Member of the Storting (Norwegian parliament)

2013-2017: Representative No. 2 for Troms County, Conservative Party (Høyre)
2009-2013: Representative No. 4 for Troms County, Conservative Party (Høyre)
2005-2009: Representative No. 7 for Troms County, Conservative Party (Høyre)  

Membership of parliamentary committees

2009-2013: Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs
2005-2009: Standing Committee on Justice

Government positions

From 16.12.2015: Minister of EEA and EU Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
01.01.2014-16.12.2015: Minister of Fisheries, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
16.10.2013-30.12.2013: Minister, Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs
18.06.2004-30.09.2005: State Secretary, Ministry of Health and Care Services
30.10.2001-18.06.2004: Political Adviser, Ministry of Education and Research
20.10.1989-03.11.1990: Personal Secretary, Ministry of Justice and the Police 
 

Education and Professional Experience
Academic qualifications

2001–2004: Management and Organisation, Harstad University College
1984–1985: Media Studies and Mathematics, Volda University College/Tromsø College of Education
1981–1984: Tromsø College of Education (General Teacher Training)

Career history

Appointed County Governor of Troms (on 6 December 2014) with effect from a date to be decided by the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation 
1990-2001: Teacher, Seljestad Lower Secondary School, Harstad, (on leave from 1995-1999)
1987-1989: Secretary of Development Cooperation, Educational Association of the Conservative Party
1985-1986: Teacher, Skånland Central School, Evenskjer

Offices held
Local government

1999- (on leave from 2001): Member of Harstad Municipal Executive Board
1991-1995: Member of Harstad Municipal Council

County government

1995-1999: Deputy Mayor of Troms County Council
1991-1995: Member of Troms County Council and Executive Board

Public appointments

2008-2010: Member of the Board of the restructuring project in Innovation Ytre Lyngen
1999-2002: Chair of the Council on Crime Prevention, (1993-1999: Deputy Chair)
1999-2000: Deputy Chair of the Defence Policy Committee
1997-1999: Member of the Board of the investment company Nordnorsk Vekst A/S
1996-1999: Member of the monitoring committee of the interregional programme for the North Calotte Region
1996-2001: Member of the Board of the North Norwegian Institute of Technology and Innovation (VINN)
1995-1999: Deputy Chair of the Regional Committee for Northern Norway and Nord-Trøndelag
1995-1999: Chair of the Troms Industrial Committee
1995-1999: Chair of the Board of Harstad Hospital, (1991-1995: Deputy Chair)
1994-1995: Member of the committee to review the gender equality apparatus
1989-1997: Member of the National Council for the Norwegian Home Guard

Political appointments

2001-2005: Member of the Conservative Party's Programme Committee
1995: Chair of the Crime Policy Committee of the Conservative Party of Norway
1994-1998: Chair of the Municipal Committee of the Conservative Party (1998–2001: member)
1994-1998: Deputy Chair of the Central Committee of the Conservative Party of Norway, (1986–1991: member)
1990-1991: Member of the Working Committee of the Conservative Party
1986-1990: Deputy Leader of the Young Conservatives
1984-1986: Member of the Central Committee of the Young Conservatives
1983-1984: Member of the Board of Troms Conservative Party
1983-1984: Leader of Troms Young Conservatives, (honorary member in 1997)
1980-1981: Leader of Harstad Young Conservatives  

Appointments in organisations

1996-2001: Member of the Executive Board of the Norwegian Association of Local Authorities (KS)
1996-1997, 1999–2000: Member of the Board of Troms County Sports Association
1996-1999: Second Vice President of the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
1987-1989: Member of the Committee for Norwegian Young People's Associations

Other administrative offices held

2008-2010: Member of the Board of the suspension bridge company Hålogalandsbrua AS
2008-2009: Deputy chair of the Corporate Assembly of Hurtigruten ASA (2006-2008 member)
2003-2006: Chair of the Corporate Assembly of the shipping company TFDS ASA, (2001-2003: member). (TFDS merged with another company in 2007 to form the Norwegian Coastal Steamer Company Hurtigruten ASA)
2000-2010: Chair of the Board of the cultural centre Harstad Kulturhus AS
1995-1999: Member of the Supervisory Board of the bank Harstad Sparebank