The Moment of Truth

SUMMIT

The Moment of Truth

November 17th at 16.00

PRESSEN, JP/Politikens Hus

At Nord55°, we believe in speaking plainly. In challenging one another. And, not least, in putting important issues up for debate.

Putting issues up for debate was at the very heart of the Modern Breakthrough, a Nordic movement that strongly inspires us. And the need to do so has not diminished. Strong societies need robust conversations. Criticism can open new doors. Culture can set things in motion. And the Nordic region grows stronger when we dare to challenge one another. After all, who can speak more directly to us than those with whom we share history and values?

That is precisely why Nord55° insists on discussing specific issues across the Nordic region. We want debate that crosses borders, driven by a firm belief that free thought and free speech can bring about change.

During the Modern Breakthrough, writers, thinkers and journalists across the Nordic borders were not afraid to question the status quo – or to scrutinise what was happening in the other Nordic countries.

It is this spirit that we bring with us to The Moment of Truth on 17 November.

Join us as we invite a group of prominent Nordic voices – each with an issue on which they want to challenge one of the other Nordic countries – based on a simple premise:

“Why don’t you take this issue more seriously in your country?”

It will be specific. It will be critical. It will be lively. It will be entertaining. And perhaps we will leave with some new questions?

Mark Isitt (S)

Mark Isitt is a Swedish journalist, author and architecture critic for Göteborgs-Posten. He presents the television programmes Grand Designs and Så byggdes Sverige, as well as the radio programme Stadsinspektionen. He has written several books on architecture and urban development and received numerous awards for his journalism.

Christian Jensen (DK)

Christian Jensen is a Danish journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Politiken, a position he has held since 2016. He was previously Editor-in-Chief of Dagbladet Information and a member of the senior editorial team at Berlingske. He is a prominent voice in the Danish media debate.

Lucky Lo (S)

Lo Ersare is a Swedish singer, songwriter and musician who performs under the name Lucky Lo. She studied at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen and has released the albums Supercarry (2022) and The Big Feel (2023). Her colourful indie pop combines personal stories of love, grief and community with social issues such as gender equality and mental health. She has toured internationally, performed at Roskilde Festival and received several music awards, including the Carl Prize for Talent of the Year.

Nils August Andresen (N)

Nils August Andresen is a Norwegian journalist, editor and economic historian. Since 2009, he has been Editor-in-Chief of Minerva, a conservative publication covering politics, culture and public debate. He studied at the University of Oslo and the London School of Economics and has previously worked on foreign policy, economics and climate issues.

Johan Strang (F)

Johan Strang is a Finnish Professor of Nordic Studies at the University of Helsinki. His research focuses on Nordic politics, democracy, intellectual history and cooperation, with particular emphasis on the development of the welfare state and the influence of neoliberalism. He leads the research project Neoliberalisation of Nordic Democracy and is an active voice in Nordic public debate. He has also frequently appeared as a guest stand-in on the pan-Nordic radio programme Norsken, svensken og dansken.

Hilde Sandvik (NO)

Hilde Sandvik is a Norwegian journalist, author and commentator with a particular interest in Nordic culture and society. She presents and produces the pan-Nordic radio programme Norsken, svensken og dansken, broadcast by NRK, DR and Sveriges Radio. She was previously Debate Editor at Bergens Tidende and founded the Nordic debate platform Broen.xyz.

Lise Bach Hansen (DK)

Lise Bach Hansen began her career working within TV and communication in Paris. Since then, she has worked in politics in the European Parliament. Her work has consistently focused on examining the relationship between art, politics and democracy. For many years, she has been at the forefront of one of the largest live scenes in the Nordic region: The International Authors’ Stage at the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen. A forum where people ranging from Nobel laureates to heads of state meet. She works as a curator and moderator in several Nordic contexts and sits on several boards.

Hassan Preisler (DK)

Hassan Preisler is a Danish author, playwright, actor and radio presenter. He is best known as the Danish voice of the popular pan-Nordic radio programme and podcast Norsken, svensken og dansken, in which he discusses politics, culture and society across the three countries alongside Norway's Hilde Sandvik and Sweden's Åsa Linderborg. The programme is a collaboration between DR, NRK and Sveriges Radio. Preisler has previously presented several radio programmes and made his literary debut with the award-winning novel Brun mands byrde (2013).

Stig Ørskov (DK)

Stig Ørskov is a Danish journalist and media executive. Since early 2026, he has been CEO of WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, which has members in 120 countries. He previously served as CEO of JP/Politikens Hus from 2014 to 2025 and has also been Editor-in-Chief of Politiken.

Elisabeth Asbrink (S)

Elisabeth Åsbrink is a Swedish journalist, author and cultural commentator. She achieved international recognition with 1947 and has since published several books, including Forladtheden and the acclaimed biography Mitt stora vackra hat, about the Swedish writer Victoria Benedictsson. Her latest book, Gloria (2025), explores racial segregation in the United States.

Victor Malm (S)

Victor Malm is a Swedish literary critic and scholar who has headed the culture section of Expressen since 2022. He holds a PhD in literary studies from Lund University and has previously worked as a culture editor and critic. He is a leading voice in Swedish cultural debate.

Pelle Dragsted (DK)

Pelle Dragsted is a Danish politician who has served as political spokesperson for the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten) since 2023. He has been a member of the Danish Parliament since 2022, having previously served from 2015 to 2019. He is particularly known for his work on economic policy and his book Nordic Socialism: The Path toward a Democratic Economy (2021), which has been translated into several languages.

Christian Have (DK)

Christian Have is a Danish communications expert, author and cultural commentator. He founded HAVE Kommunikation & PR, one of Scandinavia’s leading communications agencies specialising in arts and culture, where he is now owner and strategic adviser. He has written numerous books on art, culture and communication and served on several boards within the cultural sector.

SUMMIT