Ann-Kristin Olsen
Encyclopedia
Ann-Kristin Olsen is a Norwegian jurist and civil servant. Known as the first female chief of police
in Norway, and the first female Governor of Svalbard
, she has served as County Governor of Vest-Agder since 1998.
shortly before the end of World War II
; her mother chose to give birth here due to the wartime German occupation of Norway. The family soon moved to Kristiansand
, and Olsen grew up here. After finishing her secondary education at Kristiansand Cathedral School
in 1965, she enrolled in law studies, graduating with the Cand.jur. degree in 1972. In her young days, she reportedly attended the first International Women's Day
parade in Oslo.
in the whole of Norway, stationed in the city of Halden
. In this position she was responsible for investigating the large murder case in Tistedalen
.
From 1995 to 1998 she was Norway's Governor of Svalbard
, again being the first woman to hold the position. She had to cope with several accidents, including the consuming of her headquarters by fire, the 1996 Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801
disaster and the Barentsburg
mining disaster of 1997. In 1998, at the expiration of her pre-designated period, she was appointed as the new County Governor of Vest-Agder. In 2006 she was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for her work.
She has been the chair of Crown Prince and Crown Princess’ Humanitarian Fund, vice chair of Kings Bay AS and Bjørnøen AS
and board member of the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation
, the Norwegian Police University College
and the University of Tromsø
. She has also been a member of the Council of Europe
Committee to oversee the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, and is the deputy leader of the Norwegian Criminal Cases Review Commission. In this position, she has voted against a review of the espionage case of Arne Treholt
.
She is married to teacher Henrik Rolf Pettersen since 1974, has two children, and resides in Kristiansand.
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
in Norway, and the first female Governor of Svalbard
Governor of Svalbard
The Governor of Svalbard represents the Norwegian government in exercising its sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago .The position reports to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice, but it maintains all Norwegian interests in the area, including environmental protection, law enforcement,...
, she has served as County Governor of Vest-Agder since 1998.
Early life
She was born in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
shortly before the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; her mother chose to give birth here due to the wartime German occupation of Norway. The family soon moved to Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, and Olsen grew up here. After finishing her secondary education at Kristiansand Cathedral School
Kristiansand Katedralskole
Kristiansand katedralskole , known in Latin as Schola Christiansandensis, is a high school in Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway. It is the oldest high school on the southern coast of Norway, having been founded in 1686. Originally, the school was located near the cathedral in the center of the town...
in 1965, she enrolled in law studies, graduating with the Cand.jur. degree in 1972. In her young days, she reportedly attended the first International Women's Day
International Women's Day
International Women's Day , originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and...
parade in Oslo.
Career
She worked as a deputy judge in Indre Follo District Court from 1975 to 1976, and after switching to the local police force, she became the first female police inspector in the district. In 1983 she became the first female chief of policeChief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
in the whole of Norway, stationed in the city of Halden
Halden
is a both a town and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The seat of the municipality, Halden is a border town located at the Tista river delta on the Iddefjord, the southernmost border crossing between Norway and Sweden.-History:...
. In this position she was responsible for investigating the large murder case in Tistedalen
Tistedalen
Tistedalen is a part of Halden, Norway. Originally four kilometers from the town centre, the area, from the start growing up around a saw mill, has now been engulfed by Halden itself, although it still maintains some identity....
.
From 1995 to 1998 she was Norway's Governor of Svalbard
Governor of Svalbard
The Governor of Svalbard represents the Norwegian government in exercising its sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago .The position reports to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice, but it maintains all Norwegian interests in the area, including environmental protection, law enforcement,...
, again being the first woman to hold the position. She had to cope with several accidents, including the consuming of her headquarters by fire, the 1996 Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801
Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801
Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 was an international charter flight that, on 29 August 1996 at 10:22:23 Central European Summer Time, crashed in Operafjellet, Svalbard, Norway. All 141 people aboard the Tupolev Tu-154M were killed during the approach to Svalbard Airport, Longyear, making it the...
disaster and the Barentsburg
Barentsburg
Barentsburg is the second largest settlement on Svalbard, with about 500 inhabitants , almost entirely Russians and Ukrainians. The Russian-owned Arktikugol has been mining coal here since 1932.-Status:...
mining disaster of 1997. In 1998, at the expiration of her pre-designated period, she was appointed as the new County Governor of Vest-Agder. In 2006 she was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav for her work.
She has been the chair of Crown Prince and Crown Princess’ Humanitarian Fund, vice chair of Kings Bay AS and Bjørnøen AS
Bjørnøen
Bjørnøen AS is a Norwegian government enterprise that owns all land and some heritage buildings on the uninhabited overseas territory of Bjørnøya. The company is managed by Kings Bay AS, and does not have any employees...
and board member of the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation
Norsk Luftambulanse
Stiftelsen Norsk Luftambulanse is a Norwegian non-profit foundation that promotes and implements measures to provide emergency medical assistance...
, the Norwegian Police University College
Norwegian Police University College
The Norwegian Police University College is a public university college located in Oslo, Kongsvinger, Stavern and Bodø, Norway. It offers education for the police force of Norway, including a three-year basic education and a possible expansion with a Master's degree. 720 students are accepted at...
and the University of Tromsø
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
. She has also been a member of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
Committee to oversee the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, and is the deputy leader of the Norwegian Criminal Cases Review Commission. In this position, she has voted against a review of the espionage case of Arne Treholt
Arne Treholt
Arne Treholt is a former Norwegian Labour Party politician and diplomat convicted of high treason and espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union and Iraq during the Cold War. Treholt's espionage is generally seen as the most serious spy case in the modern history of Norway...
.
She is married to teacher Henrik Rolf Pettersen since 1974, has two children, and resides in Kristiansand.