Helen Oddveig Bjørnøy (born 18 February 1954 in Ålesund, Norway) is a Norwegian Lutheran minister and politician (Socialist Left Party), currently County Governor of Buskerud. From October 2005 to October 2007, she was Minister of the Environment[1] in the Red-Green Coalition cabinet headed by Jens Stoltenberg. On 18 October 2007 she was relieved from her duties in the government and replaced by Erik Solheim (Socialist Left Party).

Helen Bjørnøy
County Governor of Buskerud
Assumed office
1 October 2013
Prime MinisterJens Stoltenberg
Erna Solberg
Preceded byKirsti Kolle Grøndahl
Minister of the Environment
In office
17 October 2005 – 18 October 2007
Prime MinisterJens Stoltenberg
Preceded byKnut Arild Hareide
Succeeded byErik Solheim
Personal details
Born
Helen Oddveig Bjørnøy

(1954-02-18) 18 February 1954 (age 70)
Ålesund, Norway
Political partySocialist Left Party
SpouseTorstein Lalim
Children4
OccupationPriest
Politician

Biography

edit

Bjørnøy graduated from MF Norwegian School of Theology in 1980 and was ordained a minister in the Church of Norway the same year. She held a teaching position as assistant professor in the field of Ethics at Lovisenberg Deaconal University College from 1991 to 1999. Her last position before entering into government was Secretary General for the Church City Mission, Kirkens Bymisjon (1999–2005).

Bjørnøy suffered an illness in 2016, taking an indefinite leave as Buskerud's County Governor.[2] In 2020, she was one of those who called for further review of a new biolaw being proposed in Norway.[3] She has advocated for the recognition of children's rights and the protection of the female body.[4]

Bjørnøy is married to Tortein Lalim.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Olaussen, Yngve (2017-02-14). "Bilen til Helen Bjørnøy smadret av råkjører". Dagbladet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  2. ^ "– Har vært gjennom noen tøffe uker". www.an.no (in Norwegian). 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  3. ^ "Frp og Ap svarer opproperne: Har vært debatt nok om bioteknologi". www.vl.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  4. ^ Finnsnes, Oddmar Mathiassen. "Endring av bioteknologilov". Nye Troms (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2020-06-30.
Political offices
Preceded by Norwegian Minister of the Environment
2005–2007
Succeeded by
Civic offices
Preceded by County Governor of Buskerud
2013–present
Incumbent