Matilda Afzelius new CEO of Universeum

Universeum recruits Matilda Afzelius as its new CEO. With experience as Nordic manager for RES, the world's largest independent renewable energy company, she will now gear up Universeum's role as a national player and arena for STEM competence and scientific inclusion.

Experience of innovation and change.

It is a unanimous board that has now given Matilda Afzelius the task of leading Universeum. The election marks a clear ambition: to strengthen Universeum's role as a strategic bridge builder between business, academia and society.

Matilda Afzelius comes most recently from the role of Nordic CEO of RES. She is a trained lawyer with a focus on environmental law and has previously held leading roles in companies within the Stena sphere and worked as a lawyer at Wistrand Advokatbyrå. She brings with her a strong ability to unite politics and business around common goals.

"My social commitment has followed me throughout my career – from law to renewable energy and now to Universeum. To be able to combine societal benefit with leading an organisation with the breadth and depth of expertise that Universeum has is a unique opportunity. I have simply landed my dream job," says Matilda Afzelius.

"As a national science center, Universeum has a unique potential to increase its reach by taking on regional and national assignments. Matilda's focus on sustainable transformation combined with business acumen and experience in leading complex operations makes her the right person to take Universeum into the next phase."

– Gitte Caous, Chairman of the Board of Universeum AB.

Science as a question of competence and democracy.

Universeum plays a crucial role in addressing society's skills shortage in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). A more equal access to science creates the broad competence base that Sweden needs. But the mission goes further than that – it is also about securing young people's trust in scientific facts and strengthening their resilience against fake news. By making science accessible, individuals are equipped with the tools required to navigate in a complex and technology-driven world, participate in the democratic conversation and act for a sustainable future.

"Sweden's major challenges in skills supply and sustainability are too great for a single player. We need broad collaboration, and Universeum is the unifying force that is needed."

– Matilda Afzelius

Matilda Afzelius will take up the position on 1 October. Current CEO Carina Halvord will continue in the role until then.

About Matilda Afzelius

Professional background: Incoming CEO of Universeum. Most recently from the role of Nordic manager for RES, the world's largest independent renewable energy company. Prior to that, he has held leading positions in companies in the Stena sphere and worked as a lawyer at Wistrand Advokatbyrå.

Education: Degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) with a specialization in environmental law.

Expertise: Many years of experience in running large, complex industrial projects at the interface between business, politics and law, with a focus on the green transition.

Private: Operates and lives in Gothenburg.