Jørgen Watne Frydnes has been elected as the new chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. He will be the youngest committee chair in history.

39 years old Mr. Frydnes currently serves as the Secretary-General of Norwegian PEN. He holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Oslo and a master's degree in International Politics from the University of York, England.

Following the terror attack on Utøya on July 22, 2011, he became the managing director of Utøya AS and was responsible for the reconstruction efforts of Utøya. His task was to transform a site of terror and mass murder into a center for democracy, a platform for knowledge, discussion and dialogue.

Mr. Frydnes has been a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee since 2021, appointed by the Norwegian Labour Party. He succeeds Ms. Berit Reiss-Andersen as chair, who served as a member of the Nobel Committee for 12 years, including six years as chair of the commitee.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee was established by the Norwegian Storting in 1897, tasked with selecting Nobel Peace Prize laureates. The committee members each year choose the chair and vice chair of the committee.

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The Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee:

Jørgen Watne Frydnes
Chair of the Nobel Committee, appointed for the period 2021-2026

Asle Toje
Vice chair of the Nobel Committee. Member of the Committee since 2018, reappointed for the period 2024-2029.

Anne Enger
Member of the Committee since 2018, reappointed for the period 2021-2026.

Kristin Clemet
Member of the Committee, appointed for the period 2021-2026.

Gry Larsen
Member of the Committee, appointed for the period 2024-2029.

 

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Media Contact:

Erik Aasheim
Head of Media and Communications,
The Norwegian Nobel Institute

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