It’s time to introduce the newly elected Board of Pink Programming for the coming year! We’re so excited to present a strong mix of returning board members and new perspectives joining the organisation. United by a shared commitment to diversity, inclusion, and a more equal tech industry, the newly elected board brings together expertise from leadership, engineering, law, product development, organisational growth and community building.

Together, the board will continue working toward Pink Programming’s mission to support women and non-binary people in their tech careers to bridge the gender gap in the industry. Get to know our new and returning board members better here:

Chair: Frida Stjernholm 

Frida Stjernholm has been re-elected as Chair after two impactful years leading the organisation. Frida has a background in leadership, organisational development, and tech-driven transformation, with experience spanning strategy, digital leadership, change management, and board work across both the private and non-profit sectors.

Professionally, Frida works as Senior Management Consultant at Great IT, specializing in tech leadership, digital innovation, and international business. Her academic background includes a Master of Arts in Gender Studies, a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication, and ongoing studies in Digital Leadership and Informatics.

“This year, I’m looking forward to continuing to build a sustainable organisation with stronger long-term foundations – both financially and organisationally – to support Pink Programming’s impact over time,” says Frida.

Vice-Chair: Maj-Britt Christensen

Joining the leadership team as Vice-Chair is Maj-Britt Christensen, a senior technology leader with extensive experience in data, engineering, and organisational transformation. She currently serves as VP Platform Engineering at IKEA Group in Malmö.

Maj-Britt first encountered Pink Programming as a participant, spending evenings at the Malmö office learning JavaScript and being inspired by the volunteer community. That experience sparked a desire to give back to the organisation that helped support her own journey.

Describing herself as “a senior technology leader with a people-first compass and a distinctly pink lens for the future of tech,” she brings both strategic insight and a strong belief in inclusive leadership.

“Together with such a talented group of people, [I look forward to] continuing Pink Programming’s amazing journey through smart priorities and strategic impact,” Maj-Britt says.

Secretary: Nusrat Shaba 

Nusrat Shaba continues her work as Secretary after serving on the board during the past term. With a background in both law and IT, Nusrat has become an important contributor to Pink Programming’s governance and operational development.

Nusrat holds two law master’s degrees – one in European Business Law from Lund University and another in Intellectual Property Law from Uppsala University. She is currently studying embedded systems while working at Ikano as a KYC investigator.

“With a background in law and IT, I enjoy bridging the gap between people, processes, and technology,” Nusrat says. “This year, I’m looking forward to improving processes and making systems more structured, efficient, and easy to maintain at Pink Programming.”

Ordinary Board Member: Sonja Lakner 

Sonja Lakner joins the board with extensive experience from the tech startup and digital product world. Currently Head of Experience at Doconomy, Sonja brings a strong people-centered leadership perspective shaped by years of building and leading engineering teams.

She is passionate about creating inclusive, high-performing cultures and helping people transition from learning to code into thriving professional careers.

Sonja describes herself as someone driven by the belief that “trust and inspiration are the catalysts for extraordinary results,” and says she is excited to contribute her experience to “help paint the tech industry pink.”

Ordinary Board Member: Emelie Gessner-Gozzi 

Emelie Gessner-Gozzi continues on the board, bringing nearly two decades of experience in strategic marketing, digital sales, and brand growth. As CMO at Dirac, she works at the intersection of technology, innovation, and business strategy.

Alongside her executive leadership background, Emelie has extensive experience serving on boards within both companies and Swedish associations, including specialized training in diverse board management.

Ordinary Board Member: Phiphi Tran 

A long-time member of the Pink Programming community, Phiphi Tran has been involved with the organization since 2015. Over the years, she has contributed in many roles, including code mentor, workshop facilitator, project manager, camp leader, and board member.

Today, Phiphi works as an AI Engineer at Mentimeter and previously worked as a Data Scientist. She holds a Master of Science in Engineering Physics from Lund University.

Her deep connection to Pink Programming’s volunteer community and organizational history continues to make her an invaluable part of the board.

Ordinary Board Member: Juulia Suvilehto

Juulia Suvilehto also continues for another term, bringing more than a decade of expertise in data science and AI/ML. She has contributed to Pink Programming both as a volunteer and board member, giving her strong insight into the organization’s mission and operations.

Juulia holds a PhD in Systems Neuroscience from Aalto University and currently works as Staff Data Scientist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

Alternate Board Member: Lily Tsui

Lily Tsui joins the board with more than 12 years of experience in the tech industry, spanning software development, technical project management, implementation, and business development.

She also brings extensive non-profit experience from DataTjej, where she served as Chair of the Board, Internal Auditor, and volunteer over four consecutive years.

Lily is passionate about encouraging more women and non-binary people to enter — and remain in — the tech industry.

“She looks forward to contributing and learning more about Pink Programming,” the nomination states.

Alternate Board Member: Tanya Lytovchenko 

Tanya continues her board engagement after serving during the previous term. Since joining Pink Programming in 2019, Tanya has contributed in several volunteer roles including code mentor, technical support, project manager, and board member.

She currently works as a developer at Quinyx and also founded Paws of Peace, a non-profit supporting animals affected by the war in Ukraine.

Tanya holds a PhD in Economic Theory from Kyiv’s State University of Trade and Economics and brings both technical expertise and a strong commitment to community impact.