Danish Refugee Council’s Board of Directors

(Poul) Carsten Stendevad, Chair (elected 2024)

Carsten has a Master’s in Economics from Copenhagen University and holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University.

Carsten Stendevad is a President and Chief Investment Officer in Acumen a global force of entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, and social innovators working together to break the cycle of poverty.

Carsten serves as Board Advisor to GIC, Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund and is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

He previously served as CEO of ATP, Denmark’s national pension plan and was previously member of the board of Directors at Novo Holding and UNICEF Denmark.

Caroline Tromer Dragsdahl (elected 2024)

Caroline Tromer Dragsdahl has a Master’s in Design Innovation from the Technical University of Denmark.

Caroline works as Global Product Owner at Novo Nordisk and has specialized in the interaction between technology and people.

Caroline sits in several boards including as vice chair in the Women’s Council, in IDA (union for Engineers in Denmark), and in Sustainable Leadership (Bæredygtig Ledelse). 

Caroline Tromer Dragsdahl is nominated by The Women’s Council Denmark (Kvinderaadet).

Charlie Brown (elected 2025)

Charlie Brown has a Master’s in Advanced Migration Studies from the University of Copenhagen as well as a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Western Sydney University.

Charlie has worked at DRC for the past 7 years in various roles and is currently based in DRC HQ working as the Global Advisor for Accountability to Affected Populations.

Charlie Brown is the employee representative, elected by DRC employees.

Henrik Bodskov (elected 2025)

Henrik Bodskov has a Master’s in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School and a MBA from Scandinavian International Management Institute, Copenhagen.

Henrik sits on several boards within IT and tech industries. Henrik has previously been CEO in Aeven a company working with Adaptive Digital Infrastructure and CEO in IBM Denmark.

Henrik is an expert judge and sits on several boards for tech and digitalization organizations and funds.

Henrik Bodskov is nominated by The Danish Chamber of Commerce (Dansk Erhverv).

Kim Simonsen (re-elected 2024)

Kim Simonsen is a graduate from Grenaa Business School.

Kim Simonsen has served as the President of HK/Danmark and has been trade union leader at top level for many years.

Today Kim Simonsen sits on several boards for pension funds, insurance companies, vocational schools and real estate companies.

Kim Simonsen is nominated by HK Denmark.

Nilüfer Sahin (appointed 2026)

Nilüfer Sahin holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Cultural Studies from the Universities of Copenhagen and Roskilde, a Mini MBA from Henley Business School and Strategic Leadership education from IMD. 

Nilüfer is currently Senior Vice President, Communications Public Affairs at Orkla Health, a consumer health company operating across multiple markets.

Nilüfer brings extensive experience in corporate reputation, strategic communication, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement, and has advised senior leadership teams, including CEOs and boards, on transformation, change management, crisis leadership and organizational alignment in complex and politically exposed environments for over 20 years.

Nilüfer Sahin is appointed to the Board of Directors by the Board.

Nina Boel (elected 2023)

Nina Boel is a Medical Doctor and holds a Bachelor of Political Science, both from the University of Copenhagen.

Nina works with international collaboration at the Danish Health Authority, (Director General’s Office).

Since 2021 she has been a member of the International Board and member of the Finance and Audit Committee of Amnesty International.

She has previously served as the Chair of Amnesty International Denmark. 

Nina Boel is nominated by Amnesty International, Denmark

Rasmus Stuhr Jakobsen (elected 2024)

Rasmus Stuhr Jakobsen holds a Master’s in International Development Studies and Communication Studies.

Rasmus is Director of CARE Denmark with responsibility for sound operations, strategic development, and political advocacy.

Rasmus has previously worked in DRC in different roles including Humanitarian Director focusing on global response capacity and financing of humanitarian work.

Rasmus has been the chair at Globalt Fokus and currently sits at the
board of TechVelopment Nordic.

Rasmus Stuhr Jakobsen is nominated by CARE Denmark.

Torben Huss (appointed 2023)

Torben Huss has a Master’s in Political Science and Public Administration from University of Copenhagen and a Ph.D. in Business Economics from Copenhagen Business School.

Torben is former CEO in Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) a Danish Development Finance institution and an internationally leading commercial impact investor with a targeted investment strategy that promote green and/or more just and inclusive societies in emerging markets and contribute to the realization of the SDG’s.

Torben has experience from several boards for investments and pensions funds.

Torben Huss is appointed by the Board of Directors.

Ulla Næsby Tawiah (re-appointed in 2023)

Ulla Næsby Tawiah has a Master’s in Political Science from Aarhus University.

Ulla Næsby Tawiah is Director for Danida Fellowship Centre that supports sustainable development and equal opportunities through training and learning programs, collaborative research projects and knowledge sharing.

Ulla has previously worked for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among other things as ambassador to Burkina Faso, Niger and Benin and as deputy director of the Department of Humanitarian Action, Migration and Civil Society.

Ulla Næsby Tawiah is appointed by the Board of Directors

Vagn Berthelsen (re-elected 2023)

Vagn Berthelsen has a Master’s in Law from University of Copenhagen.

Vagn Berthelsen has worked for more than 40 years with development – as a practitioner in Africa, Latin America and Asia and as manager/CEO for close to 30 years, latest in Oxfam IBIS Denmark.

Vagn now works as an independent consultant supporting INGO’s and institutional donors.

Vagn Berthelsen is nominated by Oxfam Denmark.