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On Friday, the agenda focused on technology, management, and modern approaches to funeral services.

The Forum was opened by Krzysztof Wolicki, President of the Polish Funeral Association. The very first presentation, delivered by Dr Marek Borowiński, set the tone not only for the Forum itself but also for the entire industry. Dr Borowiński spoke about AI in the service of empathy, highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence in the everyday work of funeral homes.

Grzegorz Bartoszek discussed eco-friendly solutions that can be implemented in the sector, addressing the topic of green energy in funeral services. Participants also had the opportunity to explore electric hearses by HENTSCHKE – the Mercedes EQE and Mercedes Vito EQ models – which were available for test drives on the Targi Kielce grounds.

Maciej Żarys focused on the practical aspects of management, from building effective teams to efficient communication with employees. He was followed by Wojciech Kudela and Bartosz Wojtkowiak from BRAINBOX, who revealed which marketing strategies work best in the funeral business.

Tomasz Salski, majority shareholder of Grupa KLEPSYDRA S.A., presented an overview of the development prospects of Poland’s funeral industry. Next, Jakub Rosiak discussed the role of financial services in building a positive image of funeral companies, while Marek Borowiński returned to the stage to talk about elegant communication in social media.

The first day concluded with a presentation by Małgorzata Hatalska, dedicated to memorial jewellery.

Saturday was marked by reflection on the future and evolving forms of modern burial. The day opened with a lecture by Maciej Jaźwiecki, co-founder of CEMEMO – the “digital monument of humanity”, which unites memory, tradition, and innovation.

Dr Paweł Drembkowski, Director General of the Central Institute for Political and Legal Analysis, spoke about the need for legal reform in the sector in his presentation titled “Death 2.0: How Technology, the Internet, and Artificial Intelligence Are Changing the Funeral Industry.”

The Forum concluded with a talk by Anna Borowik, a Secular Funeral Master of Ceremonies, who clarified the differences between humanist funerals, celebrants, and secular ceremony leaders, shedding light on non-religious forms of farewell.

(BB)