MEET OUR CREW

NABA Team

Secretariat

NABA’s core team runs daily operations, member services and events, working to strengthen business ties between Norway and Africa.

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Solveig Tangen
Solveig Tangen

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

st@norwegianafrican.no

Amalie Østhassel
Amalie Østhassel

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

ao@norwegianafrican.no

Hassan Mahfouz
Hassan Mahfouz

Head of Digital and Memberships

hm@norwegianafrican.no

Ingeborg Vale Opdal
Ingeborg Vale Opdal

Head of Volunteers and Summit 

ivo@norwegianafrican.no

Mathilde Thue
Mathilde Thue

On leave until June 2026

Volunteer Program 2026

Students and young professionals supporting NABA’s events and projects while gaining hands-on experience in Nordic–African business.

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Esther Omemu
Esther Omemu

Communications and Social Media

Catherine Wanyama
Catherine Wanyama

Communications and Social Media Lead

Maria Espelid
Maria Espelid

Embassy Liaison

Ingvil Østhassel
Ingvil Østhassel

Event Logistics

Eirik Midttun Bæra
Eirik Midttun Bæra

Event Logistics

Nadya Tahir
Nadya Tahir

Event Logistics

Grace Bitengo
Grace Bitengo

Event Logistics

Marlene Svingen
Marlene Svingen

Event Logistics

Cecilia Saguet
Cecilia Saguet

Event Logistics

Board

NABA's Board provides strategic oversight and governance, ensuring the association serves its members and advances Nordic-African business relations.

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Øystein Botillen
Øystein Botillen

Chairperson

Manager of Global Initiatives – Yara International

Lars Tormodsgard
Lars Tormodsgard

Board Member

Partner - SANDS Law firm

Per Kristian Sbertoli
Per Kristian Sbertoli

Board Member

Head of Public Relations, Norfund

Reinaart Pretorius
Reinaart Pretorius

Board Member

Senior Project Manager, Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO)

Lefteris Karagiannopoulos
Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

Board Member

Head of Communication for Africa and UK, Equinor

Kai Simon Eikli Yuen
Kai Simon Eikli Yuen

Board Member

International Advisor, Norwegian Shipowners’ Association

Erling Ølstad
Erling Ølstad

Board Member

Managing Director, Mester Grønn

Advisory Board

Senior experts offering strategic insight and networks to support NABA’s mission and deepen business engagement with Africa.

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Bjørn Khars
Bjørn Khars

CEO, Norwegian Offshore Technology

Heine Melkevik
Heine Melkevik

Global Energy Expansion CEO l Emerging Markets Growth Leader

Sanjeev Gupta
Sanjeev Gupta

Executive Director, Financial Services, Africa Finance Corporation

Barbro Ciakudia
Barbro Ciakudia

Business Development Manager, AMEA Power

Anne-Lene Dale
Anne-Lene Dale

Former Ambassador of Mozambique

Orli Arav
Orli Arav

Managing Director, EMFin Advisory

Erik Solheim
Erik Solheim

Former Minister and Executive Director

Kjell Roland
Kjell Roland

Former CEO, Norfund

Trond Riiber Knudsen
Trond Riiber Knudsen

Founder & CEO, TRK Group AS

Koosum Kalyan
Koosum Kalyan

Board of Directors, Aker Solutions

Kjetil Tronvoll
Kjetil Tronvoll

Professor, Bjørknes University College

Jorunn Mæhlum
Jorunn Mæhlum

Former Ambassador of Tanzania

Isobel Appiah Endresen
Isobel Appiah Endresen

Partner, Appiah-Endresen & Co

Terje Osmundsen
Terje Osmundsen

Founder/CEO, Empower New Energy AS

Mark Eddo
Mark Eddo

CEO, Articulate Ltd

Marius Koestler
Marius Koestler

Co-founder Laboremus Uganda & Imata

Vegar Wikhammer Heir
Vegar Wikhammer Heir

Chief Commercial Officer, Vipps

Bjørn Dale
Bjørn Dale

Managing Director – DNO

Kai Yamaguchi-Fasting
Kai Yamaguchi-Fasting

Chief Consultant Product Management, Vipps MobilePay

Want to Get Involved?

We're always looking for passionate people to join our volunteer team or contribute to NABA's mission.

Vacancies
Volunteer Program

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