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Gro Harlem Brundtland

A medical doctor and Master of Public Health (MPH), Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland spent 10 years as a physician and scientist in the Norwegian public health system. For more than 20 years she was in public office, 10 of them as Prime Minister of Norway. In the 1980s she gained international recognition, championing the principle of sustainable development as the chair of the World Commission of Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission).

The sense of global awareness that began in her childhood developed when, as a young mother and newly qualified doctor, Gro Harlem Brundtland won a scholarship to the Harvard School of Public Health. There, working alongside distinguished public health experts, Dr. Brundtland’s vision of health extending beyond the confines of the medical world into environment issues and human development began to take shape.

Dr. Brundtland returned to Oslo and the Ministry of Health in 1965. At the Ministry she worked on children’s health issues including breastfeeding, cancer prevention and other diseases. She worked in the children’s department of the National Hospital and Oslo City Hospital and became Director of Health Services for Oslo’s schoolchildren. All this while bringing up her own family and representing Norway in international conferences.

Such energy, enthusiasm and commitment brought an unexpected change of career. In 1974, Dr. Brundtland was offered the post of Minister of the Environment. During the 1970s she acquired international recognition in environmental circles and a political reputation at home. In 1981, she was appointed Prime Minister for the first time. Dr. Brundtland was the youngest person and the first woman ever to hold the office of Prime Minister in Norway. With two other periods as Prime Minister from 1986-1989 and 1990-1996, Dr. Brundtland was Head of Government for more than 10 years.

In 1983 the then United Nations Secretary-General invited Dr. Brundtland to establish and chair the World Commission on Environment and Development. The Commission, which is best known for developing the broad political concept of sustainable development, published its report Our Common Future in April 1987. The Commission’s recommendations led to the Earth Summit - the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Dr. Brundtland stepped down as Prime Minister in October 1996. She was nominated as Director-General of the World Health Organization by the Executive Board of WHO in January 1998. The World Health Assembly elected her for the position on 13 May 1998.

In her acceptance speech for the World Health Assembly, Dr. Brundtland said: “What is our Key mission? I see WHO’s role as being the moral voice and the technical leader in improving health of the people of the world. Ready and able to give advice on the key issues that can unleash development and alleviate suffering. I see our purpose to be combating disease and ill-health - promoting sustainable and equitable health systems in all countries.”

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland took office on 21 July the same year. Her term of office ended on 21 July 2003.