Meet the Board

“At AFSMK, we believe art is a universal language - one that transcends borders, connects cultures, and enriches lives. This belief fuels our mission to support SMK in inspiring, educating, and uniting people worldwide through its exceptional collection and expertise. In an ever-changing world, we are dedicated to cultural diplomacy, and art philanthropy plays a crucial role. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of AFSMK’s patrons, this mission continues to thrive across the Atlantic.”

  • Ms. Rørvig is an international business specialist with a varied professional history, having worked as both a stockbroker and a global HR executive. Presently, she is the principal in Beck Global Consulting, an executive coaching consultancy dedicated to unleashing the potential of global leaders. Additionally, she has ventured into entrepreneurship and angel investing. Ms. Rørvig has held numerous board positions across both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Her academic background includes an M.Sc. in economics.

  • Colleen Ritzau Leth is a specialist in museums and international affairs. She has worked at the intersection of the culture sector, business, and government to forward strategic development initiatives for organizations including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cairo Museum, Sotheby's, the Royal Academy of Arts, and several ministries of culture. Ms. Leth was appointed by the Ministry of Culture of France to the Executive Board of Directors of the Château de Versailles. She serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Tauck Family Foundation. Ms. Leth is a former ICOMOS Fellow in Cyprus and Resident of the Delfina Foundation in London. She holds degrees from Columbia University and NYU's Institute of Fine Arts in Art History and Archaeology, and an MBA from the University of Oxford, where she was Chair of the Oxford Art & Business Council. Ms. Leth is a co-owner of Tauck, a fourth-generation global travel company, and is committed to advancing international dialogue through travel, the arts, and cultural diplomacy. She is based between New York and London.

  • Based in Los Angeles, Christian D. Bruun is an award-winning Danish-born producer, director, and creative entrepreneur in the arts industries, spanning documentaries, films, television, and podcasts. He is the Honorary Consul of Los Angeles, appointed by Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture. His work has been recognized at the Sundance, Tribeca, Berlin, Telluride, and Toronto Film Festivals and the Robert and Bodil Awards. He curated the United States Pavilion at the Venice Biennale on Architecture in 2004 and 2006.

  • Marc Henry has been an Attorney at Law since 1988 and is a litigation and arbitration partner at the French firm FTMS. Before that, he served for 17 years as a partners in English and then US firms. He became President of the French Arbitration Association in 2017. He gives lectures on arbitration and on the Art of Advocacy, notably at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. He is also a philanthropist with an interest in Scandinavian matters.

  • Anna Thomsen Holliday is a partner in Huntsham Investment Partners, a private investment company based in Houston, Texas, and Founding Chairman and President of the Danish American Chamber of Commerce Southwest. She serves as the Cultural Officer at the Consulate General of Denmark in Houston and was previously the Danish Honorary Consul. She also serves on the board of numerous non-profits. Ms. Holliday received her degrees from Aalborg University in Denmark and Houston University in Texas.

  • Dr. Khurram Jamil is President of Global Markets and Co-founder of Area9 Lyceum, a pioneer of four-dimensional adaptive learning. Dr. Jamil’s entrepreneurial experience spans over 20 years. He has successfully led dozens of teams comprised of medical professionals and educational scientists, spearheaded large development and partnership efforts, and managed multi-million dollar educational software development projects.

  • Ilya Katsnelson is an American-Danish businessman and investor, based in Denmark. He is the Chairman of the Board of International Flight Support and owner of R&M Holding ApS as well as an expert in management, process optimization and logistics. He is a member of a number of corporate and non-profit boards and advisory bodies in Denmark and the USA.

  • Alexander “Alex” D. Leventhal is co-founder and managing partner of Faros Properties, a real estate investment company. Faros Properties was established by Alex, his brother, Jeremy Leventhal, and Elliot Gould.  Prior to Faros, Alex was a managing partner of the investment division of Boston Realty Advisors. He also previously worked for Jones Lang LaSalle and RM Bradley Real Estate. He holds a BS degree in management from Bentley University.  In 2013, he was presented with the Forty under Forty Rising Star award from the Business Council of Westchester. Alex is President of the Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit, a Director of the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center at the Boston Public Library, a Director at Friends of Post Office Square Park, Trustee of the New England Aquarium, Advisory Board Member of The Trustees, a Park Advisor for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Advisory Board Member at the Bina Farm Center.

  • Martin Manniche is Founder and Chairman of Greenwave of Systems, established in 2009. Currently he serves as CEO and Co-Founder of Axon Networks. Prior to founding Greenwave, Mr. Manniche served as CTO of Cisco Systems Consumer Business Group. Mr. Manniche also co-founded KiSS Technology, a Danish technology company that brought to market the world’s first DivX players / internet connected consumer product that could stream video. Mr. Manniche has earned more than 140 industry accolades including IT-prisen Denmark’s most prestigious technology award and E.Y Entrepreneur of the year for Southern California. Mr. Manniche is also an active philanthropist helping entrepreneurs and is involved with the government transitioning Denmark to clean tech with investment and innovation in next generation wind power and other renewable energy sources. Mr. Manniche is also Goodwill Ambassador of Copenhagen.

  • Ambassador Helle Meinertz, Consul General of Denmark in New York, has built a career of over two decades of diplomatic service, during which she has gained knowledge and insight into international politics and trade affairs. Most recently she served as the Human Resource Director to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    Prior to this Ambassador Meinertz was the Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Beijing, and before that Consul General of Denmark in Munich. During her posting in Munich, the Ambassador was the Executive Director of Innovation Centre Denmark, a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, aimed at connecting Danish innovation to global markets. 

    From 2002 to 2007, Ambassador Meinertz served as Director for Invest in Denmark in New York, Denmark’s national investment promotion agency. She holds a Master’s Degree of Political Science from the University of Aarhus.

  • Mr. Moga is the principal of Moga Investments, LLC., providing start-up (angel) capital to companies in the biotech, technology and clean energy sector. He is the founder and sole owner of the Seattle Sperm Bank, LLC., and the founder and Executive Producer of Bray's Run (Film) Productions, LLC. Mr. Moga is a board member of the League of Conservation Voters; a board member of the Alaska Wilderness League; a board member of the Center for Environmental Forensic Science at the University of Washington; a board member of Planet Forward, of the George Washington University; a member of the Hubbard Council of the National Geographic Society; a board member of Cairnspring Mills; and a member of the Explorer's Club.

  • Mr. John E. Oden is a Principal and a 30+ year veteran of AllianceBernstein, a global investment management and research firm. He specializes in working with complex global family relationships in the implementation of investment planning and asset allocation advice. Prior to this, Mr. Oden spent 10 years in real estate investment banking, as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield, responsible globally for the firm’s business with financial institutions.

    Mr. Oden is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the China-US Business Alliance, and Vice-Chairman of the Institute for Family Governance, a forum for trusted advisors and the families they serve. He has served on numerous non-profit and charitable boards and investment committees, including Southwestern University, the St. George’s Society of New York, the Merchant’s House Museum of New York, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. A strong supporter of athletics, Mr. Oden writes and speaks about the sport of boxing. He holds BA and MBA degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.

  • Jolyon Stern is Chairman of DeWitt Stern, an insurance brokerage and risk management firm, specializing in business, personal, fine art, entertainment & media, employee benefit and executive liability insurance, and Vice-Chairman of Risk Strategies. He is the grandson of DeWitt H. Stern, the founder of DeWitt Stern and the third generation to lead the century-old firm, which is now a part of Risk Strategies. He has served on numerous non-profit boards including Carnegie Hall, Roundabout Theater Company, New Dramatists, Danish American Society, Hans Christian Andersen Society and is presently Vice Chairman of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

  • “As the Consul General of Denmark in New York, I value AFSMK’s efforts in building bridges between Denmark and the U.S. through the arts. By preserving and sharing SMK’s rich collection and international partnerships, we contribute to enhancing Denmark’s diplomatic dialogue, our international visibility, and the great interest in Denmark’s cultural legacy. Art can serve as a powerful tool for fostering understanding and collaboration, and AFSMK’s initiatives are key to making these connections thrive.”

    Helle Meinertz, Consul General of Denmark & Board Member

  • “Being a Board Member of AFSMK is both a privilege and a meaningful commitment. It offers the chance to deepen cultural ties between Denmark and the United States while advancing the mission of making art accessible to wider audiences. This role provides a unique platform to nurture connections and advocate for the profound impact of art on a global scale.”

    Anna Thomsen Holliday, Board Member

  • “I believe in the power of art to create connections across cultures and geographies. As a patron of AFSMK, I’m proud to support SMK, an institution that not only preserves art but actively makes cultural exchanges accessible worldwide. AFSMK’s initiatives, from travel exhibitions to private events, allow me to be part of a community that fosters these essential conversations - whether in Copenhagen, New York, or beyond.”

    Mohammad Miraly, Board Member

  • "Through AFSMK, we not only extend the reach of SMK’s world-class collection and groundbreaking programs, but we also foster a dynamic exchange between Danish and American art communities. This partnership is more than just about accessibility—it’s about creating meaningful connections, sparking new dialogues, and reinforcing SMK’s role as a global leader in the arts. It’s inspiring to be part of an initiative that brings people together through the power of art, bridging cultures and perspectives in ways that enrich us all."

    Alexander Leventhal, Board Member

  • “Art is an effective medium of communication and a tool for bringing people together. For me the strengthening of ties between Denmark and the U.S. is an incredibly attractive goal. By supporting AFSMK I feel I am contributing to bringing our two countries closer in our mutual appreciation of art and culture.”

    Ilya Katsnelson, Board Member

  • ‘The Danish Originals podcast gives a voice to Danes who have made a significant impact in the U.S., connecting their creativity and innovation to Denmark’s rich cultural heritage and SMK’s extraordinary collection. The podcast extends SMK’s mission beyond its walls, bridging the past and present by showcasing how Danish creativity continues to inspire and shape global conversations.”

    Christian D. Bruun, Treasurer & Secretary

  • “I’m glad I can play a small part in the Danish National Gallery's efforts to make art accessible to all and, with the donation of the artwork ‘Foreigners Don’t Leave Us Alone with the Danes!’ by the artist collective Superflex, have made it possible for every visitor to take a free poster home. The artwork challenges conventional thinking, addressing critical social and environmental issues with creativity and impact. AFSMK plays an essential role in bridging continents, fostering meaningful connections, and supporting the arts as a universal language.”

    Khurram Jamil, Board Member

  • “Michelangelo is one of the most influential artists in history, and I’m proud to have contributed to securing the critical funding for the restoration of 25 plaster casts from his iconic sculptures in SMK’s Royal Cast Collection. This extensive restoration, which took over 500 hours by the expert conservation team, ensures that these masterpieces will continue to inspire and educate for generations to come.”

    Greg M. Moga III, Board Member

  • “Being a part of the Danish National Gallery community bridges my Danish heritage with my adopted home in New York. Art is a universal language that transcends borders and time, creating essential dialogue between cultures. I’m proud to connect Danish art with American audiences.”

    Anne-Cecilie Engell Speyer, Board Member

  • “Through art, we express and share our cultures and we meet new people with mutual interests and form new friendships. Being a Friend of the Danish National Gallery is supporting and strengthening the ties between America and Denmark, it is supporting art and preserving history and last but not least giving oneself wonderful experiences.”

    Lena Beck Rørvig, President & Board Chair

Meet the Advisory Board

  • Loa Brix is the founder and CEO of Trooper. Loa has extensive experience with purpose-driven strategy, communication and marketing from both the public and private sectors. Trooper is a network which works to help brands implement their purpose throughout all digital marketing and communications efforts. Loa is also owning and developing Art Nordic Art fair – taking place in Copenhagen every year.

  • Davy Denke is a digital strategist, musician and photographer known for balancing creativity with a data-driven approach. At Google YouTube for more than a decade, he was responsible for growing the digital presence of established and emerging artists including Robbie Williams, The Beatles, Arlo Parks and Rina Sawayama. Through strategic video content, campaigns and partnerships, he leads global initiatives to grow communities online, including creative formats with international music labels, along cultural institutions such as Le Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. He has also consulted with industry leaders, entrepreneurs and start-ups in business development and Web 3.0.

  • Thomas Geuken is an expert in future studies and an Associate Director of the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, a Danish not-for-profit futures think tank. Prior to his career at the Institute, Mr Geuken was CEO of a Copenhagen based management consulting company for fifteen years doing C-suite leadership training. As a leadership advisor and C-suite educator, he has had the pleasure to work for companies such as Google, Volvo, IKEA Globale, Leo Burnett, Novo Nordisk, PWC, Deloitte, and Nordea, among others. Over the past fifteen years, he has authored 30+ provocative articles about the future of leadership, psychology and fascinating topics in the trajectories between arts, culture and business. Mr Geuken's first book in cooperation with the Institute is titled "All Dressed Up - But Nowhere to Go".

  • Martin Buck Heegaard is a strategic partnership specialist. He is Founder and partner at BARC – Business of Art and Culture – Scandinavia, where he specializes in partnerships and strategic communications. BARC advises on the use of digital tools, business development, partnerships and community building in the culture and experience sector.

  • Karin Sander Jochumsen is founder and owner of Chandél – Home of Beautiful Darkness. She has lived in Stockholm, New York and London – and recently returned to Copenhagen. Ms Jochumsen is educated cand. odont. from Copenhagen University and interior designer from Copenhagen School of Interior Design. Ms Jochumsen is also a philanthropist – with an interest in Scandinavian art & culture.

  • Susan Anne Mathisen is the President of S. A. M. Fundraising Solutions Corp., which specializes in fundraising and planning for art conservation, historic preservation, and collections care and assists European organizations seeking to build their fundraising programs in the United States. Ms. Mathisen gained her knowledge of art conservation and museum practice through positions held at the Morgan Library, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (now H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture) and as administrative conservator/development officer and adjunct professor of conservation at the Conservation Center, IFA, New York University. She has held development positions at the National Academy Museum, the American Academy in Rome, the Friends of the American Museum in Britain/Halcyon Foundation, and Meet The Composer. She is currently the interim, part-time Executive Director of the Douglaston and Little Neck Historical Society. She has a Master of Arts in Museum Studies and Textile Conservation from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Certificate in Fundraising from New York University. She has published and presented extensively, most recently at the Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Conference (London, 2018).

  • Through her concepts of ‘Conversation Salons’ and ‘Civic Desire’ Nadja Pass has reinvented the traditional salons of The Danish Golden Age. Pass has worked extensively with SMK and AFSMK in creating new formats for art talks and salons within the exhibitions. She has helped the Parliament reinvent the way we talk about politics, worked with The Ministry of Culture, and hosted several events to help ministries and corporations to rethink their purpose through conversations. Pass is also a member of The Danish Design Council, and Rector of Fremtidens Akademi in Denmark and just launched Concopia.co which builds upon conversation event experiences.

  • Nicolai Rottbøll is the founder and CEO of Quercus Group specializing in clustering, multi-stakeholder engagement and internationalization. Prior to establishing Quercus Group Nicolai was the initiator, leader and driving force behind Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster (CCC), now CLEAN, the largest and fastest growing cluster initiative in Danish history. Nicolai also initiated the International Cleantech Network (ICN) – a partnership platform for leading international cleantech clusters across Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.

    He continues to work with international organizations on sustainability and green transition, and is also authoring a book on the power of collaboration. His project, "Our World 2050," encourages one million children to share their visions for the future. 

  • Louise Rytter is an independent advisor to artists and cultural institutions, and a curator and author across the international culture and technology industries. As an independent consultant, she advises curators, museums, foundations and galleries on collections, exhibitions, partnerships, publications, awards, educational initiatives and digital storytelling. Selected clients include The Design Museum, Eastern African Museum of Art, Frieze Connect, Lagos Fashion Week, Loewe Foundation, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Nordea Foundation, OSL Contemporary, Robert Fairer Archive, Thames & Hudson, Wonderful Copenhagen and more.

    In 2023 she co-founded the strategic communications agency Rytter & Denke, empowering artists, cultural institutions and lifestyle brands to reach their full potential. Clients include the American Friends of Statens Museum for Kunst, Enter Art Fair, Nikolaj Kunsthal, von Bartha, Faurschou 15. Juni Fonden and Human Rights Watch. 

    She is the author of Louis Vuitton: The Complete Collections (Catwalk)and The World According to Lee McQueen, and has contributed to the books Fashion: Central Saint Martins and Alexander McQueen. 

  • Kristine Schmidt is the founder and CEO of World of Impact. She is a management consultant where she assists cultural organizations and commercial businesses become purposeful and profitable through strategy, innovation, partnerships, and corporate branding. Ms. Schmidt builds on 23 years of experience from commercial and non-profit organizations and often works interim for the CEO, leading transformations. Prior to founding the World of Impact, Ms. Schmidt was VP, Strategic Branding & Marketing of the Capital of Children, where she was responsible for creating the purpose, developing the public-private partnership, securing funding, and creating purposeful events and communications.

  • Mr. Schueler is the Chief Executive Officer for Enerjen Capital – one of the world’s leading renewable clean energy companies specializing in the maritime industry. Enerjen Capital provides services to the top shipping companies, supporting their efforts transitioning to cleaner green fuel. Mr. Schueler was recognized with the 2019 Global Sustainability Award, for his efforts helping the shipping industry transition to greener fuel. From 2013 – 2016. Mr. Schueler was the Chief Commercial Officer at A.P. Moeller Maersk Group, managing their 377 offices across 114 countries. Before Maersk, he held the position as Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Corporation in Seattle, where he was the head of global retail sales and marketing. Prior to Microsoft, Mr. Schueler worked for Procter & Gamble for more than 20 years, assuming a variety of roles across Europe, South America, and Asia before becoming the company’s head of global retail operations. Mr. Schueler has developed and led the global operations of three of the world’s largest and well known companies with strong results. He serves as board member and advisor for several international companies and organizations.

  • Sandra Septimius is a Danish native who resides in New York City. She works with art and design in a variety of capacities and most recently spent five years as the US representative for the Danish Auction house, Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers. In this role, she promoted Danish art and design, and serviced the company's large base of US customers. Ms. Septimius holds a BA in Film and Mediascience from Copenhagen University and spent the earlier years of her career working in advertising agencies and with marketing at The Tivoli Gardens. In addition to her professional pursuits, Ms. Septimius is also involved in other boards that work to strengthen the community of Danes and Danish interests in NYC.

  • Thomas Serup is the founder of and creative director at Proactor, where he serves as PR and Marketing Agent as well as Communications Lead for a number of artists and brands. He is also engaged within the film industry as a talent agent for numerous actors. Mr. Serup has spent more than 20 years in the world of communication in New York and Copenhagen, on both the client and the agency side. Described by clients as a “Swiss Army knife of communication” as well as “dynamic, creative, and inspiring”, Mr. Serup has developed and executed creative and communication concepts within a variety of business areas – from the financial and travel industries to the worlds of arts and design. Experience includes D’Arcy Advertising Agency, Georg Jensen, The National Gallery of Denmark, Nykredit, Royal Copenhagen, SAS, Qatar Airways, and Verizon Media.

  • Arthur Zegelbone is a consultant to non-profit cultural organizations in New York City and speaker about cultural diplomacy for New York University. He is a retired Foreign Service Officer and recipient of two U.S. Information Agency Meritorious Service Awards.

Meet the Honorary Board

  • A philanthropist, writer, and speaker, Roberta Green Ahmanson is also a trustee of the private philanthropy Fieldstead & Company, a frequent speaker at the International Arts Movement’s annual encounters, and recipient of the Arts Orange County’s 2010 Achievement Award for Outstanding Arts Philanthropist.  She was a contributor to Oxford University Press’s 2008 award winning book Blind Spot: When Journalists Don’t Get Religion and previously was Chairman of the Board for the Museum of Biblical Art, New York. Ms Ahmanson received an MA in English from the University of Michigan.

  • Mikkel Bogh is the leader of the Center for Practice-based Art Studies at the University of Copenhagen. Prior to his appointment as the Center’s leader, Bogh was the Director of the National Gallery of Denmark for 9 years, 2014-2023. He was previously an associate professor with the Department of Arts and Cultural Studies at the University of Copenhagen, and Rector of the Royal Danish Academy of Art’s Schools of Visual Arts from 2005-2014.

  • Ambassador Jim Cain’s career has spanned the fields of law, business, sports, and international diplomacy. From July of 2005 until January 2009, he served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark. Prior to his diplomatic service, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League, as a partner in the international law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton (formerly Kilpatrick Stockton), and as founder and Chairman of numerous civic and business enterprises.

  • Ambassador Elson was United States Ambassador to Denmark from 1993-1998. He is currently a Vice Chairman of the American-Scandinavian Foundation and Founding Chairman of National Public Radio. He has held many volunteer positions including Chairman Emeritus, Carlos Museum, Emory University; Trustee Emeritus, Phillips Academy Andover; Rector, University of Virginia; Member, Trustee’s Council, National Gallery of Art; and Trustee Emeritus, Royal Academy of Art. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Emory University School of Law.

  • Ambassador Rufus Gifford is a native of Massachusetts. He graduated from St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire in 1992 and he received his B.A. from Brown University in Rhode Island. Ambassador Gifford spent a few years as a producer in Hollywood before moving on to politics. He subsequently started his own consulting business and advised numerous Democratic officials and advocated for progressive causes across the country. He met Barack Obama in early 2007 and began working on his 2008 presidential campaign. After Obama took office, he served as Finance Director for the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C. before moving to Chicago as a senior staff member of President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

  • Nikolaj Hess is an international prize- and award-winning jazz pianist and composer, and one of the leading voices in Nordic Jazz and contemporary music. He has toured with and composed music for a string of projects globally. Hess is Associate Professor and artistic researcher in the field of painting reflected into music at the Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen, and is the Artistic Director of Jazz Denmark’s Summer Session.

  • Bjarke Ingels started BIG Bjarke Ingels Group in 2005 after co-founding PLOT Architects in 2001 and working at OMA in Rotterdam. Through a series of award-winning design projects and buildings, Bjarke has developed a reputation for designing buildings that are as programmatically and technically innovative as they are cost and resource conscious. Bjarke has received numerous awards and honors, including Wall Street Journal’s Innovator of the Year Award, the Danish Crown Prince’s Culture Prize in 2011, the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2004, and the ULI Award for Excellence in 2009. In 2016, TIME Magazine named Bjarke one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Alongside his architectural practice, Bjarke taught at Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, and Rice University and is an honorary professor at the Royal Academy of Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen. He is a frequent public speaker and has spoken in venues such as TED, WIRED, AMCHAM, 10 Downing Street, and the World Economic Forum.

  • René Gross Kærskov is CEO for HBA, the world’s largest hospitality design firm and has extensive experience in international business. He is also co-founder of the Danish watch brand, BERING, owner of the Danish newspaper in America, BIEN, and THE COPENHAGEN HOUSE. In addition, Mr. Kærskov is an importer of H.R.H the Prince Consort of Denmark’s wine. Mr. Kærskov is a board member of the Danish American Chamber of Commerce in Southern California and presidium member of the World Wildlife Foundation in Denmark. He is the first Dane to visit the North and South Poles and has parachuted over the North Pole. Finally, Mr. Kærskov is the founder Astronaut of Virgin Galactic and a collector of Danish paintings by Skagen painters and supporter of Danish museums in America.

  • Ambassador John L Loeb Jr is the former United States Ambassador to Denmark and former Delegate to the United Nations. In addition to his career in public service, Ambassador Loeb has also had a distinguished career in business and finance. An avid art collector, he focused his collecting on Danish art after serving as US Ambassador to Denmark from 1981 to 1983. The Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr. Danish Art Collection is now the largest in the world outside of Danish museums.

  • Lars Mikkelsen is one of Denmark’s most known and prominent actors, and he has been awarded both nationally and internationally for his acting.

    You will know Lars Mikkelsen from his leading roles in several Danish films and TV shows, for example: Flammen og Citronen (Flame and Citron), Edderkoppen (The Spider), Borgen, or Herrens veje (The Ride of the Storm). In United States, Lars Mikkelsen is especially known for his role as the Russian president Viktor Petrov in House of Cards, a popular and award-winning show.

    In 2019-2020, Lars Mikkelsen served as a protector for the L.A. Ring exhibition, which was organized by AFSMK and travelled to Seattle, WA and Greenwich, CT.

  • Claus Meyer is a world-renowned restaurateur and culinary entrepreneur. He is the mind behind the New Nordic Cuisine Movement and the co-founder of Noma, rated the world’s best restaurant four times on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. He has hosted several Danish and international TV cooking shows and written numerous cookbooks. Mr. Meyer co-owns several restaurants, including Studio in Copenhagen, which received a Michelin star just four months after opening, as well as several bakeries, delis, a catering business, an orchard, a vinegar brewery, a coffee roastery and a cooking school for kids and adults. Mr. Meyer relocated to New York City and last year established a food hall rooted in the New Nordic Cooking philosophy, Great Northern Food Hall, and the Michelin star restaurant, Agern, both located at Grand Central Terminal. Believing in food as a driver for social change, Meyer established the Melting Pot Foundation in 2011. The Melting Pot project is currently working on a social project in Brownsville, East New York, establishing a culinary school, cafeteria, bakery and community center, serving the local community and with the goal of engaging at-risk youth.

  • Prof. em. Dr. Jørgen Wadum is Director of Wadum Art Technological Studies (WATS), Denmark. Until 2020 he was Director of the Centre for Art Technological Studies and Conservation (CATS), Copenhagen. He held the position as full Professor in Conservation & Restoration at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Amsterdam, 2012-2016. From 2005-2017 he was Director of Conservation at SMK, and from 1990 through 2004 he was Chief Conservator at the Mauritshuis, The Hague. He has published and lectured extensively internationally on a multitude of subjects related to technical art history and other issues of importance for the understanding and keeping of our cultural heritage. Dr. Wadum holds positions in several international organisations and committees.