Thorhild Widvey

Thorhild Widvey (born 9 January 1956^[1]) is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party who served as Minister of Culture from 2013 to 2015, and Minister of Petroleum and Energy from 2004 to 2005.

Thorhild Widvey MP
Widvey in 2014
Minister of Culture
In office 16 October 2013 – 16 December 2015
Prime Minister	Erna Solberg
Preceded by	Hadia Tajik
Succeeded by	Linda Hofstad Helleland
Minister of Petroleum and Energy
In office 18 June 2004 – 17 October 2005
Prime Minister	Kjell Magne Bondevik
Preceded by	Einar Steensnæs
Succeeded by	Odd Roger Enoksen
Member of the Norwegian Parliament
In office 1 October 1989 – 30 September 1997
Constituency	Rogaland
Personal details
Born	(1956-01-09) 9 January 1956 (age 69) Karmøy, Norway
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Osvald Bjelland
Children	2
Alma mater	BI Norwegian Business School

Political career

Local politics

On the local level Widvey was a member of Karmøy municipal council from 1979 to 1989, the last six years in the executive committee.

Parliament

She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Rogaland in 1989, and was re-elected on one occasion. She had previously served as a deputy representative during the term 1985–1989.

Bondevik cabinet

From 2002 to 2003, during the second cabinet Bondevik, Widvey was appointed State Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries. From 2003 to 2004, she held the same position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2004, she was appointed Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, an office she left, along with the rest of the second cabinet Bondevik, after their 2005 election defeat.^[2]

Solberg cabinet

Early and personal life

She was born on 9 January 1956, in Avaldsnes. A physical therapist by education, she was deputy leader of the Norwegian Sporting Association of People with Disabilities 1985–1987. Widvey lives in Oslo, is married and has two children.

Her husband is businessman Osvald Bjelland.^[3]