Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen er professor i Business Security and Resilience Practice på CBS og prodekan for det strategiske initiativ Geopolitics and Business Security. Her har Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen ansvaret for at samle og styrke CBS’ akademiske miljøer indenfor området, samt at styrke virksomheders og myndigheders evne til at forstå og navigere i sikkerhedspolitiske udfordringer præget af en forandret geopolitisk virkelighed. Hendes forskning bygger på mange års erfaring fra ledende stillinger, bl.a. som chef for forebyggende sikkerhed i Politiets Efterretningstjeneste og efterretningschef i Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste. Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen har en ph.d. fra Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Welcome to the VL Summit on May 20th, 2026!
Frontline Leadership
– when future competitive strength is shaped by defence, cyber, and AI
We are in the midst of a historical turning point, where geopolitical tensions, technological breakthroughs and increasing cyber threats are fundamentally changing the conditions for leadership. The competitive strength of the future is being shaped at the intersection of defense, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) – and this places new demands on Danish business leaders.
This means that Danish companies, regardless of size and degree of internationalization, are facing a complex and possibly completely new leadership landscape.
We will unfold this at the VL Summit 2026, which takes place on Wednesday, May 20th at Øksnehallen in Copenhagen.
Registrations are coming in quickly, so hurry up and secure your place. And remember to register for the dinner (click here), which, as always, will be an atmospheric evening with delicious food, meaningful discussions and lots of networking with VL colleagues. And of course, you will sit together with your VL group.
DINNER TALK
At the VL Summit evening dinner, you will meet General David Petraeus – one of the world’s most experienced military leaders and geopolitical strategists. Petraeus has more than 37 years of experience from the US Army, where he led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was later director of the CIA. Today, he is a partner in the investment company KKR and an advisor to business leaders on global risks and strategic decisions.
You will experience the general in a fireside chat with Lars Findsen, VL4, co-founder of the think tank Ny Verden and member of this year’s Advisory Board for VL – the two will speak under the heading:
‘Strategic Leadership and the Future of Warfare’.
WHO IS DAVID PETRAEUS?
General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) is one of the foremost battlefield commanders, strategists, and geopolitical experts of our time. He served over 37 years in the US military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands as a general officer, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. He subsequently served as Director of the CIA, following Senate confirmation by a vote of 94 to 0, during a period of significant achievements in the global war on terror.
General Petraeus is now a Partner with the global investment firm KKR, which he joined in 2013, Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, and Chairman of KKR Middle East. He also serves on corporate boards, is the Kissinger Fellow at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, is a personal venture capitalist, and is the co-author, with Andrew Roberts, of the New York Times’ bestselling book, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Gaza.
General Petraeus graduated with distinction from the US Military Academy and later earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University in economics and international relations. He has held academic appointments at 5 universities in addition to his current position at Yale.
His numerous decorations include four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Master Combat Action Badge, the Ranger tab, the mountaineering badge, and master parachutist and air assault wings. He has also been decorated by 14 foreign countries and is believed to be the only person in uniform to throw out the first pitch of a World Series game and do the coin toss for a Super Bowl.
WHAT IS THE VL SUMMIT?
The VL Summit is VL’s iconic event with great Danish and international speakers, engaging leadership cases as well as festive elements and not least the opportunity to network with other VL members.
The VL Summit is the culmination of VL’s Annual Theme. With the help of a competent Advisory Board and a special eye for VL’s diversity, specific sub-themes are emphasized that are relevant for leaders in both eastern and western Denmark and which are relevant for SMEs as well as for large global companies and public institutions. This will also be reflected in the series of speakers and the concrete cases on the day itself.
At the VL Summit, a business-oriented management perspective is the constant, and there will be both national and international speakers who will focus on the sub-themes and participate in highly topical panel discussions. There will also be a focus on concrete and relevant business cases, and the participants will work with the challenges that arise.
How long does the VL Summit last?
The VL Summit 2026 spans over a day and evening. The day is filled with major keynotes, panel debates, and engaging sessions, concluding with the evening’s festive dinner.
EXPERIENCE PETER MOGENSEN & THE DISCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY AT THE VL SUMMIT!
LISTEN TO NEW EPISODES OF VL’S PODCAST ON LEADERSHIP TOPICS HERE
DIVE INTO VL’S ANNUAL THEME
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen
Fireside chat: "Leadership in a time of crisis"
Roelof Salomons
Morning keynote & following debate: "A Global Perspective"
Elena Scaltritti
Debate: "A Global Perspective"
Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen
Debate: "A Global Perspective"
Britta Korre Stenholt
Dialogue: "Leadership under pressure"
Peter Halling
Dialogue: "Leadership under pressure"
Major General Peter Harling Boysen
Debate: “Defence & Business – collaboration in a new security reality”
Merete Eldrup
Debate: “Defence & Business – collaboration in a new security reality”
Michael Holm
Debate: “Defence & Business – collaboration in a new security reality”
André Rogaczewski
Keynote: “AI in the frontline – who dares to change their business in time?”
Mikkel Severin
Peter Kaas Hammer
Board Chair, VL - Danish Management Society
VL45
Vibeke Daell Bjerrum
Moderator
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Where and when does the VL Summit 2026 take place?
The VL Summit takes place on Wednesday, May 20th, 2026, in Øksnehallen, Halmtorvet 11, 1700 Copenhagen. The day programme spans from approx. 10:00 to 18:00 and the dinner will be held from approx. 18:00 to 22:00.
How do I sign up for the VL Summit 2026?
Registration is done via VL Forum - MEETINGS/EVENTS - on a first come first served-basis no later than May 6th, 2026. We recommend you to sign up as soon as possible, since seating is limited.
Please note that you are only officially registered for the VL Summit 2026 when you have registered for The VL Society's event. (If your own VL-group has created a meeting with the same title, registration for that meeting is not a valid registration for the actual VL Summit.)
Participation in the VL Summit day programme is included in your yearly membership fee to the Danish Management Society.
How do I sign up for the dinner?
Registration for the dinner is done separately by clicking this link and completing registration and payment (in Danish) - after registering for the VL Summit day programme.
Registration is done on a first come first served-basis and no later than May 6th, 2026. We recommend you to sign up as soon as possible, since seating is limited.
Participation in the evening dinner is not included in your yearly membership fee and will be invoiced at registration. The price for participating in the dinner is DKK 700 incl. VAT.
Please note that it is not possible to attend the dinner without also attending the VL Summit day programme.
Can I cancel my registration?
Cancellation for the VL Summit and/or the dinner is done no later than May 6th, 2026 via e-mail to accounting@vl.dk.
If cancellation is made later than May 6th, 2026 or if you don't show up to the event, VL will charge you a no show fee of DKK 800 excl. VAT. The fee covers VL's expenses in connection with meal service, staffing, production ect. for the entire event - after this date, VL is no longer able to receive a refund for the expenses.
If cancellation of the dinner registration is done later than May 6th, 2026 or if you don't show up to the dinner, your payment for the dinner cannot be refunded - after this date VL is no longer able to receive a refund for the expenses connected to the dinner.
Read the registration terms and conditions (in Danish)
Where can I sleep?
CPH Hotel
Contact the hotel directly for prices and booking.
Where do I park?
It is possible to park at DGI Byen in the parking garage, which is centrally located near the Central Station with access from Ingerslevsgade/Staldgade, 1704 Copenhagen V. There are 192 spaces in the parking garage. APCOA PARKING manages the parking areas at DGI Byen. Parking is allowed with a valid parking permit. Payment can be made via mobile apps from EasyPark or APCOA FLOW. Read more here.
You will cover your own expenses for any transportation and accommodation.
Consent
By registering, you accept the rules for charging a fee for late cancellations/no-shows. Read all the registration conditions here.
By registering, you also grant permission for VL to use images and films in which the participants appear, for marketing purposes, including electronic and digital marketing, e.g. for the website, intranet and social media.
If you have any questions, you are very welcome to write to info@vl.dk or call +45 35 43 92 92.
PROGRAMME
The VL Summit 2026 spans over a day and evening. The day is filled with major keynotes, panel debates, and engaging sessions, concluding with the evening’s festive dinner.
09:15 AM
45 min
Arrival, registration and breakfast
10:00 AM
20 min
Welcome by Peter Kaas Hammer, Board Chair of VL (VL45) & Ida Bratting Kongsted, CEO of VL (VL16)
10:20 AM
30 min
Fireside chat: "Leadership in a time of crisis" with Anja Dalgaard Nielsen, CBS
10:50 AM
10 min
Keynote by Roelof Salomons, BlackRock
11:00 AM
35 min
Debate: "A Global Perspective" with Elena Scaltritti, Topsoe / Jesper Møller Sørensen, Denmark's ambassador to the US / Roelof Salomons, BlackRock - in English
11:35 AM
25 min
Break & networking
12:00 PM
40 min
Dialogue: "Leadership under pressure" with Britta Korre Stenholt, STARK (VL1) & Peter Halling, ALK (VL46)
12:40 PM
60 min
Lunch - standing
01:40 PM
35 min
"The notes of an election" with Peter Mogensen's political rockband
02:15 PM
35 min
Debate: “Defence & Business – collaboration in a new security reality” with Major General Peter Boysen, Army Chief (VL32) / Merethe Eldrup, The Defence Expert Committee/ Michael Holm, Systematic
02:50 PM
20 min
Break & networking
03:10 PM
50 min
Keynote: “AI in the frontline – who dares to change their business in time?” with André Rogaczewski, Netcompany
04:00 PM
20 min
Break & networking
04:20 PM
70 min
Breakouts - more info to follow
05:30 PM
45 min
Champagne, music & networking
06:15 PM
225 min
Dinner & fireside chat with general David Petraeus: "Strategic Leadership and the Future of Warfare"
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS & SPONSORS
Download VL Forum App (iOS)
Download VL Forum App (Android)