Karl Johnny Hersvik

The Karl Johnny Hersvik speech on the importance of innovation explains how technology is not always necessary to solve important challenges. The Senior Vice President of Statoil worked at the Norwegian oil and gas company since 1998, previously holding the titles of Vice President of Production Technology and then the Vice President of Business Development in the Middle East. His current role involves heading the research and development department where he oversees the annual budget and over 800 employees internationally.

Hersvik is a member of the Advisory Board of Energy Venture and acts as the chairman for the OG21 initiative formed by the Norwegian Ministry of Oil and Energy. He is the Vice Chairman of the Board to the Norwegian Academy of Science as well. He is also a member of several industry and academic collaboration boards. The Karl Johnny Hersvik speech expresses the speaker's ambitions for Norway, noting his desire to have at least two top universities in the country.