Madelene Rydén, Area Manager Military Defense, Swedish Security and Defense Companies
Madelene Rydén is the area manager for military defense at the Security and Defense Companies (SOFF), which is the trade association representing about 250 member companies in Sweden. SOFF’s mission is to create the best possible competitive conditions for member companies by promoting their market access and trade exchange and the association is in great demand in the light of the great growth that is currently taking place in the entire defense area. Madelene has several years of experience from various roles at the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and is therefore well grounded in the defence sector, both in terms of its challenges and opportunities. Her role at SOFF includes having the main responsibility for cooperation and collaboration with the defence authorities, with emphasis on FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces. She is also responsible for the work and specific issues related to the association’s members, which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These include access issues, financing, and access to information. Madelene holds a Master’s degree in Societal Risk Management and worked for several years as a policy advisor before joining the defence sector.