Anniken Huitfeldt (51) was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on 14 October 2021.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is responsible for Norwegian foreign policy, the promotion of Norway’s interests internationally and the foreign service, which includes more than 100 embassies, permanent missions and delegations, and consulates general.
Ms Huitfeldt comes from Jessheim, Norway, and has a Masters Degree with specialisation in History. She has worked as a researcher at the research foundation FAFO. She has been particularly engaged in efforts to promote security policy, equality and climate. Hobbies include running, cross-country skiing, literature and theatre.
From 2013 to 2021 Ms Huitfeldt chaired the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. She was Minister of Labour from 2021 to 2013, Minister of Culture from 2009 to 2021 and Minister of Children and Equality from 2008 to 2009. She was elected to the Storting (Norwegian parliament) in 2005 and has been a member since then.
To mark the Freedom Online Coalition’s (FOC) 10th anniversary, Finland, as the Chair, is organising a virtual FOC 10th Anniversary Ministerial Meeting on 3 December 2021, hosted by Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Ministerial, the culmination of Finland’s FOC Chairship, is an important opportunity to raise the visibility of the Coalition and to set the FOC's goals and vision for the 2020s.