I have collaborated extensively with public actors and voluntary organisations in applied regional, national and international research projects on co-creation and inclusion. Among other things, the research has contributed to developing the co-creation platform Med hjerte for Arendal, which subsequently gained much attention. The research has also contributed to test and develop a guide on introducing a curriculum in Norwegian for adult immigrants through explatory and experimental learning loops, examined how to work across sectors against marine plastic litter, and much more.
I am on the board of the National Research Network for Innovation in the Public Sector INNOFF. I am also one of the hosts of the podcast Fremtidens kommuner about innovation in Norway's municipalities, and have been an appointed member of two public committees.
I have my PhD from the University of Bergen with a thesis was about collective coping strategies among refugees. I completed my postdoc at the Institute of Public Health. I have also previously been department head for welfare research at Agder Research and been active in contributing to establish and develop voluntary organisations such as Våre Strender ("Our Beaches") and Agder Gorj Utvikling.
