Political posts

2009-        Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
2008-        Leader of the Centre Party
2005-2009 Minister of Transport and Communications
2005 Elected as member of the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament, representing the Centre Party, Sogn og Fjordane County
2001-2005 Deputy Member of the Storting for Sogn og Fjordane County
2003-2005 Member of Lærdal Municipal Council
2001- Deputy Leader of the Centre Party
1999-2000 Political Adviser, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Kjell Magne Bondevik’s first government
1997-2003 Head of the Centre Party, Sogn og Fjordane County
1995-2005 Member of Sogn og Fjordane County Council
1991-1995 Member of Sogndal Municipal Council

Work experience

2001-2005 Member of various boards, self-employed
2000-2001 Head of Secretariat, IT-forum Sogn og Fjordane
1987-1996 Sales Consultant, Sogn og Fjordane dairy (TINE)
1985-1987 Sales Assistant, Nidar Bergene
1977-2005 Self-employed in agriculture, real estate

Education

1999 Administration and organisation programme, University of Bergen
1995-1999 Undergraduate degree in business administration and ICT, Sogn og Fjordane University College

Other appointments

2004-2005 Board Member, Innovation Norway, Sogn og Fjordane
2003-2005 Board Member, Friskgården Tyin AS
2003-2004 Member of the Commission on Regional and District Development Policy
2003-2005 Board Member, Gjensidige forsikring (insurance company), West Norway region
1999-2003 Executive Board Member, Gjensidige forsikring
1999-2005 Chairman of the Board, Vestlandsforskning
1988-1993 Chairman of the Sogn og Fjordane dairy working committee