Welcome & Opening Remarks

Thursday October 8, 2026 09:00 - 09:30 Auditorium (W280)

Speaker: H.E. Signe Burgstaller
Moderators: Christina Keighren, Patricia Boeg-Jensen

Hear from government representatives of Sweden and Canada as they warmly welcome you to Sweden Canada Innovation Days 2026.

Lecturers

H.E. Signe Burgstaller Speaker

Ambassador of Sweden to Canada
Embassy of Sweden to Canada

Signe Burgstaller is Sweden’s Ambassador to Canada since September 2023. Ms. Burgstaller is a Swedish career diplomat with more than 30 years of experience in different foreign policy areas, including Nordic and Baltic Sea regional cooperation, reform cooperation and democratic transition in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Horn of Africa, UN reforms, humanitarian affairs, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, international security policy and Arctic affairs. Previously, she has served as Sweden’s Ambassador to Sudan, with a cross-accreditation to South Sudan, and as Sweden’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova. Prior to that, Ms. Burgstaller worked in multilateral affairs and served as Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN in New York. She has also been posted to Prague, Washington, and Pristina. In the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, she has held different positions, including as Deputy Head of the Security Policy Department and Coordinator for Arctic Affairs.

Christina Keighren ModeratorOrganizer

Country Manager
Business Sweden

Christina Keighren is the Country Manager for Business Sweden in Canada, a role she has held since 2020. With over 25 years of experience in international trade, diplomacy, and management consulting—primarily with Business Sweden—Christina has played a pivotal role in helping hundreds of Swedish companies successfully enter the Canadian market. Her support has ranged from concise market analyses and sales support to comprehensive strategic advisory services.

Christina’s efforts have significantly strengthened bilateral trade between Sweden and Canada, particularly in the mining, forestry, and more recently, the industrial construction sectors.

Over the past seven years, Christina has spearheaded the Sweden Canada Innovation Initiative, transforming it into the flagship annual event Sweden Canada Innovation Days. This gathering attracts a diverse audience from academia, government, and industry across both countries, fostering deeper collaboration and innovation.

Patricia Boeg-Jensen ModeratorOrganizer

Senior Project Manager
Business Sweden

Patricia Boeg-Jensen is a Senior Project Manager at Business Sweden in Canada and has led the planning and delivery of Sweden Canada Innovation Days since 2022, working closely with industry, government, academia, and innovation partners to strengthen collaboration between Sweden and Canada. With nearly a decade of mining experience from LKAB and an MBA from Queen’s University, Patricia brings extensive expertise in mining, innovation, trade, and international business development.

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