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Michael Larsson
Honorary President, Founding President 2013–2017
Göran Larsson
Vice President, President 2017–2021
Celebrating a decade of dedication: The Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation
A decade has swiftly passed since we inaugurated the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation, and it’s with immense joy and gratitude that we reflect on this journey.
Our story of integrating research into the development of our products begins nearly three decades ago, in 1996, within our family enterprise, Medela. We were contemplating the evolution of Medela’s breast pumps, an endeavor that had hitherto been primarily shaped by the engineering brilliance of my father and the pioneering research by Einar Egnell in 1955.
Through my own research, I discovered the different sucking patterns of babies, especially the differences between nutritive and non-nutritive sucking. Inspired by this work, I convinced my family and our management team to base our next-generation products on solid scientific research. My search for a recognized researcher led me to Professor Peter E. Hartmann at The University of Western Australia. This is how our Symphony breast pump was born, a software-driven marvel that seamlessly translates the latest research into state-of-the-art technology.
Our collaboration with Professor Peter E. Hartmann thrived on transparency; Peter insisted on publishing all results, whether positive or negative. This transparency, a testament to his integrity, also served as a compass that protected us from potential pitfalls and gave us a competitive edge.
Our initial collaboration led me to naively assume that a bit more research would unlock all secrets of breastfeeding, only to find out that each answer unveiled a wealth of intriguing questions, leading to groundbreaking knowledge, from refining our understanding of breast anatomy to discovering stem cells in milk. Although we lost Professor Peter E. Hartmann a few years ago, his work is carried on under the capable leadership of Professor Donna Geddes.
Despite these advances, it has astonished me for many years how a field as fundamental as human lactation has a scant pool of about 600 researchers. Perhaps this is because the subject of breastfeeding can really only be approached in a multidisciplinary way. Recognizing this dearth, and driven by my passion for breastfeeding research, our family decided around 15 years ago to allocate assets towards a long-lasting charitable cause. Thus, in 2013, the Family Larsson- Rosenquist Foundation was conceived with the vision of a world in which every child is granted an optimum start in life through the benefits of breastmilk.
A heartfelt acknowledgment goes to the countless scientists, experts, and collaborators who have advanced the field of human milk. The Foundation has grown, fortified by international alliances and mutual learning. We express our gratitude to everyone across academia, health, policy, philanthropy and government sectors for embracing our ambitious vision.
Under the skillful leadership of our Foundation Board and Managing Director, we’re leveraging our insights for global and local impacts. We’re forging novel partnerships, all targeting enhanced health for future generations.
The United Nations likens the path to sustainable development to a “great collective journey”. It’s an honor for our family legacy to join this voyage, both internationally and domestically. There’s still much ground to cover to elevate breastfeeding rates sustainably, but together, our potential is boundless.
From humble family aspirations, we’ve blossomed into a global foundation. The Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation remains unparalleled as the sole global philanthropic organization exclusively devoted to promoting breastfeeding and its lasting impacts.
Our commemorative book underscores our proudest milestones and celebrates our invaluable partners. Dive in and join us in marking the Foundation’s momentous first decade.
In the name of the founding Larsson-Rosenquist family,
Michael Larsson