart in Loro Piceno, Italy.
Piotr Kentnowski – Mr Kentnowski has for many years been actively engaged in commemorating the lives and fates of Poles who died on German soil during the Second World War. He is the originator and founder of the “Ostoja Pamięci” (Sanctuary of Memory) project – a personal initiative stemming from a deep sense of historical responsibility. Operating without permanent funding, he documents forgotten Polish war graves, including those of forced labour victims, children of forced labourers, and prisoners of war. The website he founded, www.ostojapamieci.pl, collects data on hundreds of burial sites in Germany, divided by location and district. It contains photographs, archival documents, and legal information. Currently, the database contains data on over 5,000 victims. Thanks to Mr. Kentnowski’s work, it has been possible to identify and document many Polish World War II graves, as well as to reveal cases of violations of international law regarding the protection of war graves. He has also developed a program aimed at restoring Polish graves in Germany. He actively reminds German institutions, authorities, and local governments of the existence of Polish burial sites and their obligation to care for them. Mr. Piotr Kentnowski operates in cooperation with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Munich, and has been granted the honorary patronage of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Barbara and Krzysztof Pawlikowski – distinguished social activists who, for many years, have worked to support the Polish diaspora and preserve Polish historical memory in New Zealand. Between 1986 and 1987, they published the Polish community bulletin Nowa Gazeta, and later founded a Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Association of Polish Combatants. This organisation provides support for veterans who fought for Poland’s independence and organises numerous patriotic and historical events. A significant part of their work involves maintaining more than 50 graves of Polish heroes and commemorating the story of the Polish children from Pahiatua. At their initiative, the 79th anniversary of the arrival of the “Polish Children from Pahiatua” was celebrated in Christchurch in November 2023. Thanks to their dedication, in 2023 a park in Christchurch was officially named Little Poland Park. The name refers to the settlement in Pahiatua that welcomed Polish children evacuated from Siberia in 1944. A commemorative plaque was installed in the park, along with a memorial bench and an oak tree – symbolising remembrance and the enduring spirit of the Polish nation.
Andrés Chowańczak – a descendant of a distinguished Warsaw family. His father and grandfather were members of the Polish resistance during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and after World War II, his father emigrated to Argentina. Mr Chowańczak was born in Argentina, where he learned Polish and has since worked tirelessly to promote Polish history both among Argentinians and the younger generation of the Polish diaspora. He currently serves as Vice President of the Union of Poles in Argentina and is deeply involved in educational initiatives. He conducts lectures and courses on Polish history and organises numerous historical exhibitions. Thanks to his efforts – in collaboration with the Institute of National Remembrance and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Buenos Aires – the IPN exhibition Trails of Hope: The Odyssey of Freedom was presented in Argentina. Mr Chowańczak is the author of over 250 scholarly articles that revive the memory of prominent Poles. He also served as a consultant for the widely read Argentine book Chicos de Varsovia, which tells the story of the Warsaw Uprising. His work extends well beyond Argentina – he has delivered lectures in countries such as Mexico, passionately sharing and promoting the history of Poland and its heroes.
“Ognisko Polskie – Polish Hearth” – for over 80 years, this institution has served as a vital centre of cultural life, historical memory, and education for the Polish diaspora in the United Kingdom and beyond. Founded in 1940, during World War II “Ognisko Polskie” served as a civic and intellectual hub for ministers, military commanders, and representatives of Polish cultural life in exile. It hosted debates, meetings, and commemorative events, and its associated theatre preserved the national spirit among émigrés. After the British government withdrew its recognition of the Polish Government-in-Exile in 1945, “Ognisko Polskie” became a symbol of free Polish culture. For decades, it has helped Poles abroad maintain their national identity and historical awarerness – especially during the years of communist rule in Poland. Today, “Ognisko Polskie” continues to blend tradition with modernity. It organises lectures, exhibitions, book launches, and panel discussions on modern Polish history and topics such as the Polish Armed Forces in the West, the Katyn Massacre, the Warsaw Uprising, and the fate of post-war émigrés. The institution collaborates with both Polish and British historians, archival institutions, and research organisations. It facilitates access to wartime and émigré documents, memoirs, and photographs and promotes these resources to a broad audience. “Ognisko Polskie” also runs cultural programmes, film screenings, and workshops for younger generations of Poles, nurturing their connection to Polish history, language, and culture.