Sturla Henriksen, Special Advisor, Ocean, to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since 1. January 2018, chairing UNGC’s ocean-related projects with corporations, research institutions, international regulatory bodies and national governments. With a membership of more than 14,000 companies and 4,000 civic society organizations, the UNGC is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative and the United Nations’ main body for cooperation with the international business community.  The UNGC Board is chaired by the UN Secretary General. 

Professional background: 

Director and Partner, Astrup Fearnley Asset Management AS, 2020 to 2021. Chief Executive Officer, Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA), 2008 to 2017. Senior Executive/Partner, Accenture Management Consulting, 2005 to 2008. CEO/Founding Partner, Context Consulting AS, 1998 to 2005.  Director/Chief Economist, NSA, 1992 to 1998. Prior to this, his professional career includes positions in the EU Commission Services (Brussels), European Free Trade Association (Geneva), Norwegian Ministry of Finance, Norwegian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Norwegian Armed Forces.  

Education: 

He graduated Cand. Oecon, University of Oslo, and his educational background further comprises the Norwegian Army Officer School (Befalsskolen for Kavaleriet), BI Institute of Business Administration, Norwegian Defense College (Sjefskurset, Forsvarets Høyskole) and the Advanced Management Program, INSEAD (France). 

Board positions: 

He is currently serving at the board of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and at the Advisory Board for the Executive Ocean Leadership Program, Arctic University of Norway. From 2018 to 2020 he was a member of the China Council Task Force on Green Maritime Operations, an advisory body to the Chinese government. He served for ten years at the boards of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA), and for four years as deputy chair of Det norske Veritas Council and of the Board Nomination Committee of DNV. He has been a member of the board of Thomas Wilhelmsen Foundation and the World Economic Forum’s Expert Panel on Arctic.