Biography
Date of birth: 10 August 1955 in Vennesla, Vest-Agder
Daughter of psychiatrist Endre Jørgen Steen Henriksen (1913–1984) and secretary/housewife Randi Thorborg Løvstad (1914–2007)
Parliamentary terms
Substitute Member of Parliament no. 1 for Vest-Agder, 2005–2009, Labour Party
Member of Parliament no. 2 for Vest-Agder, 2009–2013, Labour Party
Member of Parliament no. 2 for Vest-Agder, 2013–2017, Labour Party
Member of Parliament no. 2 for Vest-Agder, 2017–2021, Labour Party
Member of Parliament no. 2 for Vest-Agder, 2021–2025, Labour Party
Membership of the Presidium
2021–2025
Fourth Vice President of the Storting, 25 November 2021–30 September 2024
Storting committees
2009–2013
Member, Election Committee, 8 October 2009–30 September 2013
Member, Standing Committee on Labour and Social Affairs, 20 October 2009–30 September 2013
2013–2017
Member, Credentials Committee, 1 October 2013–30 September 2017
Member, Standing Committee on Justice, 17 October 2013–30 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 Family and Cultural Affairs, 12 October 2017–30 September 2021
Member, Preparatory Credentials Committee, 17 June 2021–30 September 2021
2021–2025
Member, Credentials Committee, 1 October 2021–30 September 2025
Substitute member, Election Committee, 9 October 2021–30 September 2025
Member, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, 19 October 2021–20 October 2021
Member, Enlarged Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, 19 October 2021–20 October 2021
First vice chair, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, 20 October 2021–26 November 2021
First vice chair, Enlarged Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, 20 October 2021–26 November 2021
Member, Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, 26 November 2021–30 September 2025
Parliamentary delegations
2009–2013
Personal substitute member, Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 22 October 2009–30 September 2013
Personal substitute member, Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), 9 October 2012–30 September 2013
2013–2017
Delegate, UN General Assembly, 1 October 2013–30 September 2014
Member, Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 12 November 2013–30 September 2017
2017–2021
Member, Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 7 November 2017–30 September 2021
2021–2025
Member, Delegation for Relations with the European Parliament, 19 October 2021–20 October 2021
First vice chair, Delegation for Relations with the European Parliament, 20 October 2021–26 November 2021
Member, Delegation to the Inter-parliamentary conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), 28 October 2021–26 November 2021
Member, Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 28 October 2021–30 September 2025
Membership of group steering committees
2013–2017
Whip, Labour Party, 16 October 2013–30 September 2017
2017–2021
Whip, Labour Party, 1 October 2017–30 September 2021
Member, Labour Party Group Steering Committee, 1 October 2017–30 September 2021
2021–2025
Member, Labour Party Group Steering Committee, 18 October 2021–24 November 2021
Government positions
State secretary, Ministry of Health and Care Services, 3 December 2007–3 April 2009
Education and professional experience
Education
Primary and lower secondary school, Øvingsskole, Vennesla, Oddernes, Tordenskioldsgate and Kongensgate 1962–1971
Kristiansand Cathedral School, English and French 1971–1974
University of Oslo, university preliminary entrance examination 1974
Agder Regional College, various subjects 1976–1982
Kristiansand Teacher Training College, half-year course in special needs education 1979–1982
Kristiansand Nursing College 1982–1985
Stavanger Red Cross Nursing College, specialist psychiatric nurse 1987
University of Oslo, cand. mag. degree 1987
Agder University College, administration and management 1993–1994
Nordiska Folkovårdhögskola Gothenburg, master’s degree in human sciences 2000–2005
Professional
Care assistant, Eg Hospital 1976–1985
Nurse/specialist nurse, psychiatric healthcare, Eg Hospital 1985–1988
Ward nurse, A-klinikken, Vest-Agder County Municipality 1987–1994
Manager, A-klinikken, Vest-Agder County Municipality 1994–2000
Specialist adviser/head of development, Research and Development Unit, Drug and Addiction Control Department, Sørlandet Hospital 2000–2007
Adviser, Centre for Psychotherapy and Psychosocial Rehabilitation 2003–2005
Chair, National Expert Network for Children of Parents with Mental Illnesses or Drug Addictions 2007–2008
Appointments
Municipal political service
Substitute member, Kristiansand City Council 1999–2003, member 2003–2007, 2007–2008
Substitute member, Kristiansand Municipal Executive Board 2003–2007, 2007–2009 (on leave 3 December 2007–1 May 2009)
Public appointments
Board secretary, foundation in support of the Dr Oscar Olsen fund for the promotion of drug research since 1996
Substitute member, Kristiansand Client and Child Welfare Committee 1999–2003, chair 2007, 2009
Member, Kristiansand Health and Social Affairs Committee 2003–2007, 2009
Chair, Kristiansand Small Boats Harbour Committee 2003–2007
Associate judge, Agder Court of Appeal2003–2007
Board member, Women’s Network 2005–2006
Vice President, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly since 2018
Elected party positions
Board member, Kristiansand Labour Party 1997–1999, chair 2004–2005
Board member, Labour Party Women’s Network 2004–2005
Chair, Vest-Agder Labour Party Women’s Network 2004–2007
Board member, Vest-Agder Labour Party since 2005
Elected positions in organisations
Member, Norwegian Nurses Organisation County Board 1987–1990, chair 1990–1993
Board member, Vest-Agder Sports District 1988–1993
Board member, Norwegian Nurses Organisation 1993–2000
Member, Parliamentary Services User Panel 2011–2017
Board Member, AV-OG-TIL 2014
Publications
Buckley, Jorun Jacobsen and Kari Henriksen: Æ du gal?–Om oppvekst på Eg sykehus, Hertervig Stavanger 2000
Enes, Bjørn (ed.): A–klinikkens history, Kristiansand 2005
Enes, Bjørn (ed.): Psykiatriens history på Sørlandet, Kristiansand 2006