Management
Executive Director, Louise Holck
Louise Holck has served as Executive Director of the Danish Institute for Human Rights since October 2020. Before then she was Deputy Executive Director responsible for the national activities of the Danish Institute for Human Rights from 2012. She holds a Master of Law degree from the University of Copenhagen, a second degree in journalism from the Danish School of Journalism, and a master's degree in public administration (MPA) from Copenhagen Business School. She was formerly director of the National Consumer Agency of Denmark (2003-2008), head of communications at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (2002-2003), and departmental director at the Danish Refugee Council.
National Director, Pernille Boye Koch
Pernille Boye Koch has been head of research at the Danish Institute for Human Rights 2020-2023. She is a graduate of law from the University of Copenhagen and in 2002 she received a Ph.D. at the same university. Among other things, Pernille has has done research in the European Court of Human Rights, human rights in Danish legislation, good governance, the Danish Public Information Act and democratic control of intelligence services. Pernille has previously been an associate professor of public law at Roskilde University (2014-2020), associate professor of constitutional law at the University of Southern Denmark (2004-2009 and 2011-2014), legal consultant in the administration of the Danish Parliament (2010) and assistant in the Ministry of the Environment (1997-1998).
International Director, Mette Thygesen
Mette Thygesen has been the International Director at the Danish Institute for Human Rights since November 2022. She is an experienced diplomat who has served as ambassador of Denmark in i.a. Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan, as permanent representative to the African Union, and has also been special representative to the Sahel and Maghreb countries. From 2019 to 2022, she was Head of Department for Humanitarian Action, Civil Society, and Engagement – leading Denmark’s development assistance in the field of democracy and human rights. Previously, Mette Thygesen has served in the European Commission. Throughout her career, she has had a strong focus on multilateral cooperation in the European Union and the United Nations, including in the areas of peace, stability, and development. Mette Thygesen is M.Sc. and also holds a Canadian MBA.
Interim Head of Research, Rikke Frank Jørgesen
Rikke Frank Jørgensen has been acting Head of Research since the end of December 2023. Rikke is a Senior Researcher at the Institute and her research expertise within technology and human rights, as well as experience in working with technology's impact on rights in theory and practice for more than 20 years, makes her a frequently used expert in Denmark and internationally. She is, among other things, member of the Data Ethics Council and the government's expert group on tech giants and associated with the University of Copenhagen as an external lecturer.
She was previously employed at the Ministry of IT and Research, where she helped prepare the government's first IT policy statements and action plans in the period 1995-1999. She participated in the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003-2005, where together with Meryem Marzouki she coordinated the International Civil Society Caucus on Human Rights. She has been an expert member of the Council of Europe's committee on internet users' rights, and has sat on advisory boards for e.g. Privacy International, Ranking Digital Rights and DataEthics.EU.
Head of Communication and Engagement, Jakob Sheikh
Jakob Sheikh has been Head of Communication and Engagement since November 2022. He holds a degree in journalism from Danish School of Media and Journalism and American University of Beirut. Jakob Sheikh worked as a journalist and editor at Danish daily Politiken from 2012-2017 and has written extensively on radicalisation, extremism, and international security. From 2017-2019, he was appointed as special advisor to the minister of justice. Sheikh has written several books on international security, including human rights issues, and has written several scientific articles on the field and has lectured at a number of universities in Europe.
CFO, Simon Agerlin Lund
Simon has been the Head of the Danish Institute for Human Rights' Finance and Administration department since August 2025. He holds a Cand.Scient.San.Publ. degree (MSc in Public Health Science) and has previously served as Head of Digital and Analysis at Plan Børnefonden, Head of Administration at the Danish Institute for Visual Impairment (IBOS), as well as holding finance roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Hørsholm Municipality.
Head of Human Resources, Lone Retoft
Lone Retoft has been the HR Director at the Danish Institute for Human Rights since November 2024. She holds a Master of Laws (cand.jur.) from the University of Copenhagen. From 2021 to 2024, she was Vice President for People and Culture at FORCE Technology. Previously, she has held positions such as Negotiations Director at IDA (2009-2021), Deputy Director at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (2006-2009), and Head of Office at the Ministry of Finance (1998-2006).