Date of birth: 18 May 1975 in Stjørdal, Nord-Trøndelag
Daughter of psychology specialist Ole Meier Kjerkol (1946–2017) and nurse Bodil Johanne Kjerkol (1949–)

Parliamentary terms

Substitute Member of Parliament no. 2 for Nord-Trøndelag, 2005–2009, Labour Party
Substitute Member of Parliament no. 2 for Nord-Trøndelag, 2009–2013, Labour Party
Member of Parliament no. 1 for Nord-Trøndelag, 2013–2017, Labour Party
Member of Parliament no. 1 for Nord-Trøndelag, 2017–2021, Labour Party
Member of Parliament no. 1 for Nord-Trøndelag, 2021–2025, Labour Party

Substitute periods

Government minister 14 October 2021–30 September 2025, May Britt Lagesen served as substitute member of parliament

Storting committees

2013–2017

Member, Election Committee, 8 October 2013–30 September 2017
Member, Standing Committee on Transport and Communications, 17 October 2013–17 June 2015
Member, Standing Committee on Health and Care Services, 17 June 2015–30 September 2017
Member, Preparatory Credentials Committee, 14 June 2017–30 September 2017

2017–2021

Member, Credentials Committee, 2 October 2017–30 September 2021
Member, Election Committee, 7 October 2017–30 September 2021
Member, Standing Committee on Health and Care Services, 12 October 2017–30 September 2021
Member, Preparatory Credentials Committee, 17 June 2021–30 September 2021

Parliamentary delegations

2013–2017

Delegate, UN General Assembly, 1 October 2016–30 September 2017

Membership of group steering committees

2017–2021

Member, Labour Party Group Steering Committee, 1 October 2017–30 September 2021

Government positions

Government minister, Ministry of Health and Care Services, 14 October 2021 –

Education and professional experience

Education

Nord University, master’s degree in knowledge management 2021
Ole Vig Upper Secondary School, humanities, specialisation in social studies and languages 1991–1994
Norwegian University of Science and Technology, psychology intermediate course, information technology, university preliminary entrance examination 1995–1998
Sør-Trøndelag University College, degree in operation and maintenance of EDP systems 1999–2001

Professional

Cleaner, RO centre, Stjørdal 1990–1994 (part-time)
Au pair, Sallustrau Fontainebleu family, France 1994–1995
Shop assistant, Skomagasinet M/Pettersen 1994–2001 (part-time, some full-time periods in the summer)
Assistant, healthcare centre for persons with mental disabilities (HVPU), Stjørdal Municipality 2001–2002
Teacher, lower secondary level French, Stjørdal Municipality 2003–2007 (part-time, some full-time periods)
Business policy adviser, Allskog BA 2009

Appointments

Municipal political service

Member, Stjørdal Municipal Council 1995–1999, 1999–2003, 1999–2003, 2007–2011
Member, Stjørdal Municipal Executive Board 2003–2007, 2007–2009

County political service

Member, Nord-Trøndelag County Council 2003–2007, 2007–2009
Member, Nord-Trøndelag County Government 2009–2011, chair 2011–2013

Public appointments

Chair, Stjørdal Scrutiny Committee 1993–2003
Vice chair, Nord-Trøndelag Scrutiny Committee 2003–2007
Member, Regional Development Panel for Northern Norway and Northern Trøndelag 2003–2007
Lay judge and arbitrator, Frostating Court of Appeal 2003–2007
Vice chair, Stjørdal Building and Property Board 2003–2007
Member, Stjørdal Youth Council 2003–2007
Corporate assembly member, municipal audit function (IKS) 2003–2009
Corporate assembly member, municipal sector (IKS) 2003–2009
Member, Central Norway Committee 2003–2007
Member, Trondheim Region Cooperation Committee 2005–2009
Member, Værnes Region Regional Board 2005–2009
Corporate assembly member, NTE Holding AS 2007–2009 (chair of nomination committee)
Board chair and project manager, Innovation Norway Nord-Trøndelag 2009–2013
Vice board chair, Regional Research Fund for Central Norway 2010–2013
Chair, Norwegian Sea Council 2011–2012
General meeting member, NTE Holding AS 2011–2013
Chair, Trøndelag Council 2012–2013
Jury member, European Institute for Public Administration (EIPA) – European Public Service Award 2013
Vice chair, Nord-Trøndelag Planning, Finance and Regional Development Committee

Elected party positions

Treasurer/board member, Stjørdal Labour Party 2002–2008
Member, Labour Party Central Executive Committee 2006–2007
Board member, Nord-Trøndelag Labour Party 2006–2008
Member, Labour Party Central Board since 2009
Chair, Stjørdal Labour Party branch 2010–2012

Elected positions in organisations

Board member, Steinvikholm musical theatre (now Opera Trøndelag BA) 2006–2011
Chair, Young Entrepreneurship Trøndelag 2010–2012

Other administrative appointments

Corporate assembly member, Sparebank1 SMN 2004–2011
Board member, Meråker Sanitetsforening Kurbad AS 2005–2007
Board member, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra 2008–2013
Board member, LEN Nyskaping AS 2010–2012