Diplomacy has traditionally been thought of as a male profession—one can picture “elegant gentlemen smoking cigars” while discussing peace treaties, says Aleksandra Kucy, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Vancouver. Like other women in the B.C. Consular Corps, Kucy is changing this stereotype—one post at a time. 

“There are [still] not enough women in higher ranking positions,” Kucy points to inequities in both the domestic and professional worlds as persistent barriers. “If those two worlds—the public and private—complete and complement each other, then I am sure more women will be interested in joining the foreign services and act in any diplomatic role.”

The UN recognizes June 24 as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. Established in 2022, the day celebrates women’s contributions to the field, while highlighting continued challenges to full and equal participation.  

The path to foreign services

Kucy points out that, prior to 1939, only a few women worked as “full fledge diplomats” in Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the past, even the uniforms, she says, were “only prepared for men.”

While this landscape changed after the Second World War, many challenges still exist. An example is having to choose between one’s family or career. Being far away from one’s country is another major difficulty.

“Some legal base must be established with equality of treatment based on the work done and equality of pay for the same job,” the Consul General emphasizes. 

Kucy’s path to foreign services was influenced by Poland’s development. Five years before she started university, Poland regained its status amongst the democratic states. 

“The 1990s were the time of changes: the Solidarity Movement, fall of the Iron Curtain, first free elections,” Kucy adds that these were also the first elections in which she could vote. “I was studying economics and thinking about putting my skills to the use of the state.” 

In 1999, she started a career in public administration, working at the Supervision Office for Pension Funds. Kucy describes the experience as “an adventure”; her team was monitoring the reform of Poland’s pension system. 

She then worked at the Office of the Committee for European Integration.  In 2006, Kucy’s career took a turn: she joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was posted to the Polish Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia. 

“Finding myself at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was a logical leap,” says Kucy, referencing her foreign language skills. “The most rewarding part is the possibility to meet people, to learn about different cultures and to promote and talk about my home country.” 

These prized moments are also what Kucy finds the most challenging. As Consul General, she must learn about different cultures and avoid “blunders or social faux pas.” 

“Promoting Poland in a friendly environment is one thing, but sometimes my colleagues face much harsher conditions,” she adds. 

An honour to serve 

Kucy previously served in Ottawa from 2015 to 2019, making her Vancouver post a return to Canada. 

“After some time, I started to notice some differences from my previous posting in Ottawa, and the lack of a harsh winter is not the only one,” Kucy reflects on the cities’ different vibes. “In Vancouver, people are, in a way, more relaxed, even the dress code is less observed.” 

As Consul General, every day of Kucy’s job is different—an experience she finds “both challenging and very much fulfilling.” 

Kucy supports with administrative tasks like registering birth and marriage certificates; issuing passports and visas; translating documents; handling legal issues; and addressing citizenship concerns. 

“One cannot forget that I am a civil servant,” she shares the work also involves supporting Polish citizens in crises, such as traffic accidents. “This means that as Consul, I am acting as many different offices.”

There is also an intensely public side to this work. Kucy represents Poland at official events, including Consular Corps briefings in Victoria and visits from Poland’s president and other state representatives. 

“One day I am taking part in an event organized by a group of European Union Consulates, and the next day, it happens that I am asked to assist at the Polish flag raising ceremony and participate in the Polish festival or celebration of Polish Canadian Heritage Day,” she reflects. 

Other days are spent participating in university panels or reading stories at the local Polish kindergarten. Diplomacy, for Kucy, is about finding mutually beneficial ways to peacefully and fruitfully cooperate with others. 

“This means negotiations, international cooperation of countries, treating other parties with respect, and at the same time, remembering that you are representing your own homeland,” she adds. “It is a service [as well as] honour to represent a country.” 

For more information on Aleksandra Kucy, see https://www.gov.pl/web/canada-en/consul-general-vancouver. 

For more information on the UN International Day of Women in Diplomacy, see https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-in-diplomacy-day.