Operativ støtte fra Afghanistan til Arktis - næringslivets bidrag til forsvarskraft

The event will have a clear focus on what is actually required to ensure operational effectiveness in times of peace, crisis, and conflict – with particular emphasis on the interaction between the Armed Forces and the business sector.

The ambition is to move the discussion away from overarching principles and towards concrete clarifications:

What are the real operational needs, where are the vulnerabilities, and how can these be addressed before a crisis occurs?

The panel discussion will focus on how to put this into practice and explore solutions that both should and must be put in place in order to fully leverage society’s combined resources in support of the nation’s existential defence.

We have therefore assembled a highly competent and relevant group of panel participants. Our Chief of Defence, General Kristoffersen, will be joined by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Norway, Oleksiy Gavrish.

The latter is well known for the statement:

“Total defence is one of the finest models in the world — built for threats that have significantly changed.”

And perhaps most importantly, when addressing the need for timely, deep and tight integration of private-sector resources in operational defence plans;

“We raise these questions because they cost us time and lives when we asked them too late.”

We are also pleased to welcome Birgitte Engebretsen, CEO of Telenor Norway. As the leader of one of Norway’s most critical infrastructure providers, Engebretsen represents a company that plays a central and strategic role in the country’s total defence concept. Reliable, secure, and resilient electronic communications are fundamental to both civilian preparedness and military operations, and Telenor’s nationwide networks form a vital backbone in ensuring that Norway remains connected in times of crisis as well as in everyday life.

This strategic importance mirrors the role played by Lars Haug, CEO of NorSea Group, Norway’s largest private port owner. Just as NorSea’s port infrastructure is crucial for logistics, supply chains, and military mobility, Telenor’s digital infrastructure is essential for secure communication and operational effectiveness.

Together, these actors illustrate how critical private-sector capabilities must be deeply integrated into Norway’s total defence framework.

Former Commander of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, Lieutenant General (ret.) Yngve Odlo, now Strategic Advisor at WilNor Governmental Services, will participate both as a keynote speaker and as a panelist.