Sigrid Solnik was appointed as CEO of the President Kaljulaid Foundation, an organisation established to advance issues close to the heart of former Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid. The Foundation’s previous CEO, Taavi Linnamäe, will continue to contribute to the organisation as a member of its newly established supervisory board.
“Five years ago, we faced the question of how a president who had left office but was by no means ready to retire could continue to make an active contribution to society. We decided to establish this Foundation to carry forward the issues that mattered deeply to both of us. From the very beginning, we wanted not merely to discuss these issues, but to create initiatives and activities that make a tangible difference to society – whether preventing intimate partner violence, strengthening democracy or standing up for equal opportunities,” said Taavi Linnamäe, co-founder of the President Kaljulaid Foundation and its CEO until now.
In his view, after four and a half years of activity, the organisation has reached a stage where its core areas of work are clearly established, leading experts are driving key areas of work, and there is a strong ambition to make an even greater impact in the years ahead.
For Sigrid Solnik, the opportunity to bring fresh energy and a new perspective to advancing democracy, equality and human rights was a strong motivation for taking on the role. “These are issues that matter to me personally as well. I like the fact that the President Kaljulaid Foundation acts as an amplifier, focusing on areas where additional support, different ways of thinking and the willingness to take on a big but concrete piece of the puzzle are needed.”
Sigrid has spent many years working on sustainable development, protecting vulnerable groups and strengthening a culture of constructive public debate. In recent years, she led the Estonian Refugee Council’s local unit. Previously, she headed the activities of the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation, served as programme director of the Opinion Festival and worked in debate education at the Estonian Debate Society. She has also worked as a trainer and moderator for more than a decade and has given guest lectures on anthropology at the University of Tartu and the Estonian Academy of Arts.
With the appointment of a new CEO, the President Kaljulaid Foundation has also established a supervisory board, with Taavi Linnamäe continuing to contribute to the organisation in this role.
“I am deeply grateful to Taavi for his energy, commitment and ability to draw attention to the problems in our society. He has helped build the Foundation into an organisation that is willing to tackle difficult issues, look for solutions and, importantly, actually put those solutions into practice. We have gone through a major period of growth over the past year, and I believe Sigrid’s experience in leading change will help us maintain that momentum and take the Foundation into its next stage of development,” said Kersti Kaljulaid.
The President Kaljulaid Foundation is a non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organisation established in 2022. It works to support vulnerable groups in society, advance democracy, human rights and freedoms, and promote opportunities for sport and physical activity in Estonia and beyond. The Foundation also provides substantive and logistical support for former President Kersti Kaljulaid’s civic and international activities.