Børge Brende

Børge Brende is the President & CEO of the World Economic Forum and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway (2013-2017).

Before becoming foreign minister he was a Managing Director at the World Economic Forum in Geneva. From 2009-2011 Brende was Secretary General of Red Cross Norway. Brende has been a Cabinet Minister of the Environment (2001-2004) and a Cabinet Minister of Trade and Industry (2004-05). Brende was Chair of the UN Commission of Sustainable Development (2003-04). He has been the Chair of Mesta, Norway’s largest contracting group in the area of road and highway maintenance. He was also a member of the board of Equinor. Brende was a Member of the Norwegian Parliament (1997-2007), the last period as Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on Energy and Environment.

Since 2005, Brende was International Vice-Chairman of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (an advisory board to the State Council). Brende was the deputy chairman of the Conservative party from 1994-98. Brende has also been the chairperson of the International Network of Political Leaders Promoting Democracy in Burma - and a Member of the Board of Aid to Afghanistan. Member of the Steering Committee Bilderberg Meetings. He is a member of the Advisory Council, Harvard International Negotiation Program, board of directors PAA (Philanthropy Asia Alliance), by TEMASEK Trust and the Strategic Committee of Sciences Po.

As Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Brende improved the framework conditions for trade and industry, and for innovation and development. By the end of his term in office, funding for innovation had increased by 30%. As a minister of the Environment he was in charge of an increase of the national park area of Norway of more than 50%. As Secretary General of Norwegian Red Cross Brende was leading two of the largest relief operations in the societie's history; in Haiti and Pakistan. As Foreign Minister Brende normalised relations between Norway and China and was together with the Cuban FM guarantor of the Colombian peace process. During Brende’s tenure as FM Norway doubled foreign assistance for education and humanitarian assistance.