About Me
With more than 20 years in fund governance and financial services, I serve as an independent non-executive director 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.
The vehicles are predominantly Luxembourg-domiciled (AIFMs, SICAV-SIFs, SICAV-RAIFs, SCSps and PE GPs), with underlying activity across the DACH region, the UK, Italy, CEE, Belgium and the US. I am independent on every mandate, with chair experience on selected boards.
Increasingly, I work with boards on AI governance and EU AI Act readiness — an area where most boards are still working out which questions to ask. I speak regularly on the subject (Nexus, Nacha Brussels, PwC NED Day, Guberna, Luther) and co-authored the ILA’s “AI in the Boardroom: Opportunities, Risk and Board Oversight” and “New Technologies for Board Minutes.”
What I bring to a boardroom is an uncommon combination: deep fund-governance and AML/CFT expertise — I act as AML Officer (RC/RR) on several boards and hold CAMS and ALCO certifications — regular CSSF engagement, and a pragmatic, transaction-oriented perspective shaped by years of M&A, restructurings and refinancings alongside sponsors and lenders.
I am a board member of the Luxembourg Institute of Governance (ILA), where I co-authored the Code of Conduct for Directors and the CGO Journey series, and I sit on the LPEA iNED Committee. INSEAD-, ILA- and ACAMS-certified, with further executive education from MIT Sloan, Frankfurt School, HEC Paris and LSE, I’ve been recognised on Paperjam’s Top 100 Women on Boards (2020, 2023, 2025).
Independent Oversight
Delivering independent oversight combined with constructive challenge to enhance board effectiveness.
Regulatory Navigation
Navigating complex regulatory environments to ensure compliance and ethical governance.
Long-Term Value
Applying pragmatic decision-making focused on long-term value creation.
My boardroom approach pairs independent judgement with a willingness to challenge assumptions. Governance is most effective when it balances integrity, transparency, and practical decision-making.— Katia Ciesielska
Lifelong learning is central to my approach as an independent director. I invest continuously in executive education to stay at the forefront of corporate governance, finance, sustainability, and technology.
My legal education across three European jurisdictions provides a strong foundation for a cross-border perspective and analytical rigour.
I regularly pursue advanced international programmes focused on governance, compliance, and emerging technologies.
Excellence in governance is grounded in curiosity, discipline, and a commitment to lifelong learning.— Katia Ciesielska
I work in English, French, Polish, German and Luxembourgish.
Interested in working together?
I would be glad to discuss board mandates, advisory, or governance support.
Get in touch →