Speakers

Christine Novakovic

Head Global Wealth Management EMEA, UBS

Magnus Heunicke

Minister of Environment and Gender Equality, The Danish Parliament

Magnus Heunicke served as the Denmark’s Minister for Health from 2019 to 2022, where he played a significant role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2022 he has served as Denmark’s Minister for the Environment and Minister for Gender Equality. Heunicke is recognized for his commitment to environmental sustainability as well as promoting gender equality in Denmark.

Rukasana Bhaijee

Global Head of DE&I, Financial Times

Rukasana Bhaijee is a visionary Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) leader with over 13 years of experience spanning Media, Technology, Professional Services, and Higher Education. As the Global Head of DEI at the Financial Times, Rukasana spearheads the evolution of the organisation’s DEI strategy, partnering with leaders to turn ambitions into actions.

Prior to her current role, Rukasana drove DEI transformation at Google, where she led the EMEA technology business DEI agenda. Her work was rooted in data-driven strategies, resulting in a year-on-year increase in women’s representation in tech and enhanced DEI leadership capability. She also played a pivotal role in fostering dialogue and action on race equity following the murder of George Floyd.

Rukasana’s expertise extends to her time as a Management Consultant at EY, where she collaborated with organisations across industries to advance their DEI journeys—whether laying foundational frameworks or driving sophisticated, mature DEI strategies. A dynamic thought leader, Rukasana is passionate about empowering individuals, building inclusive cultures, and driving systemic change that unlocks the full potential of diverse talent.

Pernille Fritz Vilhelmsen

EVP and Chief People & Culture Officer, Hempel

Pernille Fritz Vilhelmsen joined Hempel in 2017 as Talent Management Director. Since November 2020, she has held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief People & Culture Officer.

Pernille has extensive international experience from both business and people roles in Maersk Line where she worked for more than 15 years.

Bhushan Sethi

Partner, PwC US

Bhushan is an experienced leader who has worked with global organizations across different industries and geographies to deliver on growth strategy, sustainable cost reduction, digital transformation and regulatory compliance. He is widely recognized as an award-winning thought leader, speaker, and influencer on topics such as the future of work, globalization, and leadership. Having been acknowledged by LinkedIn as a “Top Voice” in Consulting and listed on the 2023 “Power List of the Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership”, Bhushan’s insights are highly sought after.

He is also actively engaged in various councils including at the World Economic Forum and G20/T20. In addition to his consulting, Bhushan serves as an Adjunct Professor at NYU Stern School of Business, enriching the next generation of business leaders with his expertise.

Barbara Burghardt

SVP HR Business and Talent Development, BMW Group

Barbara Burghardt is a Senior Executive Manager from the Automotive Industry. After completing her Master of Business Administration, she joined BMW Group in 1996. For more than 18 years, she has worked in operational and strategic HR functions with national and international responsibility after 12 years in different business functions.

She is an expert in corporate strategy, organizational development and transformation projects and has several years of experience in Financial Services. Currently as a Senior Vice President at BMW Group for HR Business and Talent Development, she is responsible for more than 100,000 employees worldwide. Her responsibility also includes Leadership Experience, transformation management in all divisions, as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Alphabet Fleet Management GmbH.

Charlotte Slente

Secretary General, Danish Refugee Council

Amb. Slente comes from a long career in the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has held multiple senior management posts central to Denmark’s development and humanitarian policy, hereunder State Secretary for Development Policy and Under-Secretary of State for Global Development – heading the Danish International Development Agency DANIDA. Charlotte Slente has also served high-level diplomatic posts, including Under- Secretary of State for Global Politics and Security, as well as Under-Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.

Ms. Slente has been Ambassador for Israel, Bolivia, Fragile States, as well as Economic Diplomacy and held several senior posts at Denmark’s bilateral Embassies. Ms Slente started her career with UNDP and holds a Master of Science in International Business Administration and Modern Languages from the Copenhagen Business School.

Ulla Essendrop

News Anchor and Moderator

Ulla Essendrop is an experienced, international moderator, and an award winning TV presenter, who anchors the news on the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. She holds a master degree in Communication & Media Science, and has nearly 20 years of experience in the TV-industry, and has appeared on live television in front of 80 million viewers around the globe.

She has won awards, and interviewed state leaders, thought leaders, CEOs of international companies, celebrities and other renowned profiles throughout her career such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, football coach Sir Alex Ferguson, tennis player Serena Williams, et al.

Clement Behrendt Kjersgaard

TV Host, Publisher and Journalist

Having worked for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation since 2004 Clement is one of the most well-known broadcasters in Denmark, including his 14 years anchoring the weekly flagship show “Debatten” (which he relaunched in 2010 and has hosted since). He has also anchored the daily news magazine “Deadline” along with talk shows and interview programs spanning both politics, the arts and pop culture.

He is the founder and publisher of the Danish current affairs magazine RÆSON, the history magazine ÆRA and the annual Festival of Knowledge. At the age of 35 he was awarded the Danish Publicist Prize and his shows have won three Danish Television Awards.

Tine Arentsen Willumsen

Founder and CEO, Above & Beyond Group

Tine Arentsen Willumsen is the Founder of Above & Beyond Group, the creator of The Diversity Council, as well as the mind behind The Womenomics Global DE&I Summit. The Group is also behind Above & Beyond Academy which provides world-class leadership programs, for large corporates. Tine is also the author or the business book, ‘Womenomics: Gender Diversity and the Rise of Female-Driven Growth Potential’.

Prior to establishing Above & Beyond, she had an international career abroad for 23 years with, among others, the diamond conglomerate De Beers and Bang & Olufsen where she was Marketing Director and heading 30 markets internationally.
Tine is also the Founder and Chair of Sisterhood Foundation, a charity which supports girls and women in India with scholarships, training and micro-financing.

Tine holds a Bachelor from Singapore and an MBA from ESSEC Business School in Paris.