The association

Board and resources

Local Development Sweden is a non-profit association for organizations that work with locally led development through the Leader method. Here you can get to know the board, but also the association's operations manager, communicator, and treasurer.

The association's bylaws

resources

Christer Yrjas

Operations manager
verksamhetsledare@lokalutvecklingsverige.se
070 242 64 90

You can contact me regarding our activities and operations.

Sven-Anders Svensson

Secretary/treasurer
sven-anders@arves.se
070 55 17 020

You can contact me if you have questions regarding invoicing and finance.

Maria Lundgren

Communicator
maria.lundgren@mittnordvast.se
076 77 66 035

You can contact me if you have questions regarding communication, our website, or our social media.

Board of Directors

The board of LUS, Local Development Sweden, consists of twelve members from the northern, central, and southern regions.

Northern region

Lovisa Westling

Vice chairman
Leader Lappland 2030
lovisa@leaderlappland.se
070 882 06 10

Active within Leader since 2011, as a project developer, and from 2013 as operations manager. Educated social worker. In the steering group of the Rural Network since 2021, has also been chairman of its integration group. Board member of ABF. Has an established network at the Government Offices, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, the Agricultural Society, and the Whole of Sweden shall live.

Ulf Hägglund

Board member
Leader Polaris
smarcticsolutions@gmail.com

Member of the LAG board for Leader Polaris since 2025. Former CEO of, and current chairman of, Destination Jokkmokk economic association. Experience in project management of leader projects and coordination of strategic processes for leader areas. Has worked as a development consultant in a European/transnational context since 1994 with current assignments in evaluation, cluster development, and smart specialization – most of which are in rural regions. Has a broad network that also extends into Europe, including the EU level (Brussels).

Sören Oscarsson

Board member
Leader 3sam
soren@3sam.eu

Started in 2010 as project manager in LAG-owned projects, became operations manager for Leader 3sam in 2012. Board member and treasurer of the Micro Fund. Degree in economics, own entrepreneurship, experience in writing, managing, and implementing projects.

Lotta Lindgren

Board member
Leader Spira Mare
lotta@leaderspiramare.se

Operations manager for Leader Spira Mare since 2022. Bachelor's degree in sociology with a focus on personnel and working life. Has worked with, among other things, projects, finance, personnel, communication, and business development within the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Central region

Anders Johansson

Board member
Leader Mälardalen
anders.johansson@coompanion.se

Engaged in Leader for 26 years, today via Coompanion. Background in forestry and agriculture. Chairman of Lungers Hamn's Boat Club. Board member of Arboga Crown and Moose Management Area.

Camilla Nyström

Board member
Leader Närheten
camilla@narheten.se

Started her first company at the age of 21 and has been active in associations since childhood. Has worked at Young Entrepreneurship Värmland with Interreg projects. University educated. Has worked within Leader since 2016 and has been instrumental in developing the development strategy in Strategic Plan 2023–2027. Well-versed in regulations. Holds several board positions. Is also a small-scale farmer with arable land and forest.

Mia Lundqvist

Board member
Leader Mälardalen
mia@leadermalardalen.se

Operations manager for Leader since 2010. Represents LUS in EU CAP Network Assembly, previously Rural Networks Assembly. Represents the Rural Network in Leader Subgroup. University degree in international economics. Previously worked 11 years at the County Administrative Board in Örebro with rural issues and regional development

Susanne Ortmanns

Board member
Leader Stockholm Region
susanne@leaderstockholmsbygd.se

Worked as operations manager in Leader Stockholm Region since 2009. Trained biologist who previously mainly worked in the non-profit sector. Has sat
for LUS in the Swedish Board of Agriculture's SUSS-PoF. Close contacts in the Stockholm archipelago

Ulrik Wärnsberg

Board member
Uppland Region
ulrik.warnsberg@pol.uppsala.se

Chair of Leader Uppland Region since 2019. Studied forestry at Jälla and has a university degree with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Economics. Has worked in forestry and as an economist. Has held political positions in Uppsala municipality and region for over 20 years

Region South

Ann-Charlotte Thörnblad

Chair of the Board
Leader Skåne Mid Northwest
ann-charlotte.thornblad@mittnordvast.se

Was as a public representative involved in the startup of Leader in 2007. Has since been both a board member and operations manager. Educated high school teacher, leadership and project management training. Managed ESF projects, worked as an EU coordinator, rural developer, and destination developer. Vice-chair of Coompanion Skåne, sits on the nomination committee for Coompanion Sweden and has various assignments in local associations

Frida Andersson

Board member
Leader Bohuslän
frida@leaderbohuslan.se

Educated as an Economist at Högskolan Väst. Worked as an advisor at Orusts Sparbank and as a writer, administrator, and advertising salesperson at Malungsbladet. Employed at Leader Södra Bohuslän as an economist and communicator in December 2015. Became the operational leader for Leader Södra Bohuslän in October 2017 and then for Leader Bohuskust and border areas and Leader Bohuslän in April 2023. Is an elected auditor in Orust
Riding Club and Mittfiber

Tommy Andersson

Board member
SydostLeader
tommy@sydostleader.se

Long-standing municipal, association, and federation engagement. Insights and interest in rural and community issues. Board assignments within
Ronneby Municipality, Swedish Football Association, and Blekinge Football Association