Katia Ciesielska

Independent Director

Based in Luxembourg

Supporting regulated and alternative investment structures through:

Fund Governance
AI Governance
AML/CFT

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Luxembourg Independent Director

20+

Over 20 years in fund governance and financial services, across regulated funds, private equity and real estate

40+

Portfolio entities across ~15 sponsor and family-office groups, with deep Luxembourg fund expertise (UCITS, SIF, AIF, RAIF)

5

Fluent in 5 languages for cross-border governance and compliance

Helping boards and governance leaders in Luxembourg and Europe translate complex regulation, ethics, and technology into pragmatic strategies that ensure compliance, build resilience, and foster stakeholder trust.

Current mandate focus

I take on a small number of new independent director mandates each year. The best fit: Luxembourg AIFMs, RAIFs, SIFs and GP structures across private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure; ELTIF and other retail-adjacent alternative structures; and boards seeking RC/RR capability or board-level AI governance oversight.

Boards tend to seek me out at particular moments — when a structure faces heightened CSSF scrutiny or remediation, when the AML/CFT control function needs strengthening or independent RC/RR cover, when a vehicle is being launched, restructured or wound down, or when a board recognises it needs AI oversight capability and EU AI Act readiness it does not yet have. These are situations that reward independent judgement and constructive challenge over additional capacity.

Latest insights

AMLA Data Collection 2026: What Luxembourg Fund Boards Need to Know
17 July 2026

CSSF Governance Expectations in 2026: Lessons from Circular 26/906
15 May 2026

ELTIF 2.0: Key Governance Takeaways for Luxembourg Boards
17 March 2026

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Katia Ciesielska?

Katia Ciesielska is a Luxembourg-based independent non-executive director and corporate governance advisor with more than 20 years in fund governance and financial services. She serves on the boards of regulated investment funds and corporate structures across around 15 sponsor and family-office groups — more than 40 portfolio entities spanning private equity, private debt, real estate, infrastructure and special situations. She is an ILA Certified Director and Fund Expert, INSEAD- and ACAMS-certified, and has been recognised on Paperjam's Top 100 Women on Boards.

What does a Luxembourg independent director do?

An independent non-executive director provides objective oversight on a company or fund board, free from management or shareholder conflicts. In Luxembourg's regulated fund sector this includes overseeing governance and risk, ensuring regulatory and AML/CFT compliance, challenging management constructively, and protecting the long-term interests of investors and stakeholders.

What services does Katia Ciesielska offer?

Four core services: independent directorships on fund and corporate boards; governance and board advisory including policies, board evaluations and risk oversight; AML/CFT advisory and interim control-function support for Luxembourg funds and entities; and AI governance, including EU AI Act board readiness and director training.

What are Katia's qualifications and certifications?

She is an ILA Certified Director and Fund Expert (Luxembourg Institute of Governance), certified by INSEAD (International Directors Programme) and by ACAMS (CAMS), with further executive education from MIT Sloan, Frankfurt School, HEC Paris and LSE. She acts as AML Officer (RC/RR) on several regulated boards and holds ALCO certifications.

What is EU AI Act board readiness?

It means ensuring a board understands and oversees its organisation's use of AI in line with the EU AI Act. Katia helps boards assess AI-governance maturity, review automated decision-making, integrate AI risk into governance frameworks, and prepare for the Act's requirements, and she delivers board-level briefings on the topic.

In which languages does Katia work?

English, French, Polish, German and Luxembourgish — supporting cross-border governance and compliance across Europe.

Is Katia available for board mandates and speaking engagements?

Katia considers new independent-director mandates and advisory engagements where she can add value while maintaining independence, and she speaks and teaches internationally on governance, AI oversight and AML/CFT. The best way to explore working together is through the contact form.

Let’s Connect

If you are seeking an independent director, governance advisor, or speaker to support your organisation in achieving clarity, compliance, and strategic foresight I would be delighted to connect.

Whether you represent a fund board, private equity firm, family office, or professional association, my approach is collaborative, discreet, and focused on long-term value creation.

Get in Touch

Email

katia@katiaciesielska.com

Based in

Luxembourg

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