Published 2021-02-17
This post is also available in SwedishNew chapter for Mistra’s Birgitta Jonsson Palmgren
Many inspiring meetings and a strong interest in environmental and sustainability issues are among what Birgitta Jonsson Palmgren, Mistra’s Chief Financial Officer, will take with her when she leaves both Mistra and work life at the end of February.
Teleworking, limited social contact and coffee breaks with thumbnails in Teams have been features of the distinctive last year of her working life, says Jonsson Palmgren, who is now retiring.
‘This year, I’ve really missed my colleagues and being in the office.’
In autumn 2013, she started working as Chief Financial Officer at Mistra. Her previous experience had included 16 years in the energy industry. She thrived there, but with development and continuous improvements as her drivers, she felt the urge for new challenges.
‘Mistra offered a position with an interesting breadth that covered not only financial matters, but also sustainable asset management and close collaboration with academia, which attracted me.’.
During her time at Mistra, Jonsson Palmgren’s interest in climate and environmental issues has grown strong. Working on Mistra’s sustainable asset management has made the issues more tangible to her: a matter of how our investments can boost sustainable development. She intends to stay up to date in the field and keep following environmental research with great interest.
‘Our research programmes really contribute to sustainable development and are beneficial. I’m proud of Mistra’s work.’
Memories from Svalbard
In retirement, what Jonsson Palmgren will miss most are the many inspiring meetings with people from various walks of life.

Jonsson Palmgren with Elisabet Salander Björklund, a former Mistra Board member, during the trip to Svalbard in 2014.
‘Meeting such a wide range of skilled, friendly people — asset managers, economists and researchers — has been great fun and rewarding. The contact with colleagues at the sister foundations has also been valuable.’
One delightful memory is the Board trip to Svalbard in autumn 2014. It was associated with the end of the Mistra Arctic Futures research programme, which then continued in a new form as Mistra Arctic Sustainable Development. A boat tour, a visit to Pyramiden, the abandoned Russian mining town, and rousing stories about whaling sites and developments in Svalbard, made a strong impression on her.
But now it’s time for change once more: a new chapter in life, with no need to set the alarm clock, spending more time outdoors and being able to devote more to the family and grandchildren, friends, skiing and other interests. Jonsson Palmgren is looking forward to all that.
‘I feel my working life is complete, and that’s a good feeling. Going forward, my engagement diary is less full, so now I can do what I feel like. At the same time, who knows, perhaps I’ll want to make a contribution in a different context in the future.’
Many thanks, Birgitta Jonsson Palmgren, for your fine efforts for Mistra. And good luck!