Mr Stefan Mahlstein
Stefan Mahlstein’s engagement with Scouting reflects a deep personal commitment to helping young people build character, confidence and a sense of belonging. As a champion of “Scouting for All” — an initiative to bring Scouting to children in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas — Stefan sees the movement not only as a heritage institution but as an urgently relevant force in a world that is increasingly fragmented and uncertain.
Stefan joined the World Scout Foundation community when he became a member of the Baden Powell Fellowship in April 2015. His commitment to the Fellowship deepened over the following years, and from 2022, he has served as a Board Member and Vice Chair of the Swedish chapter of BP Fellows, playing a crucial part in developing the organisation and driving significant growth in new members.
Became a member of the World Baden-Powell Fellowship in 2015 and joined the WSF Board in 2026.
His leadership is characterized by a genuine commitment to the values of the Scout Movement and an ability to inspire and engage others. Through his extensive network, he has strengthened the Swedish chapter’s standing and contributed to a more dynamic and active community.
Stefan’s commitment extends beyond Sweden. For several years he has actively supported young Scouts in Bangladesh, providing them with access to further education — an effort that has changed the lives of many young people and reflects his belief in Scouting’s global mission to shape the leaders of the future.
He has subsequently served as Co-Chairman of the Institutional Fundraising Committee and as a Member of the Strategy Advisory Group from 2023 to 2025, before joining the Fundraising & Marketing Committee in October 2025. Stefan joined as Board Member of the World Scout Foundation on the 7th of May 2026.
King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 80th Anniversary Foundation for the Scout Movement
Stefan was one of the initiators behind the establishment of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 80th Anniversary Foundation for the Scout Movement. He was the unifying and driving force behind the foundation’s creation — from idea to reality — and has been responsible for its establishment, organisation and fundraising efforts. He now serves as Chairman of the foundation, leading its mandate to provide long-term funding for initiatives combating polarisation and social exclusion among young people through Scouting in Sweden and globally.
Gustaf Adolf Medal
In recognition of his wide-ranging contribution to Swedish and international Scouting — from local recruitment work and international solidarity to the establishment of a royal foundation — Swedish Scouting awarded Stefan the Gustaf Adolf (GA) Medal. The medal was presented by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf on 9 May 2026.
Professional Background
Professionally, Stefan is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor and board director with over 25 years of experience building, scaling and governing digital businesses. He began his career as a tax lawyer at the Stockholm Tax Authority before joining Avanza Bank, where he led the establishment of the bank’s German branch in Frankfurt — growing it from two to 37 employees in six months — and later served as Head of Business Development. In that role he was the inventor of the new more flexible life insurance product that Avanza was first to launch in Sweden and that was subsequently adopted across the financial sector.
In 2003 he established Praetorium AB, his private investment vehicle, through which he has made over 100 early-stage investments across Fintech, Insurtech, SaaS, deep tech, e-commerce and sustainability. He is co-founder of Pineberry and Gofido, and maintains an active portfolio of more than 30 companies. Notable exits include Griffeye Technologies and Paliscope.
Stefan has served on the boards of listed and private companies across a wide range of industries, including Wise Group AB (listed), Acroud AB and Aktieinvest. He holds a Master of Laws from Uppsala University and is a Certified Board Director (Styrelseinstitutet — Swedish Academy of Board Directors). He is currently a Senior Advisor to North Point Securities.
Stefan lives in Stockholm, Sweden. He is personally motivated by the extraordinary potential of Scouting to change lives — particularly for young people in underserved communities — and sees his role at the World Scout Foundation as an active, long-term commitment to the mission.