Within the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, I serve as the scientific program manager for the joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), focusing on the risks associated with contaminants in food and the safety of food additives. I provide scientific support in organizing and conducting international expert meetings aimed at evaluating the health impacts of chemicals present in food. Additionally, I offer guidance on the safety of these chemicals and address food safety concerns related to chemicals, as well as contribute to WHO's communication efforts. I advise on both technical and policy matters by representing WHO and JECFA at meetings of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its subsidiary bodies, and I provide technical advice on chemical food safety issues to WHO, Member States, and other stakeholders upon request.

Highlights
• Managing the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives within the areas of food contaminants and food additives.
• Representing WHO at the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF) and the Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Additives (CCFA).
• Managing the update of the Environmental Health Criteria 240 guideline - Principles and methods for the risk assessment of chemicals in food.
• Program manager for the 2022 update of the WHO TEFs for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds.

Coordinate scientific support and policy development concerning regulation and management of hazardous chemical substances in relation to national and EU priorities including assessment of substances under REACH. Planning and management of projects concerning the hazards of endocrine disruptors and nanoparticles.

Highlights
• Health and environmental risk assessment of chemicals.
• Development and implementation of governmental research activities and studies, supervise and guidance of external consultants.
• Policy development, including analysis of issues and trends, preparation or evaluations of research activities and studies.
• Responsible for coordinating intergovernmental activities implementing the 7th Environment Action Programme.
• Responsible for organizing the international conference "REACH and beyond" in 2015, Brussels on Europe’s future chemicals policy.
• Negotiation with a broad range of actors on a national and international level.
• Development of various targeted governmental written outputs, such as background papers, policy speeches and inputs to publications.

Integrated a new database containing data on residues of pesticides and contaminants in food and feed

Responsible for the planning and management of one of the largest EU scientific working groups focussed on the safety and risk assessment of food additives, coordinating efforts of scientific experts and various international institutions. Prioritised activities and initiatives to ensure greatest level of impact, made adjustments and reallocated resources as appropriate. Provided key scientific support, compiled toxicological risk data, drafted risk assessment opinions and prepared supporting documentation. Negotiated and secured risk assessment contracts with external contractors. Ensured compliance with all regulatory bodies. Supervised junior scientific officers. Management and organizational support to chair of the ANS Panel (The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources Added to Food) in all relevant tasks.

Highlights
• Delivered large output of scientific opinions by strategically optimising workflow, cooperation, improving efficiency of working group meetings, and quality control efforts.
• Coordinated and contributed to the health risk assessment of food additives on European market.
• Enhanced the scientific and administrative support to the ANS Panel, its supporting working groups and scientific experts, including evaluation of applications, completeness check, preparation of working documents and scientific reports for the ANS Panel and drafting of minutes and organising public calls for scientific data.
• Optimised speed and accuracy in which unit collected and evaluated scientific information/data.
• Boosted communications while building strong relationships with external stakeholders.
• Arranged scientific, administrative, and coordination support to Scientific Panel in responding to queries posed by European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States.

Coordinated scientific support in cooperation with the EU Commission and Member States on identification of hazardous substances to be included on the list of chemicals of very high concern. Managed preparation and organisation of meetings within EU Member States Committee.

Led coordination of investigations and initiatives concerning food safety and risk management of environmental food contaminants. Identified and evaluated available scientific information involved in food contaminant issues on risk assessment and management. Compiled food safety background documentation, and developed policy recommendations for the Danish Parliament. Drafted proposals and speeches for Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries.

Managed implementation of EU regulation concerning placement of biocidal products on the European market. Ensured product compliance with all legislative regulations. Prepared and evaluated toxicological and ecotoxicological data and coordinated risk assessments of products.

Coordinated development of chemicals legislation at both national and international levels, administrated grants and provided key scientific support for projects concerning substitution of dangerous substances. Led Danish input to technical EU working groups. Managed implementation of national action plans on use and restriction of certain chemicals such as brominated flame retardants and preparation of environmental information campaigns.