Espen Granberg Johnsen

NOR

Role

Mayor of City Council

Organization

Lillehammer Municipality

Espen Granberg Johnsen was elected Mayor of Lillehammer in 2011, and is now serving his second term as mayor.

Granberg Johnsen started his studies at Lillehammer University College, where he graduated in 2002 with a Candidatus rerum politicarum (cand.polit.) degree, covering politics and public administration, national and international politics and community planning.

Granberg Johnsen has a long history of being a member of, and holding positions within, the Social Democratic Party, locally and nationally, and has also held board positions for different organisations.

He has served three terms as an elected member of the Oppland County Council, and one term in the National Parliament (2005-2009), elected from Oppland County. Additionally, he has served two periods as a substitute representative (2001-2005 and 2009-2013). During his time in parliament, he held positions in different committees and served on delegations to different international conferences.

In addition to politics, and before being elected Mayor of Lillehammer, Granberg Johnsen’s professional career included the role of Head of Development and Strategies in Øyer Municipality, which he held for two years.

He is married and the father of two children, one girl and one boy.

The speakers

Using the unique power of sport to bring people together, the Olympism in Action Forum saw a range of global players, including Olympic Movement stakeholders, athletes, private and public sector leaders, NGO representatives, academics, artists and the media come together to talk on topical contemporary issues. Chosen because of their ability to effect change and their wide range of sometimes differing opinions, the speakers led lively debates and seeked to challenge received wisdom to inspire new ways of thinking.