Thursday 6 November

Lise Walbom is the CEO of Food Nation Denmark, a leading public–private partnership that demonstrates how effective systems leadership can align an entire nation’s agrifood ecosystem around shared goals. Food Nation unites government, industry, and research institutions under a single strategic framework that promotes innovation, transparency, and competitiveness across Denmark’s food value chain. Under Lise’s leadership, Food Nation has become much more than a branding platform - it is an institutional mechanism that translates strategy into coordinated national action. By fostering deep collaboration across ministries, producer groups, and businesses, Food Nation has created a common narrative for Denmark’s agrifood sector: one that links productivity, export success, and sustainability to a coherent story of national capability and trust. This systems-based approach has helped Denmark accelerate innovation, attract investment, and maintain international influence in a rapidly changing global marketplace. In her keynote, Lise will explore what genuine systems leadership looks like in practice - how to move beyond fragmented efforts and build enduring coordination between government, research, and industry. She will share: How Denmark has institutionalised collaboration through stable governance structures and shared accountability. How consistent messaging of the Danish agrifood story strengthens both domestic confidence and international reputation. The role of national platforms, alliances, and cross-sector partnerships in turning policy ambition into measurable outcomes. Lise’s perspective will challenge delegates to consider how systems leadership can transform fragmented efforts into a unified national strategy, positioning agrifood systems as both climate-smart and globally influential.