At this year's association meeting, Leader Gute's chairman welcomed Magnus Gustafsson just over 30 participants. The meeting was led by Kjell Genitz who was appointed as meeting chairman.
Leader Gute's operations manager, Ellen Lundqvist, presented the annual report for 2024 and the operational plan moving forward. The annual report for 2024 and the auditors' report were presented and the board was granted discharge from liability for the year 2024.
The meeting decided that the board shall consist of 17 members, representing both non-profit and private and public sectors.
Election of chairman, vice chairman, and board
The meeting elected Magnus Gustafsson, RF-SISU Gotland as chairman of the board for Leader Gute. The vice chairman elected was Gunilla Rosenqvist, Blue Center Gotland.
Members elected to the board are as follows:
Eva Gahnström, Region Gotland (re-election 2 years)
Gunilla Rosenqvist, Blue Center Gotland (re-election, 2 years)
Åsa Dammström, Region Gotland (new election 2 years)
Susanne Welin-Berger, Truffle of Sweden (re-election 2 years)
Alvin Johansson, LRF Gotland (new election 2 years)
Eva Engström, GUBIS, (new election 2 years)
Isabelle Josefsson, LRF Gotland (re-election 2 years)
Patrik Oscarsson, RF-SISU Gotland (re-election 2 years)
Sven Sandström, Visby Diocese (re-election 2 years)
Björn Ahlsén, Gotland's rural community district (by-election 1 year)
Christopher-Robin Maurin, Cultural Association Roxy (re-election 2 years)
Members with an additional year in the mandate period:
Thomas Karlström, Region Gotland
Angelica Andersson Fihn, Region Gotland
Kati Ahtee, Gotland's United Visitor Industry
Mikael Nilsson, LO
Magnus Gustafsson, RF-SISU Gotland
Sören Tillberg, Gotland Household Fishing Association
Presentation of the four new members
Åsa Dammström:
– I work as a strategist focusing on rural development at Region Gotland. Previously, I have worked strategically within both state and municipality. A couple of years ago, I chose to go back to school and learn more about how we can build a sustainable future together. Shortly after, this perfect job came up for me. A job that is about creating conditions for development across Gotland.
– Privately, I am engaged in community life in Bro where I live, because it is important for me and my family to be part of the local community – and because we have so much fun together! And I have a knitting obsession, practice tai chi, try to understand how to get a hazelnut harvest, and enjoy various cultural events when I can.
– Being a member of Leader Gute's board is of course an important piece of the puzzle in my work as a strategist at the region. But being able to take part in all the initiatives for rural development that are ongoing on our island and both being able to help move them forward and to be inspired by clever ideas is what makes it so exciting!
Alvin Johansson:
– I was born and raised in Etelhem and work in agriculture. I also run the company Hö Expressen.
– In my spare time, I play pärk and am active in Etelhem's LRF as well as the Etelhem community association.
– I agreed to become a member of Leader Gute's board because I want to help promote rural development in Gotland. Through Leader Gute, there is a great opportunity to contribute to various projects being implemented.
Eva Engström:
– I have spent most of my professional life as a farmer, together with my husband, with dairy and pig production. For about seven years, I worked as an insurance advisor in the agricultural sector. Nowadays, I work as a self-employed person with rural development for Nygarn Utveckling AB combined with various projects and other assignments.
– In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors in the forest and fields with my dog and socializing with family and friends. I am also involved in Östergarn – Gammelgarn's local heritage association in the event committee, I am the chairperson of the hiking trail Östkustleden, and I am part of the GUBIS Board.
– Since I know what money can mean for realizing various ideas that lead to rural development, I think that Leader Gute has a very important mission to distribute project funds, where I am happy to contribute.
Björn Ahlsén:
– I have worked for 30 years as a cultural manager and cultural strategist within municipal operations in Norrtälje and Gotland, but now I title myself ”cultural bureaucrat emeritus.” I trained many years ago as an economist.
– My interests are birds, nature, culture, and gardening, and I often attend concerts and other cultural events. I no longer work for a salary but do a lot of volunteer work, especially in the Gotland rural community movement where I serve as chairperson of Gotland's rural district. I am also voluntarily engaged in developing cultural activities at Roma royal estate, in the association Svensk Form Gotland, and in the Cultural Association Roxy.
– I accepted to be a member of Leader Gute's board because I am committed to developing and keeping the Gotland countryside alive.