How Trine shaped her path into climate policy
Two months after defending her master’s thesis, Trine Bruun Jørgensen began working at the heart of Danish climate policy. Her path to the Danish Council on Climate Change was shaped by deliberate choices across her studies, student jobs and international experiences.
The Danish Council on Climate Change advises the Danish government on climate policy and assesses whether government initiatives are sufficient to meet Denmark’s climate targets.
For Trine Bruun Jørgensen, the position brought together interests that had gradually shaped her profile: politics, climate, public administration and international decision-making.
‘I have always known that I wanted to work with politics, and it has always had an international dimension. Later, I became increasingly interested in climate change and wanted to connect that personal interest with a broader political perspective.’
Developing a clear professional focus
Throughout her studies, Trine Bruun Jørgensen used assignments and projects to explore climate and political decision-making.
While studying Public Management and Social Development at SDC, she examined solar energy in Germany and China, innovation policy and the Danish wind turbine industry. Her master’s thesis focused on EU sustainability regulation in the textile sector.
‘The programme can lead to many different types of roles and organisations. For me, it was important to use that flexibility to go deeper into climate and sustainability and gradually build a clearer professional profile.’
Her studies were complemented by voluntary work, an internship at the Danish think tank Monday Morning and a student job at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She also took a minor in Information Systems at CBS during her bachelor’s degree. These experiences helped her apply academic skills in practice.
Working across finance, IT and public administration
At the Danish Council on Climate Change, Trine Jørgensen is primarily responsible for finance and IT.
Her work includes budgets, accounting and assessing how funding scenarios could affect the organisation. She also helps implement digital systems and considers how artificial intelligence can be used within public sector requirements for data protection and information security. Because the organisation is small, her responsibilities extend beyond her core role.
‘Along with my team leader, I am our finance department, and I am also our IT department. I contribute to areas such as HR and communications when needed.’
The variety makes the learning curve steep. University did not prepare her for every task, but it gave her tools to approach unfamiliar areas.
‘What you bring with you is an analytical way of thinking, the ability to assess sources critically and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to learn new things quickly.’
International experience in a Danish context
Trine Jørgensen spent a year in China as part of her Master’s education and has experience from several other countries. These experiences strengthened her interest in how national policies connect with international developments.
‘I have become increasingly interested in having a Danish starting point and then bringing that into an international context. National decisions influence international negotiations, but international developments also shape what happens nationally and locally.’
Her experience in China remains relevant. During a meeting with a Chinese delegation, her familiarity with the country helped her understand some of the communication around the table.
‘It can be difficult to point to one specific thing you learn culturally. Much of it becomes an understanding that sits in the background. But having lived in China makes a difference to how you approach relationships and communication.’
Learning through practice
An important step towards working life was using her skills outside the classroom.
‘It is important to bring your competencies into practice and show that they are not only something you have on paper. That could be through a student job, voluntary work, an internship or a concrete project outside the university.’
Her main advice to students entering the labour market is not to expect themselves to know everything from the beginning.
‘You will make mistakes, and there will be situations where you do not know what to do. Nobody expects you to be able to do everything. You are there to learn, so be open, ask other people and say so when there is something you do not understand.’
Looking ahead, Trine Jørgensen wants to understand more about how different organisations influence political decisions. Climate will probably remain the common thread, while management responsibility could become part of her longer-term career.