Political background

2017 – ongoing: Minister of Foreign Affairs
2013 – 2017: Minister of Defence
2009 – 2013: Chair, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, and Chair, Enlarged Foreign Affairs Committee
2009 – 2013: Head of the Delegation for Relations with the European Parliament, and Head of the European Consultative Committee
2005 – 2009: Chair, Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs
2001 – 2005: Member, Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs

Political appointments in The Conservative Party

2000 – ongoing: Member of the Conservative Party Central Executive Committee
2000 – 2004: Chair, Young Conservatives in Norway
1998 – 2000: First Vice Chair, Young Conservatives in Norway, 2000–2004 Chair
1996 – 1998: Member, Central Executive Committee of the Young Conservatives in Norway

Education

2007: Graduate degree in Law (Cand. jur.) from The University of Tromsø