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Winner of the Working Environment Award 2022 Chosen

Published online: 15.11.2022

The winner of the Working Environment Award 2022 was announced on Thursday, 10 November when AAU’s occupational health and safety organisation gathered for the annual conference. The award is given for extraordinary efforts for the working environment, and this year it went to Florian Lorber at the Department of Computer Science.

By Rasmus Simonsen and Line Thellufsen, HR Department. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication

Rector Per Michael Johansen awards the prize, for the seventh year in a row, to a person or group who has made an extraordinary contribution to the occupational health and safety environment at AAU in the past year.

A unanimous Main Occupational Health and Safety Committee decided that the award should go to Florian Lorber, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science.

Go-to person for AAU International Club

Florian Lorber is a dedicated go-to person for the AAU International Club – a club for international staff members and guests. He also helps welcome new international staff to the university, is a main source for answers to questions about life as an international in Denmark, and contributes to the planning and organisation of network meetings and events for international employees. 

After the conference, Florian Lorber told AAU Update that he is incredibly pleased to have won the Working Environment Award:

- It means that my work for the club is acknowledged and appreciated. But moreover, it means that the whole AAU International Club is acknowledged and that the integration and well-being of expats is seen as important.

It is now six years since Florian Lorber came to Denmark from Austria to work at AAU. He quickly joined the AAU International Club to meet others in the same situation, and to figure out how to settle into a new country like Denmark.

- When I first arrived, I had a lot of spare time after work, and very few people to fill it with. Meeting new people – and getting coffee and cake – was really nice.

At the AAU International Club, international staff members share experiences to help each other settle in – at AAU and in Denmark. For example, they share suggestions for leisure activities, arrange picnics and get to know the local associations and clubs together. 

Presentations and exchange of experience

The theme of the occupational health and safety conference this year was the sustainable working life of the future. Speaker, futurist and science communicator Louise Opprud highlighted how research can inspire us to rethink and redesign the way we work. The presentation was followed by a facilitated session where participants focused on incorporating the principles into their own everyday life, team and group. Finally, an inspiration round provided an opportunity for participants to share their ideas with each other.

As previously described on AAU Update, the selection of the winner of the Working Environment Award 2022 was the last time for this award at AAU – a decision taken by the Main Occupational Health and Safety Committee at its meeting in September 2022.

Read more about why here

THE NOMINEES FOR THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AWARD 2022:

ANNE MARIE NIELSEN, DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

With tireless commitment and a positive, trustworthy and loyal approach, Anne Marie Nielsen, for 20 years, has focused on the department's working environment and worked for further improvements.

FLORIAN LORBER, DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

As a dedicated and committed front person for the AAU International Club and as a "go-to" person, Florian Lorber contributes to the planning and organisation of network meetings and events, answers questions from, and welcomes, new international staff at AAU.

THE STAFF ASSOCIATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW

For the physical return to the Department of Law after the coronavirus lockdown, the Staff Association put extra focus the department's social welfare, relationships and sense of community.

MARIANNE NYBORG AND CARLA SMINK, DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING

As occupational health and safety representatives, Marianne and Carla are dedicated, persistent and committed, and approach all working environment tasks and tasks in the department's Liaison and OHS committee in a thorough, serious and professional way.

TINA VESTERGAARD LANGE, AAU COMMUNICATION

Is a committed and helpful occupational health and safety representative and works as a valuable sparring partner to promote well-being for the good of the department's cohesion and for the working environment.