Bygger opp ny industri: – Som å bygge et fly mens du flyr

Benedicte Staalesen landed her first top position at just 23. Since then, her career has taken her to both Equinor and the Office of the Prime Minister. Now, she is helping to build a new industry – in what she herself calls “the most exciting company in the world.”

On a Wednesday evening in 2013, Benedicte Staalesen’s phone rang. She was sitting in her newly purchased flat in Stavanger when the name Vidar Helgesen appeared on the screen.

At the time, Helgesen was Minister and Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Erna Solberg. He asked Staalesen if she could come in for a meeting.

Shortly afterwards, she found herself at dinner with him. Before dessert was served, she had been offered the position of political adviser in the then newly formed government.

“For a political nerd like me, this was an incredibly rare opportunity – one I felt very lucky to get,” Staalesen says with great enthusiasm.

After several years in government – where, among other things, she was tasked with ensuring that Norway contributed input to the EU’s 2030 energy framework – she moved on to the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). There, she worked on a wide range of political issues on behalf of Norwegian business.

Global and Local at the Same Time

The very next day, she handed in her resignation at what was then Statoil. By Monday morning, she was at her new desk in the Office of the Prime Minister (SMK).

Her role was split between the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for the EU/EEA portfolio and coordinating government policy.

For someone who had always been passionate about energy, society, and cross-border cooperation, it was hard to imagine a more exciting role.

From a young age, Staalesen had been deeply fascinated by the energy sector. Growing up in Stavanger, energy policy has been a constant thread throughout her career.

“Energy has always fascinated me. It is both global and local at the same time. It’s just incredibly exciting,” she adds.

Top Role at 23

At 23, Staalesen moved back to Stavanger to work as a political adviser for Leif Johan Sevland.

She describes the job as an intensive crash course in politics, the media, and the importance of strong collaboration between the public sector and business.

Before this, Staalesen had written her master’s thesis at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on the development of offshore wind in the UK and Germany, and the role of EU policy in accelerating what was then an emerging industry.

“What fascinates me is how regulatory frameworks, politics, and industry must work together to develop something new. The transition to a low-emissions society doesn’t happen on its own,” she explains.

She later spent several years at Statoil, working on Norwegian energy policy and international regulatory conditions.

“I really enjoyed my time there. But when the phone rang from the Prime Minister’s Office, I knew it was a rare opportunity,” says Staalesen.

“Now I have the toolbox to contribute in more ways to the development of this complex industry,” says Staalesen.

Specialised Expertise in Energy

Despite a long career in which energy has been a consistent thread, Staalesen felt the need to develop her expertise further. There were areas she couldn’t simply dive into on her own.

She wanted to strengthen her understanding of financial matters – both in general and specifically within the energy sector. Not to become an expert in everything, but to be able to ask the right questions when decisions needed to be made.

Staalesen considered a traditional MBA but ultimately chose the Executive Master of Management in Energy at BI Norwegian Business School.

“You get everything a regular MBA offers, but on top of that, you gain specialised expertise in energy. I am part of the leadership team at Northern Lights JV, and I do a better job because I can speak the same language as, for example, the technical director or the chief financial officer. Now, there are far fewer topics that feel completely foreign to me.”

“Building a Plane While Flying It”

Today, Staalesen heads communications and public affairs at Northern Lights JV.

The company is the first in the world to offer commercial transport and storage of CO₂ as a service. It is owned by Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies, and its first phase forms part of Norway’s state-backed climate initiative Langskip.

CO₂ is collected from industrial companies in Norway and across Europe, transported by purpose-built ships, and stored safely and permanently beneath the seabed off Øygarden.

“At times it feels like building a plane while flying it. It’s complex, but incredibly motivating.”

Staalesen also works closely on commercial and political processes in Europe. Her focus now is on ensuring Northern Lights succeeds in establishing a new industry that will be crucial to achieving emissions reductions.

“This is something I believe in – and Northern Lights is one of the most exciting companies in the world. What we are working on is hugely important, and I want to be part of it.”

“You get everything an MBA offers, but on top of that, you gain specialised expertise in energy,” says Benedicte Staalesen about the degree she completed at BI Norwegian Business School.

New Energy and Fresh Insight

Staalesen completed her BI master’s degree in 2022. She does not believe the programme was decisive in securing her role at Northern Lights, but she is convinced it has made her perform better in the job.

“It has given me a broader skill set and a toolbox that helps me see the bigger picture. It’s not only about communication or politics, but about connecting different disciplines and setting a clear direction.”

She encourages others to consider further education – even in the midst of a busy career.

“I had been working for 15 years when I started the programme. It gave me new energy and fresh insight. I learned a great deal, and it reminded me why I chose this industry in the first place,” says Staalesen.