After nearly a decade of dedicated leadership, Inese Podgaiska has stepped down from her role as Secretary General of the Association of Nordic Engineers (ANE). Her tenure has been marked by growth, collaboration, and a deep commitment to strengthening the voice of engineers across the Nordic region.
From Parisian Dreams to Nordic Realities
Inese’s journey to ANE is as inspiring as her contributions. Born in Latvia during the Soviet era, she never imagined a future in the Nordics. As a student at a French secondary school, she dreamed of becoming a Parisian—an idea that once seemed far-fetched. But when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, new possibilities emerged. With Latvia’s independence in 1991, Inese pursued political science at university and later fulfilled her Parisian dream by completing a master’s degree in the French capital.
Her career began in diplomacy, supporting Latvia’s EU accession process in Brussels. It was there, in 2004—a year she fondly remembers for both Latvia’s EU membership and meeting her Danish husband—that her Nordic journey began. After moving to Copenhagen with their young son, Inese embraced the challenges of a new language and culture, quickly adapting and building a life in Denmark.
Inese’s first impression of Denmark was, in her own words, “a bit mixed.” The winters were long, dark, and cold—but the fresh air, the smell of the ocean, and the ever-present rye bread made up for it. Not speaking Danish at first was tough, especially for someone fluent in four other languages, but she quickly grew fond of the Danish mentality and found her footing.
Before joining ANE, Inese held roles at the Baltic Development Forum and the European Environment Agency, focusing on energy policy and sustainability. In 2016, she took on what she describes as her “dream job” at ANE—advocating for engineers, promoting STEM careers, and fostering Nordic cooperation.
Under her leadership, ANE has welcomed new member organisations, strengthened its EU advocacy, and reached significant milestones. Inese’s ability to connect people, navigate complex policy landscapes, and champion the engineering profession has left a lasting mark on the organisation.
Ctrl+Alt+Del – New beginnings
Now, after nine years of service, Inese has decided to take a professional break—a “strategic reset,” as she calls it. She plans to slow down, recharge, and reflect before embarking on her next chapter.
“Leading ANE has been a privilege and a journey of growth—for me personally and for the organisation,” Inese says.
While we will miss Inese’s leadership, energy, and vision, the ANE Secretariat remains committed. We continue our work with gratitude for the foundation Inese has helped build.