Lena Kvarving

Thematic expertise: WPS, gender perspectives, equality, inclusion and diversity in the security, military operations and organizations

Geographic expertise: European security organizations and cooperation such as NATO, OSCE, NORDEFCO

Languages: Norwegian and English

Lieutenant Colonel/Dr Lena P. Kvarving is currently Officer in Command, Education and Training Department, at Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM). She has served as Head teacher and Leader of the Gender Project at Norwegian Defence University College, Senior Staff Officer at the Norwegian Defence Staff on equality, diversity and gender perspectives (WPS agenda), Gender Adviser at the Politico-Military Domain in OSCE and various military positions in Norway, USA and Afghanistan. A PhD in Political Science from University of Oslo complements her higher military education and training.

Her doctoral thesis revealed factors that affect implementation of UNSCR 1325 in the Norwegian Armed Forces and NATO. Her MA thesis compared the work for equal opportunities in the EU and the Council of Europe. She has led a refugee centre for Norwegian People’s Aid, and published and lectured widely internationally with NGOs, IGOs and international security organizations. The Norwegian MOFA used Kvarving’s expertise i.e. China, Lithuania, and in Human Rights Dialogues with Indonesia. She has been a Norwegian Steering Committee member of NCGM and delegate to NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives for several years.