Management and administration
Museum management
The day-to-day management of the University Museum consists of Museum Director Kari Loe Hjelle and Deputy Director Wenche Karin Førre.
The Dean's office consists of Museum Director/Dean Kari Loe Hjelle and Deputy Dean Nils Anfinset.
In addition to the Dean's office and the Deputy Director, the University Museum's management group includes the heads of the four divisions:
- Head of Department, Division of Cultural History: Björn Nilsson
- Head of Department, Division of Natural History: Jenny Smedmark
- Head of Division, Division of Collection Management: Camilla Celine Nordby
- Head of Division, Division of Research Communication and Public Engagement: Eli Kristine Økland Hausken
The extended management group also includes:
- Head of Section, Cultural Heritage Section: Morten Ramstad
- Head of Section, University Gardens: Berit Gehrke
Museum administration
The University Museum's administration is based at Villaveien 1A, and provides shared services within administration, finance, personnel, HR and other administrative support functions.
- Deputy Director, head: Wenche Karin Førre
- Senior Adviser, Faculty Finance Officer: Liv Jorun Oma
- Adviser, HR: Hanne Elisabeth Cappelen
- Adviser, Project Finance Officer: Vita Gavare
- Adviser, Project Finance Officer: Janne Lande
- Adviser, Project Finance Officer: Linn Mari Røseth
- Adviser, Procurement and Invoicing: Jan Eivind Thorseth
Divisions
The museum has four divisions, two of which are basic units/departments.
Division of Cultural History
Archaeology, anthropology, and art and cultural history. Head of Department: Björn Nilsson. The Cultural Heritage Section is headed by Morten Ramstad.
Division of Natural History
The division holds scientific collections of around 2.5 million specimens of animals, fungi, plants and minerals. It also maintains living plant collections in the University Gardens. Our staff carry out research in biodiversity, systematics, evolution, palaeozoology, archaeobotany and geology, along with related collecting activities. We also teach at other departments at UiB and within the BIOCORE research school.
Head of Department: Jenny Smedmark.
The division has two sections, the Section for Research and Collections and the University Gardens Section. The University Gardens comprise Muséhagen at Nygårdshøyden, and Bergen Botanical Garden and the Arboretum on Milde.
Head of Section, University Gardens: Berit Gehrke.
Division of Collection Management
The division is responsible for the management, preservation, conservation and safeguarding of the museum's cultural history collections and natural history exhibition collections, as well as the museum's archive and photography services.
The work includes receiving and following up finds material, as well as handling enquiries about the collections and archives. The division also handles loans.
Conservation of the museum's object material is a key part of the work, alongside preventive conservation and safeguarding of items in the museum's stores and exhibitions.
Head: Camilla Celine Nordby.
Division of Research Communication and Public Engagement
The division is responsible for the museum's work on public engagement, learning, research communication and audience development. We develop content, activities and experiences that make the museum's research, collections, and cultural and natural heritage accessible and relevant to different audiences.
The division is responsible for the museum's outward-facing activities through exhibitions, educational programmes, events, research communication and digital channels. We work to create good visitor experiences, build lasting relationships with our visitors, and help make the museum an open and inclusive meeting place for knowledge, reflection and experiences throughout life.
The division is also responsible for the museum's communication and marketing work, from press and media contact to digital platforms and promoting research, collections and activities. This work is carried out in close collaboration with the museum's academic communities, other divisions at the museum, and other academic communities at the University of Bergen.
Head: Eli Kristine Økland Hausken.
The Board
The Museum Board is the museum's highest authority.
Mandate
The Museum Board is the museum's highest authority. The Board adopts the museum's strategies for research, collection management and public engagement, and sets plans for the museum's development in line with the goals set by the University Board. The Board sets objectives and performance requirements, and is responsible for ensuring that the museum's financial resources are managed in accordance with the provisions laid down by the University Board.
The Board has 5 external and 4 internal members. Of the external members, 2 are academic staff from UiB, 1 is external to the university, and 2 are student representatives. The internal members comprise 2 permanent and 1 temporary academic staff member, and 1 technical/administrative staff member.
Chair of the Board 2025–2029: Johanne Gillow, City Antiquarian, City of Bergen
Composition 2025–2029
Chair of the Board: Johanne Gillow, City Antiquarian for the City of Bergen. Deputy Chair: Atle Rotevatn, Professor at the Department of Earth Science.
- Division of Cultural History: Leif Inge Åstveit (deputies: Trond Lødøen, Knut Rio, Anna Wessman)
- Division of Natural History: Aino Hosia (deputies: Bjarte Jordal, Terje Lislevand, Michael Pirie)
- Temporary academic staff member: Trond E. Linge (deputies: Elena Schrofner-Brunner, Camilla Zinsli)
- Technical/administrative staff member: Anita Haugen Lie (deputies: Solfrid Hjelmtveit, Thomas Bruen Olsen, Åshild Sunde Feyling Thorsen)
- Student representatives: Jonas Joel Joseph and Nora N. Opsahl (deputies: Kenneth Pedersen, Silje Mæland Nesheim)
Meeting schedule, autumn 2026
Autumn 2026
Wednesday 9 September
Wednesday 21 October
Wednesday 9 December
Meetings are normally held from 12.15 pm to 2.30 pm at Villaveien 1a, meeting room 222.