About London’s 17 May committee
17 Mai London is team of dedicated volunteers, led by Kåre Sivertsen since 2015 with representatives from Norwegian Church, Norwegian Embassy, KFUK, Norwegian School, NBCC and friends of Norway. We are an independent organisation and share banking facilities with the Norwegian Church in London. We’re a tribe of 10 volunteers who dedicate their spare time to organise a fantastic Norwegian festival for thousands of guests, in other words, a good old fashioned “Dugnad”.
100% of funds received is a direct contribution to cover all the expenses related to managing the National Day Celebrations, including hire of Southwark Park, Marquee hire, security and event personnel, power and electricity, PA System, toilet facilities, litter management, artist fees, programme printing & PR and some more.
We have a total budget of approx. £25k, of which 50% is raised via corporate sponsorship and the rest is generated by entrance tickets, lottery and sales on the day. We receive no formal donations from the Norwegian Government and everyone in the organising committee is a 100% volunteer and will draw no salary from the work we do.
Kåre Sivertsen, leader of 17 Mai London since 2015. Company director of Scene Change, providing immersive and experiential learning for emerging and senior leaders across all sectors.
www.scenechange.co.uk
Mari Løvvik, our Event Operations Manager, completed her MSc in International Events Management at Salford Business School in 2020 and has since worked within the industry in London and Southeast England.
Øystein Lund is Councellor for Research and Education at the Norwegian Embassy in London.
Inger Marie Seloter Olsen, the longest serving member of the commitee with more than 25 years of dedication. Teacher at international schools and universities.
Agnes Linnea Gärtner Davidsen moved to London 5 years ago for university, and is currently working as a classroom leader and SENco at The Norwegian Kindergarten in London.
www.norwegiankindergarten.org.uk
Veronica Mittet Bjerkeli, our brilliant social media manager is currently doing her online wizardry for Fjordkraft. Originally from Åndalsnes but based in Bergen and London.
Erlend C. L. Birkeland manages our website and supports our productions for print. They came to study in the UK in 2017 and currently work in communications for an architecture firm in London.
Andy Ward, one of our British representatives in the committee who has studied Norwegian language for the past 6 years. Works in the life insurance industry and proud dad of a little boy with number two arriving in September.
Lise-Beate Ringsby works as a host at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in London.
i.sjomannskirken.no
Kyrre Haugen, another previous leader for 17 Mai London and now the MD for Norwegian British Chamber of Commerce in London.
nbccuk.com
Monica Sogn, London based freelance designer and illustrator for the past 12 years.
www.monicasogn.com
Angela Shury Smith, daglig leder ved KFUK-hjemmet i London, og leder for Lørdagsskolen ved Sjømannskirken.
Preben Øye, working for an Asset Manager in the City and looking after the committees’ finances. Relocated with the family to Oxfordshire during lockdown.
