Annual Theme 2025/2026:

 

Frontline Leadership

– how defence, cyber, and AI shape the future of competitive strength 

The VL Summit on May 20th, 2026 in Øksnehallen

Theme and focus:

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. With the annual theme 2025/2026, the Danish Management Society focuses on this new leadership landscape and invites VL’s members to reflect, debate and act.

 

Goal:

The goal is to engage VL’s members in taking active responsibility for strengthening both the resilience of companies and society’s preparedness – with strategic vision and ethical awareness.

 

A number of key questions and themes arise:

– Collaboration with the Danish Defence – strategic opportunity, operational necessity or ethical minefield?

– Leadership responsibility in the AI ​​age – how do you maintain transparency, accountability and human judgment?

– Cybersecurity as a leadership task – how do you handle threats in a grey area between state, crime and AI-based attacks?

– Emergency preparedness and security of supply – how does it become an integrated part of the business strategy?

– Collaboration in Europe – how can Danish companies become an active player in the EU’s strategic investments in technology, security and green transition?

The theme focuses on how cybersecurity, responsible AI, and understanding of defense economics are not only necessities, but can be translated into competitive advantages. We challenge how Danish companies with strategic and technological foresight can stand stronger in the global market of the future.

We do this through a number of VL activities throughout the year, including regional meetings, podcasts, articles, and the VL Summit.

 

VL Annual Theme-kickoff & General Assembly
October 7th, 2025

 

Advisory Board 2025/2026

VL has invited an Advisory Board consisting of top executives, experts and researchers to be idea generators and co-creators in the unfolding of VL’s Annual Theme and the VL Summit.

In VL, we always have a primary focus on leadership and on business, and since we want different angles and perspectives on the Annual Theme, the Advisory Board is specially selected in relation to the industry or field of expertise in which they operate.

We are inspired by the Advisory Board and use their experiences as inspiration to find headlines, presenters and podcasts leading up to the VL Summit on May 20th, 2026.

We are grateful to receive invaluable advice and sparring from the following members of this year’s Advisory Board:​

Anders Mærkedahl Pedersen

Anders Mærkedahl Pedersen

Director, Danish Building and Property Agency, VL45

Biography

Anders Mærkedahl Pedersen (born 1968) trained as an army officer and has served as Director of the Danish Building and Property Agency since March 2025.

He previously held the position of Director at the Ministry of Defence’s Property Management Agency from 2020 to 2025. Anders Mærkedahl Pedersen brings many years of leadership experience from various roles within the Ministry of Defence’s supporting agencies, including serving as Deputy Director of the Ministry of Defence’s Materiel and Procurement Agency from 2017 to 2020.

Anja Monrad

Anja Monrad

Vice Chair of the Board in VL | Keynote Speaker | Angel Investor | Ex-Dell executive

Biography

With more than 30 years of experience as an international top executive in the IT industry, Anja Monrad has not only been the highest placed woman on the Danish Tech scene, but also internationally in Europe. She has just finished a 23-year operational career within sales and marketing at the IT giant Dell Technologies, where she was most recently responsible for Western and Central & Eastern Europe respectively.

Today, Anja Monrad is a professional board member and representative for the IT industry in Denmark, Vice Chair of the Board for VL – Danish Management Society and also a member of several boards. She has also previously been appointed by the European Commission as chair of the board of the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition in the EU and has been an active member of the board of the European interest organization Digital Europe.

She is recognized as a clear promoter of DEI, has been nominated for Danish Leader of the Year in 2020, and has won awards for her role as a female role model at home and abroad, and is a sought-after keynote speaker within Digitalisation, Diversity and, not least, the topic of Women in Management.

Anja Monrad holds an MSc in Economics from CBS in 1989, was born in Poland, but has lived in Copenhagen most of her life.

Annemarie Vitoft

Annemarie Vitoft

CEO of Black Swan Institute, VL14

Biography

Annemarie Vitoft founded the Black Swan Institute, from where she works to strengthen cybersecurity and organizational resilience.
She designs management systems that create structure, insight and continuous improvement in organizations with critical infrastructure and complex organizational heritage.
Annemarie has been active in Danish IT for a number of years as head of the Business Committee and the Committee for Digital Enterprises.
Her experience has been created through active participation in several waves of digitalization and insight into the impact on people, organizations and society.
Annemarie was a driving force behind the establishment of the State IT Council and the implementation of the cross-governmental governance framework for IT investments from the almost 20 ministries and 100 agencies. Annemarie has completed the board education at CBS and holds a master’s degree in European Studies and Public Administration.

Ida Bratting Kongsted

Ida Bratting Kongsted

CEO, VL - Danish Management Society, VL16

Biography

Ida Bratting Kongsted is CEO of the Danish Management Society and represents the Society at a number of events transcending all VL groups, including the Annual Danish Top Executive Summit, Årstemaet (Annual Theme), etc.

In cooperation with the Governing Board, Ida sets the forward-looking strategy for the Danish Management Society to ensure the continued success and exclusivity of the Annual Danish Top Executive Summit, which have been its hallmarks ever since it began in 1965.

Ida Bratting Kongsted left a position at AS3 Executive to take up her duties at the Danish Management Society in 2018.

Laila Reenberg

Laila Reenberg

Director, Danish Resilience Agency

Biography

Laila Reenberg is the Director of the Danish Resilience Agency, a new agency under the Ministry of Resilience and Preparedness. Laila Reenberg has over 25 years of management experience in the Ministry of Defence, including as Director of the Danish Emergency Management Agency and Director of the Ministry of Defence’s Personnel Board.

The Danish Resilience Agency prepares threat and risk assessments and provides advice to citizens, authorities and businesses in Denmark. The agency supports cross-sectoral emergency planning and is responsible for crisis management, coordination and cooperation before, during and after crises. The agency works for and together with citizens, authorities and businesses to make Denmark safer and more resilient in the face of current and future threats – from cyberattacks and sabotage to natural disasters and composite threats.

Lars Findsen

Lars Findsen

Co-founder of the think tank Ny Verden, VL4

Biography

Lars Findsen has, in his functions as head of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service, then as one of the longest-serving heads of departments in the Ministry of Defence and finally as head of The Danish Defence Intelligence Service, been at the heart of the apparatus responsible for Denmark’s security for more than 20 years. And in these functions, as a public executive, he has had to lead crucial social institutions through major transformations. Today, Lars Findsen is a frequently used keynote speaker on the topics of geopolitics, the cyber threat and top management in crises, as well as advising private companies, facilitating several business networks in the security area and being co-founder and chairman of the board of the new independent Danish security policy think tank, Ny Verden.

Peter Kaas Hammer

Peter Kaas Hammer

Board Chair of VL, CEO of Kemp & Lauritzen, VL45

Biography

Peter Kaas Hammer was appointed CEO of Kemp & Lauritzen A/S in 2017. Kemp & Lauritzen is Denmark’s leading engineering company with 2,500 employees. The company is a B2B and B2G undertaking whose platform of expertise makes it a significant operator in the construction industry, manufacturing industry and service sectors.

Peter launched his career with the consulting firm Qvartz (now Bain & Company) in 2001. He began working for MT Højgaard (now MTH) in 2006, where he served as a member of the executive management team for several years, tasked with developing the affiliated subsidiaries, among other duties, and served on several of the boards. Peter became managing director of Ajos A/S (MTH-owned company) in 2011 and managing director of Lindpro A/S (MTH-owned engineering company) in 2013.

Peter’s career in a low-margin sector is based on his sound analytical and practical approach, which focuses on strategic, tactical and operational aspects.

Peter received his master’s degree in economics from Aarhus University in 2001 and attended the Cranfield School of Management as part of his studies.

Peter Harling Boysen

Peter Harling Boysen

Major General, Commander, Army Command, VL32

Biography

Major General Peter H. Boysen (born 3 April 1963) is the Commander of the Army Command. He has dedicated his career to the Armed Forces, where he has held a number of key leadership and staff positions at both national and international level.
Major General Boysen was appointed Commander of the Army Command in 2024. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast (2023–2024) and as Commander of the Special Operations Command (2018–2023). He has previously held senior positions in the Joint Defence Command, including as Vice Chief of Joint Operations (2016–2018) and Chief of the Plans and Policy Department (2014–2016). He has also served as Chief of the Joint Operations Centre at UNTSO, CO of the Infantry Batallion, and in a number of other command positions and staff positions both at home and abroad.
Major General Boysen has completed extensive military training, including the Advanced Command and Staff College in the UK, where he also obtained a Master of Defence Studies degree.
His international deployments include service in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the Balkans (UNPROFOR and SFOR), Afghanistan (ISAF) and the Middle East (UNTSO).
He has been awarded a number of Danish and foreign awards, including Commander 1st Class of the Order of Dannebrog, the Danish Armed Forces’ Medal for International Service, the UN Peacekeeping Medal, the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and several NATO medals.
Major General Boysen’s many years of service testify to a strong dedication to leadership, international cooperation and the operational development of the Danish Armed Forces.

Sonu Banga

Sonu Banga

Founder & Explorer of The Passion Explorers, VL16

Biography

Sonu Banga, 42 years old, civil engineer., management consultant, serial entrepreneur, investor and board member with a focus on tech, strategy and scaling of start-ups and scale-ups. Having founded, built and sold a successful technology company, he now uses his experience to support the next generation of leaders in achieving resilience, adaptability and purpose-driven leadership. Sonu is driven by curiosity and the desire to create lasting, positive impact – both through investing in the next generation of leaders and philanthropy.