Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz was born on the 4th of November 1952 in Warsaw.

In 1975 she graduated in Law from the University of Warsaw. The same year, she started working at the University as a research fellow and in 1981 defended her doctoral dissertation  "The role of an industrial minister in managing state economy", obtaining a doctoral degree in legal studies. In 1989 she became an expert for the Sejm (the lower chamber of the Polish Parliament) and Senate in administrative, economic and banking law. In 1993 she became an associate professor following the publication of her book "Central Bank - From Planned Economy to Market Economy". 

Between the 6th of March 1992 and the 31st December 2000 she held the position of President of the National Bank of Poland. During her term in office she strengthened the independence of the Central Bank, regulated the banking system and carried out the denomination of the Polish złoty.

Between 2001 and 2005 she was Vice-president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Currently, she is a Professor at Warsaw University and the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, at the Faculty of Law and Administration, as well as Head of the Chair of Administrative Law, Economic Law and Banking Law.

Since September 2005, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz has been a Member of the Polish Parliament and the Chairwoman of the State Treasury Commission.
Since June 2006, she has also performed the function of vice-president of the Civic Platform.

She has participated in numerous international conferences and is the author of over 40 publications, including textbooks and monographic studies.

On the 26th of November 2006, she was elected Mayor of Warsaw for the first time.

On the 21st of November 2010, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz fought for re-election, captured 53,67% of the vote and became Mayor of Warsaw for the second time.