Laila Bokhari

Laila Bokhari is a political scientist, author, politician, researcher, and diplomat. She is a former State Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister (SMK) for Erna Solberg and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) for Børge Brende (2013-2017). Bokhari’s portfolio at SMK included a special focus on crisis and preparedness, radicalization, and terrorism. Since 2018, she has been affiliated with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, developing courses in leadership and decision-making in complex crisis and preparedness situations. Bokhari has a long research career in the field of terrorism and violent extremism/radicalization at FFI and NUPI. She led the work on the national action plan against violent extremism and radicalization in 2014. Bokhari has also worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad, served on the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee 1267 (al Qaida/Taliban Monitoring Team), worked on anti-terrorism projects for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and worked for the Norwegian Refugee Council. In addition, she served as a member of the 22 July Commission (Gjørv Commission). Bokhari has also worked on women, peace, and security, and women in peace mediation. She is the chairwoman of the Lillehammer Museum Foundation and a member of the board of NUPI, OsloMet, the Rafto Foundation, United World College, the Human Rights House Foundation, and the Nansen Peace Center. Bokhari also sits on the Advisory Council at the Global Center on Cooperative Security, the International Advisory Board at Hedayah (UAE), and the steering group of the Nordic network of women peacebuilders. She is the author of a number of academic articles and books, including “Holy Rage” (2010) and “The Legacy of My Father” (2015).