Kia Orback Pettersson looks back on an exciting board term

Kia Orback Pettersson has been a board member of the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation since 2019. An exciting and enriching board term is now coming to an end, and a new board will take office in the autumn of 2024. The assignment has opened the door to a valuable arena for constructive dialogue, providing many opportunities to meet knowledgeable individuals in academia, business, and the public sector.

– Today, it may be more important than ever that we listen to each other, allow for different opinions, and dare to challenge our perspectives. It provides new insights that we can use to develop both ourselves as individuals, our business, and society, says Kia.

The mandate period in the Karl-Adam Bonnier Foundation is five years, and each board has an opportunity to shape a new direction and priorities for the foundation. During these years, the mission has been reworked, and a new strategic collaboration with the Stockholm School of Economics has been initiated.

– The development and launch of House of GaPP and the Karl-Adam Bonnier Center for Governance have truly been highlights. It is a crucial initiative to bridge the gap between the private and public sectors and contribute to ensuring that decision-makers have access to the right knowledge and research when making decisions that impact societal development, says Kia.

To promote knowledge dissemination and collaboration is at the core of the foundation’s work, with an aim to contribute to the development of a dynamic and sustainable business environment in Sweden. Throughout the term of office, a series of activities have been carried out to contribute to this development.

– There are several notable highlights. One is undoubtedly the foundation’s participation in Expo 2020, where we hosted the Smart Society Summit in collaboration with the Swedish Institute and Business Sweden, continues Kia.

Another area that has been exciting to follow is the foundation’s work on corporate governance. There has been a strong commitment to these issues since the beginning, and the foundation’s Corporate Governance Forum (CGF) has made a significant impact over the years.

– Corporate governance in Sweden would not be what it is today if it weren’t for the work done within CGF. During this term, one noteworthy accomplishment includes a research collaboration with the OECD studying the Swedish corporate bond market, says Kia.

She describes the board work in the foundation as long-term and exciting, differing somewhat from the corresponding work for a company. A central part of the board’s work involves the management of the foundation’s capital and property.

– Our main task is to manage assets, since the return determines how much activity we can conduct during the year. We don’t discuss sales, customer groups, and pricing in the traditional sense; instead, the mission is more about securing a good return on the foundation’s assets. This way, conditions are created to make a difference and, in the long run, promote the development of business in Sweden, Kia explains.

In 2024, the recruitment of a new board begins. It will consist of both the founder’s heirs and external representatives.

– The new board members have an enriching and highly rewarding assignment ahead of them. The foundation has an important role to play in creating an independent arena for constructive dialogue. Only together, we can solve the significant societal challenges that lie ahead, Kia concludes.