Director General, Department of Health; Norway

Cathrine M. Lofthus is a Norwegian medical doctor, health administrator and civil servant. She holds a PhD degree in Medicine from the University of Oslo, and a Bachelor degree in economy and administration from the University of South-Eastern Norway. In August 2025 she became the Director General of Health, Norway. From 2021 until 2025 she served as the Permanent Secretary General in the Ministry of Health and Care Services of Norway, from 2015 until 2021 she was the CEO of a regional health authority responsible for specialist health services for a population of 3.1 million people in Norway, and from 2012-2015 she was the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Deputy CEO at Oslo University Hospital. Dr. Lofthus has a broad experience from several board positions and is now the First Vice-Chair of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.