Dewi Dylander joined the EAC Foundation and Asia House as Chief Executive Officer in September. After her first months in the role, she reflects on her initial impressions, key experiences, and strategic priorities going forward.
Initial impressions at Asia House
One of Dewi Dylander’s early observations has been the strong and close collaboration between Asia House, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Asian embassies in Denmark.
“I have been positively surprised by the close cooperation Asia House maintains with both the Danish Foreign Ministry and the Asian diplomatic representations.”
Among the highlights of her first months, Dewi points to Cultural Night, which attracted more than 1,100 visitors, as well as the Annual King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) Memorial Day Ceremony. The latter was marked by close engagement with the Thai community in Denmark, including the Thai Embassy, monks, and long-standing friends of Thailand.
“Through these activities, I have experienced a form of cultural and people-to-people diplomacy that differs from my previous work as a diplomat in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has been rewarding to see the significant role Asia House plays as a meeting place for Asian communities in Denmark.”
Sustainability as a strategic priority
With a background in diplomacy, investments, and sustainability policy, Dewi Dylander brings valuable expertise to the continued development of the EAC Foundation and Asia House’s programme portfolio.
“At Asia House, communication and events are already cross-cutting priorities. Going forward, sustainability will also become a key transversal focus. Denmark has a strong international profile in sustainability, while many Asian countries are experiencing the direct impacts of climate change and are simultaneously at the forefront of developing solutions. Strengthening Nordic–Asian partnerships around the green transition, therefore, represents a significant opportunity.”
Strengthening youth and education engagement
Looking ahead, Dewi Dylander identifies youth and education as areas with considerable growth potential for Asia House.
“We are unfortunately seeing a declining academic focus on Asia at some Danish universities. This is a development we would like to help reverse. Through initiatives such as masterclasses, Living Asia, and delegation trips, we have seen strong engagement from upper secondary and vocational education institutions. There is also substantial interest among university students, and we aim to strengthen connections between academia and the labour market.”
Expanding the use of Asia House as a platform
Finally, Dewi emphasises Asia House’s ambition to further activate its physical facilities in the years ahead.
“Asia House is a unique venue with strong architectural qualities and a highly professional team capable of hosting both major conferences and smaller, targeted gatherings. In the coming years, we will open the house even further, inviting new partners and stakeholders to engage. In doing so, Asia House will continue to serve as a key platform for dialogue and collaboration between Denmark and Asia.”
