New chair and new member of VELUX FONDEN’s board
12.05.2021 l More news
VELUX FONDEN’s board has elected a new board member and appointed a new chair at the AGM held on 11 May.
Lykke Ogstrup Lunde has been elected chair following Hans Kann Rasmussen.
Lykke Ogstrup Lunde (b. 1975) graduated from the University of Southern Denmark’s with a BSc in Journalism in 2004. Her field of expertise lies in the financial sector, with a particular focus on asset management, sustainable investing and ‘impact investing’. Lykke became chair of the board of the Swiss foundation Velux Stiftung in 2017, after being a board member of the foundation since 2009. She has been a member of VELUX FONDEN’s board since 2020.
During his time as chair, Hans Kann Rasmussen has focused on sustainability and the environment, and he leaves a green impression on the foundation’s future efforts. Environmental issues are human issues, and Hans Kann Rasmussen has seen the great value for the foundation of supporting humanist research, and the Trust Deed’s decision to support social causes, in particular the elderly, has been very important for him.
‘As chair, Hans Kann Rasmussen has sought to create space for everyone on the board to come up with ideas, suggestions, wishes, opinions and concerns of all kinds to encourage enthusiastic cooperation in finding the best possible solutions for the shared tasks of the foundation’s board,’ says Minik Rosing, vice-chair of VELUX FONDEN, ‘Hans has an engineering background and is a humanist at heart, and the foundation has benefitted from both over the years.’ Hans Kann Rasmussen has been a member and chair of VELUX FONDEN since 2006, and as he has reached the age of 75, he is resigning according to the foundation’s age limit as set out in the Trust Deed.
VELUX FONDEN’s board have elected a new board member, Professor Anne-Marie Mai, lic.phil. (b. 1953).
Anne-Marie Mai is professor of Danish literature at the Department for the Study of Culture at the University of Southern Denmark. Since 1988, Anne-Marie Mai has taught literature and cultural studies in Danish, as well as writing, Scandinavian Area Studies, narrative medicine for BA Medicine and on master’s degree courses in health sciences. She is Chair of Danish Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Southern Denmark.
Professor Mai was the recipient of the Danish Arts Council’s Dissemination Prize (2011), as well as the University of Southern Denmark’s Research Dissemination Prize (2011). Anne-Marie Mai is a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog.
‘I’m looking forward to contributing to the work of VELUX FONDEN. I have been following the foundation’s work for many years and have learnt how much of an impact it has on research in Denmark. The core group programme for humanities has promoted excellent projects, and the museum programme has already produced many results. I’m very happy and proud about being invited to participate in VELUX FONDEN’s work,’ says Anne-Marie Mai.
At the AGM, Professor Jens Oddershede, cand.scient., stepped down from the board, where he has been an active and dedicated board member since 2014. Jens Oddershede has also skilfully managed positions as a member of the foundation’s investment committee and the humanities working group.
VELUX FONDEN has greatly enjoyed Jens Oddershede's sharp eye, strong moral compass and great commitment. His many years as chair for the Danish Research and Innovation Council have been considerably beneficial, just as he has very much fulfilled the foundation's Trust Deed requirement of having ‘business, economic, cultural and pedagogical insight’. Jens Oddershede has reached the age of 75 and is resigning according to the foundation’s age limit as set out in the Trust Deed.
