Jens K. Sterri is a Norwegian civil servant.

Born in Hafslo

Hafslo

Hafslo is a village and a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county in Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Luster. The former municipality included the Hafslo village area, the Urnes stave church area , and the Veitastrond valley...

 as the fourth of ten children, he decided to study law. He graduated from the University of Oslo

University of Oslo

The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...

 as cand.jur. in 1949, and worked as a secretary in the Ministries of Justice

Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police is a Norwegian government ministry in charge of justice, police and domestic intelligence. The main purpose of the Ministry is to provide for the maintenance and development of the basic guarantees of the rule of law...

 and Agriculture

Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Foods is a Norwegian ministry established on February 17, 1900, and is responsible for agriculture, forestry and food in Norway. It is led by Minister of Agriculture and Food Lars Peder Brekk...

, as well as an attorney. In 1954 he became a secretary in the Ministry of Finance

Norwegian Ministry of Finance

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance is a Norwegian ministry established in 1814. The ministry is responsible for state finance, including the state budget, taxation and economic policy in Norway. It is led by Sigbjørn Johnsen...

, advancing to assistant secretary in 1961 and deputy under-secretary of State in 1969. He was appointed director of the Norwegian Customs and Excise Authorities in 1977, and retired in 1990.

The same year he was proclaimed Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav. He is also a Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland

Order of the Lion of Finland

There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland . The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a...

 and a Knight of the 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:...

.