The Kristiansand Interfaith Dialouge 2026

Sunniva Whittaker has been the elected rector of the University of Agder since 2019. She was reelected i 2023 for a new four year term ending in 2027.

She is also the elected Chair of Universities Norway til 2025. 

As rector, she is the Chair of the University Board. She represents the university externally in matters connected to UiA and higher education in general. She is also frequently consulted on various issues by private and public sector stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally.

Sunniva aims to create a culture of learning where students feel like partners in a community of knowledge. She works to achieve close collaboration with students through cooperation with student organizations and associations and by having her own student mentors.

Ensuring good research conditions for research groups and individual researchers is also a top priority.

In line with UiA’s vision of co-creating for tomorrow’s knowledge, she stresses the importance of further development of collaboration between industry and public institutions in the region,  including ensuring that students are connected to the labour market during their education.

An important aspect of this collaboration is promoting the knowledge that is co-created with industry and society. She works to strengthen the position of knowledge in the public debate, and consequently contribute to understanding and solving challenges in society.

Sunniva is aware of the importance of the university’s role in societal debate. In 2018, she arranged a conference where researchers from Norway and abroad discussed what role researchers of philosophy, literature, history and other humanities subjects should play in the public debate.

Sunniva was born in Trondheim and was raised in Canada, and considers both Norwegian and English as her mother tongues. She is a full professor, holding a PhD in French Linguistics from the University of Bergen and was formerly the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education at UiA. She has also held positions as Department Head and Vice Rector at NHH Norwegian School of Economics. She has studied French, Literary Science and Russian and is also a trained conference interpreter. Her PhD dissertation, which was written in French, explores how argumentation is integrated into language structures.

While working at NHH, she studied macroeconomics, marketing, organizational psychology, management and organizational theory. Her background in the humanities has given her a high level of cultural competence and human understanding. Sunniva recognizes the value of her interdisciplinary background and works to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration at UiA

Joined the ARKIVET in 2021 after 15 years as theatre director, first at Haugesund Teater and later at Kilden Teater. Amalie has experience as a journalist, social commentator, scriptwriter, and director. She is responsible for the public programme and works to strengthen ARKIVET’s role as a social actor and to make it a natural meeting place for the entire population.

Zeshan Ullah Qureshi is a PhD Research Fellow at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society. His research examines how the Qur’an has historically been read and used in Europe by Christian orientalists. He also has over ten years of study experience in the Middle East and holds an engineering degree from OsloMet.

Vebjørn Selbekk is the editor-in-chief of the Norwegian Christian newspaper Dagen. He has worked as an editor in various roles since 1989 and has extensive experience in journalism. Over several decades, he has been an active participant in Norwegian public debate. Selbekk became widely known in Norway in connection with the 2006 cartoon controversy, and has since contributed to discussions on freedom of expression, media ethics, and the role of religion in a democratic society. Through his work, he engages with questions at the intersection of faith, media, and public discourse.

Holds a master degree in Human rights.

Mohammed Isak Abdullahi holds a master’s degree in political science from NTNU and works as a project manager at the Islamic Council Norway. He is also the head of the aid organization Tabantaabo Development Organization and has several years of experience from the voluntary sector. He is an engaged writer who focuses on international politics, development assistance, and key societal issues, and is currently a regular columnist for Panorama Nyheter.

Arshad Jamil has been active for more than 20 years in interreligious dialogue and integration work, with a particular focus on young people. He was a co-founder of the Muslim Dialogue Network, a board member, and former chair of the mosque Islamic Cultural Centre Norway (ICC Norway). He has also been an active public figure in the media.

Frank Rossavik is a commentator at Aftenposten, a board member of Fritt Ord, and an author

Åse Svendsen is Executive Director of STL Kristiansand, where she leads interfaith dialogue and cooperation across religious and humanist communities. She coordinates seminars, dialogue forums, and collaborative initiatives, and works closely with public institutions and civil society to promote mutual understanding, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence between different beliefs and life views.