Date of birth: 4 November 1961 in Strand, Rogaland
Daughter of steelworker Kåre Otto Vervik (1924–1994) and housewife/businesswoman Grete Serigstad (1931–2013)

Parliamentary terms

Substitute Member of Parliament no. 3 for Rogaland, 2009–2013, Christian Democratic Party
Member of Parliament no. 5 for Rogaland, 2013–2017, Christian Democratic Party
Member of Parliament no. 7 for Rogaland, 2017–2021, Christian Democratic Party
Member of Parliament no. 7 for Rogaland, 2021–2025, Christian Democratic Party

Substitute periods

Government minister, 22 January 2019–30 September 2021, Geir Sigbjørn Toskedal served as substitute member of parliament
Government minister, 1 October 2021–14 October 2021, Hadle Rasmus Bjuland served as substitute member of parliament

Storting committees

2013–2017

Member, Standing Committee on Health and Care Services, 1 October 2013–30 September 2017

2017–2021

Substitute member, Election Committee, 7 October 2017–22 January 2019
Member, Standing Committee on Health and Care Services, 12 October 2017–19 October 2017
Chair, Standing Committee on Health and Care Services, 19 October 2017–22 January 2019

2021–2025

Member, Enlarged Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, 19 October 2021–30 September 2025
Member, Standing Committee on Health and Care Services, 19 October 2021–30 September 2025
Member, Election Committee, 26 October 2021–30 September 2025

Parliamentary delegations

2013–2017

Substitute member, Delegation to the Nordic Council, 24 October 2013–30 September 2017

2017–2021

Substitute member, Delegation for Arctic Parliamentary Cooperation, 26 October 2017–22 January 2019

Membership of group steering committees

2013–2017

Member, Christian Democratic Party Group Steering Committee, 16 October 2013–30 September 2017

2017–2021

Member, Christian Democratic Party Group Steering Committee, 6 October 2017–22 January 2019

2021–2025

Chair, Christian Democratic Party Group Steering Committee, 19 October 2021–30 September 2025

Government positions

Government minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 22 January 2019–14 October 2021
Acting government minister, Ministry of Children and Families, 7 October 2019–20 October 2019
Government minister, Ministry of Children and Families, 20 September 2021–14 October 2021

Education and professional experience

Education

Jørpeland Primary and Lower Secondary School 1968–1977
Strand Gymnasium 1977–1980
Bible school in Oslo, Staffeldsgate 1981–1982
Red Cross Nursing College in Stavanger 1984–1987
NKI, administrative management/finance 1992–1994
University of Stavanger, further education, intensive care nurse 1997–1999

Professional

Youth worker, Ryfylket og Jæren Indremisjon (home mission) 1980–1984 (on leave 1981–1982)
Stavanger University Hospital 1987–2007 (various nursing and management positions)
Ryfylke og Jæren Indremisjon (home mission) 1995–1997 (50% position alongside 50% position at Stavanger University Hospital)

Appointments

Municipal political service

Member, Gjesdal Municipal Executive Board 2003–2007
Mayor, Gjesdal Municipal Council 2007–2011, 2011–2013 (elected to the Storting autumn 2013)

County political service

Member, Rogaland County Council 2007–2011, 2011–2013 (elected to the Storting autumn 2013)

Public appointments

Vice chair, Gjesdal Municipality Appeals and Complaints Committee 2004–2007
Member, Gjesdal Municipality Planning and Finance Committee 2004–2013
Member, Gjesdal Municipality Election Board 2004–2013
Substitute member, Rogaland kommunerevisjon IKS (audit function) 2004–2007
Substitute board member, IPark AS, Rogaland 2007–2011
Member, Rogaland County Municipality Transport Committee 2007–2011
Second substitute member, Rogaland County Municipality Regional and Culture Committee 2007–2011
Member, Jæren Resource Centre 2007–2011
Second substitute member, Rogaland County Municipality Administration and Pay Committee 2007–2011
Substitute board member, Stavanger 2008 IKS 2007–2009
Member, Transport Plan for Northern Jæren 2007–2013
Member, Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, Rogaland 2007–2013
Corporate assembly member, Lyse Energi (power company), Gjesdal Municipality 2007–2013 (municipality representative)
Board member, Sør–Rogaland Fire Service 2007–2013
Board member, Gjesdal road toll company, Gjesdal Municipality 2007–2013
Member, Gjesdal Municipality Land and Property Committee 2007–2013
Board member, Jærmuseet group of museums, Gjesdal Municipality 2007–2011
Board member, Næringsfondet business fund, Gjesdal Municipality 2007–2011
Member, Ålgård Centre Steering Group, Gjesdal Municipality 2007–2011
Member, Gjesdal Municipality Administrative Committee 2007–2013
Board chair, Gjesdal Næringspark AS, Gjesdal Municipality 2007–2011
Member, Gjesdal Municipality Pay Committee 2007–2013
Corporate assembly member, IVAR, Gjesdal Municipality 2007–2013
Member, Jærrådet council, Gjesdal Municipality 2007–2013
Member, Child Welfare Service Committee 2010–2011
Board member, Jæren Product Development 2011–2013
Second substitute member, Rogaland County Municipality Appeals Board 2011–2013
Chair, Rogaland County Municipality Water Region Committee 2011–2013
First substitute member, Vestlandsrådet council 2011–2013
Member, Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities National Assembly 2011–2013

Elected party positions

Chair, Gjesdal Christian Democratic Party 2004–2006
Director of studies, Rogaland Christian Democratic Party 2006–2008, chair 2008–2014
Member, Christian Democratic Party Central Executive Committee 2008–2014
Second vice chair, Christian Democratic Party 2015–2017, first vice chair 2017–2021, acting chair 2019 (17 January 2019–27 April 2019), chair since 2021
Member, Christian Democratic Party Central Board since 2015

Elected positions in organisations

Substitute member, Parliamentary Services User Panel 2017–2019