Centre for Childhood Health appoints new Head of Programmes and Development

The Centre for Childhood Health has appointed Jesper Madsen as its new Head of Programmes and Development. He comes from a position as Head of Knowledge Centre at the Knowledge Centre for Inclusive Learning Environments under the Student Counselling Service, where since 2020 he has led the development of a preventive unit focused on the development, implementation, and scaling of research-based initiatives for young people – including those in vulnerable situations.

Strengthening the work of translating knowledge into practice

According to Director Annegrete Juul, the appointment adds an important capacity to the Centre’s work:

“With Jesper, we gain a highly qualified profile with solid experience in building a coherent portfolio that translates research-based knowledge into initiatives that work in practice and can be scaled more widely. For many years, he has worked with young people’s well-being, focusing on strengthening the environments and communities they are part of. His profile strengthens the Centre’s overall expertise and adds an important capacity to develop and scale initiatives in close collaboration with our partners.”

With this appointment, the Centre strengthens its strategic work to develop and scale initiatives that contribute to better health and well-being among children and young people.

Focus on communities and structural solutions

Jesper Madsen looks forward to getting started:

“I am excited to join the Centre for Childhood Health and to translate the Centre’s high ambitions for children’s and young people’s health and well-being into concrete initiatives. I am motivated by working with complex challenges at the intersection between individual circumstances and the frameworks and structures that shape well-being – and by developing solutions that can make a difference at scale.”

He also highlights a desire to apply his experience earlier in life:

“Through my work, I have moved from focusing on the individual to increasingly working with the frameworks and communities that shape well-being. I see great potential in applying this knowledge earlier in life, where there is an opportunity to create broader and more long-term improvements.”
 

Experience in scaling research-based initiatives

Jesper Madsen has, among other things, played a leading role in bringing international research on initiatives that strengthen young people’s sense of belonging in educational communities to Denmark. These initiatives now reach around 50,000 young students annually – both directly and indirectly – and have been developed in close collaboration with educational institutions, national stakeholders, and international research environments.