Meet Ingrid Helene Garmann Johnsen, who has recently joined Nordic Energy Research as Senior Adviser. Ingrid’s primary responsibility is to support the call management of the CETPartnership, by coordinating and facilitating processes related to the calls. She dives into these tasks with extensive experience from writing project proposals and applying for funding to the EU and the Research Council of Norway.

“I also have experience from working in a Nordic setting and in research consortia including many nationalities. I have always enjoyed working interdisciplinary and with people from different cultures. I feel that I will have the possibility to learn and grow in an environment such as Nordic Energy Research and the CETPartnerhsip, with people from different academic backgrounds and a mix of people from the Nordic countries,” says Ingrid.

Ingrid was born in Kristiansand, in the southern part of Norway, but since turning 18, she has moved around frequently for both studies and work.

“While I still have most of my family in southern Norway, my extended family includes Swiss relatives. I have lived in Lausanne, and I speak French fluently, so in the summertime we often travel to Switzerland to reconnect with friends and family, to walk in the mountains, enjoy good food (like Swiss cheese!) and swim in the beautiful Lake Geneva,” says Ingrid.

Ingrid Helene Garmann Johnsen, Senior Adviser at Nordic Energy Research.

Ingrid’s energy interest was sparked by Nordic cooperation

Ingrid describes herself as a positive and outgoing person with a strong desire to keep learning.

“I thrive in team environments where I can learn from others, and I always try to bring enthusiasm and positive energy into everything I do,” she says.

Consequently, Ingrid’s path to Nordic Energy Research is paved with collaboration, knowledge exchange, and sustainability. With a background in the social sciences, specialising in economic geography, Ingrid has been particularly drawn to exploring how social networks facilitate the transfer of knowledge among actors within regional innovation systems. Her interest in energy was sparked through Nordic cooperation.

“Following my PhD, I joined Nordregio in Stockholm as Senior Research Fellow, which led me into cross-border Nordic projects focused on green growth and sustainable development. I was fortunate to gain firsthand insight into how the Nordic countries work together on key issues – especially related to circular economy, bioeconomy and demographic change,” says Ingrid.

Since then, she has continued to engage with sustainable regional development.

Turning challenges into change

Now, Ingrid is eager to contribute to the CETPartnership and other core activities at Nordic Energy Research.

“Recently, I submitted a project proposal to the Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for Energy Policy (EK-E) focused on promoting gender equality in the energy sector. If the proposal is approved, I am very excited to begin working on this initiative,” she says.

These activities do not come without their challenges – not least navigating a large consortium of over 50 partners from across Europe and beyond.

“Reaching consensus on complex issues can be difficult, especially when diverse perspectives are involved. Additionally, conducting most meetings online presents its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to fostering rich, productive discussions,” says Ingrid.

On the other hand, the most rewarding part of work is working together with skilled and kind colleagues, according to Ingrid.

“Their expertise and support create a truly inspiring environment. I also find fulfillment in contributing to projects that feel meaningful and impactful – this sense of purpose brings me a lot of joy and positive energy,” she says.

A platform for joint Nordic energy progress

The importance of Nordic cooperation is something that Ingrid highlights in relation to Nordic Energy Research’s work.

“By pooling resources, sharing expertise, and launching joint initiatives, we can address common challenges more effectively and accelerate progress in key areas like energy transition and sustainability. Nordic Energy Research plays a vital role in this by providing a platform where Nordic experts can connect, exchange ideas, and build consensus – creating a strong foundation for impactful collaboration,” Ingrid concludes.

  • Name: Ingrid Helene Garmann Johnsen
  • Nationality: Norwegian
  • Education: PhD in Economic Geography from Lund university, and MA in Sociology from NTNU
  • Leisure: Biking around Oslo with the family, discovering new cafés and visiting museums, as well as staying active by regularly attending box fit and running classes at the local gym