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

Membership of the presidium      

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