A Nordic do tank for women’s health
NORA’s mission is to accelerate progress towards the vision set out in the Nordic Women's Health Charter 2040: a future where women's health is no longer overlooked, underfunded or fragmented, but a data-rich, investable sector delivering both health equity and economic returns.
You can think of us as a mobiliser of catalytic capital - or an engine for transformation.
But what we are matters less than what we achieve. Our work is defined by the impact of the projects we bring to life.
Our approach
We believe progress in women’s health requires more than capital.
It requires building the infrastructure and ecosystem that produce the evidence, signals and connections needed to break the self-reinforcing cycle of under-research, weak translation and undercapitalisation.
We therefore drive a portfolio of integrated initiatives to strengthen three critical parts of the Nordic system:
The evidence and knowledge infrastructure
Translation of evidence into practice
The structures that connect different forms of capital with high-leverage opportunities
Depending on the initiative, we act as a convener, a capital mobiliser, a coordinator or a catalyst.
Our advisors
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Asger Ryhl
ADVISORY BOARD
Former Senior Political Adviser at UN Women and Director UN Women Nordic Office -
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Christina R Åkerman (MD, PhD)
ADVISORY BOARD
Prev. President of the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) and Director General of the Swedish Medical Products Agency -
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Alkistis Skalkidou
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Uppsala University -
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Angelica Hirschberg
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Karolinska Institutet -
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Aura Pyykönen (MD, PhD)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Founder of Isla Health -
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Hanne Haslene-Hox (PhD)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Senior Research Scientist
SINTEF -
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Helene Larsen (PhD)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Former Head of DTU Health Tech
Danish Technical University -
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Henriette Svarre
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Chief Physician and Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Amager and Hvidovre Hospital and University of Copenhagen
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Hilde Færevik (PhD)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Special Advisor
Health & Life Sciences
Innovation Norway -
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Kristina Gemzell Danielsson
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Head of Department
Karolinska Institutet -
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Lasse Gliemann
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Deputy Head of Department and Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology
University of Copenhagen -
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Martin Vesterby (MD, PhD)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Senior Specialist
Head of Crisis Resilience and Health Innovation
Danish Technological Institute -
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Ofra Castro Wersäll (MD, PhD)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Founder of EndoGyn and EndoHealth -
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Ulrik Bak Kirk
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Chief Consultant
Research Unit for General Practice
Århus University
NORA identifies root causes and key leverage points for change.
NORA aligns multi-disciplinary teams around projects with clear targets and measurable impact.
NORA mobilises capital willing to take early-stage risk, move beyond political cycles, and act ahead of proven demand.
In action
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Meeting Jill Biden at The Milken Institute, Washington
NORA’s co-founder Jeanette Kæseler has been invited to the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network Steering Committee meeting in Washington, DC on April 13 2026, chaired by Jill Biden.
Jeanette joined global leaders in a closed session to shape the future of women’s health and present a Nordic Brief to inspire new collaborations.
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European Innovation Council European Parliament Brussels
On 1 October 2026, co-founder Anna Sane will join From Challenges to Action: Scaling Women’s Health Innovation in Europe in Brussels. Organised by the European Innovation Council and the European Parliament, the event brings together experts to identify priorities and practical steps for strengthening Europe’s women’s health ecosystem and bringing vital innovations to market.
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New Menopause Guidelines, UN City, Copenhagen
On 23 September 2026, NORA’s co-founder Jeanette Kæseler will join a panel at UN City Copenhagen for the launch of Danish Standard’s new guideline for menstrual health and menopause.
The panel’s is headline is “Who owns the responsibility?”, and Jeanette will discuss the shared responsibility with policymakers and employers to ensure that women receive the information, support and care they need throughout a lifecourse.
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European Health Forum Gastein
On 1 October 2026, NORA’s co-founder Jeanette Kæseler will take the stage at the European Health Forum Gastein alongside Austria’s minister responsible for women’s health.
Jeanette will bring a Nordic perspective to the European health-policy conversation, and share key learnings from The Nordic Charter for Women’s Health 2040. The forum takes place from 29 September to 2 October under the theme “Health for a stronger European Union - high time for action!”
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Frontiers Health, Berlin
On 20–21 October 2026, NORA’s co-founder Jeanette Kæseler will take part in a panel discussion on Ecosystems in Action: How Europe Is Powering the Next Wave of Health Innovation. Held as part of Frontiers Health’s Innovation Gathering, the session will bring together leading founders, investors, corporates and ecosystem builders to explore the future of health innovation in Europe.
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Investor Roundtable, Industrifonden, Stockholm
Sept. 7 2026 Industrifonden, Unconventional Ventures and NORA will co-host a by invitation only investor roundtable. A select group of investors, together with key leaders from academia, innovation and the broader women’s health ecosystem, will discuss how strengthened Nordic collaboration can help unlock greater investment in the sector. NORA’s co-founder, Anna Sane, will moderate the dayand we will share highlights after the event.
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WHO Webinar on International Women’s Day
On 5 March, World Health Organization hosted the event Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.
NORA’s co-founder Jeanette Kæseler was a speaker - together with representatives from UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA and several European ministries of health - presenting Nora and the Nordic vision for women’s health that she embodies.
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Meeting UNFPA's Executive Director Diene Keita
February 2025, NORA met the Executive Director of UNFPA, Diene Keita, at the UN City in Copenhagen to discuss UN80 and the practical consequences for millions of women and girls around the world.
The message from Diene was clear: "It is time for collaboration. In times of geopolitical volatility, we cannot let noise distract attention from the health of 51% of the population.”
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![A woman is giving a presentation in a well-decorated room with a large screen displaying the word 'DO' and a glass of water on a small table.]()
Nordic Charter Launch co-hosted by The Nordic Council of Ministers
In December 2025 the Nordic Charter for Women’s Health 2040 was launched together with the Nordic Council of Ministers, and NORA’s co-founder Anna Sane spoke among the Nordic Women’s Voices.
Her core message echoed Melinda French Gates's hopes for 2026: that “it’s time to take the momentum women’s health has finally gained and turn it into lasting change” - or, as Anna put it, it’s time for DOing.
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![A colorful illustration of multiple women's faces in profile, with the text overlay 'The Nordic Charter for Women's Health 2040'.]()
The Nordic Charter for Women's Health 2040
The Nordic Charter for Women’s Health 2040 is a strategic framework designed to transform women’s health from a niche concern into a cornerstone of Nordic social and economic resilience. Resulting from the collective insight of over 130 contributors across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. This document moves beyond aspiration to outline a concrete infrastructure for systemic change. Download it here.
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![A group of professional women and men seated and listening attentively at a conference or seminar in an elegant room with columns and ornate ceiling details.]()
Nordic Women’s Health Investor Summit 2026
This Nordic Women’s Health Investor Summit brought together innovators, investors, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss how to close the investment gap in women’s health.
NORA's advisor, Ruth Bränvall, spoke in the panel debate on "Risk-Willing Capital in Women’s Health: Where are we headed and what does it mean for the Nordics?"
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![A large group of women and a few men seated in a historic hall during a conference or event. The hall features large murals, marble columns, and wooden furnishings, with a podium at the front.]()
Vision 2040 Workshop at the Danish Parliament
In September 2025, 136 women’s health experts from across the Nordics, gathered at the Danish Parliament to co-create a vision for women’s health 2040.
Initiated by NORA’s co-founder Jeanette Kæseler, the process was a strategic partnership between The Nordic Women’s Health Hub, The Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, Business Turku, Innovation Norway and Initiatior Pharma. The resulting framework is now published in the Lancet.
