IVA’s Gold Medal 2025: Helena Hedblom – a trailblazing leader in the mining industry
Throughout her career, Helena Hedblom has made a remarkable contribution to the mining industry and is today one of the most influential leaders in Swedish business. With a background in materials engineering, she has risen from Head of Research to CEO of Epiroc AB – reshaping Sweden’s mining sector through strategic innovation, a strong focus on sustainability, and modern, inclusive leadership.
Born in 1973 in Härnösand, Helena Hedblom holds a Master of Science in Materials Engineering from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. She began her career at Atlas Copco AB in 2000, working in research and development within the Rock Drilling Tools division in Fagersta, where she later became Head of Materials Development.
Over the following years, she took on several key leadership roles within the division, including responsibility for product development and as Head of the development department. She also led the product company Atlas Copco Secoroc before being appointed President of the Rock Drilling Tools division in 2013.
On 1 January 2017, she became President of the Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area, based in Örebro, and joined Atlas Copco’s Group Management. Epiroc AB was listed as an independent company in 2018 and Helena Hedblom took over as CEO in 2020 – bringing with her two decades of experience within the group.
A clear agent of change
Helena Hedblom has built a unique career in a historically male-dominated industry and is a driving force for greater gender equality and diversity in mining. But her influence extends well beyond that. She is known for her ability to articulate and communicate a clear strategic vision while engaging the entire organisation in putting it into action.
Under her leadership, Epiroc has undergone major transformation in electrification, digitalisation and automation – with the goal of creating a more sustainable, safe and efficient mining sector. She advocates ambitious goals that drive both growth and profitability while reducing the climate footprint – for Epiroc as well as its customers.
Through strategic investments, particularly in automation and aftermarket services, Epiroc has nearly doubled its turnover in five years and achieved industry-leading margins.
Leadership through responsibility and innovation
Helena Hedblom is a modern, pragmatic and confident leader who delivers results through responsible business practices and innovation. She leads by example – with transparency, honesty and a strong moral compass – and fosters ownership and development across the organisation. Her passion for sustainability, profitability and personal growth makes her one of the most influential leaders in Swedish industry today.
Helena Hedblom serves on the boards of Stora Enso Oy and Wallenberg Investments AB. In 2024, she was named Sweden’s Most Powerful Businesswoman by Dagens industri. She has been a Fellow of IVA’s Division of Mechanical Engineering since 2021.
“It’s important to accept that things won’t always go as planned. As a leader, you need to allow that — and create a culture where it’s okay to fail, because that’s how creativity is given space to grow within an organisation.”
Helena Hedblom
Citation for IVA’s Gold Medal
Helena Hedblom, CEO of Epiroc AB, is awarded IVA’s Gold Medal for her outstanding contributions to Sweden’s mining industry. She has played a central role in the development of several companies within the Atlas Copco Group, and since becoming CEO of the listed company Epiroc AB, has developed it into one of Sweden’s 20 largest corporations.
IVA's Gold Medal
For more than a century, IVA has celebrated excellence in technology, economics, business and society by awarding Gold Medals to people who, through their outstanding achievements, have helped to create a better society.
IVA's Gold Medal is awarded for meritorious work within the academy's field of activity.
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