Speakers 2025

 

Key Note Speaker: Hanna Carlsson

Hanna Carlsson is an Associate Professor at Linnaeus University, Sweden, where she coordinates the Master's program in Library and Information Science (LIS). Her research and teaching focus on the role of libraries as democratic institutions, with particular emphasis on cultural policy, media literacy, reading promotion, and the development of digital competencies. Through her scholarly work, Carlsson investigates the evolving responsibilities of libraries in supporting democratic values, inclusion, critical thinking, and civic engagement in an increasingly complex political landscape.

 

Aarhus Public Libraries

• Asmund Bertelsen is a Project Manager specializing in politically governed organizations, democratic processes, and participation. Since 2020, he has led Aarhus Public Libraries’ cross-cutting strategic democracy initiative, focusing on strengthening democratic dialogue between citizens and politicians and enhancing democratic participation through diverse and inclusive library activities.
• Sara Bindeballe is a Library Facilitator working with Democratic Engagement at Aarhus Public Libraries, based at Dokk1/Aarhus Main Library. She organizes debates, initiates partnerships, and works on inclusion and empowerment of minorities and marginalised groups.
• Peter Jørgensen is a Library Facilitator working with Democratic Engagement at Aarhus Public Libraries, based at Gellerup Library. He develops and facilitates participatory events, talks, and debates, and collaborates with local partners to strengthen community ties and social cohesion.

 

Ida Berge

Ida Berge is a former teacher, but now works as an advisor at the Youth Section of the Wergeland Centre. The European Wergeland Centre (EWC) is a resource centre that promotes education for democratic citizenship, human rights, and intercultural understanding. EWC offer training programs and share our expertise with all 46 member states of the Council of Europe. The Centre was founded in 2008 by Norway and the Council of Europe. 

 

Leea Lakka

Leea Lakka is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland, working on a project that investigates what is the minimum that must be learned in school. Lakka's research focuses on issues of reading, compulsory education, and inequality. Her doctoral dissertation on back row pupils received a lot of attention in the Finnish media when it was published.

 

Markus Neuvonen

Neuvonen has a background as a philosopher and non-fiction writer. He works as a senior expert in digital information literacy at the fact-checking organisation Faktabaari and as a part-time teacher at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.