Aarhus Symposium
Founded2011
FoundersKasper Vinther Olesen
Jens Riis Andersen
David Scherer
Andreas Emmertsen
TypeNon-profit organisation
Purpose"Leaders of today connecting with leaders of tomorrow"[1]
Location
Michael Svarer
Jens Bjerg Sørensen
Peter Engberg Jensen
Nick Melgaard
Michael Jensen
Kristina Risom Jespersen
Kasper Vinther Olesen
Jens Riis Andersen[2]
Websiteaarhus-symposium.org

Aarhus Symposium is an annual leadership conference taking place at the University of Aarhus, Denmark, on the first Friday in November. The aim of the event is to connect leaders of today with leaders of tomorrow.[1] To do so, a wide range of key decision-makers are invited to share their experiences and engage in discussions with students from various universities. Hereby, the symposium allows students to relate their academic insights to the broader business society.[3]

Aarhus Symposium was founded in 2011 and has since expanded its concept to also involve Aarhus Symposium Focus,[4] and Aarhus Symposium Challenge.[5]

Aarhus Symposium is a non-profit organisation, and all symposia are organised by voluntary students together with a pro bono board of directors.[6][7]

History[edit]

Four students at Aarhus University established Aarhus Symposium in 2011: David Scherer, Jens Riis Andersen, Kasper Vinther Olesen, and Andreas Emmertsen. They gathered support from other students to organise the very first Aarhus Symposium with the objective of building a bridge between students, i.e. the future leaders, and leaders in today's businesses and society.[8][9]

The first annual Aarhus Symposium welcomed renowned speakers from the business society such as Carsten Bjerg (then CEO of Grundfos), Lars Rohde (then CEO of ATP), and Maria Rønn (CEO of Danmarks Radio).[10] Throughout the years, the programme has extended to include prominent speakers such as His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Denmark,[11] Lars Rebien Sørensen (president and CEO of Novo Nordisk),[12] and the Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.[13]

Aarhus Symposium has grown through the years as a result of wide support from students, speakers, partners, and others.[4] In 2012, the Organising Committee introduced Battle of the Economists; an event to take place on Monday in the week of Aarhus Symposium. It provided a national focus to the overall theme of Aarhus Symposium.[14] The event was renamed Aarhus Symposium Focus in 2016 to broaden the possibilities for topics that exceed economic issues.[15]

In 2013, Aarhus Symposium Challenge was established to strengthen the connection between students and the leaders of today.[5] Aarhus Symposium Challenge is an essay competition in which selected speakers put forth a challenge for students to solve. Through their essay, students obtain a seat at both Aarhus Symposium and Aarhus Symposium Focus, and they potentially qualify for Leaders’ Forum. Since its initiation in 2013, an increasing number of students have participated in Aarhus Symposium Challenge, making it the primary sign-up for Aarhus Symposium and Aarhus Symposium Focus.[16]

Aarhus Symposium[edit]

Climate Debate at Aarhus Symposium 2015 between (from left) Andreas Roepstorff, Connie Hedegaard, and Simon Giles moderated by Poul Erik Skammelsen.

Aarhus Symposium takes place on the first Friday in November. Here, business executives and key decision-makers are invited to share their experiences and insights regarding a specific theme. They do so with different perspectives that reflect the tracks, i.e. subtopics, of the event.

Past symposia[edit]

His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Denmark's opening speech at Aarhus Symposium 2014.
Year Theme Speakers Participants
2011[10] Growth in Distressed Economies:
The Role of Ownership Structures
  • Carsten Bjerg, CEO of Grundfos
  • Ditlev Engel, CEO of Vestas
  • Flemming Lindeløv, Deltaq
  • Frederik Lotz, CFO of Arla Foods
  • Kim Fournais, CEO of Saxo Bank
  • Kurt Pedersen Kaalund, CEO of Cheminova A/S and Auriga Industries A/S
  • Lars Rohde, CEO of ATP
  • Maria Rønn, CEO of DR
  • Peter Engberg, CEO of Nykredit
  • Thomas Schmidt, MD, McKinsey & Company
 450
2012[17] Growth and Sustainability
  • Gonçalo De Barros Carvalho Emello Mourão, Brazilian Ambassador, The Brazilian Embassy in Copenhagen
  • Henrik Skovby, founder and executive chairman at Dalberg
  • Jens Bjørn Andersen, CEO of DSV
  • Jimmy Fussing Nielsen, managing partner at Sunstone Capital
  • Jørgen Tang-Jensen, CEO of VELUX
  • Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO of LEGO
  • Lars Rasmussen, CEO of Coloplast
  • Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of Danfoss
  • Per Bank, CEO of Dansk Supermarked
  • Steen Riisgaard, CEO of Novozymes
  • Susanne T. Nielsen, CEO of C.F. Møller Architects
  • Tania Ellis, founder and managing director at The Social Business Company
  • Tommy Ahlers, CEO of Podio
 725
2013[18] Leadership and Innovation 600
2014[19] Leadership and Strategy 650
2015[20] Leadership and Technology 675
2016[21] The Art of Power 675
2017[22] Leading Through Change 675
2018[23] Creating Connections
  • Jan van de Winkel, CEO, Genmab
  • Niels B. Christiansen, CEO, The Lego Group
  • Afshan Khan, Regional Director, Europe & Central Asia, UNICEF
  • Ulrik Juul Christensen, Executive Chairman, Area9 Group
  • Rodin Genoff, Founder & Managing Director, Rodin Genoff and Associates
  • Søren Skou, CEO, Maersk Group
  • Jakob Askou Bøss, Senior VP, Corporate Strategy and Stakeholder Relations, Ørsted
  • Christian Erfurt, CEO and Co-Founder, Be My Eyes
  • Michael Bruun, Partner and Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
  • Inge Berneke, Partner, Egon Zehnder
  • Lars Jannick Johansen, Founder & Managing Partner, The Social Capital Fond
  • Lene Skole, CEO, Lundbeckfonden
 720
2019 Mastering Creativity 650
2021 A New Reality 672

Aarhus Symposium Focus[edit]

Formerly known as Battle of the Economists

Aarhus Symposium Focus is an annual conference which takes place on Monday in the week of Aarhus Symposium. Here, experts with various backgrounds are invited to share their thoughts on a topic related to the overall theme of Aarhus Symposium. The event provides a national focus as the topic strives to reflect one of Denmark's most critical challenges.[24]

Participants at Battle of the Economists 2015
Year Theme Speakers Participants
2012[17] Denmark's Challenges - Growth and Sustainability 250
2013[18] Denmark's Challenges - Leadership and Innovation 400
2014[19] The Superior Nordic Strategy
  • Erik Bjørsted, chief analyst at AE-rådet
  • Otto Brøns-Petersen, head of research at CEPOS
  • Torben M. Andersen, professor of economics at Aarhus University
 400
2015[20] Go Green, Now?
  • Ditlev Engel, chairman of the board at Big Future 2025
  • Michael Svarer, professor at the Department of Economics and Management, Aarhus University
  • Thomas Dalsgaard, executive vice president at DONG Energy Thermal Power
 450
2016[21] Demographic Changes – How will we work, age, and live?
  • Allan Lyngsø Madsen, chief economist at LO
  • Torben Tranæs, executive director of Research at SFI
  • Troels Bjerg, regional CEO Northern Europe at ISS A/S
 375
2017[22] Globalisation In Reverse – The Danish Response 375
2018[23] Making Automation Work
  • Lars Frelle-Petersen, Director of Digisation, Confederation of Danish Industry
  • Dominik Bösl [de], Vice President, Consumer Driven Robots, KUKA
  • Philipp Schröder, Member of the Danish Disruption Council
  • David Budtz-Petersen, Head of Research, Humanomics Research Center
 400
2019 Denmark as a Creative Superpower
  • Elisabetta Lazzaro, Professor of Creative Economy, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht
  • Betina Hagerup, Director, The Danish Chamber of Commerce
  • Lene Tanggaard, Professor, Department of Communication and Psychology, Aalborg University
  • Bo Linnemann, Owner and Founding Partner, Kontrapunkt
 350
2021 Impact before Income? 350

Aarhus Symposium Challenge[edit]

Aarhus Symposium Challenge is an essay competition where selected speakers put forth a challenge for students to solve. By submitting a qualified essay, students obtain a seat at both Aarhus Symposium and Aarhus Symposium Focus. Additionally, the participating students compete for the Aarhus Symposium Award and a spot in Leaders’ Forum.

Year Speakers and topics of Aarhus Symposium Challenge
2013[18]
  • Jim Hagemann Snabe, co-CEO at SAP AG: Facing global challenges with IT innovation
  • Nils S. Andersen, group CEO of A.P. Moller-Mærsk A/S: Leading in troubled waters
  • Peter Beske Nielsen, managing director at Blackrock: Financial innovation
2014[19]
2015[20]
  • Christian Stadil, CEO of Thornico: Ensuring the success of a startup
  • Connie Hedegaard, chairman of the board at KR Foundation: Initiatives securing our future
  • Robert Uggla, CEO of Svitzer: Leader in the digital age
2016[21]
  • Jimmy Maymann, president of AOL Content and Consumer Brands: The influence of digitalisation
  • Morten Albæk, co-founder and CEO of Voluntas: Investing for impact
  • Peder Holk Nielsen, president and CEO of Novozymes: Partnering for success
2017[22]
  • Bjarne Corydon, global director of McKinsey Center for Government: The challenge facing public institutions
  • Helle Valentin, global chief operating officer of Watson Internet of Things: How technology can create positive change
  • Janina Kugel, chief human resources officer and member of the managing board at Siemens: Successfully leading the employee of tomorrow
2018[23]


  • Niels B. Christiansen, CEO, The Lego Group: How a company can enjoy the advantages of collaborating with others while protecting its core values
  • Afshan Khan, Regional Director Europe & Central Asia, UNICEF: One area in which every child does not have equal opportunities and one way to address this issue
  • Ulrik Juul Christensen, Founder and Executive Chairman, Area9 Group: How to achieve a specific competence that will be important on the future labour market
2019
  • Susanne Mørch Koch, CEO, Danske Spil: How established companies can uncover their entrepreneurial potential and reinvent themselves
  • André Rogaczewski, CEO & Co-Founder, Netcompany: How a specific industry can be radically changed by introducing a creative technology
  • Henrik Andersen, CEO, Vestas: A way for businesses or governments to combat climate change and the benefits of doing so
2021
  • Joe Kaeser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, SIEMENS ENERGY, Siemens Energy: How economic growth can be more just and sustainable
  • Helle Østergaard Kristiansen, CEO, Danske Commodities: One area where automation can cause dilemmas for businesses and how to deal with them
  • Kim Fournais, CEO & Founder, Saxo Bank: How organisational agility can improve adaptiveness in dynamic markets

Leaders' Forum[edit]

Leaders’ Forum session with Connie Hedegaard at Aarhus Symposium 2015.

Leaders’ Forum is an exclusive and intimate session where selected students discuss their essay contribution with the leader that put forth the respective challenge. Only the best essay contributions under each challenge topic qualifies for this informal session.[25]

Throughout the years, Leaders’ Forum has attracted much attention from the media inasmuch as it is unique in a Danish context and provides both the attending students and the top leaders the opportunity to learn from each other.[26][27]

The Aarhus Symposium Award[edit]

Oskar Harmsen, winner of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2015, rewarded on stage at Aarhus Symposium 2015.

The most extraordinary essay contribution in Aarhus Symposium Challenge will be rewarded the Aarhus Symposium Award on stage at the very end of Aarhus Symposium. Prior winners of the Aarhus Symposium Award are:

Other events[edit]

Besides facilitating Aarhus Symposium and Aarhus Symposium Focus, Aarhus Symposium also hosts a variety of other events that takes places at Aarhus University. Most notable are Aarhus Symposium Theme Announcement and Aarhus Symposium Challenge Launch; both of which are closely linked to the three key elements of Aarhus Symposium.[35][36]

Organising Committee[edit]

The Organising Committee of Aarhus Symposium consists of approximately 41 voluntary students,[37] who have the responsibility for planning, funding, promoting, and executing all events.[38] The Organising Committee is divided into smaller groups with specific focus areas:[39]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "What Is Aarhus Symposium?".
  2. ^ "Board of Directors".
  3. ^ "Danske topledere ruster AU-studerende til barsk virkelighed".
  4. ^ a b "Studerende og topledere mødes i faglig debat - Netværksportalen - Vejen til nye netværk! Foreninger og netværk i Danmark". www.netvaerksportalen.dk.
  5. ^ a b "FAKTA Aarhus Symposium Challenge". borsen.dk. 12 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Leder-event udsolgt på 90 sekunder". jyllands-posten.dk. 7 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Become a Partner". Archived from the original on 2012-10-04.
  8. ^ "Corydon: Tiden er knap, og vejen til rettidig handling stadig skræmmende lang – reformvejen er den eneste farbare". 9 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Erhvervslivets tunge drenge yder studiehjælp". stiften.dk. 4 October 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Growth in Distressed Economies". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  11. ^ "Åbning af Aarhus Symposium 2014". Kongehuset. 7 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Studerende har hyret verdens bedste chef". jyllands-posten.dk. 28 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Nutidens og fremtidens ledere mødes til Aarhus Symposium" – via jyskebank.tv.
  14. ^ Henriksen, Thomas Bernt (29 October 2013). "Battle of the Economists". borsen.dk.
  15. ^ "Aarhus Symposium 2016 - The Booklet". Issuu.
  16. ^ "Aarhus Symposium Challenge".
  17. ^ a b "Growth and Sustainability". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  18. ^ a b c "Leadership and Innovation". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  19. ^ a b c "Leadership and Strategy". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  20. ^ a b c "Leadership and Technology". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  21. ^ a b c "The Art of Power". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  22. ^ a b c "Leading Through Change". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  23. ^ a b c "Creating Connections". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  24. ^ Henriksen, Thomas Bernt (31 October 2016). "Thomas Bernt: Løkke-retræte er tredobbelt lussing til virksomhederne". borsen.dk.
  25. ^ "FAQ for Aarhus Symposium Challenge".
  26. ^ "Topchefer på jagt efter fremtidens ledere". 11 November 2014.
  27. ^ Chor, Jakob (22 November 2016). "Jimmy Maymann: Det nytter ikke at ville holde fremskridtet tilbage". Berlingske.dk.
  28. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-13. Retrieved 2017-08-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ^ "Meet the Winner of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2014". 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  30. ^ "Meet the Winner of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2015". 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  31. ^ "Interview with Luke McGinty, Winner of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2016". 26 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  32. ^ "Bastian Emil Jørgensen - Winner of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2017!". 3 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  33. ^ "Soraya Redondo Mezmizi - Winner of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2018!". 14 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  34. ^ "Morten Thinggaard Pedersen - Winner of the Aarhus Symposium Award 2019!". 1 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.
  35. ^ "News & Updates". Aarhus Symposium.
  36. ^ 174481@au.dk. "Are you tomorrow's leader?". omnibus.au.dk.
  37. ^ "Organisers".
  38. ^ 136957@au.dk. "Hvordan sætter man store erhvervsledere stævne?". bss.au.dk.
  39. ^ "The Groups of Aarhus Symposium". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15.