Panel discussion with key actors from the public sector

Daniella Waldfogel

CEO Stockholm Chamber of Commerce

Daniella Waldfogel has been appointed as the new CEO of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. Previously serving as the Deputy CEO and Chief Policy Officer, she has been instrumental in steering the Chamber's Policy Agenda, advocating for the interests of the business community and the sustainable development of the city.

Her career highlights include leading the Public Affairs team at the communications agency JKL and holding roles at the European Parliament and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Britta Stenson

Head of Global Industry Network Life Science Business Sweden

Britta Stenson has a vast experience from academia, MedTech, management consulting, non-profit and investment and export promotion. In 2012, Britta defended her thesis at Karolinska Institutet and received her PhD. Following this, she worked for Hjärnfonden, the Swedish Brain Association and then for Philips, in the field of Mammography and Medical Imaging and Sirona Health Solutions. Currently, Britta holds the position of Head of Global Industry Network Life Science at Business Sweden, the Swedish Trade & Invest Council. In this role, she focuses on helping Swedish companies grow globally and increasing foreign investment into Sweden.

Britta is a well-known advocate for Swedish Life Science and often speaks about her love for the Swedish Life Science Ecosystem and all its possibilities.

Anna-Karin Wikström

Director of research and education at Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala University Hospital

Anna-Karin Wikström is the Director of Research and Education at Uppsala University Hospital since 2022. She is also a Professor in Gynecology and Obstetrics at Uppsala University since 2017 and a senior consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2008. In 1991 she graduated as a MD at the Karolinska Institutet (KI), whereafter she during 1991-2000 did her Internship and Residency at Hudiksvall Hospital.

In 2000 she started working at Uppsala University Hospital and became a board certified specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2001. In 2007 she defended her PhD thesis on Preeclampsia at Uppsala University. During 2009 to 2012 she worked parttime as a post doc researcher at the Unit for Clinical Epidemiology at KI. She became an Associate professor in 2011.

During 2016-17 she held a position as Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at KI, in combination with a clinical position as Consultant obstetrician at Danderyd’s Hospital. During the last 10 years she has been involved in several projects, including the creation of one of the larger Quality Registers (the national Pregnancy Register), and been a part of several steering committees in research projects, medical societies, committees in the University organization, as well as in Region Uppsala.

Gunilla Andrew-Nielsen

Head of Clinical Trials and Special Permissions at the Swedish Medical Products Agency

Since 2011, Gunilla Andrew-Nielsen has held the position of Head of Clinical Trials and Special Permissions at the Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA). With the launch of Sweden's Life Science Strategy in 2019, she became a key figure in advancing life science initiatives within the agency. In 2022, she expanded her leadership by taking charge of the agency's Innovation Office, reinforcing the MPA’s standing as a leader in health innovation.

On the international front, Gunilla represents the MPA in the Clinical Trial Coordination Group (CTCG) under the Heads of Medicines Agency (HMA), where she plays a vital role in shaping and implementing EU clinical trial regulations. She also contributes to the Accelerating Clinical Trials in the EU (ACT EU) initiative, which aims to revolutionise the clinical trial process by enhancing the design, execution, and integration of clinical research across Europe, ultimately fostering the development of safer, more effective medicines.

With over 30 years of experience, Gunilla has held senior roles both nationally and internationally in the pharmaceutical sector, with a strong focus on clinical trials and regulatory compliance. 

Marie Arsenian-Henriksson

PhD, Professor of Molecular Tumor Biology and Academic Vice-President at Karolinska Institutet (KI), Stockholm.

Between 2006 and 2016, she served as Department Head at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology (MTC). After stepping down she made a seven-month sabbatical in the laboratory of Professor Robert Eisenman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, USA. Dr. Arsenian Henriksson served as faculty representative in the KI Board of Directors 2017-2019 and in the KI Recruitment Board during 2022-2023. During 2023 and 2024 she made two shorter sabbaticals in the laboratory of Professor William Weiss at UCSF. She holds Guest Professorships at Lund and Stellenbosch Universities