The 2021 Norad Conference: Speaker bios
At the Norad Conference 2021, we ask: Are we heading towards a future with more cooperation or more ‘going solo’? How can we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and are we really on the right track? Will this be the decade of joint solutions to global challenges, or are there more likely to be growing tensions and more nationalism?
With a stellar team of Norwegian and international experts, we will shed light on important topics regarding health, climate and the economy.
The speaker bios are listed alphabetically.
Touch the plus sign to read more about each one.
Speaker bios
Amanda Glassman
Amanda Glassman is executive vice president and senior fellow at the Center for Global Development and also serves as chief executive officer of CGD Europe. Her research focuses on priority-setting, resource allocation and value for money in global health and aid, as well as data for development. Prior to her current position, she served as director for global health policy at the Center from 2010 to 2016, and has more than 25 years of experience working on health and social protection policy and programs in Latin America and elsewhere in the developing world.
The Norad Conference 2021: Glassman is moderator for the panels in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: @glassmanamanda from @CGDev
Antoinette Monsio Sayeh
Antoinette Monsio Sayeh is Deputy Managing Director, IMF.
Antoinette Monsio Sayeh has been a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Center for Global Development (CGD) since November 2016 and was Co-Chair for the recently concluded 19th Replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA19), the World Bank’s Fund for the poorest. She previously oversaw and significantly enhanced the International Monetary Fund’s engagement with its sub-Saharan African members as Director of the African Department between July 2008 and August 2016.
As Minister of Finance in post-conflict Liberia (January 2006 through June 2008), she led the country through the clearance of its long-standing multilateral debt arrears, the HIPC Decision Point, the Paris Club, and its first Poverty Reduction Strategy, significantly strengthening its public finances and championing public financial management reform. Before joining President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Cabinet, Ms. Sayeh worked for the World Bank for 17 years, including as Country Director for Benin, Niger, and Togo; Senior Country Economist for Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as an Advisor in the Bank’s Operations Policy Vice Presidency and as Assistant to its principal Managing Director. Before joining the Bank, Ms. Sayeh worked in economic advisory positions in Liberia’s Ministries of Finance and Planning.
The Norad Conference 2021: Sayeh delivers a keynote speech in the opening session on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: Representing @IMFNews
Bård Vegar Solhjell
Bård Vegar Solhjell is Director General of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Norad, since January 2020. Mr. Solhjell came to Norad after 1,5 years as Secretary General of WWF Norway – World Wide Fund for Nature Norway.
From 2001 to 2017 Mr. Solhjell held senior positions at the Norwegian Socialist Left Party (SV). From 2007 to 2015 he was Vice-chairman. He was member of the Parliament from 2013 to 2017 and prior to that he was Minister of Education 2007-2009 and Minister of the Environment 2012-2013. Bård Vegar Solhjell has comprehensive leadership experience and has years of practice in decision making. Mr. Solhjell holds a master’s degree in Political Science, with Sociology, Comparative Politics, and History of Ideas, from University of Oslo and University of Bergen. He has written several books.
The Norad Conference 2021: Solhjell opens the conference on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 January. Solhjell speaks in Norwegian, however the speech on Wednesday 26 January will be texted in English.
Twitter: @bardvegar from @noradno
Carmen M. Reinhart
Carmen M. Reinhart is Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. Assuming this role on June 15, 2020, Reinhart provides thought leadership for the institution at an unprecedented time of crisis. She also manages the Bank’s Development Economics Department. She is on public service leave from Harvard Kennedy School, where she is the Minos A. Zombanakis Professor of the International Financial System. Previously, she was Senior Policy Advisor and Deputy Director at the International Monetary Fund and held positions as Chief Economist and Vice President at the investment bank Bear Stearns. She also serves in the Advisory Panels of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the International Monetary Fund. Reinhart has been listed among Bloomberg Markets Most Influential 50 in Finance, Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers, and Thompson Reuters' The World's Most Influential Scientific Minds. In 2018 she was awarded the King Juan Carlos Prize in Economics and NABE’s Adam Smith Award, among others. She holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University.
The Norad Conference 2021: Reinhart delivers a keynote speech in the session on Economy and ‘Growth and jobs within planetary boundaries’ on Wednesday 27 January.
Twitter: @carmenmreinhart representing @WorldBank
Dag-Inge Ulstein
The Minister of International Development is responsible for international development efforts in countries outside the OSCE, the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan. He is also responsible for development cooperation under the auspices of the UN system, the World Bank, the regional development banks and other global funds and programmes. In addition, he is responsible for Norad, Norec and Norfund.
The Norad Conference 2021: Ulstein participates in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: @dagiulstein from @Utenriksdept (Norwegian) & @NorwayMFA (English)
Dag O. Hessen
Dag O. Hessen er professor i biologi og leder av Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene (CBA) ved UiO. Hessen leder UNESCOs internasjonale ekspertgruppe “Universities and the 2030 agenda”. Hessen forsker på evolusjonære og økologiske problemstillinger, og har skrevet er lang rekke artikler og populærfaglige bøker.
The Norad Conference 2021: Hessen participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Dan Banik
Dan Banik is professor of political science and director of the Oslo SDG Initiative at the Centre for Development and the Environment, University of Oslo. His research interests include poverty, food security, famine, legal empowerment, development aid and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Prof. Banik has previously served as the head of the Norwegian-Finnish Trust Fund in the World Bank for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (TFESSD) and on the Board of the Norwegian Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s Foundation. His books include Political Transition, Poverty and Inclusive Development in Malawi: The Democratic Dividend (with Blessings Chinsinga, Routledge, 2016), The Legal Empowerment Agenda: Poverty, Labour and the Informal Economy in Africa (2011, Ashgate), Poverty and Elusive Development (2010, Scandinavian University Press) and Starvation and India’s Democracy (2009, Routledge). Prof. Banik hosts a popular weekly podcast show, In Pursuit of Development.
The Norad Conference 2021: Banik participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
David M. Beasley
David M. Beasley is Executive Director of the World Food Programme. Before coming to WFP in April 2017, Mr Beasley spent a decade working with high-profile leaders and on-the-ground programme managers in more than 100 countries, directing projects designed to foster peace, reconciliation and economic progress. He travelled to as many as 30 countries a year, organizing, leading or participating in conferences and missions in Kosovo, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen, among others. His work has allowed him to develop deep relationships with leaders around the world. As Governor of the U.S. state of South Carolina from 1995 to 1999, Mr Beasley guided the state during years of economic transformation, helping to reshape the state’s economy into a healthy, diverse and robust market.
The Norad Conference 2021: Beasley delivers a keynote speech in the opening session on Tuesday 26 January.
Elisabeth Grieg
Elisabeth Grieg is co-owner at Grieg Group and Chair at the Grieg Maturitas board. Long-term leadership experience from the private sector and organizations in the business community. A contributor to the public debate on issues relating to sustainable business, climate change, poverty reduction, and social responsibility. And awardee and advocate for gender equality and empowerment. Several years of experience in shipping and the maritime industry.
The Norad Conference 2021: Grieg participates in the session on Economy and ‘Growth and jobs within planetary boundaries’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: Representing @TheGriegGroup
Erik Feiring
Erik Feiring er seniorrådgiver i Norad, i seksjon for kunnskapsprogrammer. Han har tidligere arbeidet med bærekraft og ansvarlige investeringer i næringslivet som rådgiver i Ernst & Young og SIGLA, og med skatt og ulovlige pengestrømmer i Verdensbanken og Norad.
The Norad Conference 2021: Feiring participates in the session on Economy and ‘Growth and jobs within planetary boundaries’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: @ErikFeiring from @noradno
Helen Clark
Helen Clark is a former New Zealand Prime Minister and a Former UNDP Administrator.
She currently Chairs the Boards of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. Helen also serves on other public good Advisory Boards.
Clark is a frequent contributor to Conferences, and events, on issues related to Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Women’s Leadership.
The Norad Conference 2021: Clark participates in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: @HelenClarkNZ represents @PMNCH
Hulda Holtvedt
Hulda Holtvedt er talsperson i Grønn Ungdom.
The Norad Conference 2021: Holtvedt participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: @HuldaHoltvedt representing @Oslopartiet
Idar Kreutzer
Idar Kreutzer er adm. direktør i Finans Norge. Han var konsernsjef i Storebrand fra 2000 til 2012. Kreutzer har hatt en rekke ulike styreverv, og er i dag styreleder i Aschehoug Forlag, styremedlem ved Universitetet i Oslo, og medlem i Norges Handelshøyskoles Advisory Board. Kreutzer er medlem av Klima- og miljøministerens klimaråd. I oktober 2018 overleverte Kreutzer sin rapport om tilgangen til risikokapital i Norden, på oppdrag fra Nordisk Ministerråd, og i juni 2018 overleverte han finansnæringens veikart for grønn konkurransekraft til Klima- og miljøministeren. I juni 2015 til oktober 2016 var han medlem i regjeringens ekspertutvalg for grønn konkurransekraft. I 2013 ble han valgt som medlem i Strategirådet for Statens pensjonsfond utland. Fra 2001 til 2012 var han rådsmedlem i WBCSD, og var Co-Chair for prosjektet Vision 2050. Kreutzer er utdannet siviløkonom ved Norges Handelshøyskole.
The Norad Conference 2021: Kreutzer participates in the session on Economy and ‘Growth and jobs within planetary boundaries’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: Representing @Finnor
Joy Phumaphi
Joy Phumaphi is Executive Secretary, African Leaders Malaria Alliance since 2010. She is Co-Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Independent Accountability Panel for Women Children and Adolescent health. The panel is responsible for the landmark global report “Caught in the COVID 19 Storm”, a hard hitting expose on the plight of the worlds women, newborns, children and adolescents during the pandemic. Joy is co-chair of the Lancet Commission on health in the zero carbon economy, and a member of the COVID 19 Task Force on Global Health, Diplomacy and Cooperation. She has previously served the People of Botswana as Principal Local Government Auditor, responsible for all Local Authorities in the country and as Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank.
The Norad Conference 2021: Phumaphi participates in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: @joy_phumaphi representing ALMA_2030
Leslie London
Leslie London is professor of Public Health, University of Cape Town. London is a public health specialist with an interest in human rights, public health ethics, farm worker health, prevention of alcohol related harms and the health hazards of pesticides. He is the head of the Division of Public HealthMedicine, leads the Health and Human Rights programme and is an active researcher in the Centre for Occupational andEnvironmental Health Research. He provides technical support to the provincial XDR TB panel and to the public healthfunctions of the Health Impact Assessment Directorate in the Health Department.
The Norad Conference 2021: London participates in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Kate Raworth
Kate Raworth is an economist focused on making economics fit for the 21st century. Her book Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist is an international bestseller that has been translated into 18 languages, and was long-listed for the 2017 Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year award. She is co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab, working with cities, business, communities and educators to bring about transformation. She teaches at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute and is Professor of Practice at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
The Norad Conference 2021: Raworth delivers a keynote speech in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January.
Twitter: @KateRaworth from @ecioxford
Dr. Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin
Dr. Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin became the Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in March 2020. Prior to this appointment, she served as State Minister of Health since November 2018, leading the national health programs under the Health Sector Transformation Strategy.
Dr. Lia is an obstetrician and gynecologist with extensive experience as a clinician, in health care leadership, academia, and hospital and program management, with over 20 years’ experience.
Prior to joining the ministry of health, Dr. Lia Tadesse served as Program Director at the University of Michigan’s Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she has successfully partnered with several institutions, in both Ethiopia and Rwanda, to increase the quality of reproductive health services and training.
Serving as the CEO and Vice Provost of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) in Addis Ababa for seven years, Dr Lia led the hospital’s services and academic reforms, including forging collaborative relationships with several national and international stakeholders. Dr. Lia was also Project Director of USAID’s Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) at Jhpiego-Ethiopia prior to joining CIRHT after leaving SPHMMC.
The Norad Conference 2021: Tadesse participates in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: @lia_tadesse from @FMoHealth
Maria Berg Reinertsen
Maria Berg Reinertsen er samfunnsøkonom, journalist i Morgenbladet og forfatter av flere bøker deriblant Reisen til Bretton Woods (2017).
The Norad Conference 2021: Reinertsen is the moderator for the panels in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ and Economy and ‘Growth and jobs within planetary boundaries’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Marie Nielsen
Marie Nielsen is currently the General manager of Penda Paper recycling in Ethiopia and a partner at Antler East Africa. She's a former Associate Partner at McKinsey, and was awarded "Årets ledertalent" by E24 in 2017.
The Norad Conference 2021: Nielsen participates in the session on Economy and ‘Growth and jobs within planetary boundaries’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Marie Storli
Marie Storli er leder i Rethinking Economics Norge, og utdannet samfunnsøkonom ved Universitetet i Oslo med spesialisering innen miljøøkonomi. Til daglig jobber Marie med bærekraft i Myldring, et arbeidereid konsulentselskap. Hun har også jobbet i forskningsavdelingen til Positive Money Europe.
The Norad Conference 2021: Storli participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: @StorliMarie represents @rethinkingnorge
Ole Erik Almlid
Ole Erik Almlid har jobbet i NHO siden 2013, først som direktør med ansvar for kommunikasjon og regioner, og fra 2015 som viseadministrerende direktør med ansvaret for næringspolitikken i NHO.
Almlid har tidligere vært nyhetsredaktør i Aftenposten, sjefredaktør i Østlendingen og Hamar Dagblad, sjefredaktør og daglig leder i Avisenes Pressebyrå og politisk redaktør i Trønder-Avisa. Han har i tillegg hatt en rekke mellomlederstillinger og vært journalist i flere mediehus.
The Norad Conference 2021: Almlid participates in the session on Economy and ‘Growth and jobs within planetary boundaries’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: @oleerikalmlid represents @NHO_no
Ole F. Norheim
Ole F. Norheim is director of Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting (BCEPS), Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen. He is also adjunct professor of global health at the Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. He chairs WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Essential Health Benefit Packages.
The Norad Conference 2021: Norheim participates in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: @OFNorheim from @UiB
Pavan Sukhdev
Pavan Sukhdev is a scientist by education, an international banker by training, and an environmental economist by passion. Pavan's pioneering work on corporate sustainability metrics, the invisible economics of nature, and economic transition to an inclusive green economy, such as when he led the UN study TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity), has been recognised through several awards, including the Tyler Prize (2020); Blue Planet Prize (2016); KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek Prize (2015) and the Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development (2013).
The Norad Conference 2021: Sukhdev delivers a keynote speech in the opening session on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: @PavanSukhdev representing @WWF
Richard J. Hatchett
Richard J. Hatchett, MD, is Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a partnership of public, private, philanthropic and civil organizations that supports the development of vaccines against high priority public health threats and technology platforms to allow the rapid development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Dr. Hatchett was previously the acting Director of the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and served as Director of Medical Preparedness Policy on the Homeland and National Security Councils under Presidents Bush and Obama, respectively. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt and completed clinical training in internal medicine and medical oncology at Cornell and Duke.
The Norad Conference 2021: Hatchett participates in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Twitter: @DrRHatchett representing @CEPIvaccines
Per Espen Stoknes
Per Espen Stoknes er utdannet psykolog med dr.grad i grønn økonomi og arbeider som førsteamanuensis og leder for BI Senter for Bærekraft og Energi. Han er også utpekt av EU Commission som medlem av Europa Horizon Mission Board for Climate and Societal Transformation to 2030.
The Norad Conference 2021: Stoknes participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: @estoknes from @HandelshoyskBI
Sveinung Rotevatn
The minister of Climate and Environment has the responsibility for The Government's policies on the climate and the environment.
The Norad Conference 2021: Rotevatn participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: @Rotevatn from @Climateforest and @kldep
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected as WHO Director-General for a five-year term by WHO Member States at the Seventieth World Health Assembly in May 2017.Prior to his election as WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012–2016.Dr Tedros served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Health from 2005–2012. Born in the city of Asmara, Eritrea, Dr Tedros holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Community Health from the University of Nottingham and a Master of Science (MSc) in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the University of London. Dr Tedros is globally recognised as a health scholar, researcher, and diplomat with first-hand experience in research, operations, and leadership in emergency responses to epidemics.
Born in the city of Asmara, Eritrea, Dr Tedros holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Community Health from the University of Nottingham and a Master of Science (MSc) in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the University of London. Dr Tedros is globally recognised as a health scholar, researcher, and diplomat with first-hand experience in research, operations, and leadership in emergency responses to epidemics.
The Norad Conference 2021: Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus delivers a keynote speech in the session on Global health and ‘Vaccine nationalism and global distribution’ on Tuesday 26 January.
Tellef Thorleifsson
Tellef Thorleifsson has been CEO of Norfund - the Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries - since the autumn of 2018. Prior to Norfund, he was co-founder and managing partner of Northzone. Thorleifsson was instrumental in building Northzone to become a leading international venture fund. Since inception in 1996 it has raised more than EUR 1.5 billion through 9 funds and invested in more than 130 companies.
Thorleifsson is also a co-founder of the Voxtra Foundation which has been making targeted investments and grants within agribusiness in East Africa. Thorleifsson has had several directorships.
The Norad Conference 2021: Thorleifsson participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: @tellefthor representing @norfund_
Trine Lise Sundnes
Trine Lise Sundnes leder LOs Internasjonale avdeling og er styreleder i FN-sambandet. Hele sitt voksne liv har hun jobbet for å fremme et anstendig arbeidsliv nasjonalt og internasjonalt. Som tillitsvalgt gjennom mange år, i LOs ledelse, som forbundsleder i Handel og Kontor og som styremedlem i ILO har hun virket for å forene arbeidsliv, klima og rettferdig omstilling.
The Norad Conference 2021: Sundnes participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)
Twitter: @lotrinelise representing @lonorge
Ulrika Åkesson
Ulrika Åkesson has 25 years of experience in development cooperation within the areas of environment and climate change from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. She has experience in developing policies and methods and responding to government requests related to environment and climate change. She has organised multi-stakeholder conferences, participated as an expert and acted as a moderator in various events related to the area.
Furthermore, she is holding the position as the Chair of OECD DAC´s Network on Environment and Development Cooperation (ENVIRONET). Since 2018 she is working as a Lead Policy Specialist on Environment and Climate Change at Sida, appointed by the Director General, as one of five Lead Policy Specialists for five prioritised areas in Swedish development cooperation, with overarching responsibility for the area externally and internally.
The Norad Conference 2021: Åkesson participates in the session on Climate and ‘Green reconstruction and Norwegian development assistance’ on Wednesday 27 January. (In Norwegian)