From insight to action

When things reach a standstill or rules don’t align, we create space for dialogue and fresh solutions. By bringing together perspectives from across society, Vejde helps turn insight into meaningful change – when words and plans become action.

Anna Häger

Founder of Vejde and a long-standing expert in leading complex development processes.

Collaboration with both the public and private sectors is vital for translating technical visions into practical solutions. Through clear planning and well-balanced projects, the potential of each project is realised, both functionally and economically.

Navigating complex permit processes is one of my strengths. I translate technology into something understandable and achievable. Dialogue between citizens and decision-makers must take place; that is where change begins.

My approach is built on a simple insight: real change requires people to meet. When we listen to one another and find common ground, we create solutions that last.

Engagement is crucial. The work is carried out on several levels, from local groups to the highest decision-makers. A well-connected network ensures that the right meetings are arranged at the right time.

Rules and guidelines are often seen as obstacles. I consider them to be maps. They demonstrate areas where innovation and progress are possible. My experience in academia, the public and private sectors has taught me that the power of change lies in the combination of perspectives.

This is where I operate – at the intersection of technology, society and the people it serves.

Lasting Change Requires Shared Ownership

Transition is rarely a straight line. Time and again, we see people and organisations striving to evolve, adapt to new demands or strengthen their sustainability – only to get caught between conflicting priorities and unforeseen obstacles.

Technical solutions stall in regulatory processes. Sustainability projects lose momentum when they meet financial hesitation, digital immaturity or a general reluctance to change. New EU directives, for example, can feel both unclear and overwhelming – making it hard to know where to begin.

On top of that comes a kind of deep-rooted resistance. Change is often experienced as a burden, and “this is how we’ve always done it” feels like the safer option. Over time, it creates a culture where change is seen as something imposed, rather than something owned. That kind of mindset rarely creates room for confidence in the future, adaptability, or growth.

This is where Vejde makes a difference. Change can’t be forced through top-down decisions or new forms of conformity. It needs to be grounded – both broadly and deeply.

At Vejde, the work is about helping people and organisations understand where they stand in a larger context – clarifying direction, making sense of complexity, and turning uncertainty into the ability to act. The aim is to shift from being passive recipients to active participants.

When the waves of change hit hard, staying afloat isn’t enough. Without direction, you risk going under.

Vejde today – Real change, put into practice

Vejde works with both public and private sector actors. The focus is on turning technical possibilities into solutions that deliver in practice.

That might include:

Developing transition plans that can actually be put into practice.
Designing projects that reach their full potential – in both function and financial return.
Navigating complex and often tangled regulatory processes.
Building bridges between stakeholders – from citizens to senior officials.
Making technology understandable, relevant and accessible.

The approach is based on early listening, creating spaces for dialogue, and identifying shared interests. Engagement takes place at multiple levels – from local initiatives to senior decision-makers. Through a broad network, the right people are brought together at the right time.

Where others see dead ends, conversations begin. When rules clash with old habits, new solutions emerge.

The true driver of meaningful change lies in bringing perspectives together. That’s how we create lasting change – with purpose, not pressure.

Anna Häger – Background

With a background in the natural sciences and experience in strategic societal development, I’ve led projects where technical innovation meets real-world needs. For over a decade, my work has focused on energy, water and climate – always guided by sustainability and a clear sense of economic and social responsibility.

Leadership in the Energy Transition

As Ilmatar’s former Regional Manager for over 12 GW of offshore wind power in Finland and Åland, I led cross-functional teams in multi-billion-euro projects. Working across three jurisdictions, I collaborated closely with both public authorities and market actors in a developing industry. Through structure, engagement and inclusive leadership, I’ve shown how change can be driven where many interests converge.

I was one of the key figures behind the founding of Flexens and the Smart Energy Åland project – a pioneering example of how a society can transition to 100% renewable energy in a cost-effective and locally grounded way.

In this context, I played a formative role in establishing the hydrogen industry in Finland. The work within Flexens was instrumental in paving the way for a practical hydrogen economy – with projects and partnerships that clearly demonstrated how hydrogen can become an integrated part of a sustainable energy system.

I’ve also contributed to research projects on sustainable water supply in the Baltic Sea region, with a focus on developing methods that combine technical solutions with local conditions.

Commitment and Impact

As an expert member of Åland’s Climate Commission and one of Finland’s EU Climate Ambassadors, I’ve gained deep insight into how political processes meet local realities.

I’m a recognised voice in Åland’s public debate on energy and environmental issues, with a broad network across the Nordic region and the Baltic Sea area.

In roles as an advisor, speaker and panel contributor on energy transition, societal development and change leadership, I’ve demonstrated an ability to translate complex technology into workable, real-world solutions.

Academic Background

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology from Uppsala University and a Master’s in International Sustainable Development from Linköping University. This academic foundation gives me both the analytical depth of the natural sciences and a strategic understanding of global sustainability challenges.

Interdisciplinary Research

My research on municipal leadership in the transition to electrification – a collaboration between Linköping University, Lund University and Åland University of Applied Sciences – has been recognised for its ability to connect technical and social perspectives.

Personal – Where Theory Meets Practice

In the Åland countryside, I’ve built my home – an energy-efficient house constructed using upcycled materials and solutions where traditional craftsmanship meets future-facing technology. Wood-fired heating and soapstone coexist with IoT-based systems, open-source solutions and solar power. The result is a low-consumption, high-resilience home – with the ability to operate off-grid when needed.

This didn’t happen by chance – it’s a conscious way of living. Daily life is shaped by the belief that simplicity and quiet can sit comfortably alongside the complex, as long as technology remains in service of people, not the other way round.

Permaculture runs through everything – from the way I grow food to the way I make decisions. It’s about working with systems, not against them. A way of thinking that makes room for people, nature and technology to co-exist in the same rhythm.

Minimalism, reuse and natural materials aren’t a rejection of progress – they’re a choice to focus on what lasts. By living with intention – not stripped back, but carefully considered – there’s space for what truly matters.

What I do professionally and how I live my day to day life are deeply connected. It’s not a balance I try to strike – it’s one continuous practice. For me, transition isn’t a vision of the future, but something lived – day by day, quietly, deliberately, and with both people and technology in mind.