CHRISTIAN JØLCK
Christian is an operator turned investor having held executive leadership positions in global leading industrial B2B companies within healthcare and the urban environment. Today, he is co-founder and partner of 2150 & UrbanPartners, which focus on investing into technology companies and assets, which can sustainably re-imagine and create the urban environment of the 21st century. He is on the board of LuxWall, BioMason, NatureMetrics and MissionZero Technologies, Nordic Investment Opportunities and he is co-founding steering committee member of VentureClimateAlliance.
Christian holds a Masters in Finance and International Business from Aarhus University, an executive degree from INSEAD. He is a Kauffman Fellow and Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.
Christian has been a member of the Aarhus Symposium Board of Directors since February 2025.
PHILIPP SCHRÖDER
Philipp Schröder is Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics at Aarhus University, and Director of the Research Centre for Firms and Industry Dynamics at Aarhus University. His primary research interests include international economics and trade, firms, industrial economics, and economic policy.
Philipp holds a Ph.D. from Aarhus University, as well as an MSc and a BA from the University of Warwick, UK.
Philipp previously served as a member of the Aarhus Symposium Board of Directors from 2015 to 2018, acting as Chairman from 2016 to 2018. He rejoined the Aarhus Symposium Board of Directors in 2025, resuming his role as chairman.
TORBEN M. ANDERSEN
Torben Magnus Andersen is a Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics at the University of Aarhus. His primary areas of research interests are the Scandinavian welfare model, labour market policies, globalization, as well as pensions and fiscal sustainability.
Torben holds a Ph.D. as Lic.oecon from the University of Aarhus, a Ph.D CORE from Université Catholíque in Belgium, and an MSc from London School of Economics, where he was awarded the Ely Devons Prize.
Torben has been a member of the Aarhus Symposium Board of Directors since November 2020.
NICK MELGAARD
Nick Melgaard is the director at NREP, a city-planning investor that seeks to improve the built environment of cities, to benefit all stakeholders. He is also a past member of the Steering Committee of Aarhus Symposium from 2011 until 2013.
Nick holds an M.Sc. in Economics from Aarhus University and has a background as a consultant at McKinsey & Company and an analyst at Deloitte. In addition to his position on the Board of Directors, Nick is a member of the board of the German engineering company Reuther STC GmbH.
Nick has been a member of the Aarhus Symposium Board of Directors since March 2018.
MICHAEL JENSEN
Michael Jensen is Senior Vice President, Head of Corporate Brand and Positioning at Danske Bank.
Michael has a Master’s degree in Marketing from Aarhus BSS, and during his studies, he spent a year as Marketing and PR responsible for Aarhus Symposium in its very first year of existence.
Michael has been a member of the Aarhus Symposium Board of Directors since March 2018.
KARINA SCHMITT LUND
Karina Schmitt Lund, Managing Director, is Head of Wealth management and iShares in the Baltic, Dutch and Nordic regions leading BlackRock's business with banks, asset managers and digital distribution platforms including distribution of investment funds, ETFs, solutions and advisory services in these regions.
Karina has previously held Managing Director positions at Jefferies and Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Global Fixed Income, and prior to that she was Executive Director at Morgan Stanley in London, another global leader in corporate and investment banking. Karina has managing experience building and leading high performing businesses and teams focused on international distribution within Fixed Income and Capital Market businesses. She started her career working for Credit Suisse First Boston in London in the Credit derivatives risk department.
Karina is a Danish national. She holds a Master's Degree in Economics from the University of Aarhus in Denmark and an MA in International Political Economy from the University of Warwick in United Kingdom. Karina has served as board member of the Aarhus University Symposium since November 2020.
JENS RIIS ANDERSEN
Jens Riis Andersen is a Partner at McKinsey & Company and one of the co-founders of Aarhus Symposium. Jens holds a Ph.D. in Economics as well as a Master’s Degree in Law from Aarhus University. In addition, he has conducted studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, HEC Paris, Harvard University, and ESADE.
During his studies, Jens was engaged in the student life at Aarhus University, where he co-founded the student organisations FACCA and Aarhus Symposium. In Aarhus Symposium, Jens was as a member of the Steering Committee in 2011 and 2012, and has been a board member since.
KASPER VINTHER OLESEN
Kasper Vinther Olesen is Head of Investment Research at Garda Capital Partners and one of the co-founders of Aarhus Symposium. Kasper holds an M.Sc. in Quantitative Economics and a Ph.D. in Economics from Aarhus University. In addition, he has conducted studies at Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto), Oxford-MAN Institute of Quantitative Finance, and the London School of Economics.
During his studies, Kasper was engaged in the student life at Aarhus University, where he co-founded the student organisations FACCA and Aarhus Symposium. In Aarhus Symposium, Kasper was a member of the Steering Committee in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and has been the Vice Chairman of the Aarhus Symposium Board of Directors since.