What makes a community attractive, and how can growth in population and employment go hand in hand with a sustainable development? We have invited young citizens and representatives from different sectors to an inspiring discussion on what really is the key to viable and sustainable communities across the country.
Facilitators: Malin Kock Hansen, DOGA and Bjarne Uldal, Nordic Edge
Programme:
10.45 – 10.50 Welcome and introduction
Malin Kock Hansen, DOGA and Bjarne Uldal, Nordic Edge
10.50 – 11.05 What is the key to viable and sustainable communities?
Knut Vareide, Telemark Research Institute
11.05 – 11.15 Reflections from the citizens of tomorrow
Trym Talgø Olsen og Siri Heimdal Knudsen, Youth Panel on Rural Development
11.15 – 11.35 Panel discussion: Sustainable development and attractive communities – opposites or opportunity?
Panel: Trude Risnes – The Centre of Competence on Rural Development, Ida Amble Ruge – Skåppå, Knut Vareide – Telemark Research Institute, Trym Talgø Olsen – Youth Panel on Rural Development, Kristin Karlbom Dahle – Municipality of Midt-Telemark and Siri Holmboe Høibo – Design and Architecture Norway
Bjarne Uldal is a brand & business innovator who, over the last 25 years, has been involved in more than 30 start-ups, both as an investor, business developer and brand consultant. Marrying a deep knowledge of branding with a hands-on approach to entrepreneurship, Bjarne has earned a reputation as a creative, commercially oriented person, who’s always on the lookout for points of differentiation that can be accentuated by compelling storytelling.
Bjarne is one of the co-founders of Nordic Edge, the official Norwegian innovation cluster on smarter cities and communities, and the organizer of the Nordic Edge Expo – the largest annual conference and exhibition in the Nordics on Smart City trends, methodology, new innovation and technology.
In his capacity of being the Chief Innovation Officer at Nordic Edge, Bjarne is responsible for establishing innovation partnerships with companies, organizations and academic institutions around Europe, in China and in the US. Bjarne has also been the main facilitator of the process leading up to the launch of the national Smart Roadmap for Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities last year. Furthermore Bjarne acts as a facilitator and advisor to a number of cities and municipalities who are determined to build smarter and more sustainable communities.
Ida Amble Ruge is an economist, who works as a consultant in Skåppå AS. Through Skåppå, Ida works with sustainable innovation, towards both businesses and municipalities in Gudbrandsdalen. She works on R&D projects, consulting directly to companies, and projects that aims to increase the degree of innovation in Gudbrandsdalen.
Knut Vareide is a Senior Researcher at Telemark Research Institute. He is a cand.oecon from the University of Oslo (1985). He has been a researcher at Telemark Research Institute since 1996 with regional development, especially business development, demographic development and local attractiveness as a specialty. He has also been a member of the district industry committee which will present a NOU in the autumn of 2020.
Kristin Karlbom Dahle is a Municipal Planner for Midt-Telemark Municipality, Norway. She was involved in establishing the Bygdepakke Bø project in 2015, and has since had a central role in the project. Since the municipal merger with Sauherad, this project has been expanded to Bygdepakke Midt-Telemark. Kristin has a Masters in Nature Management (cand.agric) from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and has previously worked at the Environmental Protection department of Telemark County.
Malin is a Senior Advisor for Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA). She works with innovative urban and local development, and how interaction between people and technology can contribute to smarter and more sustainable cities and places. Malin holds a Master’s Degree in political communication from Aarhus University in Denmark.
Siri Heimdal Knudsen is 16 years old, and from Kristiansand in Norway. She is a member of Youth Panel on Rural Development (Ungdommens distriktspanel). In her spare time she plays handball. She prioritize politics when she has the time – and really enjoys it!
Siri is Head of Urban and Local Development at DOGA. Her work is both political and strategic and she her focus is particularly in living city centres and smart cities. Siri previously worked as a consultant and earned her degree in Civil Economics from the NHH Norwegian School of Economics and has completed additional courses in both design and urbanism.
Trude Risnes is a Senior Advisor to The Centre of Competence on Rural Development. Trude has a special interest in rural housing and how small towns and rural communities are building for sustainability and attractivity. She is currently working to develop and share knowledge on age-friendly housing. Trude has her degrees in social sciences and regional planning.
Trym Talgø Olsen is a 17-year old youth politican from Egersund in Norway. He is a member of Youth Panel on Rural Development (Ungdommens distriktspanel).