Kari Gjesteby
Encyclopedia
Kari Gjesteby is a Norwegian
politician for the Labour Party
. She has never been a member of the Norwegian Parliament, but has been State Secretary
for three tenures, as well as Minister of Trade and Shipping
from February to October 1981 and Minister of Justice and the Police
from 1990 to 1992. After her political career she has been a director in the Bank of Norway, director of the National Library of Norway and the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille
and, from 2009, the first female State Conciliator of Norway
.
as a daughter of politician Omar Gjesteby
and housewife Ingrid Elisabeth Thoresen. Odd Gjesteby (deceased) and Arne Gjesteby are her brothers. She enrolled in primary school in Bjølsen
in 1953, and finished secondary school at Oslo Commerce School
in 1965. From 1967 to 1970 she studied economics
at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. She also worked in Landsbanken from 1966 to 1967 and Universitetsforlaget
from 1967 to 1972. She had become involved in the Workers' Youth League
in her teenages, chaired the secondary school branch from 1964 and was a secretary from 1966. She was a board member of the local Labour Party chapter from 1964 to 1966 and 1974 to 1975.
. She left in 1974 to become political secretary (today known as political advisor) in the Ministry of Government Administration and Consumer Affairs
. In January 1976 she was promoted to State Secretary
in the Ministry of Church and Education
. She left in January 1978, but returned in October 1979 as State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance
. On 4 February 1981 she was promoted to Minister of Trade and Shipping
in the so-called "female government
" of Gro Harlem Brundtland
. This cabinet only lasted until October 1981. From 1981 to 1982 she was a secretary for the parliamentary group and the now-minority leader Gro Harlem Brundtland. When the second cabinet Brundtland
assumed office in May 1986, Gjesteby was State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
. She left in May 1988. In the first two years of the third cabinet Brundtland
, from November 1990 to September 1992, Gjesteby was Minister of Justice and the Police
.
from 1978 to 1979 and 1983 to 1986. In 1990 she as hired as director in the Bank of Norway. She was given absence of leave to be director of the National Library of Norway from 2002 to 2004 and the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille
from 2005 to 2006. In 2009 she was appointed as the State Conciliator of Norway
, as the first woman to hold the position.
She was a board member of the Bank of Norway (1983–1989) and the Nordic Investment Bank
(1988–1990, 1992–1996), the last four years as deputy chair. She was a board member of Oslo arbeidersamfunn (1973–1975, 1983–1984), Horten Verft (1974–1983, 1974–1983), Elcon Leasing (1978–1979), Statens driftssentral for administrativ databehandling (1978–1979), Oslo Lysverker (1988–1990), Norsk Hydro
(1990) SAS Norway
(1997–2001), Mint of Norway (2001-2003), HAV Eiendom
(2003–present), Statskonsult
(2003–present), Norwegian Academy of Music
, Veidekke
(2004–present), White Buses Foundation
(2007–present). She was the deputy chair of the Guarantee Institute for Export Credits (1993–1995), and chaired the board of directors of the Cancer Registry of Norway (1988–1990), Kommunenes filmsentral
(1994–1995), Asplan Viak (1997-2006), Kings Bay
(2000-2002), Bjørnøen
(2000-2002), and the National Institute for Consumer Research
. Of the Nordic Arts Centre in Suomenlinna
she was chair (1978-1982) and board member (1982-1983). In Dyno Industrier she was a board member (1985-1995) and chair (1996-2000). Of Oslo Bolig- og Sparelag (OBOS) she was a board member (1985-1987), deputy chair (1987-1990) and chair (1990), and of OBOS Forretningsbygg she was a board member (1988-1990) and chair (1990). From 1985 to 1990 she was a board member of Norwegian Federation of Co-operative Housing Associations.
She lives in Enerhaugen.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
politician for the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. She has never been a member of the Norwegian Parliament, but has been State Secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
for three tenures, as well as Minister of Trade and Shipping
Minister of Trade and Shipping (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Shipping is a defunct minister who was head of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Shipping between 6 December 1947 and 1 January 1988 when it was merged with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The function of trade has since been transferred to the...
from February to October 1981 and Minister of Justice and the Police
Minister of Justice and the Police (Norway)
In Norway, the Minister of Justice and the Police is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police and a member of Government of Norway. Current minister is Grete Faremo of the Norwegian Labour Party who is part of the second cabinet Stoltenberg...
from 1990 to 1992. After her political career she has been a director in the Bank of Norway, director of the National Library of Norway and the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille
Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille
The Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille is a library organization based in Oslo, Norway.It was established in 1989 when the state took over library responsibilities from the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted. It collects braille and talking books, mostly in the...
and, from 2009, the first female State Conciliator of Norway
State Conciliator of Norway
The State Conciliator of Norway is an arbitrator's office of Norway. It is invoked in labour disputes, in other words when tariff agreements are disagreed upon.It was established in 1915, and the first State Conciliator took office in 1916...
.
Early career
She was born in OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a daughter of politician Omar Gjesteby
Omar Gjesteby
Omar Anton Pedersen Gjesteby was Norwegian trade unionist and politician for the Labour Party.-Pre-war career:He was born in Berg, Østfold as a son of farmers Olaf Pedersen Ugjesteby and Anette Grasmoen...
and housewife Ingrid Elisabeth Thoresen. Odd Gjesteby (deceased) and Arne Gjesteby are her brothers. She enrolled in primary school in Bjølsen
Bjølsen
Bjølsen is a neighbourhood in the Sagene borough in central-northern Oslo, Norway. Originally a farm in the former Aker municipality, it was incorporated into Christiania in 1878.-References:...
in 1953, and finished secondary school at Oslo Commerce School
Oslo Commerce School
Oslo Commerce School is a public high school in Oslo, Norway, specialized to teach financial and business management....
in 1965. From 1967 to 1970 she studied economics
Siviløkonom
Siviløkonom is an academic degree issued within the field of business administration and economics and a professional title in Norway , obtained after 5 years of studies...
at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. She also worked in Landsbanken from 1966 to 1967 and Universitetsforlaget
Universitetsforlaget
Universitetsforlaget AS is a Norwegian academic publishing company, which publishes non-fiction literature and journals. Universitetsforlaget is the main academic press in Norway....
from 1967 to 1972. She had become involved in the Workers' Youth League
Workers' Youth League (Norway)
The Workers' Youth League is Norways biggest political youth organization, and is affiliated with the Norwegian Labour Party.AUF took its current form in April 1927, following the merger of Left Communist Youth League and Socialist Youth League of Norway corresponding with the merger of its...
in her teenages, chaired the secondary school branch from 1964 and was a secretary from 1966. She was a board member of the local Labour Party chapter from 1964 to 1966 and 1974 to 1975.
Political career
From 1972 she was a consulent in the Ministry of Local Government and LabourNorwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is a Norwegian ministry established in 1948. It is responsible for the housing and building, regional and rural policy, municipal and county administration and finances, and the conduct of elections...
. She left in 1974 to become political secretary (today known as political advisor) in the Ministry of Government Administration and Consumer Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Children and Equality
The Royal Ministry of Children and Equality is a Norwegian ministry established in 1989 as the Royal Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs. It was renamed the Royal Ministry of Children and Family Affairs in 1991, and renamed to its current name in 2006....
. In January 1976 she was promoted to State Secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
in the Ministry of Church and Education
Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research is a Norwegian responsible for education, research and kindergartens. The ministry was established in 1814, and since October 18, 2007 led by Tora Aasland and Kristin Halvorsen in 2009. The department reports to the legislature...
. She left in January 1978, but returned in October 1979 as State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance
Norwegian Ministry of Finance
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance is a Norwegian ministry established in 1814. The ministry is responsible for state finance, including the state budget, taxation and economic policy in Norway. It is led by Sigbjørn Johnsen...
. On 4 February 1981 she was promoted to Minister of Trade and Shipping
Minister of Trade and Shipping (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Shipping is a defunct minister who was head of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Shipping between 6 December 1947 and 1 January 1988 when it was merged with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The function of trade has since been transferred to the...
in the so-called "female government
First cabinet Brundtland
Brundtland's First Cabinet was a minority, Labour Government of Norway. It succeeded the Labour Cabinet Nordli, and sat between 4 February 1981 – 14 October 1981. The cabinet was the first in Norwegian history to be led by a woman. It was replaced by the Conservative Willoch's First Cabinet after...
" of Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian Social democratic politician, diplomat, and physician, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway , and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization...
. This cabinet only lasted until October 1981. From 1981 to 1982 she was a secretary for the parliamentary group and the now-minority leader Gro Harlem Brundtland. When the second cabinet Brundtland
Second cabinet Brundtland
Brundtland's Second Cabinet was a minority, Labour Government of Norway. It succeeded the Conservative Willoch's Second Cabinet, and sat between 9 May 1986 and 16 October 1989. It was replaced by the Conservative/Centre/Christian Democrat cabinet Syse after the 1989 election...
assumed office in May 1986, Gjesteby was State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
. She left in May 1988. In the first two years of the third cabinet Brundtland
Third cabinet Brundtland
Brundtland's Third Cabinet was a minority, Labour Government of Norway. It succeeded the Conservative/Centre/Christian Democrat Cabinet Syse, and sat between 3 November 1990 and 24 October 1996. It was replaced by the Labour Cabinet Jagland. The cabinet was active during two parliaments, both...
, from November 1990 to September 1992, Gjesteby was Minister of Justice and the Police
Minister of Justice and the Police (Norway)
In Norway, the Minister of Justice and the Police is the head of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police and a member of Government of Norway. Current minister is Grete Faremo of the Norwegian Labour Party who is part of the second cabinet Stoltenberg...
.
Later career
In between her spells as a full-time politician she worked for the Nordic Council of MinistersNordic Council
The Nordic Council is a geo-political, inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. It was established following World War II and its first concrete result was the introduction in 1952 of a common labour market and free movement across borders without passports for the...
from 1978 to 1979 and 1983 to 1986. In 1990 she as hired as director in the Bank of Norway. She was given absence of leave to be director of the National Library of Norway from 2002 to 2004 and the Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille
Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille
The Norwegian Library of Talking Books and Braille is a library organization based in Oslo, Norway.It was established in 1989 when the state took over library responsibilities from the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted. It collects braille and talking books, mostly in the...
from 2005 to 2006. In 2009 she was appointed as the State Conciliator of Norway
State Conciliator of Norway
The State Conciliator of Norway is an arbitrator's office of Norway. It is invoked in labour disputes, in other words when tariff agreements are disagreed upon.It was established in 1915, and the first State Conciliator took office in 1916...
, as the first woman to hold the position.
She was a board member of the Bank of Norway (1983–1989) and the Nordic Investment Bank
Nordic Investment Bank
The Nordic Investment Bank is an international financial institution founded in the mid-1970s by the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. In 2005, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became members of the Bank. NIB’s headquarters are located in Helsinki, Finland...
(1988–1990, 1992–1996), the last four years as deputy chair. She was a board member of Oslo arbeidersamfunn (1973–1975, 1983–1984), Horten Verft (1974–1983, 1974–1983), Elcon Leasing (1978–1979), Statens driftssentral for administrativ databehandling (1978–1979), Oslo Lysverker (1988–1990), Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. Hydro is the fourth largest integrated aluminium company worldwide. It has operations in some 40 countries around the world and is active on all continents. The Norwegian state holds a 43.8 percent...
(1990) SAS Norway
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
(1997–2001), Mint of Norway (2001-2003), HAV Eiendom
HAV Eiendom
HAV Eiendom AS is a company that is responsible for the urban redevelopment of the Bjørvika area of Oslo, Norway. Owned by the Oslo Port Authority, the former owner of the Bjørvika area, the company's goal is to "participate in the urban development of the Bjørvika area through development, rental,...
(2003–present), Statskonsult
Statskonsult
Statskonsult AS is a defunct Norwegian government-owned company that provided management consulting services related to government restructuring and reform. It was created in 1947 as the Rationalisation Office , later the Directorate of Rationalisation. The name Statskonsult was taken into use in...
(2003–present), Norwegian Academy of Music
Norwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music is a music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the country's highest level of music education. As a university college, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate...
, Veidekke
Veidekke
Veidekke is the largest Norwegian construction company and the fourth largest in Scandinavia. Veidekke’s business involves a network of Scandinavian construction operations, rehabilitation work, major heavy construction contracts and development of dwellings for the company’s own account as well...
(2004–present), White Buses Foundation
White Buses
"White Buses" refers to a program undertaken by the Swedish Red Cross and the Danish government in the spring of 1945 to rescue concentration camp inmates in areas under Nazi control and transport them to Sweden, a neutral country...
(2007–present). She was the deputy chair of the Guarantee Institute for Export Credits (1993–1995), and chaired the board of directors of the Cancer Registry of Norway (1988–1990), Kommunenes filmsentral
Kommunenes Filmcentral
Kommunenes Filmcentral was a film distributor in Norway.It was established in 1919 when Kommunale Kinematografers Landsforbund, an association of municipal-owned cinemas, bought the private-owned Nerliens Filmbureau. It distributed films by Universum Film AG and United Artists, later the Walt...
(1994–1995), Asplan Viak (1997-2006), Kings Bay
Kings Bay AS
Kings Bay AS is a government enterprise owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry that operates the entire settlement of Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard. The settlement, the most northerly in the world serves research staff...
(2000-2002), Bjørnøen
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...
(2000-2002), and the National Institute for Consumer Research
National Institute for Consumer Research
The National Institute for Consumer Research is a consumer affairs research institute based in Oslo, Norway. It has researchers in both social and natural sciences....
. Of the Nordic Arts Centre in Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna
Suomenlinna, until 1918 Viapori , or Sveaborg , is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands , and which now forms part of the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular with both tourists and locals, who...
she was chair (1978-1982) and board member (1982-1983). In Dyno Industrier she was a board member (1985-1995) and chair (1996-2000). Of Oslo Bolig- og Sparelag (OBOS) she was a board member (1985-1987), deputy chair (1987-1990) and chair (1990), and of OBOS Forretningsbygg she was a board member (1988-1990) and chair (1990). From 1985 to 1990 she was a board member of Norwegian Federation of Co-operative Housing Associations.
She lives in Enerhaugen.