Meet the members of the Council
Birthe Friis Mortensen, Chairperson
Birthe Friis Mortensen has been chair of the Accreditation Council since January 2022. Birthe Friis Mortensen was rector of University College South Denmark from 2012 to 2021. Here, she handled a newly merged institution that through her entire rector term generated an increasing intake of students and in 2017 obtained a positive institutional accreditation. From 2002 to 2008, Birthe was rector of Center for Higher Education in Jutland – JCVU, which also went through a large merger process and thereafter became part of the basis for VIA University College. From 2008 to 2011, Birthe was director of Aarhus Business College. From 2021-2025, she was executive director in the Fund ‘Science Parks of Southern Denmark’. Today, Birthe is a board member of the company Excellent Systems, chairman of the local branch of Red Cross, and a member of advisory boards for two startup companies. Birthe has a Master of Arts in Danish and Information Studies from Aarhus University.
Current period of appointment: January 1st 2026 to December 31st 2029
Henrik Caspar Wegener
Henrik Caspar Wegener has been a member of the Accreditation Council since January 2026. Henrik Caspar Wegener is a professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where, at the DTU National Food Institute, he leads the development of a global infrastructure for researchers and authorities with the aim of preventing global pandemics. Henrik was Rector of the University of Copenhagen (KU) from 2017 to 2025 and, prior to that, Executive Vice President at DTU from 2011 to 2017. Henrik is and has been a member of a large number of national and international councils, committees and boards for both private companies and public organisations, such as The Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA), The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the Danish Nature Fond, International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), the Excellence Initiative – Research University Initiative Poland (IDUB), and Heidelberg University. Henrik holds Masters Degrees in Food Science and in Public Administration, and a PhD in microbiology and was employed as a professor at KU from 2001 to 2017.
Current period of appointment: January 1st 2026 to December 31st 2029
Jakob Brøndsted
Jakob Brøndsted has been a member of the Accreditation Council since January 2022. Jakob Brøndsted is Architect MAA and is today partner in Rolvung and Brøndsted Architects. Jakob has previously been vice chair for the external examiners for the institutions in architecture and art under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science for a number of years. He is part of the corps of external professional jurors for the Danish Association of Architects and he is an external examiner at Aarhus School of Architecture and at The Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation.
Current period of appointment: January 1st 2026 to December 31st 2029
Julie Egström Winding
Julie Egström Winding has been a member of the Accreditation Council since January 2026. Julie Egström Winding is a student at Copenhagen Business School where she is studying Economics and Business Administration. In addition to her studies, Julie has been involved in student politics, serving on the Study Board and the Appeals Board for the General Business Economics programme. Julie also serves on the Executive Committee and the Board of CBS Students, and on the Board of the National Union of Students in Denmark.
Current period of appointment: January 1st 2026 to December 31st 2027
Katja Munch Thorsen
Katja Munch Thorsen has been a member of the Accreditation Council since January 2026. Katja Munch Thorsen is Director of Education at U/Nord. Katja served as Head of Administration at the Royal Danish Theatre’s Ballet School from 2025 to 2026; from 2018 to 2024, Katja was Director of Education at KEA – Copenhagen School of Design and Technology. From 2016 to 2018, Katja was employed as Deputy Director of the Bachelor of Education programme, the regional centre for educational services and continuing and further education and training at the then UCC, which merged to form University College Copenhagen, where Katja became Deputy Director of Management, Organisation and Administration. Katja was employed at the Danish Evaluation Institute from 2001 to 2016, where she served as area manager from 2006 and as Deputy Director for the last two years. Katja is and has been a member of a number of boards and committees, such as the Villum Foundation’s expert committee for children, young people and science, Ungdomsbyen, Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, the Capital Region’s Future Skills Council and Christianshavns Gymnasium. Katja holds a Master of Social Sciences (cand.scient.soc.) from Aalborg University.
Current period of appointment: January 1st 2026 to December 31st 2029
Oddrun Samdal
Oddrun Samdal has been a member of the Accreditation Council since January 2022. Oddrun Samdal, Professor of health promotion/health psychology, was vice rector for Education from 2013 to 2021 at the University of Bergen. Moreover, from 2017 to 2021 she led the National strategic unit for Education under Universities Norway. Since 2019, she has led the Portfolio Board for Education and Competence under the Research Council of Norway. Since 2017, Oddrun has participated in and been chair of institutional accreditations and evaluations of quality systems in Norway and Sweden. She has also participated in the institutional accreditations of University of Copenhagen and University of Southern Denmark. Oddrun has an education in teaching in primary and secondary schools and her research area is children and young people’s health, welfare and learning.
Current period of appointment: January 1st 2026 to December 31st 2029
Søren Bech
Søren Bech has been a member of the Accreditation Council since January 2026. Søren Bech was employed as a Postdoc and research associate professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) from 1985 to 1992, as director of research at Bang & Olufsen A/S from 1992 to 2024, and as Director of research at Systematic in 2025. In 2011, Søren was appointed part-time professor at Aalborg University’s Technical Faculty of IT and Design, specialising in the field of human auditory perception. Søren has been involved in research and education policy as a member of the Think Tank DEA, the Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy (DFIR), the research and education committee of the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), the Danish Sound Innovation Network, the Danish Sound Cluster, and the Audio Engineering Society. Søren is and has been a member of boards of directors and advisory boards for, among others, Force (acoustics), Sound Hub Denmark, GN Resound, the Innovation Fund Denmark, Struer Business Park, and Struer Gymnasium. Søren holds a Master of Science in Engineering and a PhD from DTU.
Current period of appointment: 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2029
Thomas Holst Larsen
Thomas Holst Larsen has been a member of the Accreditation Council since January 2024. Thomas Holst Larsen is a student at Technical University of Denmark where he is studying to become Bachelor of Science (BsC) in Design of Sustainable Energy Systems . He is an AP Graduate an Agro Business and Landscape Management and has been a student in Nature and Agricultural Management at UCL University College. Thomas is active in student politics and involved in several associations that all aim to strengthen the well-being of students through the study environment and communities.
Current period of appointment: January 1st 2026 to December 31st 2026