Torkild Solli Haukaas Appointed as a State Secretary in Norway

Congratulations to Torkild Solli Haukaas, a student in SIPA’s Program in Economic Policy Management (PEPM) who was recently appointed as a state secretary to Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway.

“I’m delighted that Torkild has accepted to be one of my closest advisers, and I look forward to working with him on important political issues for my government,” Solberg said.

The appointment was formally made by King Harald V at a session of the nation’s Council of State on June 19.

Haukaas, who successfully concluded his coursework in May, is a member of the final PEPM cohort that must fulfill a summer work requirement as part of the degree program. He is currently doing so and will receive his MPA-EPM degree in October.

Haukaas holds an MSc in Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics and has also studied at Cornell University. He has previously worked as a director at the Norwegian private equity firm Herkules and as a journalist at the Norwegian daily VG.

The new appointee is also a longstanding member of the Conservative Party of Norway who from 2004 to 2006 served as deputy chair of the party’s youth organization.