He was born in the department – now he will lead it

On a Wednesday in December, the contract with Health’s new Head of Communications was finalized.

At the same time, he received a spontaneous invitation to the department’s Christmas party, which was to take place two days later.

When he showed up for the celebration, he had already memorized the names and faces of every staff member. He went around shaking hands and greeting people personally: “Hi Vibe. Hi Sebastian. Hi Jakob…”

Thune Korsager comes across as a man who makes an effort – both in his relationships and in his work.

From 2 February, he will spend his daily working life in the very building where he himself came into the world. He is one of the approximately 190,000 children born in the old maternity hospital, now known as the Victor Albeck Building. Here, he will head a communications department of nine employees and settle into a new role and routine.

You grow more selective with time

Thune Korsager joins from a position as Deputy Director and Head of Administration in Health and Care at the City of Aarhus. Now, he will be tasked with strengthening the faculty’s influence and visibility.

This includes elevating strategic communication and the dissemination of health research and education. He will bring fresh energy to internal communication and strengthen dialogue with political decision-makers.

He is looking forward to it.

“It’s not to flatter anyone, but when I asked around in my network, I heard nothing but positive things about Health – about the culture, the leadership, and the people I would be working with. That means a lot,” he says.

“There are strong academic environments in every corner of the university, and I’m looking forward to becoming part of it all.”

Focus on happy older adults

Over 20 years in Health and Care, Thune Korsager has collaborated extensively with Aarhus University, particularly within public health.

“It has always raised the level and opened up entirely new perspectives,” he says, highlighting among other things:

• A collaboration with the late Professor Carsten Obel, where a wide range of researchers were invited to inspire municipal employees under the heading: “How do you design a happy nursing home?”
   
• The establishment of the Development Centre for Health Literacy in collaboration with Professor Helle Terkildsen Maindal.
   
• A collaboration with Professor Lars Larsen from the Department of Psychology. The research showed that structured conversations with gerontopsychologists could improve older people’s perception of their own health and well-being.
  This resulted in a shared professorship between AU and the City of Aarhus. Today, six gerontopsychologists are still employed by the municipality as a direct outcome of the project.

“And as an external examiner in the public health programmes, I’ve met one fascinating and talented lecturer after another,” says the Head of Communications.

A Northerner at heart

Thune Korsager lives in a thatched house in Illerup between Skanderborg and Ry. Close to nature and with a view of the sky.

As the child of two medical specialists, he moved around the country quite a bit growing up. Although he has lived in Aalborg, Copenhagen, Odense and Aarhus, he identifies most strongly with northern Jutlanders.

“I really appreciate the down-to-earth nature of people from Northern Jutland. They rarely try to make themselves seem bigger or smarter than they are. And you’re judged on what you do – not on what you say you can or will do.”

Communication can change the world

With a degree in economics (cand.oecon.), Thune Korsager is not a classic communications director, but he has worked with communication throughout his career and describes himself as a super-generalist.

He sees a clear connection between communication, behavior, and the part of economics that deals with utility.

“For me, communication and utility theory are closely related. Often, the purpose of communication is to influence or change the recipients’ behavior. If that is to succeed, they should preferably experience greater value. Or at least the smallest possible reduction in utility and value if the world changes – for example through budget cuts, illness, or other life crises. I have no doubt that intelligent and insightful communication makes the world a better place,” he says.

Challenging logics and norms

Thune Korsager is deeply interested in ideas and philosophy and often finds inspiration by drawing on insights from other fields and disciplines.

“You know that feeling when, least expected, something moves you? Or creates a resonance, as the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa calls it. It can be a person. An article. An exhibition. A scent or a poem. I believe you can actively seek out resonance and allow yourself to be inspired by entirely different domains and areas of expertise,” he says.

He mentions, for example, a project in his previous job where the City of Aarhus worked to make nursing homes feel more like real homes.

Together with, among others, sound artist and AU associate professor Marie Højlund, he worked with soundscapes and noise reduction to reduce the institutional feel.

“I hope I come to Health with a slightly different approach. My ambition has always been to create a work culture where we challenge existing logics and norms. That is especially important in communication – because if it becomes dull and conformist, the audience switches off,” he says.

“When you bring someone like me on board, with 20 years of experience in political and organizational communication, you should absolutely feel that you’ve gained new perspectives – and some relationships and networks that are useful,” declares the faculty’s newest head of department, who is most of all looking forward to new colleagues and new knowledge.

“I love knowledge. Not as a means to make money, impress others, or gain power. But as an end in itself. New knowledge can literally give me butterflies in my stomach.”

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Do you have a talent that isn’t work-related?

My days would be numbered in a circus, a choir, or a creative club. But I’m pretty handy with a ball. I’m fast, too, and have good reflexes – both verbally and physically, haha.

What’s your favorite place outside your home?

Anywhere along the West Coast. Preferably with strong winds and a big dog. Just like the band Nephew sings: “North Sea, come on and blow me into motion…” I also enjoy sitting at Lynfabrikken on Vestergade or grabbing a hot dog at Aalborg Stadium.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’m insanely boring. If I were on Tinder, people would swipe me into no man’s land once they heard about my hobbies. I play tennis, padel, and pickleball, read books, cook slow food, watch sports, and try – often unsuccessfully – to tap into my grown sons’ interests.

What makes you laugh?

I have a soft spot for the absurd and the grotesque. My favorite podcast is No Such Thing As A Fish, where four Brits elaborate on the week’s fun facts, weaving in absurd and surprising knowledge about everything from science to pop culture. But in the right company, I can laugh at almost anything – just not humor that humiliates or excludes others.

What does the algorithm fill your feed with?

I try to limit my use of social media. But on YouTube, the algorithm tends to serve me either sports or something essential about philosophy or meditation. A mix of sport and being present in life.

Contact

Head of communications Thune Korsager
Aarhus Universitet, Health
Phone: 40 62 66 13
Mail: tko@au.dk

This text has been machine translated