Trygve has over 20 years of experience within sustainability and communication. As head of the cluster, his main focus is on supporting innovative companies working towards a smarter and more sustainable everyday life for citizens in cities and communities.
Trygve is motivated by creating and building a common vision together with eager and competent people. He thrives when he can connect, see possibilities where others don’t, and in the end see that ideas and visions come to life. In his busy everyday life, Trygve relaxes most when he is asleep.
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Gunnar Crawford has relevant experience as the former Smart City director in Stavanger municipality, a digital business developer for Desert Control, and a senior business developer in the innovation team at Lyse.
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Caroline is originally from the UK. She has worked with Nordic Edge since 2017 and has seen its growth from a successful conference & expo to what it has become today. She has previous experience within operations and data management, HSE and finance.
Caroline is goal driven, and enjoys working with like-minded people, learning new things and sharing her knowledge with others. She thrives when she has a goal and a deadline and there is a lot going on. For relaxation, Caroline enjoys winter sports, piano playing and gardening.
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Bjarne is one of the founders of Nordic Edge. He has extensive experience within branding, communication, and innovation and business development processes. He has also invested in various startups and is co-founder of, among others, Point Carbon, Hey-Ho Lets go and Wenn.
Bjarne is at his best when identifying new opportunities and ideas are to be hatched. He is motivated by working together with creative people on innovative solutions, starting new projects and companies, and challenging set ideas. For relaxation, Bjarne enjoys good music and writing poems.
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Steinar has extensive experience within research, innovation, oil, and gas, and has held many senior positions in various companies. He has also played a major role in the establishment of the research institute NORCE.
He is at his best when working together with openminded, inclusive and ambitious people, and he is motivated by collaborating on solving specific challenges. When it’s time to relax and unwind, Steinar prefers reading a good book while taking a bath.
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Emilie has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in energy, environment, and society. She is also an active politician.
Emilie thrives when there is a lot going on, and she also loves to represent Nordic Edge on the stage. Seeing our members collaborate and succeed is what motivates her the most. Her go-to for relaxation is ballet-lessons and Netflix together with her cat, preferably with a bag of cheesedoodles.
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Inger Hanne has a diverse background spanning both the public and private sectors. She has held positions as Head of Innovation and Head of Stavanger Smart City in the City of Stavanger. Inger Hanne has also worked as a public speaker, facilitator, communication advisor, and consultant within strategic innovation, helping companies explore new growth opportunities. Her expertise and experience make her a great fit for Nordic Edge.
Inger Hanne is motivated by making an impact. She has a passion for future planning, and is at her best when she can combine her storytelling skills with strategic innovation. To unwind, she attends jazz dance lessons, boil herself in a sauna or spend time with her family.
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Andreas is an outgoing creative communicator and producer of text and digital stories. He has a bachelor’s degree in televison & multimedia production, and he is really passionate about storytelling, which is clearly visible through his career. With his background in movies he developed his skills to be working with key communication within marketing and branding.
He gets motivated by engaging audiences and those around him, staying creative, and is a firm believer of the famous words from Pippi: “I’ve never done that before, so I’m sure I can do it”. His go-to for unwinding is either enjoying fresh brewed coffee on a mountaintop together with his dog Leo, being front row at a concert with his friends, or binge a good show on tv.
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Jack is an advocate for regenerative practices over traditional sustainability approaches, emphasizing the importance of efficient, informed, and systemic thinking. He has a diverse background in business, law, and construction management, with a passion for nature, restoration, and collaborative achievements. Jack is focused on integrating technology with climate solutions to foster thriving businesses, communities, and natural environments.
Jack has extensive experience in the construction and environmental sectors, with a strong focus on integrating technology and sustainable practices. He has become adept at promoting the Circular Economy, regenerative agriculture, and biodiversity enhancement, showcasing his ability to drive innovative solutions that address environmental challenges while fostering resilient communities.
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Torill has a diverse background from organization, strategy, branding and innovation. She is driven by an curios and open spirit and has a passion for making the most out of less and making people feel empowered to embrace their potential.
Torill has a strong creative bone and a background as an entrepreneur. She is the founder and creator of `Iver & Evne ` an engaging cooking universe for young children. With a keen eye for innovation and a strategic mindset, she excels at connecting the dots and understanding the bigger picture to effect meaningful change.
Her overall goal is making life as enjoyable as possible and the key ingredients is creating memories with family and friends, enjoying food, wine and chocolate while staying healthy and keeping a certain amount of childishness, to make sure she is always open to new perspectives and experiences.
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Tore is a dedicated and creative person and his expertise includes; business development, content creation, event planning, and social media marketing. He is known for his creative thinking, outgoing personality, and solution-oriented approach, which have all been pivotal in his career growth and success.
Tore thrives in collaborative environments where teamwork drives success. He believes the best outcomes are achieved by combining strengths and supporting each other towards common goals.
When he’s not working, Tore often heads to the mountains with his tent and hiking boots, embracing the great outdoors. Additionally, he actively participates in the local music scene, whether as an enthusiastic audience member or a performing musician.
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lisbeth.sorgard@nordicedge.org
Lisbeth is a results-driven professional with extensive international and commercial experience in business development, commercial operations, marketing, and brand building. She has co-founded tech companies and has a strong track record in building global brand partnerships. With a background spanning multiple regions, including Oslo, Nanjing, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Stavanger, she brings a global perspective to her work.
Lisbeth enjoys leveraging her international business experience to benefit Norwegian companies, helping them navigate new growth opportunities.
Lisbeth thrives in entrepreneurial environments where creativity and determination shape successful outcomes. Outside of work, she is curious about science, technology and philosophy, enjoys a good round of golf, and loves spending time in nature with her Irish setter, Giro.
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Odd Vinje has a background as a developer, architect and project manager for digitalization projects in both public and private sector. He is a passionate advocate for using technology to improve the society. In his role, Odd leads initiatives that bridge the gap between the public, private, and academic sectors to develop sustainable and citizen-centric digital solutions.
He is a strong believer in the power of collaboration and actively seeks to involve citizens in the co-creation of urban solutions to balance urban development with essential needs, innovation and sustainability.
His passion for nature and wildlife aligns seamlessly with the focus on environmental and climate concerns, making his work meaningful and forward-thinking. This perspective has been further reinforced by witnessing the impacts of climate change, highlighting nature’s vulnerability and the urgent need for its preservation.
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Kaja holds a bachelor’s degree in history and social science, and has spent several years working in politics as advisor to the Conservative Party in parliament, and in Stavanger. She holds experience from the scale-up-world from her previous job as a communication advisor in a local renewable company.
Today she is a communication advisor, borrowed from Hike communication, while Solveig is on parental leave. She specialises in strategic communication and public relations.
Kaja is a creative soul, who thrives in high-paced environments and finds her contribution to Nordic Edge very meaningful, and loves to work with others who strives for a better future. As a mother of three, me-time is limited. Running is her go-too choice for unwinding, and the ultimate relaxation is as simple as having a cup of coffee. Undisturbed.
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Solveig has a bachelor degree in psychology with a specialisation in communication, a bachelor degree in graphic design and a one-year study of project management. She has many years of experience from both healthcare, non-profit organisations abroad and design work.
Solveig thrives when there is a clear why behind what we do and room for creative solutions to complex problems. She also loves estetichs and making communication understandable in an eye-pleasing form. Having a two year old, relaxing is quite rear – but a good workout or a city stroll ending at a café is always preferred.
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Contact our team here or visit ut at Innoasis, Sverdrups gate 27
Kjartan has a bachelor’s degree in Geography and a master’s degree in Natural Resource Management. He wrote his master’s thesis in collaboration with Desert Control, an innovative company improving water efficiency in arid landscapes. With a passion for sustainability, he enjoys working on projects that bridge technology and nature-based solutions to create a more sustainable future.
Kjartan thrives in interdisciplinary and dynamic environments where collaboration and new ideas drive progress. He is motivated by finding innovative solutions that balance development and environmental responsibility.
When he’s not working, you’ll likely find him skiing in the mountains, capturing nature through his camera lens, or exploring new places—both within and beyond Norway’s borders.
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Tobias is a Nordic Edge intern during spring 2024. He will be working together with Emilie on funding activities, and assist on projects.
The members of our board represent our owner organisations and close collaborators.
Board members:
Glenn Sæther (Chairman), Cecilie W. Melbye (Smedvig Eiendom), Eirik Gundegjerde (Lyse), Christina Stangeland (Stavanger kommune), Kjersti Melberg (University of Stavanger), and Torgeir Andrew Waterhouse (Otte).
