Linda Bjurholt from LKAB is ‘Fe of the Year’ 2025

Linda Bjurholt, Area Manager for Logistics at LKAB, has been awarded ‘Fe of the Year’ 2025 (‘Fe’ stands for iron in the periodic table). The award goes to a woman in the mining and steel industry, for special efforts in or for the industry. This year’s winner was presented at an award ceremony in Stockholm, who is the fourth in order to receive the award.

– “It is an incredible honor and means a lot to me personally. More women are needed in the mining and steel industry, so it is important to have role models to encourage more people to want and dare to enter the game. But it may be even more important that men, who are currently the norm bearers, make sure to shift the norms. Gender equality work needs to be driven by those who can have the most influence, and these are still men,” says Linda Bjurholt.

She also emphasizes the importance of the transition work LKAB is now carrying out.

– It will make a big difference on so many levels in terms of climate, automation and digitalization to develop the business into a sustainable and long-term mining. Malmbanan (an approx 500-km railway line running between Narvik and Luleå) is also a necessary part of the operation.  Cooperation with other actors must continue to develop capacity there too,” says Linda.,” says Linda.

Only 23% of employees in the mining and steel industry are women. To remain globally competitive, the industry needs to be attractive to anyone with the right skills – especially given the huge recruitment needs the industry faces.

Jury’s motivation:

“With outstanding commitment, great clarity and strategic acuity, Fe 2025 has contributed to the company’s and the industry’s development for over 20 years. Fe 2025 is a role model in modern leadership, where trust and curiosity are at the center. Linda Bjurholt’s efforts during crisis situations show exceptional drive, while working long-term to optimize production flows and strengthen the organization.

As a leader, she has moved up and raised both environmental issues and logistics on the agenda. In her current role, she has handled some of the company’s biggest challenges. While skillfully driving the logistics department on an internal improvement journey, she has, by persistently highlighting the shortcomings of the railway infrastructure, also put the issue on the national agenda. With her combination of responsibility, determination and impressive ability to unite people, Linda Bjurholt is a very worthy winner.”

Fe of the Year is a collaboration between the Swedish Associations for Mines, Mineral and Metal Producing industry, Svemin and Jernkontoret together with the employer organization Industriarbetsgivarna.

About Linda Bjurholt

Born in 1980 in Umeå, graduated as a civil engineer from Umeå University. Has worked at LKAB for 20 years, where she has held roles as engineer, laboratory manager, environmental manager and work environment manager. Since 2022, she has been the Area Manager for Logistics at LKAB.

Photo: Svemin