Biography
Parliamentary terms
2017–2021 Member of the Storting for Vestfold County, Labour Party
2013–2017 Member of the Storting for Vestfold County, Labour Party
2009–2013 Member of the Storting for Vestfold County, Labour Party
2005–2009 Member of the Storting for Vestfold County, Labour Party
2001–2005 Substitute Member of the Storting for Vestfold County, Labour Party
1997–2001 Member of the Storting for Vestfold County, Labour Party
1989–1993 Substitute Member of the Storting for Vestfold County, Labour Party
1985–1989 Substitute Member of the Storting for Vestfold County, Labour Party
2009–2013 President of the Storting
Storting committees
2017–2021
Chair, Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs
2013–2017
Second Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Affairs
2009–2013
Chairman of the Election Committee
Member of the Enlarged Foreign Affairs Committee
2005–2009
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Local Government and Public Administration
2000–2001
Chairman of the Finance Committee
1997–2000
Member of the Finance Committee
Other positions in the Storting
2005–2009 Member of the Labour Parliamentary Group Steering Committee
Government positions
2008–2009 Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion
2006–2008 Minister of Trade and Industry
1996–1997 Minister of Agriculture
1992– State Secretary for welfare issues, Ministry of Social Affairs
Local government
1987–1992 Mayor of Lardal
1983–1987 Member of Lardal Municipal Council
Political appointments
2002– Member of Labour’s central executive committee
1992–1996 Labour Party secretary
1992– Political adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1990–1992 Deputy member of Labour’s central executive committee
1990–1992 Chairman of Vestfold County Labour Party
1981–1984 Chairman of Lardal (local) Labour Party
Education and work experience
2002 Studies in journalism
2002 Forest Worker
1979–1992 Forest Worker
1977–1979 Smelting plant worker
1976 Upper secondary school diploma/leaving certificate