Last June 2, former Member of Parliament and Spokesperson for Health Jane Heitmann was elected as president of Krifa at a meeting of the board of representatives. Well-being and mental health are at the top of the president’s agenda.
54-year-old Jane Heitmann will now lead the more than 185,000 members of Krifa. Heitmann was elected during a meeting of the board of representatives in Fredericia, where the regional and main boards came together to vote for a new chairman.
Jane Heitmann, who was the only candidate for the position of chairman, has been in the Danish Parliament for Venstre (the liberal party) for more than 11 years as health rapporteur. She therefore believes that Krifa and her are the perfect match.
“In my work at Christiansborg (the Danish Parliament) I have met many people who were challenged by poor well-being, high stress levels and lack of work-life balance. This has to be done away with – and as chairman of Krifa I now get the opportunity to use my knowledge and experience in a new way”, says the newly elected chairman.
Working life should not just be something to go through
Jane Heitmann believes that as a society we should stop focusing only on how we can leave the labour market as soon as possible. Instead, we need to focus more on how we can create a labour market with a high level of well-being which does not wear us out.
“We spend half of our time awake at work. Whether you are a nurse, a social worker, a project manager or a gardener, you need to be able to do your work for many years. Working life must not be something that we just needs to go through and overcome”, says Jane Heitmann referring to the debate on early retirement.
“I understand that many people are being worn out by all the expectations we have created for ourselves and each other. And as the new chairman, I will be concerned with how we can curb the stress statistics and make room for more inclusiveness on the labour market”, the former health rapporteur continues.
We have to be part of it
As a parliamentarian, Jane Heitmann is familiar with working with trade unions. And even though she is new on this side of the table, she has no doubt that Krifa has a lot to offer in this context.
Heitmann therefore believes that Krifa should be included when the government, as proposed, establishes a permanent tripartite institution.
“Krifa is one of the five largest organizations, and with more than 185,000 members, it is obvious that Krifa is also represented in a permanent tripartite institution. It makes good sense that we share the vast knowledge we have about well-being and job-satisfaction – especially in light of the fact that our research has shown that high well-being and job-satisfaction increase the labour supply that the government demands”, says the new union chairman.
In addition to the presidential election, elections took place for a number of seats during the board of representatives meeting at the Trinity Hotel and Conference Center in Fredericia.
Who’s who – Jane Heitmann
- 54 years
- Lives in Copenhagen
- Married and mother of three adult children
- Trained clinical assistant, cand. MA in Danish, has studied theology and is in the process of an MBA
- Has sat on the municipal board in Faaborg-Midtfyn Municipality
- Among other things, has been psychiatry rapporteur, gender equality rapporteur and Chair of the Danish Parliament’s Health Committee
Elected to the main board
Trade union:
Jacob Engmose Astrup, Tanya Sørensen, Sara Askholm, Nicolai Mortensen, Esben Aabenhus
A-kasse:
Jacob Engmose Astrup, Tanya Sørensen, Bodil Boesgaard, Nicolai Mortensen, Esben Aabenhus
