Responsibilities
As CEO, Mads heads the Executive Management team and overall operations of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. He is responsible for setting strategic direction, ensuring effective governance and overseeing the Foundation’s grants and activities in line with its mission and long-term objectives.

Other positions and management duties
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen is currently a member of the board of BB Biotech AG. He has been chairman of the board of the University of Copenhagen as well as President of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences, and served on the editorial boards of several international, peer-reviewed journals. In addition to this, he has been Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen since 2000. 

Background
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen joined Novo Nordisk A/S in 1991 as Head of Growth Hormone Research. In 1994, he was appointed Senior Vice President of Diabetes R&D, and in November 2000 he became Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. In this capacity, he was responsible for global drug and device research, CMC and global development, medical affairs, regulatory and safety within Novo Nordisk. During this tenure, he oversaw the development and approval of more than 20 medicinal products.

Education

• 1991: DSc (Veterinary Science), the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
• 1989: PhD, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1986: DVM, the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2021.

Contact
Heidi Toft, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 3079 0250

Responsibilities
As CSO of Health, Flemming is overall responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s development and implementation of research and development programmes within health and global health. He is part of the Foundation’s Executive Management.

Other positions and management duties
Flemming Konradsen is currently Chair of the Board of the Poul Due Jensen Foundation/Grundfos Foundation (from 2023, member since 2019). He has been Chair of the Consultative Research Committee for Development Research (FFU) under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2014-2021).

Background
Flemming Konradsen has more than 30 years of experience in research, programming and teaching in environmental and global health. Prior to joining the Foundation, Flemming served as Director of the School of Global Health at the University of Copenhagen (2007-2023) and as Visiting Professor at Emory University (2008-2022). He has led and coordinated numerous university-wide education initiatives and international partnerships and has played a key role in building research capacity in Asia, Africa and the Nordic region.

Education

• 1998: PhD, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
• 1993: MSc (Cand Scient), Environmental Health, Danish Bilharziasis Lab, University of Copenhagen
• 1990: BSc biology/natural resources management, University of Copenhagen

Flemming Konradsen joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in January 2022.

Contact
Trine Barenkopf, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 2888 1991

Responsibilities
As Chief Scientific Officer, Lene is responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s activities within the Planetary Science and Technology area, including natural and technical sciences, AI, quantum, agriculture, food, the green tripartite and innovation. The overall goal of the area is to progress fundamental knowledge within the areas, as well as to secure societal impact.  Also, it is a goal to strengthen Danish, Nordic and European competitiveness within planetary health and technology.

Other positions and management duties
Lene is currently the Chairman of Quantum Foundry Copenhagen, the Chairman of QuNorth hosting the quantum computer Magne, Member of the Board of Quantum Denmark, Member of High -level advisory Board on Quantum to the EC Commissioner Henna Virkkunen and serves as Member of the RAND Europe Impact and Innovation Board.

Background
Lene joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2019 to establish and lead activities in the Nat-Tech area covering the natural- and technical sciences. In 2025 she became the Chief Scientific Officer of the Planetary Science and Technology area, overseeing the Foundation’s activities in these areas.  She has a background as a professor of physics at the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI) at Copenhagen University. As a researcher, she has received several research prizes, e.g., the Danish Optical Society prize for young investigators, the Silver Medal of the Danish Royal Academy of Sciences and Letters and the Elite Research Prize from the Danish Research Councils. Lene is a member of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences and of the Danish Royal Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Education

• 1995: Cand.Scient in Physics and Mathematics from University of Southern Denmark
• 1998: PhD in Physics from University of Southern Denmark

Lene Oddershede joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in January 2019.

Contact
Christina Thøgersen, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 2078 6087

Responsibilities
As Chief Portfolio Officer, Søren Nedergaard plays a central role in ensuring that the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Strategy 2030 is effectively translated into action through the Foundation’s portfolio management. His task is to bridge strategic ambition with operational execution, ensuring that all portfolio activities are aligned with long-term goals. Søren is also responsible for driving the Foundation’s internationalisation efforts. He leads the implementation of the global strategy and ensures that international activities are coherent and strategically aligned. Finally, Søren is committed to advancing excellence in education and outreach within Denmark. His work supports the development of high-quality educational initiatives that not only serve national priorities but also contribute to global knowledge exchange and capacity building.

Other positions and management duties
Søren Nedergaard is currently a member of the board of the LIFE Foundation and the Danish council for research and innovation policy.

Background
Søren has served as Director of the Rector’s office at the University of Copenhagen from 2018-2021. From 2001 to 2018, Søren has pursued his career in education, research and innovation having held various positions under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, including as Head of Division at the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science and as Research Attaché at the newly established Innovation Centre Denmark in Silicon Valley (US). During his career he has dealt with a broad range of topics in higher education, science and research-based innovation including development of universities’ research and research-based innovation and transfer of knowledge through the innovation ecosystem in Denmark, the Nordics and internationally.

Education

• 2001: MSc in Political Science from Aarhus University, Denmark

Søren Nedergaard joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2021.

Contact
Merete Madslund, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 4172 7939

Responsibilities
As CFO Trine heads the Finance & Operations Area which underpins the Foundation’s ability to deliver on its mission by maintaining robust financial stewardship and operational excellence. The F&O Area drives financial management and grant management, digital transformation and business excellence, as well as operational support, IT infrastructure and system optimisation.

Background
Trine Haastrup has more than 20 years of experience in auditing and advising large Danish and multinational clients. For the past six years, Trine has held leadership positions within finance at Novo Nordisk A/S and Vestas Wind Systems, working closely with the Executive Management and Audit Committee, with responsibility for financial and sustainability reporting, strategy execution, compliance and support for complex acquisitions. Prior to this, she served as a Director at PwC, working in both Canada and Denmark. Trine is a State Authorised Public Accountant in Denmark and holds a CPA designation in Canada.

Education

• 2001: Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
• 2004: Master’s in Accountancy, Accounting and Auditing at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

Trine Haastrup joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2025.

Contact
Maia McCarthy, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 2573 2204

Responsibilities
As Chief Legal Officer of Legal & Governance, Pelle is responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s governance and legal affairs including intellectual property, risk, ethics and compliance. Furthermore, Pelle is appointed as Board Secretary to the Foundation and Novo Holdings A/S and is also a member of the Foundation’s Executive Management.

Other positions and management duties
Pelle serves as the Foundation’s representative on the boards of the Foundation’s subsidiary companies: Danish Centre for AI Innovation A/S; Quantum Foundry P/S; NIVI Development P/S; Cellerator P/S and QuNorth A/S.

Background
Pelle began his career as an attorney at Denmark’s leading law firm Kromann Reumert, where he specialised in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual properties and regulatory matters. He has also worked as Deputy General Counsel at the global jewellery manufacturer Pandora, and prior to joining the Foundation, Pelle was Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel at Demant, where he led a team of 50 legal professionals worldwide. Pelle is listed on the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Denmark.

Education

• 2007: Authorisation as attorney-at-law, Danish Bar & Law Society
• 2004: Master of Law, University of Copenhagen

Pelle joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in June 2023.

Contact
Susan Nielsen, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 5354 5607

Responsibilities
As Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Steffen Pierini Lüders is part of the Executive Management of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. He is responsible for all corporate communication for the foundation and for Novo Holdings, including media relations, government relations and top‑level stakeholder engagement.

Other positions and management duties
Steffen is chair of the Board of Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies and is an active board member in several other foundations. He has previously served as a board member of the Danish Chamber of Commerce and the International Chamber of Commerce for a decade and is a founding member of the Danish Board Leadership Society.

Background
Steffen was the owner and CEO of Mannov A/S, a leading Nordic PR and communications agency, for 25 years and part of the WPP PR network. He has held various management and board roles in PR networks in Europe and the US.

Education

• Studied biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Steffen Pierini Lüders joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2016.

Contact
Rikke Wangsøe, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 4172 7900

Responsibilities
As CSO of Health, Flemming is overall responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s development and implementation of research and development programmes within health and global health. He is part of the Foundation’s Executive Management.

Other positions and management duties
Flemming Konradsen is currently Chair of the Board of the Poul Due Jensen Foundation/Grundfos Foundation (from 2023, member since 2019). He has been Chair of the Consultative Research Committee for Development Research (FFU) under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2014-2021).

Background
Flemming Konradsen has more than 30 years of experience in research, programming and teaching in environmental and global health. Prior to joining the Foundation, Flemming served as Director of the School of Global Health at the University of Copenhagen (2007-2023) and as Visiting Professor at Emory University (2008-2022). He has led and coordinated numerous university-wide education initiatives and international partnerships and has played a key role in building research capacity in Asia, Africa and the Nordic region.

Education

• 1998: PhD, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
• 1993: MSc (Cand Scient), Environmental Health, Danish Bilharziasis Lab, University of Copenhagen
• 1990: BSc biology/natural resources management, University of Copenhagen

Flemming Konradsen joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in January 2022.

Contact
Trine Barenkopf, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 2888 1991

Head of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Biomedicine Programme Area.

Supports the development and implementation of new strategic initiatives and research programmes within fundamental biomedical research, including cardiometabolic diseases and regenerative medicine.

Employed in the foundation since 2024.

Contact
[email protected]

Contact PA
Susanne Louise Petersen
[email protected]
+45 2069 5948

Responsibilities
As Vice President of the Foundation’s Clinical Medicine and Diabetes department, Marie-Louise Hartoft-Nielsen is overseeing its grants and initiatives within clinical aspects of diabetes, obesity and nutrition research and development. Key activities include driving strategic initiatives that advance research, innovation, implementation and education—both nationally and globally—with the Foundation’s focus areas: Research into disease mechanisms, prevention, management and treatment and research supporting sustainable and equitable health systems and care delivery. It also includes providing strategic grants through open competition to support high-quality clinical and translational research and fostering collaboration with national and international stakeholders across academia, industry and key organisations.

Other positions and management duties
Marie-Louise represents the Foundation across a range of funded initiatives and serves on the boards of several Foundation initiatives, including the Steno Diabetes Centers, INNODIA and the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy.

Background
Marie-Louise is a medical doctor specialising in endocrinology with more than two decades of experience spanning clinical practice and the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation, she held several global medical leadership roles. Marie-Louise has played a pivotal role in the Global Diabetes Forum and the development of the Copenhagen Declaration – a global blueprint from 2025, with the purpose of promoting equity in access to diabetes care and research.

Education

• 2005: PhD, Medicine, University of Copenhagen
• 1997: Cand. Med, University of Copenhagen

Marie-Louise Hartoft-Nielsen joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2024.

Contact
Eva Mechlenburg, Personal Assistant and Team Coordinator
[email protected]
+45 41 72 79 42

Cardiologist and clinical researcher. Overall responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Cardiovascular Medicine department (part of Medical Science) and activities that relate to cardiovascular disease.

• Responsible for large initiatives focusing on cardiovascular disease, including epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular conditions
• Responsible for contacts with external collaborations and stakeholdes such as professional organisations and research groups that are active in the cardiovascular field

Joined the foundation in December 2022.

Contact PA
PA & Team Coordinator Susanne Louise Petersen
[email protected]
+45 2069 5948

Responsibilities
As Head of the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Infectious Diseases Department, Marianne Holm leads the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and research programmes within infectious diseases. She supports partnerships and collaborations and contributes to the global visibility and impact of the Foundation’s activities in this field.

Other positions and management duties
Marianne represents the Novo Nordisk Foundation in national and global engagements within infectious diseases, including as a member of the NIVI-Development board, the steering committee of the Danish AMR alliance and the CARB-X Joint Oversight Board.

Background
Marianne Holm is a medical doctor and clinical epidemiologist with extensive international experience working within healthcare, academia and international development focusing on both communicable and non-communicable diseases and global public health. Before joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation, she led epidemiology and public health research at the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul. She has also held research positions at the University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health and at the Danish Cancer Society Research Center.

Education

• 2018, PhD (Epidemiology), The Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
• 2013, Master of Science (MSc) Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
• 2008; MD (Medicine) The Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Marianne Holm joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2022.

Contact
Anette Egknud, Personal Assistant
[email protected]
+45 2073 9501

Responsibilities
Mette Ide Davidsen leads the Global and Public Health Department, which includes the Global Health Team, the Health Systems and Economics Team and the Health Promotion, Prevention and Equity Team. Mette is responsible for leading the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s portfolios within health promotion, disease prevention and health equity as well as health systems and economics in Denmark, the Nordic countries and Europe. Mette is also responsible for the overall development and management of the Foundation’s global health portfolio, including the Partnership for Education of Health Professionals (PEP).

Other positions and management duties
Mette is currently a member of the Board for Center for Childhood Health.

Background
For more than two decades Mette has worked with development of health systems and services. She has been part of the World Bank and the UN system living and working in Vietnam and Indonesia. Since joining the foundation, she has developed global health programmes in India and East Africa and contributed to the establishment of the Foundation’s offices in Delhi and Nairobi.

Mette has a background as a civil servant working in the Danish Ministry of Health and the Danish regional health authorities (Danish Regions) and joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation to work on the development of the Steno Centers.

Education

• 2007: MPH, Health Systems Management, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• 1999: Cand. Scient. Pol, Political Science and Government, Aarhus University

Mette Ide Davidsen joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in August 2016.

Contact
[email protected]
+45 30 67 48 56

Eva Mechlenburg, Personal Assistant
[email protected]
+45 4172 7942

Responsibilities
Rikke Johannessen is responsible for partnerships with humanitarian and development organisations, including governments, UN, philanthropy and civil society, to support prevention and management of CMDs and alongside food security and healthy diets in low- and middle-income countries. Rikke is also responsible for acute humanitarian support.

Other positions and management duties
Beyond her work in Novo Nordisk Foundation, Rikke is engaged as humanitarian specialist and member of the Board in Askehave Climate Foundation.

Background
Rikke comes with more than 20 years of humanitarian and development experience, including extensive work in East Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia from field- and HQ-based leadership positions. Rikke has worked in and with crisis and post-crisis situations as manager of senior operational teams and as consultant for UN and civil society organisations supporting policy development, innovation and strategy at regional or global levels.

Education

• 1998: MA, the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen

Rikke Johannessen joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in September 2024.

Contact
Anette Egknud, Personal Assistant
[email protected]
+45 2073 9501

Responsibilities
As Chief Scientific Officer, Lene is responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s activities within the Planetary Science and Technology area, including natural and technical sciences, AI, quantum, agriculture, food, the green tripartite and innovation. The overall goal of the area is to progress fundamental knowledge within the areas, as well as to secure societal impact.  Also, it is a goal to strengthen Danish, Nordic and European competitiveness within planetary health and technology.

Other positions and management duties
Lene is currently the Chairman of Quantum Foundry Copenhagen, the Chairman of QuNorth hosting the quantum computer Magne, Member of the Board of Quantum Denmark, Member of High -level advisory Board on Quantum to the EC Commissioner Henna Virkkunen and serves as Member of the RAND Europe Impact and Innovation Board.

Background
Lene joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2019 to establish and lead activities in the Nat-Tech area covering the natural- and technical sciences. In 2025 she became the Chief Scientific Officer of the Planetary Science and Technology area, overseeing the Foundation’s activities in these areas.  She has a background as a professor of physics at the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI) at Copenhagen University. As a researcher, she has received several research prizes, e.g., the Danish Optical Society prize for young investigators, the Silver Medal of the Danish Royal Academy of Sciences and Letters and the Elite Research Prize from the Danish Research Councils. Lene is a member of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences and of the Danish Royal Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Education

• 1995: Cand.Scient in Physics and Mathematics from University of Southern Denmark
• 1998: PhD in Physics from University of Southern Denmark

Lene Oddershede joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in January 2019.

Contact
Christina Thøgersen, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 2078 6087

Responsibilities
As director of Technical Sciences, Ulla Gro Nielsen is overall responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s activities within technical sciences including research infrastructure, technology, data science and AI. This includes both strategic initiatives and the open competition programmes within research infrastructure and data science programmes. Ulla is also responsible for the Foundation’s information meetings regarding the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s programmes in open competition.

Background
Ulla Gro Nielsen joined from a position as Professor of physical environmental chemistry at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). Following her PhD, she did postdoctoral research at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2003-2004) and State University of New York, Stony Brook (2004-2007) before joining SDU. During her career, Ulla has been involved in numerous research projects from fundamental materials science and method development to resources recovery and environmental remediation. In addition, Ulla has been extensively involved in teaching and outreach activities.

Education

• 2000: M.Sc. chemistry and physics, the Faculty of Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark
• 2002: PhD, the Faculty of Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark

Ulla Gro Nielsen joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in May 2023.

Contact
Pernille Julø Risegaard, Senior Personal Assistant
[email protected]
+45 3527 6603

Responsibilities
Claus Felby is responsible for leading the research and innovation activities in the AgriFood area from fundamental understanding of biology and ecosystems to plant biotechnology and biological solutions for agriculture and food systems.

Background
Claus Felby has been a Professor of Biomass and Bioenergy at Copenhagen University. He has a long academic and industrial career as researcher and professor. He has led large research programmes and is the inventor of several patents. His previous work spans fundamental research on enzymes and microorganisms, industrial process development and scaling, international advisory committees and environmental impact assessment.

Education

• 1998 PhD Wood Science, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
• 1993 MSc Forestry, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University

Claus Felby joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2019.

Contact
Louise Hindenburg, Personal Assistant
[email protected]
+45 3142 6288

As Vice President for Innovation, Mikkel Skovborg’s role is to drive activities in innovation and entrepreneurship. Mikkels team is a critical bridge between scientific programme areas, incubators (e.g. BII) and the early commercial activities of Novo Seeds. Mikkel is part of the leadership team in the Planetary Science and Technology area.

Other positions and management duties
Mikkel Skovborg is currently a member of the board of Innovation Center Copenhagen, BetaHealth, Open Discovery Innovation Network (ODIN) and an observer in the board of BioInnovation Institute (BII).

Background
Prior to joining the Foundation, Mikkel has served as Research Attaché in Palo Alto, California for the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education and Head of Development for the Danish Business Research Academy. Mikkel has also been Director for Science and Innovation in Damvad Analytics.

Education

• 2000: Cand.scient.pol (Political Science), University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Mikkel Skovborg joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in August 2016

Contact
Louise Hindenburg, Personal Assistant
[email protected]
+45 3142 6288

Responsibilities
As director of Natural Sciences, Kasper Nørgaard is responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s activities within the natural sciences, including fundamental and interdisciplinary research as well as initiatives within energy-related research. The area spans strategic programmes and a portfolio of open competition programmes within fundamental natural science research, researcher recruitment programmes and collaborative interdisciplinary research.

Other positions and management duties
Kasper Nørgaard is currently member of the Board of the Danish Advanced Research Academy (DARA).

Background
Kasper Nørgaard has more than 20 years of experience from research, teaching and driving interdisciplinary collaborations, spanning areas of chemistry, nanoscience, physics and bio-inspired materials. Before joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Kasper Nørgaard was a research group leader and associate professor in chemistry and nanoscience at the University of Copenhagen. Following his PhD, he did postdoctoral work at the Institute for Molecules and Materials at the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

Education

• 2005: PhD in Materials Chemistry, the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Kasper Nørgaard joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2019.

Contact
Pernille Julø Risegaard, Senior Personal Assistant
[email protected]
+45 3527 6603

Responsibilities
Christopher Bettinger is responsible for leading biotechnology research and innovation activities within the Novo Nordisk Foundation. This area spans various disciplines including synthetic biology, industrial microbiology, environmental microbiology, genetics and protein engineering. The goal of these efforts is to create biosolutions to improve sustainability and the health of the planet.

Background
Christopher Bettinger is a materials scientist and biomedical engineer. He was most recently a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. There, Christopher taught courses in biomaterials and led a research team working in polymers, biomaterials, biomedical engineering and materials science. Christopher has published more than 100 papers in journals such as Science and PNAS and has been issued nearly 20 patents in the fields of biotechnology and materials science.

Education

• 2010: Post-Doc Chemical Engineering, Stanford University (USA)
• 2008: PhD Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
• 2004: MEng Biomedical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
• 2003: SB Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)

Christopher Bettinger joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in February 2026.

Contact
Malene Gildberg, Personal Assistant and Team Coordinator
[email protected]
+45 2213 9172

Responsibilities
As Chief Portfolio Officer, Søren Nedergaard plays a central role in ensuring that the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Strategy 2030 is effectively translated into action through the Foundation’s portfolio management. His task is to bridge strategic ambition with operational execution, ensuring that all portfolio activities are aligned with long-term goals. Søren is also responsible for driving the Foundation’s internationalisation efforts. He leads the implementation of the global strategy and ensures that international activities are coherent and strategically aligned. Finally, Søren is committed to advancing excellence in education and outreach within Denmark. His work supports the development of high-quality educational initiatives that not only serve national priorities but also contribute to global knowledge exchange and capacity building.

Other positions and management duties
Søren Nedergaard is currently a member of the board of the LIFE Foundation and the Danish council for research and innovation policy.

Background
Søren has served as Director of the Rector’s office at the University of Copenhagen from 2018-2021. From 2001 to 2018, Søren has pursued his career in education, research and innovation having held various positions under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, including as Head of Division at the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science and as Research Attaché at the newly established Innovation Centre Denmark in Silicon Valley (US). During his career he has dealt with a broad range of topics in higher education, science and research-based innovation including development of universities’ research and research-based innovation and transfer of knowledge through the innovation ecosystem in Denmark, the Nordics and internationally.

Education

• 2001: MSc in Political Science from Aarhus University, Denmark

Søren Nedergaard joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2021.

Contact
Merete Madslund, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 4172 7939

Stine is responsible for the overall People & Organisation function at the Novo Nordisk Foundation. This includes Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partnering, HR Operations, Compensation, Rewards, and Learning and Development.

• Experienced leader, HR professional, consultant, facilitator, and coach specializing in global leadership, DEI, cultural transformations, and virtual global collaborations.
• Has led strategic HR agendas in organisational development, M&A’s, cultural transformations, globalisation, leadership development, L&D, talent acquisition, talent management, and more.
• Advisory member of The Diversity Council in the Confederation of Danish Industry since 2020.

Contact PA
PA & Team Coordinator Mia Hauge Linders
[email protected]
+45 2277 8550

Responsibilities
Berith Bjørnholm is overall responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s distributions and activities within natural science education and outreach, within research in art and art history and within social science research related to the green transition. Berith is also responsible for strategic initiatives and grants in open competition within education and science communication as well as art and art historical research.

Other positions and management duties
Berith Bjørnholm is currently a member of the board of Campus Kalundborg.

Background
Berith Bjørnholm joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2015 to develop the vision for a larger innovation initiative, which became BioInnovation Institute (BII). In 2018, she became head of a new grant area, Education and Outreach, with responsibility for the Foundation’s activities within these fields. She has a background as a researcher and research leader in R&D at H. Lundbeck A/S, where she contributed to the invention and development of several medical products as well as overall responsible for the company’s activities relating to partnerships with educational institutions. Berith is also a member of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences and, within this, a member and former Vice Chair of the steering group for Science and Engineering in Education.

Education

• 1988: M.Sc. in Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen
• 1993 Ph.D. in Computational and Structural Chemistry University of Copenhagen, Pharmacy

Berith Bjørnholm joined the foundation in October 2015.

Contact
Malene Gildberg, Personal Assistant and Team Coordinator
[email protected]
+45 2213 9172

As Director of Impact, Projects & Portfolio, Louise Riisgaard is responsible for translating the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s ambitious Strategy 2030 into tangible action across the Foundation’s projects and portfolio. She operates at the intersection of strategic vision and operational execution, ensuring that every initiative contributes meaningfully to the Foundation’s long-term goals.

• A key part of her role is to strengthen the Foundation’s ability to think and act in a project-oriented way – from idea generation, planning and implementation to evaluation. This involves embedding project-based structures, processes and cultures that make the organisation more agile, focused, and impactful.
• Louise also leads efforts to measure and demonstrate impact, ensuring that the Foundation’s investments not only deliver on their stated ambitions but also create genuine and lasting change. She works closely with national and international partners to guarantee that initiatives are both relevant and ambitious.
• Finally, she is dedicated to fostering connections across projects and portfolios, aligning initiatives so they reinforce one another and ensuring that the Foundation’s overall effort is seen as a coherent and strategically unified whole.

Contact
[email protected]
+45 2579 2876

Responsibilities
As Director of Global Partnerships & Events, Becky Bartlein leads the development and management of strategic partnerships and oversees the planning and execution of key events at the Novo Nordisk Foundation. She is responsible for fostering collaborations that advance the Foundation’s mission, including oversight of the NNF offices based in Kenya and India.

Other positions and management duties
Prior to joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Becky served as Director of Health & Life Sciences at Gates Ventures, where she supported the learning agenda and strategy engagement with the Gates Foundation and Global Health Labs. She also held the role of Senior Programme Manager for the Tuberculosis team at the Gates Foundation, managing a diverse portfolio of investments from basic science to delivery.

Background
Becky’s career spans global health, programme management and partnership development. She has served as a Fulbright Public Policy Fellow in Côte d’Ivoire’s National Institute of Public Health. Her international experience also includes work with the International Organisation for Migration in the Philippines, resettling displaced persons, and service as a health educator with the Peace Corps in Senegal.

Education

• PhD, Global Health Implementation Science, University of Washington
• MPH, University of Washington
• BA, International Affairs, The George Washington University

Becky Bartlein joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in September 2025.

Contact
Anni Nøhr, Personal Assistant
[email protected]
+45 2084 8880

Responsibilities
As CFO Trine heads the Finance & Operations Area which underpins the Foundation’s ability to deliver on its mission by maintaining robust financial stewardship and operational excellence. The F&O Area drives financial management and grant management, digital transformation and business excellence, as well as operational support, IT infrastructure and system optimisation.

Background
Trine Haastrup has more than 20 years of experience in auditing and advising large Danish and multinational clients. For the past six years, Trine has held leadership positions within finance at Novo Nordisk A/S and Vestas Wind Systems, working closely with the Executive Management and Audit Committee, with responsibility for financial and sustainability reporting, strategy execution, compliance and support for complex acquisitions. Prior to this, she served as a Director at PwC, working in both Canada and Denmark. Trine is a State Authorised Public Accountant in Denmark and holds a CPA designation in Canada.

Education

• 2001: Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
• 2004: Master’s in Accountancy, Accounting and Auditing at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

Trine Haastrup joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2025.

Contact
Maia McCarthy, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 2573 2204

Responsible for the Corporate IT department at the Novo Nordisk Foundation as well as several subsidiaries.

Joined the Foundation in 2017.

Contact PA
PA & Team Coordinator Maria Olesen
[email protected]
+45 2092 3731

Overall responsible for digitalisation, AI and project management in the Novo Nordisk Foundation and head of the Digital & Business Excellence department.

• Strategic initiatives within digitalisation and AI
• Development and operation of NORMA, the foundation’s grant application and management system
• Project management in the foundation, through internal consulting services, tools, training, and processes
• Optimisation of processes and innovation through new technologies

Employed at the foundation since 2023.

Contact PA
PA & Team Coordinator Mia Vedel Meinfeldt
[email protected]
+45 9351 0838

Responsibilities

As Head of Grant Management, Anne Christiansen is responsible for overseeing the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s grant administration processes, ensuring efficient and transparent management of grant applications and follow-up activities. Her work includes developing and implementing grant procedures and supporting the Foundation’s strategic goals by ensuring that grant giving is administered effectively and in alignment with the Foundation’s mission.

Background

Before joining the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Anne Christiansen served as Head of Educational Services at University College Absalon. She also has experience as Head of Administration at DTU, Head of Educational Services at the Faculty of Law at University of Copenhagen and Head of Secretariat at the Danish Council for Independent Research.

Education

• 2001-2003 Master level modules in Public Administration at Roskilde University.
• 2000: MA in Gender and Development, Centre for the Study of Women and Gender, University of Warwick, UK
• 1999: BA in Politics and International Studies, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick, UK

Anne Christiansen joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2025.

Contact
Iben Rebecca Andresén, PA and Team coordinator
[email protected]
+45 20691925

Overall responsible for financial management of funds for the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

The finance department’s responsibilities include:

• Financial oversight and management of granting activities
• Project portfolio planning
• Planning and analysis of operational costs and efficiency
• Partnering with programme areas to qualify funding of projects

Contact PA
PA Mia Vedel Meinfeldt
[email protected]
+45 9351 0838

Responsibilities
As Chief Legal Officer of Legal & Governance, Pelle is responsible for the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s governance and legal affairs including intellectual property, risk, ethics and compliance. Furthermore, Pelle is appointed as Board Secretary to the Foundation and Novo Holdings A/S and is also a member of the Foundation’s Executive Management.

Other positions and management duties
Pelle serves as the Foundation’s representative on the boards of the Foundation’s subsidiary companies: Danish Centre for AI Innovation A/S; Quantum Foundry P/S; NIVI Development P/S; Cellerator P/S and QuNorth A/S.

Background
Pelle began his career as an attorney at Denmark’s leading law firm Kromann Reumert, where he specialised in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual properties and regulatory matters. He has also worked as Deputy General Counsel at the global jewellery manufacturer Pandora, and prior to joining the Foundation, Pelle was Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel at Demant, where he led a team of 50 legal professionals worldwide. Pelle is listed on the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Denmark.

Education

• 2007: Authorisation as attorney-at-law, Danish Bar & Law Society
• 2004: Master of Law, University of Copenhagen

Pelle joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in June 2023.

Contact
Susan Nielsen, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 5354 5607

Responsible for leading the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s team of lawyers and in close collaboration with the General Counsel responsible for the legal efforts and direction of the Novo Nordisk Foundaton.

Joined the Foundation in 2025.

Responsibilities
As Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Steffen Pierini Lüders is part of the Executive Management of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. He is responsible for all corporate communication for the foundation and for Novo Holdings, including media relations, government relations and top‑level stakeholder engagement.

Other positions and management duties
Steffen is chair of the Board of Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies and is an active board member in several other foundations. He has previously served as a board member of the Danish Chamber of Commerce and the International Chamber of Commerce for a decade and is a founding member of the Danish Board Leadership Society.

Background
Steffen was the owner and CEO of Mannov A/S, a leading Nordic PR and communications agency, for 25 years and part of the WPP PR network. He has held various management and board roles in PR networks in Europe and the US.

Education

• Studied biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Steffen Pierini Lüders joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2016.

Contact
Rikke Wangsøe, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 4172 7900

Responsible for supporting the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Novo Holdings with public affairs activities across program and investment areas.

• In charge of the public affairs team.
• The public affairs team covers activities in Denmark, the EU and globally. Currently, the team has presence in Copenhagen and Brussels.
• Contact with a broad range of stakeholders relevant to the portfolio of the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Novo Holdings.

Joined the foundation in 2016.

Responsibilities
As Director of Public Relations, Christian Mostrup heads the Public Relations department of the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Novo Holdings. His responsibilities include overseeing press and media engagement and ensuring accurate and timely communication about the Foundation’s and Novo Holdings’ strategy, activities, partnerships and societal impact. His department also oversees internal communication.

Background
Prior to joining the Foundation, Christian worked 8 years as a journalist and editor at Danish national newspaper Berlingske. At the Novo Nordisk Foundation, he has held roles of Press Officer, Senior Press Officer and Senior Programme Lead, before being appointed Director of Public Relations.

Education

• 2004: Master of Arts in Communication Studies (Journalism and Public Administration), Roskilde University, Denmark 

Christian Mostrup joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in March 2012.

Contact
Rikke Wangsøe, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 4172 7900

Responsibilities
As Director of Digital, Design and Branding, Jakob leads the strategic development and execution of digital communication, brand experience and design across both the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Novo Holdings.

His department oversees all external digital channels, including websites and social media, and is responsible for the organisations’ overall visual identity across online and offline platforms. The department drives digital transformation initiatives, brand strategy, major global campaigns and cross-organisational projects, ensuring clarity, cohesion and impact across all touchpoints.

Background
Prior to this, he advised listed companies and international NGOs on digital strategy, financial communication and strategic positioning, working at the intersection of corporate narrative, stakeholder engagement and reputation management.

Education

• 2016: Cand.Soc. Political Communication and Management (Copenhagen Business School)
• 2012: B.sc. in International Business and Politics (IBP), Economics and Political Science (Copenhagen Business School)
• 2009: International Economics and Political Science (University of Bristol)

Jakob joined the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2018.

Contact
Rikke Wangsøe, Executive PA
[email protected]
+45 4172 7900