Spring hovednavigationen over
Candidacy of Denmark for the ICAO Council 2025-2028
The Danish candidacy
Denmark has a long-standing tradition of taking responsibility in international aviation. We shoulder this responsibility together with the six other Nordic countries through NORDICAO, where we work to guide ICAO towards more sustainable solutions, new technologies, and a high level of aviation safety.
These are essential elements – not only for the future of aviation, but for global development. Denmark supports the principle that global aviation must advance in line with ICAO’s vision of “No Country Left Behind”.
Together with Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Denmark forms the Kingdom of Denmark, whose airspace spans a significant part of the North Atlantic. Aviation ensures the cohesion of the Kingdom and supports vital connections between regions and families.
Denmark is a strong advocate for ambitious climate goals, constructive international cooperation, and a more streamlined regulatory approach to aviation with reduced bureaucracy – providing the aviation sector with the best possible conditions to develop its own solutions. Furthermore, Denmark supports the idea that everyone should have the opportunity to contribute to the many fields that aviation encompasses.
With a Danish candidacy for the ICAO Council, we aim to strengthen the global agenda for a more sustainable and safe aviation sector. We look forward to sharing our experiences and solutions in close cooperation with the rest of the world.
Photo: Copyright Københavns Lufthavne A/S
The Danish candidate for the ICAO Council Elections 2025 - Henrik Ellermann
Henrik is a highly experienced civil servant with more than 25 years in senior positions in various ministries and agencies within defence, food, environment and aviation.
In addition to this experience, Henrik has served in the Royal Danish Navy, where he is a trained naval officer and has, among other things, completed a senior staff course at the Collège Interarmée de Defénse (École Militaire) in Paris.
For the past six years, Henrik has worked as a head of division at The Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority (CAA) and has been responsible for 50+ employees and various domains, including the aerodrome domain, Flight Crew Licensing and Medical, Environment, International and legal coordination.
Henrik has participated in two ICAO General Assemblies, the CAAF/3 conference in Dubai in 2023 and a large number of ICAO meetings and events.
Work experience
2019 until now: Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority ( Head of Division)
› Domains: FCL/FSTD/AML, Medical, Environment, Aerodromes, international and legal coordination
› Member of the Management Advisory Body (MAB) and alt. member of the Management Board, EASA
› Member of the EASA Committee
2014 - 2018: Faxe Utility Company Inc. (CEO)
2009 - 2014: Ministry of Environment and Agencies (Head of Division, Deputy director general)
2002 - 2009: Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fishery and Agencies (Head of Division, Chief of staff)
1982 - 2001: The Danish Ministry of Defense and the Royal Danish Navy (Commander)
› Naval service and operations
› Aide-de-camp (PA) to the Minister of Defense
› Staff officer
Education and main training
1982-1986: Naval officers training, Royal Danish Navy Academy
1989-1990: Junior Staff Course, Danish Defense College
1997-1998: Senior Staff Course, Collège Interarmée de Defénse (École Militaire), Paris
2013: Executive Management Programme, INSEAD, Fontainebleau/France
2016: Executive Board Programme, INSEAD, Fontainebleau/France
Denmark has been involved from the very beginning
A little more than 80 years ago, the “Constitution of Aviation” was signed. On 7 December 1944, Denmark and 51 other nations signed the Chicago Convention, laying the foundation for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Since then, we have been an active part of ICAO and of the unique Nordic cooperation – NORDICAO – which today includes Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, and Latvia.
Denmark is also a member of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), which brings together 44 European states to discuss and coordinate issues ahead of ICAO Assemblies and Council elections. For over a thousand years, the Nordic countries have been historically connected, sharing common values rooted in trust, fairness, and community.
Since the very first election in 1947, the Nordic countries have jointly held one of the 36 seats on the ICAO Council through NORDICAO – taking turns to ensure direct influence on the development and improvement of our global aviation system.
The NORDICAO countries are known for being well-organized, with a constructive and cooperative approach to international tasks. They work actively to find common and innovative solutions that benefit both aviation and the climate.