The Norwegian Consul General has informed us that "the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs had to return to Oslo this Sunday morning, due to the unfolding crisis in Europe pertaining to Ukraine."
"The Minister apologizes for his unexpected absence, and hopes to return to Houston later this year to deliver an energy related speech at the Baker Institute."
His Excellency Børge Brende is the minister of foreign affairs of Norway. He was previously managing director of the World Economic Forum (2011-2013 and 2008-2009) and secretary-general of Red Cross Norway (2009-2011). He served as Norway’s minister of trade and industry from 2004 to 2005 and as minister of the environment from 2001 to 2004. He was deputy chair of the Conservative Party from 1994 to 1998 and served as a member of the Stortin
g (the Norwegian parliament) for more than 10 years. Brende started his political career in 1985 as a political advisor for the Young Conservatives. He chaired the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development from 2003 to 2004 and was a member of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (an advisory body to the Chinese government) from 2005 to 2013. He has served as chair of the board of Mesta, Norway’s largest onshore contracting group, and as a member of the board of Statoil. Brende holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, law and history from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.
Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m., and the presentation will begin at 8:00 a.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Houston.
Featured Speaker
His Excellency Børge Brende
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway
Welcoming Remarks
The Honorable Edward P. Djerejian
Founding Director, Rice University's Baker Institute
Introduction
His Excellency Jostein Mykletun, Ph.D.
Consul General of Norway in Houston