Political Staff

Kristin Halvorsen was 17 October 2005 appointed Minister of Finance. Her political staff includes:

Roger H. Schjerva
State Secretary (The Socialist Left Party) as of 17 October 2005
Born in 1968. Domicile: Oslo

Mr Schjerva 's education includes
University Preliminary Entrance Examination (Ex. phil.) from the University of Oslo (1988)
Intermediate Subject in Economics, University of Tromsø (1993)
Graduate Studies in Economics, University of Oslo (1996-2000).

Mr Schjerva has worked for the Socialist Left Party's Parliament Group from 1998 as Financial Adviser and Leader of Secretariat. He has also held various political positions, including Political Secretary, County Councillor, and Member of the Board of Oslo Socialist Left Party.

Roger Schjerva has work experience from various areas, including organisational work, construction, the hotel business, and nursing and social work.

Roger Sandum
State Secretary (The Socialist Left Party) as of 17 October 2005
Born in 1970. Domicile: Rælingen

Mr Sandum's education includes
University Preliminary Entrance Examination (Ex. phil.) from the University of Oslo (1990)

Studies in photography, Strømmen videregående skole (college) (1992).

Roger Sandum has worked as Photographer and Press Reporter for Romerikes Blad (1992-2000). He has held the positions Press Secretary, Head of Information, and Political Adviser to the Head of the Parliamentary Group of The Socialist Left Party (2000-2005).

Mr Sandum was elected Representative to the County Council of Akershus (1991-1995)

Kjersti Markusson
State Secretary (The Socialist Left Party) as of 17 October 2005
Born in 1955. Domicile: Evenes

Mrs Markusson's education includes
University Preliminary Entrance Examination (Ex. phil.) from the University of Tromsø (1974),
Three year teacher training from the Teacher Training College of Tromsø (1978),
English studies from the Teacher Training College of Tromsø (1979),
Leadership studies from the University College of Bodø (1991).

Markusson has worked as a teacher at Ramsund School, Tjeldsund (1979-1989) and Liland School, Evenes (1989-1992). She was the leader of the Regional Office for Development of Expertise, Ofoten (1992-1998) and Headmaster at Liland School, Evenes from 1998 (leave of absence since 2003).

Kjersti Markusson has been a Municipal Council Representative in Evenes since 1991. She was Member of the County Council of Nordland from 2000 (leave of absence since 2003). From 2003-2005 she worked as Government Executive of Finance for the County of Nordland.

Geir Axelsen
State Secretary (The Norwegian Labour Party) as of 17 October 2005
Born in 1965. Domicile: Brussels, married, 3 children

Mr Axelsen's education includes:
Master of Economy (Cand.oecon.) from the University of Oslo, 1994
Master of Public Administration (MPA) 2003, Harvard University.

Work experience:
From 2005, Axelsen was engaged as Embassy Counsellor / Special Delegate (for economic and financial affairs) at the Norwegian Mission to the European Union. He worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance during the period 1997-2005, including being Assistant Director at the Budget Department since 1999.
His work in the Ministry included:
Senior Executive Officer/Adviser: Work on coordinating state budget matters, analyzing underlying increase in expenditures, and following up the budget system.
Assistant Director: Responsible for the Ministry's liaison with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the state banks. This includes policy towards industries, energy matters, stock-exchange introduction for Telenor, Statoil, and government ownership.

Axelsen was also Party Secretary for Oslo Labour Party (1994-1997).

Bjørn Arild Gram
State Secretary (The Norwegian Centre Party) as of 17 October 2005
Born in 1972. Domicile: Steinkjer

Mr Gram's education includes
Intermediate Subject in History from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim (2004),
MBA from the University College of Bodø (2000),
Economics/Management and Economics/Administration from the University College of Nord-Trøndelag (1991-1997).

Mr Gram was Head of Section at Telenor Mobil from 2000-2005. He has also held various positions for the Centre Party, including County Chairman for the Centre Party of Nord-Trøndelag (from 2004).

Sylvi Annie Bratten
Political Adviser (The Socialist Left Party) as of 4 January 2006
Born in 1973. Domicile: Oslo

Ms Bratten 's education includes
Main Subject Political Science, University of Oslo (2003)
Elementary Courses in Middle East and North Africa Studies, University of Oslo
Elementary Courses in Sociology, University of Oslo
University Preliminary Entrance Examination (Ex. phil.) from the University of Tromsø

Sylvi Bratten held the position Project Manager for Gambit Hill & Knowlton before coming to the Ministry of Finance. She has also worked as Political Adviser to the Socialist Left Party's Parliament Group (2002-2005). From 2003-2005 Ms Bratten was Vice-Chairwoman and Representative of Oslo to the Socialist Left Party's National Council.