Petter Säterhed, head of public environment security at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), has been named Safety Ambassador of the Year 2025.
The award was presented on October 14 during the Security Banquet at Stockholmsmässan and was established by the think tank Security for Business and Society (Snos) together with SecurityUser.com.
The recognition follows MSB’s rapid training response after the tragic mass shooting at Campus Risbergska in Örebro earlier this year.
Within weeks of the incident, Petter Säterhed and his colleagues launched a national training program for school staff to strengthen safety and preparedness in educational environments.
The program quickly gained traction and has been praised by schools, municipalities and security experts across the country.
Rapid response after the tragedy
During the spring, more than 40 training sessions were held in various locations throughout Sweden, reaching around 1,000 participants from schools and municipal organizations.
This autumn another twenty or so courses were added, bringing the total to about 1,600 people who have received training through MSB’s initiative. The agency expects the number to reach 2,000 participants before the end of the year.
“We cleared the slate and refocused. Ten days after the attack the training was finalized, and a month later the first course was held in Malmö,”
said Petter Säterhed at the award ceremony.
The jury highlights Säterhed’s ability to act swiftly in crisis and his commitment to raising risk and security awareness across Sweden.
His work is seen as an example of how knowledge and cooperation can produce tangible improvements in public safety.
Teamwork behind the success
At the ceremony Säterhed emphasized that the achievement is not a solo effort but the result of a strong team at MSB.
He singled out Jonas Eriksson, Peter Hällsten and Ebba Hellström as key contributors to the project and stressed the importance of collaboration between national agencies, municipalities and schools.
– This award belongs to the entire team. We have shown that by combining experience, dedication and determination, you can quickly make a difference where it matters most, Säterhed said.
Long-term, systematic security work
Petter Säterhed now leads MSB’s work on security in public environments, focusing on protection against terrorism and hostile threats.
He has authored several guidance documents, including Event Safety Guide, Protection Against Vehicle Attacks and Built-in Security – Protection in Urban Planning.
His contributions have helped develop practical methods for risk analysis, physical protection design and crisis preparedness in public spaces.
“Petter Säterhed demonstrates how knowledge and cooperation can create real security. His and MSB’s work after the school shooting in Örebro is a clear example of that,”
says Markus Lahtinen, chairman of Snos.
A recognition of Swedish safety and cooperation
Being named Safety Ambassador of the Year 2025 is seen as recognition of long-term, systematic efforts to increase security in Swedish society.
Petter Säterhed represents a new generation of security leaders who combine strategic thinking with operational decisiveness.
MSB’s initiative has not only improved safety in schools but also inspired other sectors to raise their preparedness against threats, violence and everyday risks.
Training sessions will continue through the winter and are expected to extend to municipal services, healthcare facilities and public events in the future.
“We need a safer Sweden – and we build it together,” Säterhed concluded at the award ceremony at Stockholmsmässan.