The newly appointed Bornholm Business Council has held its first meeting and is now ready to work as a mouthpiece for the island's business community. Back row from left: Marcus Hansen (Tekniq – SMEs and entrepreneurship), Anders Bjerregaard (SMV Bornholm), Liselotte Hjort (Danish Chamber of Commerce). Front row from left: Christa Lodahl (head of business), Jimmy Hjort (Danish Trade Union Confederation), Karen Bladt (chair, Confederation of Danish Industry), Anette Hansen (Finance Denmark), Jonna Nielsen (Danish Trade Union Confederation) and Mayor Frederik Tolstrup (observer). Not present in the photo: Peter Sonne (Bornholm Agriculture & Food), Christian Froberg Dahl (HORESTA) and Claus Stamer (Confederation of Danish Industry - Construction).
Bornholm Business Council is the local business community's voice in contexts where business interests need to be safeguarded. Now the newly appointed council has held its first meeting, and the members are ready to get to work.
A new council has convened
Bornholm's newly appointed business council met on Monday 4 May for the first time after having constituted themselves in connection with Business Center Bornholm's representative assembly meeting on 9 April.
Karen Bladt, co-owner of HASLE Refractories and appointed by the Confederation of Danish Industry, has been re-elected as chair of the council. She has headed the business council for the past six years and is now continuing for a new term. The position also entails the nomination as chair of the board of directors of Business Center Bornholm.
– I am pleased by the continued trust. The Business Council is an important forum where we bring together different perspectives from the business community on Bornholm, and I want to help drive that work forward, says Karen Bladt.
I am pleased with the continued trust. The Business Council is an important forum where we bring together different perspectives from the business community on Bornholm, and I would like to help drive that work forward.
Representing business
The Business Council is composed of representatives from a range of organisations and industries on Bornholm. Members are appointed by organisations including the Confederation of Danish Industry, Danish Chamber of Commerce, SMVdanmark, the Danish Trade Union Confederation, HORESTA and Bornholm's Agriculture & Food.
Role as a spokesperson
The Business Council's task is to contribute input to the development of Bornholm's business community. This is done, among other things, through dialogue on the local business strategy and by pointing out opportunities and challenges that are significant across the island's industries.
– The role of the council is to bring the local business community's voice into situations where business interests need to be safeguarded, explains Karen Bladt.
– We represent different parts of the business community, and that is precisely the strength. Our task is to find common directions and ensure that Bornholm is a good place to run a business with good jobs that can contribute to tax revenue for Bornholm, says Karen Bladt.
Going forward, the Business Council will meet at the same frequency as the board of Business Center Bornholm – and shortly before their meetings – so that the council's input can be included in the board's discussions and decisions.
Bornholm Business Council consists of:
Karen Bladt (Chair), Confederation of Danish Industry
Liselotte Hjort, Danish Chamber of Commerce
Anette Hansen, Finance Denmark
Marcus Hansen, Tekniq (SMEs and entrepreneurship)
Jimmy Hjort, Danish Trade Union Confederation
Jonna Nielsen, Danish Trade Union Confederation
Peter Sonne, Bornholm Agriculture & Food
Anders Bjerregaard, SMV Bornholm
Christian Froberg Dahl, HORESTA
Claus Stamer, Confederation of Danish Industry (Building)
Mayor Frederik Tolstrup, observer