Governor of Svalbard


The Governor of Svalbard represents the Norwegian government in exercising its sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago.
The position reports to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice, but it maintains all Norwegian interests in the area, including environmental protection, law enforcement, representation, mediation, and civil matters, such as marriage, divorce. An important part of the position is to maintain good working relations with the Russian community in Barentsburg.
To this end, the governor's organization consists of:
The governor's office also has at its disposition several helicopters, snowscooters, speedboats and other equipment needed to meet its responsibilities. The office's annual budget is determined by the Norwegian Storting, and runs at about NOK 60 million, of which the largest part is used for transportation.

List of Governors of Svalbard (sysselmenn)

Name
Term began
Term ended
Johannes Gerckens Bassøe19251933
Helge Ingstad 19331935
Wolmar Tycho Marlow19351941
Vacant19411945
Håkon Balstad19451956
Odd Birketvedt19561960
Finn Backer Midtbøe19601963
Tollef Landsverk19631967
Stephen Stephensen19671970
Fredrik Beichmann19701974
Leif Eldring19741978
Jan Grøndahl19781982
Carl Alexander Wendt19821985
Leif Eldring19851991
Odd Blomdal19911995
Ann-Kristin Olsen19951998
Morten Ruud19982001
Odd Olsen Ingerø20012005
Sven Ole Fagernæs 20052005
Per Sefland20052009
Odd Olsen Ingerø20092015
Kjerstin Askholt2015Incumbent