AmCham 2023 AGM & Transatlantic Business Assembly

AmCham Annual General Meeting & Transatlantic Business Assembly 2023: 65 Years of Advancing Transatlantic Business

Managing Director Jason Turflinger welcomed guests to AmCham’s Annual General Meeting, presenting the organization’s performance over the past year. Hosted at Yara, the meeting also commemorated 65 years since AmCham’s inception. AmCham Chair Ketil Nordengen acknowledged that since being founded in 1958 as the American Club, many deep-rooted US companies have and continue to contribute heavily to Norway’s societal and economic prosperity. Norwegian companies, in turn, continue to expand their US footprints – employing thousands of Americans. Connectivity, friendship, and the advancement of bilateral value chains are, and always have been, at the core of AmCham’s ethos.

Board Treasurer Michael Klem presented AmCham’s robust non-profit 2022 financials and, thereafter, nominees for AmCham’s volunteer Board of Directors were announced and confirmed – with Ketil Nordengen reelected as Chair. Returning Board member Elisabeth Hellemose, AIG, was newly confirmed as AmCham’s First Vice Chair, and Ellen Teresa Heyerdahl, Thommessen, was welcomed as a new Board member. Outgoing member Stanley Stewart was sincerely thanked for his three years of Board service.

Incentives for a Green Transition

The Transatlantic Assembly was then opened, with remarks by Svein Tore Holsether who leads Yara International, an organization responsible for the most important innovation of all time, fertilizer. Following Holsether, Nikolai Astrup, Member of Stortinget’s Standing Committee on Energy & Environment Energy, held a keynote on the overarching topic of the evening; Norway’s position in regard to security, climate and strategic autonomy.

The evening’s panel discussion featured the above keynote speakers and special guest panelists Kristine Dahl Steidel, Managing Director at Microsoft Norge, Sharon Hudson-Dean, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, and Cathrine Thomassen, General Manager at GE Healthcare.

Addressing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), general panelist sentiment was that it will serve well to focus on the intention of accelerated sustainable development. “Although the IRA has by some been defined as protectionist, at the end of the day it’s a domestic piece of legislation that aims to have a global, positive climate impact, with the opportunity to commercialize and scale for added benefit.” In addition to green investments being a current and future defining factor for business success, there was consensus that technology will also be the driver in years ahead. There was a broad willingness for businesses and governments to collaborate in order to reach goals as efficiently as possible.

65 & 20!

Not only did the evening mark 65 years since the inception of the organization, but also Managing Director Jason Turflinger’s 20 years at the helm of the organization – as acknowledged warmly by Ketil Nordengen: “AmCham is forever grateful for all the work and dedication you have put down for all these years, we would not be where we are today without your vision and strong leadership.”

Before convening for American wines, guests were presented with a creative tale of Norwegian-US relations by Thor Morten Wangen of Geelmuyden Kiese.

AmCham thanks everyone for an informative, enjoyable evening – with a renewed promise to continue advancing transatlantic business for decades to come!