Katarzyna Budnikowska is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Kraków University. She also completed postgraduate studies in European Union Law at the University of Warsaw, as well as Audit and Control at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics. An attorney-at-law by profession, she also completed the auditor traineeship programme. For over 13 years, she has been professionally involved in the private sector and the functioning of public institutions, specialising in supervision and audit matters.
Her previous experience includes the Małopolska Regional Development Agency (MARR S.A.), where she was responsible for reviewing grant applications and coordinating the contracting section. At the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy she participated in legislative processes, while at the Legal Department of the National Health Fund (NFZ), she issued legal opinions and handled court proceedings. At the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) she dealt with the control and monitoring of co-financed projects. As Deputy Director of the Department of Economy, State Treasury, and Privatisation at the Supreme Audit Office of Poland (NIK) and a proxy (prokurent), she was responsible for strategic planning and human resource management.