Bernt H. Lund
Encyclopedia
Bernt Henrik Lund is a retired Norwegian civil servant, diplomat and politician for the Labour Party
. He held leading administrative positions in the municipality of Oslo
, and also worked on foreign affairs, including foreign aid projects. He was Norway's first ambassador to Namibia
.
, as the son of civil engineer Diderich Hegermann Lund and Sigrid Emilie Helliesen
. He was a great-grandson of Bernt Lund and great-great-grandson of Diderich Hegermann and Ole Wilhelm Erichsen
. He was married to psychologist Bente Onsager Fredriksen (1921–1995) from 1951 to 1964, and to Ebba Sundt (née Andersson) from 1964.
his secondary education in 1942. During World War II he also took part in resistance work. He was arrested in May 1942 and incarcerated in Åkebergveien. He was moved to Grini concentration camp in June 1942, and sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
in March 1944. He graduated in political science
from the University of Stockholm in 1949. While studying he chaired the Stockholm-based organization Clarté
from 1948 to 1949, and also chaired the Norwegian Students' Society in 1951. From 1952 to 1958 he was a board member of the Workers' Youth League
, and from 1954 to 1957 he was a bureau member of the International Union of Socialist Youth
. He represented the Labour Party in Oslo City Council from 1956 to 1967, and chaired Oslo school board from 1964 to 1967. He took part in starting the newspaper Orientering
, and was situated on the left wing of the Labour Party. Lund was the first chairman of the Information Committee of the Labour Movement against Norwegian membership in the European Community
(AIK) from its establishment in January 1972.
He was a lecturer at from 1953 to 1963, and rector from 1963 to 1967. From 1967 he held leading administrative position at the municipality of Oslo, in health administration until 1969, then chief administrative officer of finance from 1970 to 1985. From 1985 to 1989 he was the permanent under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Development Cooperation
. He was then a special councellor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a short time, then the ambassador to Namibia
from 1990 to 1992. He also represented the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
in Namibia, and from 1993 he was a consultant for the organization.
He chaired Oslo Bolig- og Sparelag from 1987 to 1990, and chaired the council of SOS-barnebyer from 1993 to 2000. From 1977 to 1983 he chaired the chief administrative officer's council in the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
.
He is decorated Commander of the Danish Order of Dannebrog, the Finnish Order of the Lion
, the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
, the Order of the British Empire
, the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
, and recipient of the Medal of St. Hallvard
.
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. He held leading administrative positions in the municipality of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and also worked on foreign affairs, including foreign aid projects. He was Norway's first ambassador to Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.
Personal life
Lund was born in AkerAker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
, as the son of civil engineer Diderich Hegermann Lund and Sigrid Emilie Helliesen
Sigrid Helliesen Lund
Sigrid Helliesen Lund was a Norwegian peace activist, noted for her humanitarian efforts throughout most of the 20th century, and in particular her resistance to the occupation of Norway during World War II.-Biography:...
. He was a great-grandson of Bernt Lund and great-great-grandson of Diderich Hegermann and Ole Wilhelm Erichsen
Ole Wilhelm Erichsen
Ole Wilhelm Erichsen was the Norwegian Minister of the Navy 1848-1852 and 1853-1856. He was temporarily appointed councillor of state in interim government in Stockholm 1852-1853, and was member of the Council of State Division 1852-1853. Erichsen was a military captain by profession before his...
. He was married to psychologist Bente Onsager Fredriksen (1921–1995) from 1951 to 1964, and to Ebba Sundt (née Andersson) from 1964.
Career
He finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1942. During World War II he also took part in resistance work. He was arrested in May 1942 and incarcerated in Åkebergveien. He was moved to Grini concentration camp in June 1942, and sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
in March 1944. He graduated in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of Stockholm in 1949. While studying he chaired the Stockholm-based organization Clarté
Clarté
Clarté is a non-partisan socialist students' organisation in Sweden. It publishes a periodical with the same name. Clarté was established in 1921, and was in its first years notable for its resolute opposition to Fascism...
from 1948 to 1949, and also chaired the Norwegian Students' Society in 1951. From 1952 to 1958 he was a board member of the Workers' Youth League
Workers' Youth League (Norway)
The Workers' Youth League is Norways biggest political youth organization, and is affiliated with the Norwegian Labour Party.AUF took its current form in April 1927, following the merger of Left Communist Youth League and Socialist Youth League of Norway corresponding with the merger of its...
, and from 1954 to 1957 he was a bureau member of the International Union of Socialist Youth
International Union of Socialist Youth
The International Union of Socialist Youth encompasses socialist, social democratic and Labour Party youth organizations from more than 100 states of the world...
. He represented the Labour Party in Oslo City Council from 1956 to 1967, and chaired Oslo school board from 1964 to 1967. He took part in starting the newspaper Orientering
Orientering
Orientering was a Norwegian newspaper which was initially published in December 1952 as an alternative voice. It was absorbed into Ny Tid in 1975....
, and was situated on the left wing of the Labour Party. Lund was the first chairman of the Information Committee of the Labour Movement against Norwegian membership in the European Community
Information Committee of the Labour Movement against Norwegian membership in the European Community
Information Committee of the Labour Movement against Norwegian membership in the European Community was an internal organized opposition within the Norwegian Labour Party. AIK was founded in January 1972, ahead of the plebiscite on joining the European Economic Community...
(AIK) from its establishment in January 1972.
He was a lecturer at from 1953 to 1963, and rector from 1963 to 1967. From 1967 he held leading administrative position at the municipality of Oslo, in health administration until 1969, then chief administrative officer of finance from 1970 to 1985. From 1985 to 1989 he was the permanent under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Development Cooperation
Ministry of Development Cooperation (Norway)
The Norwegian Ministry of Development Cooperation was a Norwegian ministry effective from 1 January 1984 and disestablished 31 December 1989. From 1 January 1990 the ministry was included as a department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
. He was then a special councellor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a short time, then the ambassador to Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
from 1990 to 1992. He also represented the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation is a directorate under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its task is to ensure effective foreign aid, with quality assurance and evaluation. NORAD both finances NGOs, and does its own research and projects. The current director general is...
in Namibia, and from 1993 he was a consultant for the organization.
He chaired Oslo Bolig- og Sparelag from 1987 to 1990, and chaired the council of SOS-barnebyer from 1993 to 2000. From 1977 to 1983 he chaired the chief administrative officer's council in the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities is an employers' organisation in Norway.It was founded in 1972 as a merger between the Union of Norwegian Cities and the Norwegian Association of Rural Municipalities...
.
He is decorated Commander of the Danish Order of Dannebrog, the Finnish Order of the Lion
Order of the Lion
The Order of the Lion may refer to:* Order of the Lion of Finland* Order of the Netherlands Lion* Order of the Norwegian Lion* Royal Order of the Lion * Order of the Lion and the Sun of Persia* Order of the Lion...
, the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
, the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
Order of the Falcon
The Order of the Falcon or Hin íslenska fálkaorða is a national Order of Iceland, established on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland.-History and appointments:...
, and recipient of the Medal of St. Hallvard
Medal of St. Hallvard
The Medal of St. Hallvard is the highest award of the city of Oslo. It is named after the city's patron, Saint Hallvard . The medal has been awarded since 1956.-Recipients:The following people have received the medal:...
.