Kari Gjesteby
Kari Gjesteby | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 16, 1947 Oslo, Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, civil servant |
| Years active | 1972–2013 |
| Known for | Minister of Trade and Shipping (1981), Minister of Justice and the Police (1990–1992), first female State Conciliator of Norway (2009–2013) |
Kari Gjesteby (born 16 May 1947) is a Norwegian Labour Party politician. Although she never held a seat in the Norwegian Parliament, her political career includes three periods as State Secretary, a brief tenure as Minister of Trade and Shipping from February to October 1981, and serving as Minister of Justice and the Police between 1990 and 1992. Following her political engagements, she assumed directorial positions at the Bank of Norway, the National Library of Norway, and the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille. Notably, from 2009 to 2013, she was appointed as the first female State Conciliator of Norway.
Early career
Born in Oslo to politician Omar Gjesteby and Ingrid Elisabeth Thoresen, she graduated from Oslo Commerce School in 1965 and pursued economics studies at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration from 1967 until 1970. Her early professional experience included roles at Landsbanken (1966–67) and Universitetsforlaget (1967–72). Engaged in politics from a young age, she led the secondary school division of the Workers' Youth League and was active on the local board of the Labour Party.
Political career
Gjesteby began her governmental work in 1972 as a consultant within the Ministry of Local Government and Labour, later becoming political secretary at the Ministry of Government Administration and Consumer Affairs. In January 1976, she was appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of Church and Education, a position she held until 1978. She returned to government service in 1979 as State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance. On 4 February 1981, during Gro Harlem Brundtland's initial cabinet, Gjesteby was named Minister of Trade and Shipping, serving until October that year. Afterwards, she acted as secretary for Brundtland’s parliamentary group until May 1986, when she took up the role of State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, departing in 1988. From November 1990 to September 1992, under Brundtland’s third cabinet, she fulfilled duties as Minister of Justice and the Police.
Later career
Between her political appointments, Gjesteby contributed to the Nordic Council of Ministers during two periods (1978–1979 and 1983–1986). In 1990, she was designated director at the Bank of Norway. She led the National Library of Norway from 2002 to 2004 and headed the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille between 2005 and 2006. In 2009, she broke new ground as the inaugural female State Conciliator of Norway.
Her extensive board involvement encompasses membership at the Bank of Norway (1983–1989), the Nordic Investment Bank (1988–1990; 1992–1996—with deputy chairmanship during her final four years), Norsk Hydro (1990), SAS Norway (1997–2001), as well as ongoing roles with HAV Eiendom (since 2003) and Veidekke (since 2004). She has held deputy chair positions at the Guarantee Institute for Export Credits (1993–1995) and chaired boards including the Cancer Registry of Norway (1988–1990), Asplan Viak (1997–2006), and Kings Bay AS (2000–2002). Additional leadership includes chairing the Nordic Arts Centre in Suomenlinna, along with board chair roles at Dyno Industrier (1996–2000) and OBOS (1990).
Her governance experience spans multiple industries such as finance, manufacturing, real estate development, cultural organizations, and export credit institutions, illustrating a wide-ranging leadership portfolio.
Gjesteby resides in Enerhaugen.