Speakers

Frode Ommundsen is a Major General in the Norwegian Armed Forces and Head of the Norwegian Home Guard (Heimevernet). He has held key leadership roles in the Army, including in the Telemark Battalion and Panserbataljonen, and has operational experience from international missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.

Ommundsen also has advanced military education from institutions such as the NATO Defence College and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, and assumed his current role in 2023, where he leads the development of Norway’s territorial defence capabilities.

Frode Arnfinn Kristoffersen is a Major General in the Norwegian Armed Forces and currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) at Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk in the United States. He has more than 30 years of experience from the Norwegian Armed Forces and NATO, with a background in special operations, intelligence and joint operations.

Kristoffersen has served in international operations in Bosnia and Afghanistan through SFOR, FSK and ISAF, and has held several senior leadership roles, including Commander of the Norwegian Special Operations Regiment (FSK) and Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Special Operations Command.

He is a graduate of both the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the U.S. Army War College, and has received several high-level decorations for operational service and leadership.

Tore O. Sandvik is Norway’s Minister of Defence, appointed in February 2025. A Labour Party politician with extensive experience at both regional and national levels, he served as County Mayor of Sør-Trøndelag and later Trøndelag from 2003 to 2023.

Sandvik has a strong track record in regional development, industry policy, and defence issues, and has held roles as State Secretary in key ministries as well as acting Minister of Climate and Environment in 2024.

As Minister of Defence, he focuses on strengthening national preparedness, allied cooperation, and Europe’s responsibility for its own security.

At the conference, Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik will deliver his keynote address.

Jan-Erik Larsen is the Managing Director and a partner at the communications agency Kruse Larsen, which he founded in 2015.

Larsen previously served as State Secretary to Jens Stoltenberg at the Office of the Prime Minister for two terms. He has a background as a journalist and editor, and brings extensive experience as an advisor in strategic communications. Larsen is also a highly experienced master of ceremonies and public speaker.

Jan-Erik Larsen will serve as master of ceremonies at the Defence Conference.