PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES
A broad range of Professional Associates from different sectors are connected to UTSYN – Center for Security and Total Defence. They contribute by for instance giving us professional input, writing articles and op-eds, participation as a moderator or on the panel in our events and more.
Dr. Stefanie Babst
Dr. Stefanie Babst is the former NATO Deputy Assistant General from 2006 – 2012. She also led the NATO Strategic Foresight Team from 2012 – 2020. She is an internationally recognized strategic advisor, author and key-note speaker on international security.
Gjermund Eide
Gjermund Eide is a military advisor for NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. He has held this position since 2014.
Henrik Thune
Henrik Thune is former Director of NOREF Norwegian Center for Conflict Resolution. Prior to joining NOREF, Henrik held a number of positions at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, among them senior researcher and head of the Middle East Programme. He also served in several positions in the MFA, i.e. as senior advisor in the Section for Peace and Reconciliation (2006-2009) and project manager in the secretariat of former minister of foreign affairs Jonas Gahr Støre (2010-2012).
Henrik Thune has authored numerous books and academic publications on great-power politics, conflicts in the Middle East, peace processes and Norwegian foreign policy. He holds a PhD in political science and a master’s in international relations from the University of Oslo and the London School of Economics and Political Science. Thune is currently a Special advisor at NOREF and a Senior Research fellow at Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI).
Dr. Alberto Bueno
Dr. Alberto Bueno is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Granada, Spain, specializing in defense policies, strategic culture, and civil-military relations. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Leipzig, Germany, and an Associate Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Research at the University of Granada. Dr. Bueno participates in national and international research projects on topics like hybrid warfare. He has lectured at various universities, spoken at prestigious institutions, and frequently contributes to media outlets like CNN, The Times, El Pais and others. Dr. Bueno also edits Global Strategy, a leading Spanish publication on defense and military studies.
Robert Mood
Robert Mood is the former President of the Norwegian Red Cross and an Officer in the Norwegian Armed Forces
Cathrine W. Salthammer
Cathrine W. Salthammer is a senior advisor in the Norwegian Ministry of Finance. She has extensive experience in the Norwegian defence sector.
Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv
Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv is a professor in Peace and Conflict Studies/International Relations and Security Studies at the Centre for Peace Studies (CPS) at the Artic University of Norway (UiT).
Gjert Lage Dyndal
Gjert Lage Dyndal is an officer in the Norwegian Air Force, Head of Department and Deputy Commander at the Norwegian Defence University College.
Anton Lif
Anton Lif is an expert on crisis management, cyber security, total defence, and communication.
Tom Røseth
Tom Røseth is an associate Professor at the Norwegian Defence University College. He specialises on Russia’s relationship to China.
Rajko Radević
Raiko Radevic works as a security analyst. He is the founder of the independent think tank Center for Security Studies in his home country, Montenegro.
Arild Bergh
Arild Bergh is a principal scientist in the department of total defence at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.
Vebjørn Horsfjord
Vebjørn Horsfjord is the coming dean of the faculty of Theology, Diaconia and Leadership Studies at VID Specialized University. He is currently a professor in religion, philosophy and ethics at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.
Gro Nystuen
Gro Nystuen is the director of the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution. She holds a PhD in international law from the University of Oslo.
Erlend Hagenes
Erlend Hagenes has led “Øvelse Nord”, Norway’s largest arena for civil preparedness since 2004.
Sasho Stojkovski
Sasho Stojkovski is a researcher, political analyst and consultant specialised in Balkan affairs.
Stein Tønnesson
Stein Tønnesson is a researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, editor of Asia content at the Journal of Peace Research and a member of the editorial board at Global Asia.
Pär Stenbäck
Pär Stenbäck is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Finland, General Secretary of the International Red Cross Federation, and founder of the International Crisis Group (ICG).
Geir Hønneland
Geir Hønneland is a research professor at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. He is an expert on Russian identity and politics, the Arctic, and international politics of the sea.
Ingvild Næss
Ingvild Næss is a lawyer from the University of Oslo. She is an expert on technology, privacy, and freedom of speech, c. Currently, she is the Chief Privacy and Data Trends Officer at Schibsted Data & Tech.
Rune Jakobsen
Rune Jakobsen is a retired Lieutenant General and former Commander in ISAF in Afghanistan. He has held several managerial positions within the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Terje Bruøygard
Terje Bruøygard is a colonel at the Norwegian Armed Forces, a former employee at the Marine Corps University, Virginia, and has held several managerial positions in the Norwegian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence, and in the Norwegian Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Ole Andre Bråten
Ole Andre Bråten is an expert on corporate crisis management, crisis communication, decision-making, leadership and organizational psychology.
Thorgeir Kolshus
Thorgeir Kolshus is an associate Professor in Social Anthropology at the Oslo Met University. He is the Head of the Section for Diversity Studies, with a PhD in the relationship between religion and society.
Håkon Lunde Saxi
Håkon Lunde Saxi is an associate Professor at the Norwegian Defence University College and an expert on Norwegian, Nordic, and North-European defence policies. He holds a PhD in Political Science in British and German defence policies after the end of the Cold War.
Andreas Indregard
Andreas Indregard is a Special Adviser at NOREF. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University and is a former Advisor to Kofi Annan. Indregard has extensive experience with peace mediation, political analysis, and humanitarian assistance in Myanmar, South-East Asia, and the Middle East.
Birgitte Førsund
Birgitte Førsund is a Senior Advisor at the Norwegian National Security Authority. She is an expert on resilience and digital security in the private and public sectors.
Ørjan Nordhus Karlsson
Ørjan Nordhus Karlsson is a sociologist and an author. He is currently a Senior Civil Protection Advisor in the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB)- Nordhus Karlsson is an expert on civilian crisis management.
Odd Jarl Borch
Odd Jarl Borch is a professor of Strategy and Business Administration at the Nord University Business School.
Cecilie Hellestveit
Cecilie Hellestveit is a political scientist and Lawyer. She holds a PhD in International Humanitarian Law, and is an expert in international law, the use of force, and armed conflicts in the Middle East.
Simen Bakke
Simen Bakke is a Senior Security Advisor at the Norwegian Police, with extensive experience in the Norwegian Armed Forces. He is an expert on security policy and contingency planning.
Mads Harlem
Mads Harlem is a Lawyer and a Special Advisor on International Humanitarian Law at Nordhus & Aarø Law Firm. He is an expert on International Human Rights, International Criminal Law, and International Humanitarian Law.
Laila Bokhari
Laila Bokhari is a Kistefos Fellow at the Kennedy Harvard School of Government. She is a political scientist, diplomat and researcher and an expert on terrorism and violent extremism, crisis, and contingency planning. She is a former State Secretary in the Norwegian Prime Minister’s Office and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thomas Halvorssen
Thomas Halvorssen is a Colonel in the Norwegian Army. He is the manager of the Norwegian contribution to the US-led Multinational Capability Development Campaign (MCDC) and a former Senior Advisor and Researcher at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI).
Kristian Berg Harpviken
Kristian Berg Harpviken is a Senior Researcher and former Director at the Peace Research Institute (PRIO). He is an expert on Afghanistan and the surrounding region.
Eldar Berli
Eldar Berli is a Former Brigade Commander for the Northern Brigade and former Advisor at the Norwegian Defence University College.
Hanne Eggen Røislien
Hanne Eggen Røislien is a Senior Researcher and Advisor at the Norwegian Cyber Defence. She holds a PhD in History of Religion.
Trine Holo
Trine Holo is an expert on security policy analysis, strategic defence, intelligence, contingency and crisis management. She is a former Special Advisor in the Police, and the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Tormod Heier
Tormod Heier is a Lieutenant Colonel at the Norwegian Defence University College. He is a former employee of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, The Intelligence Service, The Army, NUPI and The Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS). He is an expert on defence and security policy.
Richard Utne
Richard Utne is a Head of Department at the Norwegian Coastal Administration. He has extensive international experience in risk management and security management, as well as from the Norwegian Defence and as an Advisor.
Arne Morten Grønningsæter
Arne Morten Grønningssæter holds a Master of Law with a specialisation in the law of the sea. He is a retired Flag Officer in the Norwegian Navy and has previously worked with NATO and the US Navy to establish the new Allied Command Atlantic.
Carl Waldemar Wilhelmsen
Carl Waldemar Wilhelmsen is an officer in the Norwegian Armed Forces. He has experience from the Norwegian Operation in Afghanistan (ISAF), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the Norwegian Air Force. He is educated at University of Bergen, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), and The Norwegian Defence University College.
Marc Lanteigne
Marc Lanteigne is an Associate Professor at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT). He is an expert on Chinese and East-Asian foreign policy, China’s cooperation with regional and international organisations, trade policies and China’s economic diplomacy.
Andreas Østhagen
Andreas Østhagen is a research fellow at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. He is also an Advisor at the High North Center for Business and Development and a Senior Advisor at the Arctic Institute in Washington DC. He holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia on maritime borders and conflicts.
Rasmus Gjeddsø Bertelsen
Rasmus Gjeddsø Bertelsen is a Professor of Northern Studies and the Barents Chair in Politics at the Department of Social Sciences with the Arctic University of Norway (UiT).
Benjamin Schaller
Benjamin Schaller is a PhD student at the Centre for Peace Studies at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT). He focuses his research on military cooperation and ‘Confidence- and Security-Building Measures’ (CSBMs) as a tool for conflict prevention. His main expertise is security in the Arctic, weapons control and CSBM.
Torgeir Fjærtoft
Torgeir Fjærtoft is a diplomat and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Islamic and Middle East Studies at the University of Oslo.
Lars Rowe
Lars Rowe is the Deputy Director at Norway’s Resistance Museum. He has worked as a Researcher at Fridtjof Nansen Institute and is an expert on Soviet and Russian foreign policy, international relations in the North of Europe, the Soviet industrialisation of the High North, as well as Russian and Norwegian post-war history.
Karin Abraham
Karin Abraham is a Senior Project Manager at Hate Speech International. She holds a Master in Middle Eastern Studies from Ben Gurion University. She has previously worked as a journalist for Minerva and has authored a book about the peace movement in Israel. She is regularly publishing articles in the Norwegian press on the situation in the Middle East.