President

Ulrika Årehed Kågström is President of the UICC, Secretary-General of the Swedish Cancer Society, board member of the Nordic Cancer Union and member of the Swedish Government’s Life Science Advisory Group. 

Her background is in finance, crisis management and leading large and complex organisations in times of change. Ulrika is highly regarded for her extensive experience in strategic leadership and successful advocacy work. She is known to be a team player who listens and greatly values transparency.

Under Ulrika’s leadership, the Swedish Cancer Society has become the number 1 fundraising organisation in the country with a revenue that increased by more than 50 percent since Ulrika took office in 2016.

Ulrika is also an active leader in the Nordic Cancer Union. Fully committed to the global fight against cancer, Ulrika pays special attention to the numerous equity gaps in the access to early detection, treatment and care.

UIrika has served as a UICC Board member since 2018. She has served as treasurer, chairman and member of the Knowledge, Advocacy and Policy Committee, chairman and member of the Finance Committee, member of the Strategy Review task force, member of the ATOM Coalition task force, member of the Governance committee, member of the task force on Antimicrobial Resistance, member of the Advisory Board of the Solidarity Fund for Ukraine and member of the Congress and Summit Committee.

Prior to joining the Swedish Cancer Society in 2016, Ulrika was Secretary General of the Swedish Red Cross. 

She has extensive experience in governance as chair and member of boards such as the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, Magtoys Inc, the Folke Bernadotte Academy: Swedish agency for peace, security and development, and the Swedish Food Agency. 
 
Ulrika has an extensive commitment to culture, partly through assignments at the National Theater and as chair of the Swedish Arts Council and previously as chair of the Royal Dramatic Theater.