Oct 03, 2011
Packed house for ministerial handover
External stakeholders and ministry employees gathered in large numbers at the handover reception for outgoing minister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen and the new minister for research, innovation and higher education, Morten Østergaard.
The room was at full capacity as Morten Østergaard (Social Liberals) took over the ministerial post from Charlotte Sahl-Madsen (Conservatives). Many external stakeholders and employees gathered to witness the event.
Charlotte Sahl-Madsen described the day as "solemn, festive and important" and these traits were certainly evident in the atmosphere at the reception.
Permanent Secretary Uffe Toudal Pedersen addresses Charlotte Sahl-Madsen and Morten Østergaard. Among the attendees were Jens Oddershede, rector of the University of Southern Denmark and chairman of the Danish Rectors’ Conference, and Michael Christiansen, chairman of the Aarhus University board and head of the group of university chairmen.
A considerable number of people crammed into the reception room in the ministry, standing shoulder to shoulder as they listened to the speeches of the former and new ministers and witnessed the exchange of gifts.
Charlotte Sahl-Madsen chose to present Morten Østergaard with three gifts – two to Morten Østergaard the politician, and one for his private persona. The first two gifts consisted of an abacus and the minister's advisory board, while she presented Morten Østergaard with a collection of Danish poet Benny Andersen's works for his private inspiration.
Morten Østergaard presented outgoing minister Charlotte Sahl-Madsen with a gift from the Stilleben shop – a necklace that also functioned as a USB key. He was quick to stress though that the name of the shop, which translates to "Still life" was not a reflection of Sahl-Madsen as a person.
Klaus Bock (to the left), chairman of the Danish National Research Foundation, was one of the many attendees who greeted Morten Østergaard.
New minister Morten Østergaard (to the left) also took time to speak with Magnus Pedersen, the president of the National Union of Students in Denmark.
