About the 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.
Inger Marie Seloter Olsen is the longest serving member of the commitee with more than 25 years of dedication. Teacher at international schools and universities.
Erlend C. L. Birkeland is our secretary, manages our website and print production, and is a freelance photographer. For work they lead communications and bid writing for an architecture firm in London.
Veronica Mittet Bjerkeli supports the committee with our social media and marketing. She works as a freelance marketing manager helping businesses in Norway and the UK with digital marketing.
Lise-Beate Ringsby works as a host at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in London.
i.sjomannskirken.no
Frøydis Grann works at The Norwegian School in London as Head of the Art Department and the Maths Department. Her role on the committee is to ensure that the children have plenty of fun activities to engage in on May 17th.
Angela Shury Smith is the manager at The Norwegian YWCA / KFUK-hjemmet here in London, and leads the saturday school at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church/Sjømannskirken i London.
Elise Vik Nordbrønd is the housekeeper at The Norwegian YWCA / KFUK-hjemmet. Food planning and organising is therefore a big part of the everyday life.
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.
Kyrre Haugen, another previous leader for 17 Mai London and now the MD for Norwegian British Chamber of Commerce in London.
nbccuk.com
