21 September 2023

Leif Nixon has worked in IT security for many years, hacking and defending almost everything you can think of. Amanda Borneke inspires the construction industry to step up its sustainability efforts. These two are the 2023 Alumni of the Year at Linköping University.

Photo montage: Woman in construction site, man in front of supercomputer
The 2023 Alumni of the Year are Amanda Borneke and Leif Nixon. Photographer: Thor Balkhed/Magnus Johansson

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 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.

Honoured on 6 October

Each year, Linköping University chooses two Alumni of the Year to recognise the work and commitment of previous students. (The word “alumni” is Latin and means simply “previous students”.) Amanda Borneke and Leif Nixon will receive the award on Friday 6 October in a ceremony on Campus Valla in Linköping.

Translation: Anneli Mosell

Read more about the Alumni of the Year and the award

Latest news from LiU

Space is not just technology, also a place for culture and ethics

In the shadow of rockets, satellites and billionaires’ space projects, a new field of research is emerging. It is about understanding space also as an arena for culture, politics and ethics.

Ahead of the COP30 climate summit: “It’s looking really bad.”

Not enough is being done, and not fast enough. That is the harsh assessment made by LiU researchers Mathias Fridahl and Maria Jernnäs ahead of this year’s major international climate summit in Brazil.

Firefighter infront of wrecked car.

Research on exoskeletons and cleaners receives SEK 16.7 million

LiU receives SEK 16.7 million from AFA Försäkring for research in the field of work environment and health. The projects concern exoskeletons, cleaning staff, part-time managers and digital work environments in health and social care.