NRCC Head Office, Oslo, Norway

Managing Director, Jarle Forbord

Jarle Forbord has broad experience from various forms of business and advisory activities in the Barents Region, the Baltics, the Balkans, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the SADC region and from cooperation with multilateral financing organizations and institutions.
During the 1980ies, he held several leading management positions in various private companies in the High North of Norway, in Kirkenes and Tromso, within trade, tourism, transport and production. He has also served as assistant and interpreter to the Norwegian Border Commissioner on the then Norwegian-Soviet Border and worked as Deputy President in South Varanger Investment and Business Development Company.
In 1989 he took up a position as commercial councellor at the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow coming, from a position as C.E.O. of Barents Company, Finnmark. After his service in Moscow, he worked as commercial councellor at the Norwegian Embassies in Sarajevo and Pretoria.
In 2003 he was engaged as consultant in setting up the NRCC and was later appointed its Managing Director.
He speaks Norwegian, Russian, English, Dutch and German.

Telephone: +47 21 01 57 50, mobile +47 99 40 19 43; e-mail: jarle.forbord(at)nrcc.no

Project and Communication Director, Katerina Smetanina

Katerina Smetanina has more than 15 years of experience with the Norwegian-Russian trade and economic relations. Among her previous employments are the Norwegian Trade Council, Consulate General of Norway in Murmansk, and other organisations.
Smetanina holds a bachelor degree in journalism (Oslo University College), MBA-degree in International Business (GSIB, Moscow) and bachelor degree in history and English language (MGPI, Murmansk).

She is an experienced speaker with lectures and presentations held on many of NRCC Seminars and third parties's events. Author of the book "Russia and Russians: a guide to our neighbour in the East" ("Russland og russere: en guide til vårt nabofolk i øst") published in Norwegian in November 2006 (rated 6 of 6 by Aftenposten).
In the NRCC Smetanina is responsible for several key projects and events. On day to day basis, she, among other activities, is responsible for several projects, information, communication and promotional activities, production of NRCC publications, web maintenance, marketing, event management, project management etc.
Fluent in Norwegian, Russian and English. Basic French.

Telephone:+ 47 21 01 57 51; mobile: +47 48 19 37 89; e-mail: katerina.smetanina(at)nrcc.no

Project Manager Joern Tverseth

Joern Tverseth has a master degree of political science with specialization in organization and management. He has supplementary education in project organization, project management, steering - and control. From Bodoe University College he has a bachelor degree within personnel management and development.
Tverseth has practical experience as consultant, working for different municipalities in project management, organization development and planning tasks; project manager of business cooperation projects with companies within various industrial sectors in Northern Norway, international business development projects with universities in Russia, practical training courses for Russian suppliers in the North Western District of Russia in collaboration with a Norwegian oil company and similar. Jorn Tverseth has held several leading political positions during a period of more than 10 years, hereunder also acting as representative at the regional parliament in Nordland County working with regional industrial development.
Tverseth is responsible for a match making program for Norwegian SMEs penetrating the Russian market and as well coordinator of several other projects related to the Russian market.
He is fluent in Norwegian and English.

Telephone: +47 21 01 57 53, cell +47 90 91 49 64, e-mail: jorn.tverseth(at)nrcc.no

Program Manager, Hans-Olav Rekdal

Hans-Olav Rekdal has proficient understanding of doing successful business in Russia and Norway. During 1998 - 2010 he lived and worked in Russia where he held several management positions. He has more than 20 years’ experience from developing projects, risk assessment, leadership, logistics, and transport supply chains. Rekdal has a proven track record in the planning and implementation of industrial-size projects in Russia including investment planning into profitable business operations. He is well-skilled in strategy development, building a network of contacts, managing negotiations, and closing deals with customers. He has worked as a consultant in various sectors such as, but not limited to, energy, import/export, aquaculture, agriculture, HSSQE, port and inland infrastructure. Mr Rekdal has a good personal network in Norwegian and Russian trade & industry, as well as the public sector.
Education: Norwegian Military Academy ( Krigsskolen II), Oslo, Russian language course ( A-level), Academy of Social Economy ( Strategic Leadership), Moscow, Russia, Safety & Security Offshore, Norway. He speaks Norwegian (native tongue), Russian (fluent), English (fluent), and German (basic).

Telephone:+ 47 21 01 57 54, e-mail: hans.rekdal(at)nrcc.no

Project and Event Coordinator, Ksenia Borzenina

Ksenia Borzenina has graduated from the Petrozavodsk State University with a major in Swedish and Russian language (bachelor). She has several years of work experience from account and office administration. In the NRCC, Borzenina, among other activities, is responsible for coordination and implementation of events in Norway and Russia.
Fluent in Norwegian/Swedish, Russian and English.

Telephone:+ 47 21 01 57 50, e-mail: ksenia.borzenina(at)nrcc.no

Office Manager, Olessia Bankovskaya

Olessia Bankovskaya has a M.Sc. degree in International Business from Reykjavik University. She studied at ESADE Business School in Barcelona as an exchange student. She has a B.S. degree in Business Administration (major: marketing) from the University of Iceland. Her M.S. thesis was about Nordic Investments in Russia: Current business environment and outlook following Russia’s accession to the WTO.
She has five years marketing experience from the Icelandic fashion design company ELM, where she developed marketing strategies, executed advertising campaigns for international markets, organized fashion shows and was responsible for building and maintaining business relationships with customers, stores, agents, manufacturers and suppliers all over the world.
She lived in Iceland for 12 years, but comes originally from Russia. Fluent in Russian, Icelandic, English and Norwegian. Basic Spanish.

Telephone:+ 47 21 01 57 50, e-mail: olessia.bankovskaya(at)nrcc.no