Diplomacy Magazine - September 2022

OUTGOING

DEAN CONCEDES THAT

DEPARTING DENMARK AFTER SIX YEARS WILL BE LIKE LEAVING HOME AGAIN

“I'm leaving, but this country will never leave me,” contends Alexandru Grădinar, the Romanian ambassador in the Kingdom of Denmark since 2016. In truth he has presided over one of Copenhagen’s most eventful ever tenures, including the hosting of a EU Presidency, a diplomatic corps deanship and a significant increase of the diaspora numbers to over 40,000

BY BEN HAMILTON

Everyone knows the name of Alexandru Grădinar, Romanian ambassador in the Kingdom of Denmark in Danish diplomatic circles.

For the last 17 months, the Romanian Ambassador has been the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, repre senting his peers at an untold number of events and occasions.

Just this month, he has been present at no fewer than three esteemed gatherings celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the accession to the throne of the Dan ish Queen.

It was a fittingly upscale finale to his time in Copen hagen, which is sadly coming to an end at the end of September.

HIS PRESENCE WILL BE MISSED

His cool demeanour and affability will be missed at missions across the city once he leaves.

The calm exterior is all the more admirable when you consider the enormity of his achievements as the Ro manian ambassador.

In the first three years alone, he oversaw Romania’s Presidency of the Council of the EU and celebrations of a centenary of diplomatic relations with Denmark. And then for close to his final two years, he held the position of Dean of the Diplomatic Corps – a position in which he will be succeeded by Conrado Solari, the Argentine Ambassador.

AN AFFINITY FELT BY ALL

In this, his final interview with CPH POST, Ambassador Grădinar reveals the huge impact that ‘living Danishly’ has left on his family.

Not least, his daughters, who arrived as toddlers but will depart on the verge of becoming teenagers, are already talking about returning for their university studies.

His wife's sense of style, meanwhile, has under gone a complete transformation that is likely to stay with her for the rest of her life.

In their home, wherever it might be, a corner will be forever Danish. As Ambassador Grădinar says:

“I'm leaving Denmark, but Denmark will never leave me.”

Photo credit: Eugen Chiri

You’ve been ambassador of Romania to Denmark since the autumn of 2016. Certainly a lot has changed with respect to Romania’s relations with Denmark. What have been the highlights of your time as ambassador, and what have your biggest achievements been?

Yes, I had the honour of representing Romania in the Kingdom of Denmark and Iceland for six years. If you ask me about highlights, I was fortunate to be able to shape the first three years of my mandate around important celebrations and events: in 2017 we cel ebrated 100 years of bilateral relations between Romania and Denmark; in 2018, Romania celebrat ed 100 years after the Great Union; and in the first semester of 2019, Romania held for the first time the Presidency of the Council of the EU. All these landmarks gave us the occasion to organise different events and promote Romania as a vibrant, dynamic and solid democracy.

If we take the example of the Presidency of the EU Council, we organised 25 different events in Denmark. The Embassy offered to the Danish public several dis plays of Romanian art and ancient cultural traditions, thus bringing the Romanian spirit closer to the Danes. Fine Romanian music, sculpture, theatre, photography and wine were generously shared on several occasions with the general public in different Danish cities. Also on this occasion, I was honoured to host Her Majesty Mar gareta, the Custodian of the Romania Crown, for a visit in Copenhagen. I have had this privilege and I am very grateful, as all this enriched my mandate in Denmark.

How big an honour was it to become Dean of the Dip lomatic Corps? Presumably, it’s a lot of extra respon sibility and quite a test to juggle it with your other responsibilities?

Indeed, I took over this most honourable responsibility in April 2021 from my Lithuanian colleague. It is a special privilege to be a Dean in a Kingdom, as you are repre senting the entire diplomatic community in relations with the Royal House. And this year was a truly special one!

In September, I participated together with my wife at three different ceremonies on the occasion of the 50year anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s accession to the throne: a gala performance at the Royal Theatre, a gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace, and a celebrato ry service at Copenhagen Cathedral. Without doubt the most special and memorable events, and they will stay in our memory our whole life! It was a ‘Grand Finale’ to my mandate as ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of Denmark.

It's certainly been a busy conclusion to your time in Denmark. Would it be fair to say that the role of Dean shouldn't be underestimated?

Of course, there are many other occasions where a Dean has to fulfil this responsibility: speeches at the annual Parliament receptions, speeches at farewell events for my fellow ambassadors leaving Denmark, regular discus sions with the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of For eign Affairs of Denmark, delivering speeches during the yearly ambassadors’ trips etc.

It’s important, therefore, to remember that the role of the Dean is not only symbolic. She or he represents the entire diplomatic community on many different occasions. And it has simply been an honour, privilege and welcome re sponsibility to represent my colleague ambassadors.

Your diaspora group has been growing quickly – at the 2021 Local and Region Elections, you had 17 candi dates, which was the most by any country other than Denmark. That must have filled you with enormous pride? Some countries, who are equally well represent ed in Denmark, had no candidates. Why do you think Romania had so many?

The Romanian community has been growing steadily throughout all the years I have been ambassador, and to day the population stands at around 41,000. We have to bear in mind that only a decade ago there were around 10,000 Romanians living in Denmark. They are well-in tegrated in Danish society and they act as an authentic bridge-builder for our diplomatic relations. And, I think, it is exactly their successful integration that explains the many Romanians who ran in the Local and Regional Elections in 2021. We can only be proud of their achieve ments and engagement in Danish social and political life.

Romanians did not only run for local and regional elec tions, but have also been very active in the democratic process in Romania, exercising their right to vote in the Romanian elections. For each election that took place in Romania during my mandate, we organised polling sta

Ambassador Grădinar has met all the senior Danish royals

tions across Denmark, so that Romanians living here could cast their vote. For example, in the rst round of the Presidential Elections in 2019, almost 50 percent of all Romanians in Denmark with the right to vote exercised this prerogative.

QWhat special events did you organise during your mandate for the Romanian diaspora?

Besides promoting a fresh and vibrant image of Romania in Denmark and deepening our economic ties, consolidating relations with the Romanian community has been a top priority of my mandate.

First of all, improving the consular services was of paramount importance for everybody and, so was bringing Romania closer to the Romanians living here as a way of preserving our cultural identity and heritage.

This included the involvement of some of our most well-known Romanian artists – such as Florin Piersic, Maia Morgenstern, Alexandru Tomescu, Paula Seling, So a Vicoveanca and Ilie Medrea – at events organised by the Embassy with the valuable support of our partners. We even organised two editions of a football tournament dedicated to Romanians in Denmark.

QRomania published a special edition in the Copenhagen Post in the autumn of 2021 that drew attention to the country’s huge green ambition and impressive track record. Would you care to share any updates about your ongoing endeavours?

Romania continues to be committed to cutting further emission levels, and its prospects look robust. Romania has the advantage of a good national energy mix, to which renewable energy contributes a solid share of 24 percent. It is the only country in Central and Eastern Europe in this position and notably it has the biggest onshore windfarm in the European Union. Moreover, 40 percent of Romania’s electricity comes from renewable sources. Plans to expand this share are already part of the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience.

The year 2021 brought other turning points in the area of climate change – most speci cally in the area of climate diplomacy. In May 2021, Romania of cially launched its rst climate diplomacy network. It already includes more than 20 Romanian diplomatic missions.

And then in September, the position of an ambassador for energy and climate diplomacy became a reality at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Practically, in 2021, climate change of cially became a foreign policy priority for Romania.

And of course, let’s not forget the concrete co-operation that Romania has started with Denmark in this eld. It is one of the areas in which we have shared a lot of exchanges over the last two years.

In that special edition you sought to tell the story of Romania through the eyes of several Danish dignitaries with vast knowledge of your country. Is that because you believe foreign perspectives are essential in the world we live in?

QYes, in the last special edition dedicated to Romania, I considered to stage well-known Danes who forged strong connections with Romania many years ago and whose love for my country has been unfolding in many interesting ways.

I invited your readers to look at Romania through the eyes of Her Serene Highness Princess Eleonore-Christine of Schaumburg-Lippe, daughter of Prince Waldemar of Schaumburg-Lippe, Steffen Gram, renowned Danish journalist at DR and Falullah, the great Danish singer, songwriter and musician, who was born to a Romanian father. I consider that their perspective can only encourage more and more Danes to visit my country.

You revealed in an interview with CPH POST in 2017 that when you rst met your wife, she was also working in the foreign service where she was responsible for bilateral relations with the Nordics and fell in love with Scandinavian simplicity. Is it fair

With PM Mette Frederiksen

With former PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen

Florin Piersic, one of the greatest Romanian actors, in Copenhagen

With Margrethe Vestager, the European Competition Commissioner

Anders Samuelsen ...

and Kristian Jensen

With foreign ministers, Jeppe Kofod ...

Qto say that it has been a very happy posting for you and your family?

Denmark has earned a very special place in our hearts not only for being the rst country where I served as ambassador, but more so for being such a wonderful place to live – a place that gave us plenty of opportunities and reasons to be happy and to enjoy quality time as a family.

Here, I have experienced some of the most rewarding moments of my life: as an ambassador, and also as the father of two girls who were only toddlers when we rst arrived, but are now becoming responsible and beautiful young ladies. In Copenhagen they had their rst day at kindergarten and their rst day at school, learned how to bike and to ride, and many more such things. It is only natural that they have grown extremely fond of this country where they spent their childhood years. A few days ago, my eldest daughter told me that she has lived here for so long that now Denmark feels like home. And I suppose this applies also to the rest of the family.

As for my wife, I think her time spent in Copenhagen has reshaped pretty much everything that she believed about style. She is now a huge admirer of Danish simplicity, functionality and elegance –of Karen Blixen and of the Morten Korch rose. I

might also add that Danish fashion has won her over with its respect for sustainability.

Our six years living ‘Danishly’ have left a visible mark on us all. We will take with us important lessons learned about trust and community – values deeply embedded in Danish culture and society. Each posting is unique, leaving you with many happy memories and friendships that will accompany you your entire life, but I am convinced Denmark will prove to be one of the most beautiful and poignant chapters in our professional and personal journey.

QHow much do you think you are going to miss Denmark? Do you envisage returning much in the future?

I'm leaving Denmark, but Denmark will never leave me. For sure, I will miss it a lot: that is why I am convinced we will one day return to visit Copenhagen and our favourite places, as well as the many Danish and Romanian friends that we hope to see again. Our two daughters learned Danish and use it often – they even say that they will return to study, some day, in Denmark.

All that being said, I would like to extend to all your readers a warm invitation to visit Romania. It has a lot to offer and I hope to meet many of you in my country.

The ambassador and his wife at the Gala Dinner on September 10 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the accession of Danish Queen Margrethe

Editor: Hans Hermansen Journalists

Hasse Ferrold

Christian Wenande

Irene Hell

Front page photo: Eugen Chiri

MEET THE AMBASSADORS ON A MISSION

Packed with insightful recommendations, their report makes for compulsory reading for decision-makers in the capital. In short, it is a ‘Business Bible’ for strengthening Copenhagen's position in the world.

CANNOT REST ON ITS LAURELS

At any given time, the number of Copenhagen’s ambassadors tends to range between 70 and 75.

But in late August, the number exceeded well over 100 thanks to a gathering in Copenhagen presided over by the capital’s lord mayor, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.

The influx in ambassadors was not a result of a sudden upsurge in heads of mission, but rather due to a meeting of the Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassadors (CGAs).

A WORLDWIDE REACH

Founded in 1996 and co-organised by Copenhagen Capacity and Wonderful Copenhagen, the CGAs mainly consist of high-ranking Danish business people based abroad. In total, there are around 50 based in more than 25 countries.

Every year they gather for a meeting to discuss how the capital's future prospects can be best realised in light of increasing global competition.

Copenhagen faces the same dilemma as other capital cities hungry for future success: it must get better at attracting foreign companies, students, workers and tourists.

While it might have many strengths – such as digitisation, sustainable lifestyle, quality of life, green solutions, life science, a world-famous food scene and top-class research – it cannot rest on its laurels, and must always strive for improvement.

Even locally, the likes of Berlin, Hamburg, Stockholm and Amsterdam will quickly eat into its market share should it take its eye off the ball.

STRONG VALUE TO COUNTRY

This in part is why Asbjørn Overgaard, the CEO of Copenhagen Capacity, believes so strongly in the value of having the CGAs onboard.

“This network of skilled Danish business professionals, with their extensive international experience, know as

much as anyone what is going on in the international business and cultural environments around the world. Therefore, their insight and recommendations are very valuable,” he enthuses.

“As the host of the network's annual meeting here in Copenhagen, I am very happy and grateful that the Lord Mayor welcomed the report so well today and intends to listen to the recommendations. Copenhagen and the whole of Greater Copenhagen is already a fantastic metropolis, but we can do so much more, and the potential has not been realized at all. We look forward to contributing to that.”

FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS

The CGA report emphasises the value that the capital, as a strong international metropolis, creates for the whole of Denmark.

• In total it provides four recommendations as to how this strength can be further solidified.

• Increased global branding and marketing efforts

• Thought leadership on Copenhagen's strengths

• Increased efforts to attract and retain foreign talent, students and labour

• Higher tourism satisfaction and more return visits

How the Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassadors are helping to shape the future of the Danish capital

Photo credit: Carsten Lundager

Many of the

CPH POST as they are foreign ambassadors

Hasse Ferrold’s About Town. Many are not based

AMBASSADORS BASED IN DENMARK

Belgium Michiel Maertens

Bosnia and Herzegovina Emir Poljo

Bulgaria Svetlan Stoev

Croatia Tina Krce

Cyprus Iacovos Giragosian

Czech Republic Radek Pech

Estonia

Mart Laanemäe Finland Hari Kamarainen France Christophe Parisot Georgia Nata Menabde Germany Pascal Hector

Greece Nikolaos Kotrokois

Iceland Helga Hauksdóttir

Ireland In Transit

Hungary Gabriella Jakab

Burkina Faso In Transit

Bangladesh Allama Siddiki

Feng Tie

Pooja Kapur

Afsaneh Nadipour

Dewi Savitri Wahab

Habib Al-Sadr

Brazil Rodrigo de Azeredo Santos

Chile Adriana Fuentes

Argentina Conrado Solari

Cuba Roger López García

Albania Elida Petoshati

Austria Alice Irvin Algeria Rachid Meddah Australia Kerin Ayyalaaraju Canada Denis Robert

Egypt Karim Sherif

Italy Luigi Ferrari

All photos: Hasse Ferrold unless stated

Israel David Akov

Ghana Amerley Awua-Asamoa

AMBASSADORS BASED IN DENMARK

South Africa Fikile Sylvia Magubane

Morocco Khadija Rouissi

Latvia Inga Skujina

Lithuania Asta Radikaite

Thailand Sirilak Niyom

Luxembourg Henri Schumacher

Netherlands Rob Zaagman

Norway Katja Nordgaard

Romania Mihai-Alexandru Gradinar (Diplomatic Corps Dean)

Russia Vladimir Barbin Saudi Arabia Sahal M Ergeosous

Palestine Manuel Hassassian

South Korea Kim Hyung-gil

Pakistan Ahmad Farooq

Nepal Ram Swarth Ray

Japan Manabu Miyagawa

Slovenia In Transit Spain Maria Gonzalez

Switzerland Florence Mattli

Slovakia In Transit Sweden Charlotte Wrangberg

Libya Salem Emdigesh

Turkey Hakan Tekin

United Kingdom Emma Kate Hopkins

United States Alan Leventhal

Uganda Margaret Otteskov

Vietnam Luong Thanh Nghi

Portugal Joao Maria Cabral Poland Anthoni Falkowski

Niger Moussa Dourfaye

Mexico In Transit

Serbia Jasmina Mitrovic-Maric

All photos: Hasse Ferrold unless stated

Ukraine Mykhailo Vydoinyk

Philippines Leo Herrera-Lim

North Macedonia Faton Bejta

Kazakhstan Nurtayev Sergey (Stockholm)

Azerbaijan Elin Suleymanov (London)

Afghanistan Youssof Ghafoorzai (Oslo)

Photo:ILO

Angola Apolinário Correia (Stockholm)

Bahrain Abdullah Al Doseri (Brussels)

Photo:opcw.org

Barbados Joy-Ann Skinner (Brussels)

Belarus Aleksei Samosuev (Helsinki)

Bhutan Tshering Gyaltshen Penjor (Brussels)

Photo:BWGovernment

Botswana Chandapiwa Nteta (Stockholm)

Brunei Pengiran Tahir (Berlin)

Cambodia Pharidh Kan (London)

Photo:twitter.com

Cameroon Albert Fotabong (London)

Photo:ambassaderca.be

Central African Rep. Daniel Emery Dede (Brussels)

Chad Mariam Ali Moussa (Berlin)

Comoros Mohamed Soulaïmana (Paris)

Photo:twitter

Rica Rafael Fábrega (London)

(Brussels)

Republic Lourdes Antonia (Stockholm)

Photo:suecia.embajada.gob

Photo: facebook

Ecuador Lautaro Malo (Stockholm)

El Salvador Patricia G Aguillon (Stockholm)

Ethiopia Deriba Kuma Heiy (Stockholm)

Photo:

Photo:twitter

Georges De La

(Oslo)

Siradio Diallo (Berlin)

Photo:European Union

Apolinario

(Brussels)

Photo:Marta B Haga

Guyana David Hales (Brussels)

Photo:

Honduras Roberto Ochoa (Brussels) Photo:jis.gov.jm

Jamaica Seth G Ramocan (London)

Jordan Muhib Nimrat (Oslo)

Photo:facebook

Kenya Diana Kiambuthi (Stockholm)

Equatorial Guinea Don Nvono-Ncá (Brussels)

Photo:Twitter

Kuwait Nabeel Al Dakheel (Stockholm)

Photo:facebook

Kosovo Beqë Cufaj (Berlin)

Armenia Alexander Arzoumanian (Stockholm)

Should

Peru Cristina Ronquillo (Stockholm)

oto:Catholic Church

Vatican City James Patrick Green (Stockholm)

Uruguay Federico Perazza (Stockholm)

Photo:um. Mauritania Abdellahi Kebd (Brussels)

Photo:Embassym agazine.com

Mauritius Girish Nunkoo (London)

Montenegro Mirsad Bibovic (Home Based)

Moldova Aureliu Ciocoi (Berlin)

Mozambique Florencio Sele (Stockholm)

Photo: Flickr.com

Myanmar Kyaw Zwar Minn (London)

Photo:Namibian Embassy

Namibia George Liswaniso (Stockholm)

Nicaragua Johan Grotenfelt (Helsinki)

New Zealand Andrew Jenks (Stockholm)

Photo:Royal Cour t of Sweden

North Korea Won Guk Ri (Stockholm) Oman Yousuf Al Amri (Berlin)

Papua New Guinea Peter Maginde (Brussels)

Qatar Nasser Allenqawi (The Hague)

Rwanda Diane Gashumba (Stockholm)

San Marino Leopoldo Guardigli (Home Based)

Photo:facebook

Tome & Principe Maria Aguiar (Brussels)

Photo:facebook

Sierra Leone Morie Manyeh (London)

South Sudan Bol Wek Agoth (Olso)

Lanka Dharshana Perera (Stockholm)

Photo:Embassy of SudaninO

Ahlam Ali (Oslo)

Photo:Wikipedia Tanzania Grace Olotu (Stockholm) Zambia Mulemba Salukatula (Stockholm)

Priscilla Misihairabwi -Mushonga (Stockholm)

Photo:Wikipedia

Togo Komi Bayédzè (Berlin)

Tunisia Riadh Ben Sliman (Stockholm)

Malaysia Nur Mohd Taib (Stockholm) Malta Mark Causon (The Hague)

Nigeria Bukar Buni Hamman (Stockholm)

Photo:Third Force News Malawi Kenna Mphonda (London) Photo: maliweb net Mali Oumou Sall Seck (Berlin)

Liberia Youngor Telewoda (Berlin)

Berdimurat Redjepov (Berlin)

Photo:facebook

Lesotho Sekhulumi Ntsoaole (Dublin)

Photo: NATO Kyrgyzstan Erlan Abdyldaev (Berlin)

Photo: Kungahuset se Laos Bounliep Houngvongsone (Stockholm)

IT’S IMPORTANT TO DREAM BIG!

BY IRENE HELL

Philanthropic work is like oxygen: often invisible but vital for our societies.

In Denmark the undisputed giant of philanthropy is Realdania, an association that has endorsed 4,500 projects with more than 2.9 billion euros.

CEO'S INSIGHTS

In this interview, Jesper Nygård, the CEO of Realdania, shares some of his insights.

Diplomacy Magazine caught up with him in early September.

Why is philanthropy now more important than ever?

The world is at a tipping point. We have a grave climate crisis, and inequality is increasing. Concurrently we see several global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the War in Ukraine. Therefore the importance of unity and joined efforts cannot be stressed enough.

At Realdania, we often say: “Together, we can do more.” Working together is an important part of the approach to solving problems. As a philanthropic association, we seize the opportunity to contribute to solutions with innovative recourse and capital – and to use our in uence to bring all the right participants to the table.

Realdania mainly supports Danish initiatives; however, some challenges require international co-operation.

Climate does not stop at man-made city limits or country borders. In the combat against climate change, we are at a tipping point where action is required – on all levels – globally. States, municipalities, cities, corporations and citizens. All sectors of society need to play their part. Only together can we stop the severe crisis.

Therefore, in 2013, we became part of C40 – the global network of cities that collaborates on reaching the climate goals of the Paris Agreement.

You are a strong believer in co-operation. Why?

One of the greatest milestones I have experienced in this regard was the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals. I was there in New York when the UN approved the 17 development goals on 25 September 2015. With these goals, the global community has set a united course towards a more sustainable world. This is vital. By setting those goals together, it becomes not only the goals of the UN, but also the goals for you and me.

Denmark is one of the leading nations at accomplishing the UN

As of 1st of July 2010 it was mandatory by law that Au Pairs in Denmark, Sweden and Norway should have a repatriation-, accident and worker´s compensation insurance.

Jesper Nygård, the CEO of philanthropy giant Realdania, tells Diplomacy Magazine about the association’s important work, and how we need to be able to pass on a world to our children and grandchildren that we can be proud of

Photo: Irene Hell

Underlining his commitment to a green future, Jesper Nygård, the CEO of Realdania, at the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF) in Copenhagen. It's no wonder that Kent Martinussen, the CEO of Danish Architecture Center, describes Realdania as a "daring frontrunner to a green economy"

goals. How did you help?

Among other things, we have, together with other foundations, supported ‘translating’ the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN into a Danish context and establishing a baseline that allows us to track and follow speci c development in our country. It is fantastic to experience how a new sustainability agenda has been embraced by almost every Danish boardroom by now.It is fantastic to experience how a new sustainability agenda has been embraced by almost every Danish boardroom by now.

Also at Realdania?

Yes. In 2016, we supplemented our strategic goals with the Sustainable Development Goals and, since then, they have been incorporated in our overarching philanthropic strategy, our approach to investments, and in our daily operations as an association.

The Sustainable Development Goals are a terri c example of collaboration and joint effort.

From Kronborg Castle to world-leading cultural institutions such as the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Realdania supports countless initiatives. Can you give us some examples?

Looking small-scale, I could mention our initiative ‘Wonderworks’. In recent years we have supported more than 200 initiatives involving local enthusiasts. We help them to strengthen social communities in order to increase the quality of life in Denmark.

Would you please give me some Wonderworks examples?

On a small island near Funen, a group of people have brought new life to an abandoned engine factory. The machines are now used by locals and there are concerts and other events in the old factory buildings. At another place in the north of Jutland we have supported a community-cinema. Almost every citizen in the town is today a member of the community built up around the cinema.

Large-scale I would mention our constant effort is to help to preserve important historic buildings in our country domestically in Denmark. We support their transformation into landmarks with contemporary purpose and function whilst maintaining as many of their original features as possible. We preserve the use of the historical buildings as a strategy. We call this ‘cultural sustainability’. This concept builds bridges between the present and our history. It values and accentuates identity and local pride.

Could you give us some examples of Realdania’s cultural sustainability?

Together with others, we transformed the factory where the world-famous. Holmegaard glass was previously produced. Today it is a glass museum that also exhibits Kähler ceramics. We also helped to build a world-class visitor centre for the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. Together with our Greenlandic part-

REALDANIA

• Realdania is a self-endowed philanthropic association working primarily in Denmark that has approximately 175,000 members.

• The goal of the association is to improve the quality of life in the built environment – meaning the physical framework of our everyday lives. This includes urban development, construction projects and preservation of historic and cultural environments.

• Holistic sustainability is a common thread in Realdania’s philanthropic activities.

• Since 2000, Realdania has supported approximately 4,500 projects with more than 2.9 billion euros.

• Anyone who owns real estate can become a member for free.

ners, we have built a similar visitor centre by the Ilulissat Ice Fjord.

Are you also involved in landmark buildings in your capital?

In Copenhagen we have built and now own the iconic BLOX building by the waterfront. This started as an urban development project that aimed to create life and activity in a spot that used to be a parking lot. Today BLOX houses the Danish Architecture Center as well as a very special community of organisations and companies. Together they work on sustainable solutions for future cities.

Last, but not least, we have been working a lot with ‘climate sustainability’ in recent years – especially investigating how we can construct buildings in a more sustainable way.

Why are buildings so important in a climatecontext?

Up to 40 percent of the global CO2-emissions are caused by the construction industry and the built environment – especially in cities. Therefore, reducing this emission rate is a key component in ghting climate change.

At the same time, it is often the built environment that takes the hit when increasingly extreme weather and rising water levels come calling. Therefore we aim to develop new tools and certi cations for more

Photos: Irene Hell

Jesper Nygård, CEO of Realdania, with Lars Løkke Rasmussen when he was Prime Minister of Denmark in September 2015 at the World Trade Center in New York

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Jesper Nygård, CEO of Realdania, at the International Conference on Financing for Development in 2015 in Addis Ababa

Jesper Nygård, CEO of Realdania, at COP 21 in Paris

robust buildings. Our goal is to implement a sus tainable agenda and to push the construction in dustry towards a green transition.

Your efforts helped Denmark to become one of the leading nations in terms of climate tech nology and climate protection. You are also a board member of C40, a network of mayors of major cities which was founded by Michael Bloomberg. Why is this initiative so important to you?

Whether you are a big international megacity, a regular Danish town or a municipality, the seri ous problems we are facing demand co.operation, trust, innovation and co-creation. C40 and the Danish initiative DK2020 help to develop solutions that enable us to be in line with the Paris Agree ment.

The challenges are so big and acute that we all have a moral obligation to team up, share our re sources and open-source our knowledge.

The Vikings were legendary for their bravery. Is it the Viking blood that makes the Danish such daring inventors and such good community builders?

Coming from a tiny country in Scandinavia, we of ten see ourselves as being David against Goliath. Professor R James Breiding explained this phe nomena in his book ‘Too Small to Fail: Why Some Small Nations Outperform Larger Ones and How

So I don’t think our success is due to our Viking her itage. We live in a modern welfare society. Our school and other education systems, the state, the private sector and the foundations – they all work together in order to foster innovation.

We also have a high level of confidence – we trust each other, the government, the civil servants, as well as, for example, researchers.

Realdania has gained a lot of valuable specialist knowledge in the past 22 years. What has surprised you most?

The overwhelming force of our local enthusiasts and communities.

It has surprised me that knowledge and passion is equally important to money and donations.

What is your best advice?

My best advice is to never underestimate the power of collaboration. This is not always easy. Depending on whether you are a company, NGO, a foundation, a researcher, a state or a municipality, you have differ ent tasks and different frameworks. Therefore col laboration sometimes feels difficult. But with respect for each other’s point of view, the more we do it, the better we get at it.

Have you always been a team player?

I played football as a child; I was a goalkeeper – and

not entirely without talent. And I was for a short time a boy scout, but thought it was too dull. Today I am still a dedicated football fan and a proud board member of my childhood idols: the football club Brøndby IF. I watch all their games – preferably at the stadium. But yes, I have always enjoyed working together in groups. And that’s the reason why I chose a university based on working in groups when I took my master's of science in public administration and politics in the 1980s.

You are also a family man.

Yes, I love to spend my spare time with family and friends.

In the early 80s, together with three good friends, we founded a card-playing club. Today we still meet to play the game Whist.

On long walks with my family, we are now accompanied by our newest member – my dog Cleo, a beautiful, bright white Samoyed.

Like many Danish, you are a passionate cyclist. Even in New York, on your way to the United Nations, you took a ride on a bike.

In the summertime I ride my bike a lot. Therefore it was exciting for me to experience the Tour de France in June. The Grand Depart, the first stage, started right outside Realdania’s office building in the centre of Co penhagen.

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream is that the world will succeed at achieving the SDGs and the Paris Agreement that limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Our task as a society and as individuals is to pull ourselves together and focus fully on acting in a way that we, in all matters, owe to our children and grandchildren. This requires action NOW!!

US billionaire and media mogul Michael Bloomberg and actor Robert Redford at a C 40 meeting during COP 21 in Paris

US billionaire Richard Branson talks at a Sustainia Event at COP 21 in Paris. Sustainia is one of the initiatives which is supported by Realdania

They Are Reshaping the World’.

AMBASSADORS FOR A DAY, BUT LEADERS OF THE FUTURE

The initiative is known as ‘Ambassador for a Day’. But it might as well be called ‘Leader for a Lifetime’.

Empowering teenage girls (aged 14-17 at the time of application) to ful l their potential, the British Embassy in June welcomed the 20 nalists of ‘Ambassador for a Day’ to the of ces of the law rm Gorrissen Federspiel on Axeltorv.

For the second year running, they were teamed up to receive one-to-one mentorship from the city’s women ambassadors, and other high-ranking diplomats, who no doubt hope they will one day play a role in governing the world.

FOCUS ON EQUALITY

The founder and orchestrator of the initiative is the UK ambassador Emma Hopkins.

“Today there are too few women in international diplomacy. Women are far from equal in politics and business. This year there has been much debate in Denmark about what equality means. In every country in the world, we are still working towards equality,” explains Hopkins.

“Ambassador for a Day is a competition that encourages young women to become future leaders and agents of change.”

Experience of bias

The nalists were required to dig deep for inspiration on the big day itself. They were challenged to give short presentations revolving around three key questions: Have you seen or experienced bias in the world around you? What impact did it have? What would you do to help break biases in your school, society or country?

The sky’s the limit for their bright young prospects. The only thing in life beyond them, as their mentors will agree, is re-entering next year. Applications for the 2023 edition begin in March.

The British Embassy has once again been empowering the young women of Copenhagen to make a difference

Fortunately Gorrissen Federspiel had a room large enough to t all the nalists and mentors

For the nalists, it was perhaps their rst taste of what a meeting in a boardroom

… make that a very large boardroom … might feel like

The nalists with the organiser who made it all happen: UK ambassador Emma Hopkins

Photos: British Embassy

Photo: Hasse Ferold

Photo: Hasse Ferold

Among the dignitaries offering their mentoring skills were (left-right) Moroccan ambassador Khadija Rouissi, UK ambassador Emma Hopkins and Indonesian ambassador Dewi Savitri Wahab...

... and (left-right) Indian ambassador Pooja Kapur, Albanian ambassador Elida Petoshati and Swiss ambassador Florence Mattli

Photos: British Embassy

Photos: Hasse Ferold

Photos: Hasse Ferold

BEHOLD OUR MOST GOLDEN QUEEN: DIAMOND’S FOREVER IMMORTALITY BECKONS

The timing of the Copenhagen culture festival Golden Days couldn’t have been better. Coinciding with the month chosen to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Margrethe II, fully 50 years and eight months after she acceded to the Danish throne in January 1972, Her Majesty visited Kongens Nytorv on September 2 where 50 female icons have been placed on pedestals to cele brate the 2022 theme ‘50 Queens’. And just like that, the heavens obliged to shine down: behold our ‘Golden Queen’!

A day earlier, the Queen visited Frederiksberg, fulfilling a hectic schedule, visiting both the town hall and castle. The gallantry and pedantry were on full display, giving the public a taste of what they could expect over the rest of September. But sadly the passing of Queen Elizabeth II resulted in Margrethe deciding to put the carriage away for the rest of the proceedings on September 10-11. On the first day, a luncheon at Copenhagen City Hall was cancelled, along with an appearance on the balcony of Christian IX’s palace in Amalien borg. But fortunately, the gala performance at Gamle Scene that evening, and the service at Copenhagen Cathedral on the following day, were able to go ahead with adjusted formats, out of respect to the late British Queen. Should Margrethe emulate her and celebrate her Diamond jubilee in a decade’s time, she’ll overtake King Christian IV, who managed 59 years on the throne, as Denmark’s longest ever ruler

Everyone who’s anyone in the Nordics was there: The Queen (left), of course, and legions of royals and clergy as well (right)

Among the dignitaries in attendance were (left-right): Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Icelandic President Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, Copenhagen Lord Mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, and Romanian ambassador Alexandru Grădinar, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps

PHOTOS: HASSE FERROLD

The celebrations wouldn’t be complete without a gala performance at Gamle Scene, the Royal Theatre’s home of ballet, where guests were treated to a special show celebrating the best of the Danish arts. The Queen (left) was joined the Royal Prince Couple (right), or at least the members whose bedtime didn’t infringe on their participation

This was an occasion first and foremost for royalty. In no particular order of importance (left-right), among those in attendance were the Queen’s sisters Princess Benedikte and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, Norwegian King Harald V, Prince Joaquim’s family, and Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg

Also in attendance were Danish prime ministers past and present, 2001 until 2022 – (left to right) Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Helle Thorning Schmidt, Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Mette Frederiksen – but who will be next? Maybe the leaders of Konservative, Danmarksdemokraterne or Venstre, Søren Pape Pouls en and Inge Støjberg (second right), and Jakob Ellemann-Jensen (right) – only a fool would bet against Inge after the year she’s had!