Børge Brende is the President of the World Economic Forum and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway (2013 – 2017). From 2011 until becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was a managing director at the World Economic Forum in Geneva. Børge was previously Secretary General of Red Cross Norway (2009 – 2011), Cabinet Minister of the Environment (2001 – 2004), Cabinet Minister of Trade and Industry (2004 – 2005) and Chairman of the United Nations Commission of Sustainable Development (2003 – 2004).

As Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Børge 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, Børge led relief operations in Haiti and Pakistan, two of the largest in the Red Cross’s history.

He has also been the Chairman of Mesta, Norway’s largest contracting group in the area of road and highway maintenance, and a Member of the Board of Statoil. By revenue Statoil is ranked by Fortune Magazine as the world’’s 13th largest oil and gas company, and the largest company in the Nordic region by revenue, profit and market capitalization.

Børge 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, he has been International Vice-Chairman of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (an advisory board to the State Council). He was Deputy Chairman of Norway’s Conservative party from 1994 – 1998, and 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.