New board member for Mistra SafeChem

Mistra SafeChem is pleased to welcome Krister Halldin as a new member of the programme board. With a research background in reproductive and developmental toxicology at Karolinska Institutet and over a decade of experience in research support and project management at Uppsala University, he brings valuable scientific and strategic insight.

Krister Halldin is currently serving as an assessor at the Swedish Medical Products Agency, where he focuses on environmental risks related to pharmaceuticals and measures to mitigate them. We asked Krister some questions about his new role as a board member for Mistra SafeChem.

What do you see as the most important task of the Board in a program like Mistra SafeChem?

– Ultimately it is to provide overall direction for the programme and to ensure that available resources is effectively used for its success. My own experience from managing large projects and programmes is that a well-functioning board with broad expertise can be very helpful in supporting and guiding the programme and the programme management. This is especially true when challenges arise along the way.

What do you hope Mistra SafeChem will have achieved by the end of the program?

– I hope and believe that we have substantially contributed to the vision which is to enable and promote the expansion of a safe, sustainable and green chemical industry. The transformation will take time, and it is of outmost importance not to solve old problems by rushing into new ones. In this respect, I think that Mistra SafeChem is a very well-designed programme, focusing on both the possibilities and risks with the transformation towards a green and sustainable chemical industry.

Is there any particular area of Mistra SafeChem you are particularly looking forward to following or getting involved in?

– Personally, I think that the development of new methods for hazard and risk assessment and their potential for being introduced in different regulatory settings is a very interesting topic. The processes from research findings into policy, regulation and legislation can sometimes feel overwhelming but I hope I can contribute by being supportive in that area.