To be chosen as Alumni of the Year, the candidate must have studied at Linköping University for at least two years on a full-time basis, and subsequently achieved highly, devoted her- or himself to an important cause or done something else worthy of recognition.
Alumni of the Year
Each year, Linköping University chooses two Alumni of the Year to recognise the work and commitment of previous students.
Alumni of the Year 2023
This year’s Alumni of the Year are Amanda Borneke and Leif Nixon. Amanda Borneke inspires the construction industry to step up its sustainability efforts. Leif Nixon has worked in IT security for many years, hacking and defending almost everything you can think of.
Amanda Borneke and Leif Nixon. Photo credit Thor Balkhed/Magnus Johansson
Amanda Borneke studied the Environmental Science programme and her career as sustainability expert in the construction industry has rocketed. Since 2021, she has been working at Sweco as a circular economy expert, and she is also a board member of Byggcheferna (an organisation representing construction managers in Sweden). ‘Having a significant climate impact, the construction industry is facing a number of sustainability challenges. Through communication and innovation, Amanda Borneke highlights circular economy and re-use, showing that climate change in this industry is both necessary and possible,’ is part of the motivation for her award.
Leif Nixon is a known profile in IT security. With a LiU degree in computer science, he has worked at the National Supercomputer Centre and Sectra Communications, been tasked with hacking CERN in Switzerland and supported police in several countries in their criminal investigations. He is currently a security expert with Combitech in Linköping. ‘In an uncertain world, it is important to reduce the gap between rapid digitalisation and inadequate security measures. Leif Nixon contributes to increasing awareness and knowledge about IT security, and to making the world a safer place’, reads the motivation for his Alumni of the Year award.
Amanda Borneke and Leif Nixon received the award on Friday 6 October in a ceremony on Campus Valla in Linköping.
Nominate someone for Alumni of the Year
To nominate a candidate for Alumni of the Year 2024, email alumni@liu.se, or fill out this form. The nomination must include the candidate’s name, programme of study, a brief description of what the candidate has done and of why you feel she or he deserves the award.
Alumni of the Year 2023 - Amanda Borneke and Leif Nixon
Alumni of the Year 2022 - Gunilla Lööf and Salad Hilowle
Alumni of the Year 2021 - Cecilia Bödker Pedersen and Martin Hultman
Alumni of the Year 2020 - Linnea Bergman and Anders Tegnell
Alumni of the Year 2019 - Sara Magnusson and Andreas Norlén
Alumni of the Year 2018 - Rebecka Le Moine and Eva Uustal
Alumni of the Year 2017 - Sofie Lindblom and Oskar Henrikson
Sofie Lindblom
For her commitment to innovation, diversity and empowering more girls to become master problem solvers in the tech sector. Civil engineer Sofie Lindblom had been global innovation manager at Spotify and then founded the innovation platform Ideation 360 when she received the Alumni of the Year award.
Oskar Henrikson
In a society with increasing mental illness, he focuses on the healthy and encourages people to take care of themselves mentally in the same way that they exercise and eat right to feel good physically. Psychologist Oskar Henrikson had founded Psykologifabriken and the psychological gym Habitud when he became Alumnus of the Year.
Alumni of the Year 2016 - Suad Ali and Thomas Lunner
Suad Ali
For her persistent work to help the world's refugees, influence global development and highlight the people behind the numbers. Political scientist Suad Ali was an expert on Sweden's refugee quota at the Migration Agency and part of the director general's staff when she was named Alumna of the Year.
Thomas Lunner
He is one of the researchers behind the world's first digital hearing aid, an invention that has helped millions of people to better hearing. Thomas Lunner was head of a large research group at the company Oticon and adjunct professor of cognitive hearing science at LiU when he was named Alumnus of the Year.
Alumni of the Year 2015 - Kajsa Andersson Lundblad and Mihai Aldén
Kajsa Andersson Lundblad
For her way of bringing together the latest research with the proven experience of the classroom, with the aim of educating future Nobel laureates. Kajsa Andersson Lundblad was principal of Skäggetorpsskolan in Linköping when she was named Alumna of the Year.
Mihai Aldén
He is one of the Oscar-winning creators behind a tool (OpenVDB) that has been used in several major film productions to create advanced effects such as floods and explosions. Mihai Aldén was a developer at Dreamworks Animation in Los Angeles when he became Alumnus of the Year.
Alumni of the Year 2014 - Elnaz Baghlanian and Peter Agnefjäll
Elnaz Baghlanian
She uses her passion for social issues, her artistic talents and knowledge of literature to enable others to express themselves freely. Elnaz Baghlanian was editor of the online magazine Dissidentbloggen and office manager for Svenska Pen when she was named Alumna of the Year.
Peter Agnefjäll
For a remarkable career, starting out at the sales floor at Ikea advancing to leading the group's development in the world. Peter Agnefjäll was president and CEO of Ikea when he received the Alumni of the Year award.
Alumni of the Year 2013 - Maha Bouzeid and Jonas Ludvigsson
Maha Bouzeid
For her efforts to see more women reach senior management roles, in parallel with a fast and fascinating career. Civil engineer Maha Bouzeid was a manager at Ericsson and had worked in several different coutries when she received the Alumni of the Year award.
Jonas Ludvigsson
For a successful career as a researcher combined with his practice as a pediatrician and participation in the social debate. Jonas Ludvigsson divided his time between Örebro University Hospital and a part-time professorship at Karolinska Institutet when he became Alumnus of the Year.
Alumni of the Year 2012 - Carina Brage and Melker Becker
Carina Brage
She is passionate about sustainable, joyful learning – outdoors and with one’s whole body – in science and engineering. Carina Brage worked with teacher training and had written several books on outdoor pedagogy when she became Alumna of the Year.
Melker Becker
For his storytelling and public education using the television medium as a tool. The TV producer and presenter Melker Becker had, among other things, made the fact-based series "Hemliga svenska rum" and "En tavlas hemlighet" when he was named Alumnus of the Year.
Alumni of the Year 2011 - Jeanette Mikkelsen and Erik Thorstensson
Jeanette Mikkelsen
For her work for elderly care that makes better use of the elderly's abilities and strengthens their quality of life. Sociologist Jeanette Mikkelsen was operations manager in municipal care for the elderly when she received the Alumni of the Year award.
Erik Thorstensson
For his drive to create a sustainable society by making new products from industrial waste – play blocks, clothespins and other things that can be produced within the framework of ordinary manufacturing. Civil engineer Erik Thorstensson ran the company Creatables when he was named Alumnus of the Year.