Director General Birgitte Anker retires from Statistics Denmark

Director General Birgitte Anker has decided to resign from her position at Statistics Denmark after four years of office and will leave on 31 October 2024.

3. juni 2024 kl. 14:30

Birgitte Anker says:
“It has been an honour to be at the forefront of one of Denmark’s oldest and most important institutions characterised by strong professionalism and profound values among management and employees. An institution that contributes to the understanding of society on a daily basis, that supports a vibrant democracy and a well-functioning economy, and that helps ensure that decisions at all levels of society can be based on solid facts.”

“Together with the institution's talented staff, I have worked to make Statistics Denmark even better at accommodating society's need for statistics and data, including providing easier access to the vast volume of data created in one of the world's most digitalised societies. We have come a long way in this respect, and it has been a pleasure to be at the head of this development.”

“The reason for my decision is not that I have found another job – because there is of course no job that can compete with being a national statistician. My decision springs from the desire for a life with greater flexibility and with more room for other things than work. Life is not forever, and if I am going to try to live it slightly differently, now is the time.” 

On behalf of the supervisory board of Statistics Denmark, Vice Chair Laila Mortensen says: 

We live in an age where the volume of data in the flow of information is excessive and overwhelming and where it can be difficult to decode which figures present a true and fair view. Birgitte has worked to strengthen Statistics Denmark’s role as a safe haven, where everybody has access to independent and quality-assured facts and figures. The strategy that was launched shortly after Birgitte’s accession has been the guiding principle for a strong development of the institution in recent years. We have seen many tangible results such as Denmark's Data Portal and new statistics, and we have experienced a new form of constructive interaction with the institution's many users.” 
“On the supervisory board, we have appreciated working with Birgitte, and we understand and respect her decision to resign. With her strong professional mindset and many years of experience as a senior executive, Birgitte has made a strong impression on Statistics Denmark. Thank you very much to Birgitte for a great and significant effort.” 

The vacant position as national statistician will be advertised before the summer holidays. Together with the Ministry of Digital Government and Gender Equality, as the appointing authority, the supervisory board will handle the process of finding a new candidate to recommend to the minister. 

CV – Birgitte Anker

Date of birth 16 October 1963
 
Education
Master of Science (MSc) in Economics, University of Copenhagen, 1991
 
Career
2020 – 2024: Director General, Statistics Denmark
2015 – 2020: Director, National Board of Social Services
2015 – 2015: Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance
2011 – 2015: Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior
2009 – 2011: Deputy Permanent Secretary of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs
2005 – 2009: Head of Division, Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs
1998 – 2005: Head of Analysis, Confederation of Danish Employers
1994 – 1998: Consultant, Confederation of Danish Employers
1991 – 1994: Head of Section, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs
 
Other activities
2020 - Member of the European Statistical System Committee (ESSC)
2020 - Member of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNStatCom)
2020 - Member of the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy (CSSP)
2015 - Board member of the Danish Economic Society
2010 - Examiner at the Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen
2000 - Marshall Fellow
2009 – 2015: Board member of the Annual Danish Aggregate Model (ADAM), the Danish Research institute for Economic Analysis and Modelling (DREAM) and the Economic Policy Research Network (EPRN)
2009 – 2015: Member of the following OECD committees: EPC, EDRC and NAEC
2005 – 2008: Member of EU’s Economic Policy Committee (EPC)

For comments, please contact Head of Communication Steen Dahl Pedersen, tel. +45 24 27 47 25 or sdp@dst.dk.