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Lykke Friis

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Lykke Friis
Lykke Friis in Berlin 2023
Minister for Climate and Energy
In office
2009–2011
MonarchMargrethe II
Prime MinisterLars Løkke Rasmussen
Preceded byConnie Hedegaard
Succeeded byMartin Lidegaard and Ida Auken
Minister for Equal Rights
In office
2010–2011
Personal details
Born (1969-10-27) 27 October 1969 (age 55)
Political partyVenstre

Lykke Friis (born 27 October 1969) is Prorector for Education at the University of Copenhagen and is a former Danish politician for the party Venstre and former Minister for Climate and Energy and equal rights.[1][2] Prior to her political career she has once before been Prorector at the University of Copenhagen and held the position from 2006 - 2009. Prior to her appointment as government minister, she was not a member of Venstre.[1]

Early life and education

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Friis is the daughter of a Danish father and a German mother. She graduated from Øregaard Gymnasium and has studied political science at the University of Copenhagen. Lykke Friis obtained her M.Sc. in Economics and Political Science from London School of Economics in 1992, followed by a M.Sc. in political science from University of Copenhagen in 1993. She got a PhD in international politics from the University of Copenhagen in 1997.[3] Eisenhower Fellowships selected Lykke Friis in 2002 to represent Denmark.

Career

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Friis has worked as an academic in the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs, and as a researcher in Dansk Udenrigspolitisk Institut. From 2003 until 2006, she was head of European Politics in the Confederation of Danish Industries. She has taught at both the University of Copenhagen Faculty of Social Sciences and at Copenhagen Business School in international relations.

During her time as minister, Friis presided over the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.[2] In 2011, she oversaw the Danish government's plan to wean itself off coal, oil and natural gas by 2050 by boosting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.[4]

Friis has contributed to newspapers, radio, TV, and seminars on EU-related issues, and has written a number of articles and books and such subjects. Her ability to make the EU material accessible secured her the Danmarks Radio Rosenkjærprisen in 2008.[5]

Other activities

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Corporate boards

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  • Vestas, Member of the Board of Directors (2014-2018)[6]

Non-profit organizations

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Personal life

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Friis is known as a connoisseur of German football and is a fan of FC Bayern Munich.[12]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "Lykke Friis meldte sig ind i Venstre i nat", borsen.dk, 24 November 2009
  2. ^ a b John Acher (November 24, 2009), Denmark proposes Hedegaard for new EU climate job Reuters.
  3. ^ "Portræt af Lykke Friis", borsen.dk, 24 November 2009
  4. ^ John Acher (February 24, 2011), Denmark, Britain urge deeper CO2 EU emissions cut Reuters.
  5. ^ "Lykke Friis får DRs Rosenkjærpris for 2008" Archived 2009-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, www.dr.dk, 26 November 2009
  6. ^ Change in the Board of Directors of Vestas Wind Systems A/S Vestas, press release of July 6, 2018.
  7. ^ Board of Directors Danish Foreign Policy Society.
  8. ^ Board of Directors Rockwool Fonden.
  9. ^ ECFR’s new governance and new focus European Council on Foreign Affairs (ECFA), press release of May 2019.
  10. ^ Membership Trilateral Commission.
  11. ^ Crisis Group Announces New Board Members International Crisis Group (ICG), press release of July 2, 2012.
  12. ^ "Lykke Friis om Bayern, pigefodbold og AGF", stiften.dk, 13 June 2011
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Climate and Energy Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Equal Rights Succeeded by