The Norwegian Shipowners' Association's Annual Conference 2026
Tuesday March 17 // Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Holbergs gate 30, Oslo
- 17. mars 2026
- Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Holbergs gate 30, Oslo
When our members, political leaders, and policymakers gather on 17 March 2026, geopolitics will be at the heart of the discussions. Together, we will explore how to better understand today’s geopolitical risks, make sense of an increasingly turbulent world, and consider how we can remain vigilant in times of global uncertainty.
Shipping routes, trade flows, and maritime security are all shaped by shifting power dynamics and regulatory developments. We will examine how the shipping industry can adapt while maintaining high environmental standards. We are confident that the importance of building and strengthening unity and alliances will remain a key priority—both in international politics and for companies operating globally.
Attendance is by invitation only.
Susannah Streeter
Susannah Streeter moderates the annual conference. She has been a reporter and news anchor at the BBC for over 20 years. Streeter has extensive knowledge of financial markets and has been used as a moderator at several large international conferences on climate and economics.
Harald Fotland
Harald Fotland, President of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association and Chief Executive Officer in Odfjell SE will give the opening address.
Knut Arild Hareide
Knut Arild Hareide became CEO of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association on August 1, 2024. Hareide came from the position of Director General of Shipping and Navigation at the Norwegian Maritime Authority. Previously, he has been a Norwegian politician and party leader in the Christian Democratic Party.
Gillian Tett
Gillian Tett is an award-winning financial journalist and anthropologist with an unparalleled track record at predicting important trends that impact the world.
She called the credit crunch crisis three years ahead of anyone else and is one of the first to recognize and chronicle the developing importance of ESG in business.
Tett covers a wide range of subjects in both her talks and her columns at the Financial Times, speaking frequently on the intersection of politics, populism, and financial markets.
Dr. Anna Wieslander
Dr. Anna Wieslander serves as Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council and Head of the Atlantic Council office in Stockholm. She is also Chair of the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) and a life-time member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences. Dr. Wieslander has published extensively and is a frequent keynote speaker, lecturer,panelist, and comments in national and international mass media.
Dr. Wieslander has previously served as Secretary General of the Swedish Defence Association,Deputy Director at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI), Head of the Speaker’s Office in the Swedish Parliament, Secretary of the Swedish Defence Commission and Deputy Director of the Swedish Defence Ministry.
Carine Smith Ihenacho
Carine Smith Ihenacho is responsible for governance and compliance in Norges Bank Investment Management which includes ownership and responsible investment activities, control and operational risk, compliance and legal services.
Carine Smith Ihenacho was appointed Chief Governance and Compliance Officer 6 October 2020. She joined Norges Bank Investment Management in August 2017 as Global Head of Ownership Strategies and was promoted to Chief Corporate Governance Officer on 1 January 2018.
Elin Sørsdahl
Elin Sørsdahl is an award-winning journalist who has spent three decades reporting for TV 2 from around the world. She has served in three periods as Europe Correspondent, four years as U.S. Correspondent, and has extensive experience as a political reporter and news anchor at TV 2.
Today, she is EU reporter at Altinget. In 2025, she received the SKUP Award, the Norwegian Grand Prize for Journalism, and TV 2’s Honorary Award.
Sørsdahl will be moderating the political panel on Norweigan maritime policy.
Espen Barth Eide
Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Barth Eide became Minister of Foreign Affairs on 16 October 2023. From 14. October 2021 he was Minister of Climate and Environment. He is elected to the Norwegian Parliament as a representative from Oslo. Previously, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence in Jens Stoltenberg's Second Government.
Ine Eriksen Søreide
Ine Eriksen Søreide is the Chair of the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defence in the Norwegian Parliament, where she represents the Conservative Party. She served as Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2017-2021, and Minister of Defence from 2013-2017. She has been elected to Parliament since 2001, Chairing the standing Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defence from 2009-2013. She holds a Law degree from the University of Tromsø, Norway.
Sylvi Listhaug
Sylvi Listhaug has been the leader of the Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) since 2021 and a Member of Parliament since 2017. She has held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Agriculture and Food, Minister of Immigration and Integration, and Minister of Petroleum and Energy. Listhaug is currently a member of The Standing Comittee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, and The Enlarged Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee.
Jørgen Watne Frydnes
Jørgen Watne Frydnes is the Secretary General of Norwegian PEN and has over 20 years of experience from organizations working with democracy, human rights, and humanitarian affairs. Before joining Norwegian PEN, he served as CEO of Utøya AS, leading the reconstruction efforts after the 2011 terror attack.
He is the youngest Chair in the history of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, where he has been a member since 2021.
Frydnes previously worked as a project manager for Doctors Without Borders (2004–2011) and later served on its board (2013–2017).
