1990:

Studies at George Washington University, USA

1980-1981:

Postgraduate studies in political science

1979-1980:

Norwegian State College of Local Government Administration and Social Work, commercial and management programme

1979:

Undergraduate degree in political science, history and public law, University of Oslo

1991-1993:

Deputy Chairman, international department of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions

1989-1991:

Executive officer, international department of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions

1987-1989:

Political adviser for the chairman of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions

2001-2005 :

Member of the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs

1997-2001:

Member of the Enlarged Foreign Affairs Committee, First Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice

1993-1997:

Member of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs

2001-2005 :

Deputy head of the Norwegian delegation to the EFTA and EEA Parliamentary Committees, Member of the delegation 2000-2001

1997-2001:

Deputy member of the Norwegian delegation for Relations with the European Parliament

1993-2000:

Deputy member of the Norwegian delegation to the EFTA and EEA Parliamentary Committees

1993-1997:

Member of the Norwegian delegation to the Assembly of Western European Union, Deputy Head of the delegation 1993-1995

1986-1987:

Political adviser for the Minister of Development Cooperation

1992-1993:

Chairman of the committee for assessing welfare services in the Armed Forces

1988-1991:

Member of the Norwegian National Commission for UNESCO

1993-1998:

Chairman of the Bærum Labour Party

1990-1993:

Member of the board of the Bærum Labour Party

1989-1993:

Chairman of the Haslum Labour Party

1987:

Secretary of the International Solidarity Committee of the Norwegian Labour Movement

1985-1986:

Campaign secretary of the International Solidarity Committee of the Norwegian Labour Movement

1983-1989:

Member of the Labour Youth League Central Executive Committee

1975-1978:

Member of the Oslo Labour Party committee of representatives

1992-1993:

Deputy Chairman, Bærum faglige samorg.

1985-1986:

Election campaign secretary for the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions

1983-1985:

Chairman of the Solidarity Council for Central America

1982-1983:

Chief employees’ representative for the Armed Forces