Nina Frisak
Encyclopedia
Nina Frisak is a Norwegian judge
and civil servant. She is the current Secretary to the Government.
She was born in Oslo. She graduated from the University of Oslo
with the cand.jur. degree in 1977, and was a lawyer's trainee in London
from 1977 to 1978 and in Oslo from 1979 to 1981. She then worked as an assistant secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police
from 1981 to 1988. From 1988 to 1991 she was a lawyer in the Nordisk Defence Club
. She was then a presiding judge in Eidsivating Court of Appeal
from 1991 to 1995, went back to the bureaucracy as deputy under-secretary of state in the in the Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
from 1995 to 2000, and then became a judge again; a Supreme Court Justice
from 2000 to 2001.
In 2001 she was hired as permanent under-secretary of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, succeeding Bjørn T. Grydeland
. This particular position was not called permanent under-secretary; rather Secretary General at the Office of the Prime Minister, but in November 2001 the name was changed to Secretary to the Government . The position is the highest-ranking civil servant position in Norway, and entails, besides leading the Office of the Prime Minister, to lead the secretariat of the entire Council of State. The first woman to hold this position, Frisak has been ranked among Norway's most powerful women on numerous occasions. The position is non-partisan.
Frisak is also the chancellor for the committee that awards the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. She was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Order in 2004. Frisak is holds the Grand Cross (First Class) of the Estonian Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
.
She is married to organizational leader Øystein Dahle
. Through him she is also the stepmother of author Gro Dahle
, born 1962.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and civil servant. She is the current Secretary to the Government.
She was born in Oslo. She 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...
with the cand.jur. degree in 1977, and was a lawyer's trainee in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1977 to 1978 and in Oslo from 1979 to 1981. She then worked as an assistant secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police
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...
from 1981 to 1988. From 1988 to 1991 she was a lawyer in the Nordisk Defence Club
Nordisk Defence Club
The Nordisk Defence Club is an interest organisation operating in the Nordic countries.It was established in Copenhagen in 1889 and moved to Oslo in 1893 . Its purpose is to act as a law firm for the clients who have registered ships and oil rigs with the club.Chief executive since 2000 is Georg...
. She was then a presiding judge in Eidsivating Court of Appeal
Eidsivating Court of Appeal
Eidsivating Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Hamar, Norway. It serves the counties of Hedmark, Oppland and northern Akershus. In addition to Hamar, the court may meet in Lillehammer and Eidsvoll...
from 1991 to 1995, went back to the bureaucracy as deputy under-secretary of state in the in the Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister
The Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister is a political and bureaucratic office that assists the Cabinet of Norway and the Prime Minister of Norway in the leadership of the Cabinet and Government. It has since 2005 been led by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg . Minister and Chief of Staff is Karl...
from 1995 to 2000, and then became a judge again; a Supreme Court Justice
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
from 2000 to 2001.
In 2001 she was hired as permanent under-secretary of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, succeeding Bjørn T. Grydeland
Bjørn T. Grydeland
Bjørn Trygve Grydeland is a Norwegian civil servant and diplomat.He graduated as cand.polit. from the University of Oslo in 1979. He was deputy under-secretary of State in the Office of the Prime Minister from 1988 to 1992, and secretary-general there from 1992 to 2001. From 2001 to 2005 he was...
. This particular position was not called permanent under-secretary; rather Secretary General at the Office of the Prime Minister, but in November 2001 the name was changed to Secretary to the Government . The position is the highest-ranking civil servant position in Norway, and entails, besides leading the Office of the Prime Minister, to lead the secretariat of the entire Council of State. The first woman to hold this position, Frisak has been ranked among Norway's most powerful women on numerous occasions. The position is non-partisan.
Frisak is also the chancellor for the committee that awards the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. She was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Order in 2004. Frisak is holds the Grand Cross (First Class) of the Estonian Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana was instituted in 1995 to honour the independence of the Estonian state. The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is bestowed upon the President of the Republic. Presidents of the Republic who have ceased to hold office shall keep the Order of the Cross of...
.
She is married to organizational leader Øystein Dahle
Øystein Dahle
Øystein Dahle is a Norwegian businessperson and organizational leader.He was born in Trondheim. He worked in Esso from 1963, and was vice president of Esso Norway from 1985 to 1995...
. Through him she is also the stepmother of author Gro Dahle
Gro Dahle
Gro Dahle is a Norwegian poet and writer.She was born in Oslo, and is a daughter of Øystein Dahle. She made her literary début in 1987 with Audiens , a collection of poetry...
, born 1962.