Svein is well connected in the Norwegian defense sector after serving 21 years in the Norwegian Defense Forces. 10 years as an Army Officer and 11 years in the Air Force. He ended his military career in 2007 at the MoD as a strategic long term planner. Svein has worked with several large procurement processes, including new fighter aircrafts, SAR-helicopters, artillery, radars and submarines.

Jarle has broad knowledge of Norwegian defense and security politics, emergency preparedness, public affairs and government relations from serving 14 years in the Norwegian Defense Forces, 2 years in the Army and 12 years in the Air Force. He knows the military procurement process well from serving as a Head of Communication for the MoD Future Combat Aircraft Procurement Program, and he has been involved in several large procurement processes.

BG (ret) Bjarne Nermo has extensive experience from the Norwegian Armed forces both innational and international positions. From 2011 until 2016 he was head of Army acquisitions at NDMA. Starting in 2006 and until 2011 Bjarne Nermo served as the Chief Force Planner at the Ministry of Defence, responsible for the strategic development of the defence structure and associated capabilities. During this period, he was also responsible for the Chief of Defence studies on the future of the Norwegians Armed Forces.

Through 38 years of service in the defence sector, Sigurd Liøkel Witzøe has gained solid expertise in capability development, acquisition, innovation and experimentation. He has held leadership positions in the Armed Forces, NATO, at the Norwegian embassy in Washington and at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). Sigurd has deep insight into the defence industrial complex. As Assistant Defence Attaché in Washington with special responsibility for defence material and technology cooperation, he worked very closely with the Norwegian and US government and both countries' defence industries. Sigurd knows the Department of Defense (DoD) and key players in material procurement and cooperation in the United States and Norway. 

Per Anders Bakke has extensive experience from the Norwegian Armed forces in both national and international positions. He has held leadership position in the Armed Forces and in a NATO accredited international organization. He served as acting chief of staff Investment in the Defence staff from 2020 to 2024 where he facilitated the role as project owner on behalf of the Chief of Defence. In his early years he held the position as total project coordinator for special operations forces and navy projects. Per Anders served two Chief of Defence’s in his tenure of five years and gained valuable insight into both formal and informal military strategic and political decision processes. The last three years in the Ministry of Defence he held aposition related to national and international defence research and development, including making R&D policy and governing the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.

After retirement from Norwegian Army , Geir Engen joined Holtan + Partners in 2025 as a Senior Advisor. Geir Engen is a seasoned expert in policy development, defence industry cooperation, and defence research, with over a decade ofexperience spanning the Norwegian DefenceResearch Establishment, the Ministry of Defence, andthe European Commission.
Geir holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, as well as an Executive Master of Management from BI Norwegian Business School and training from the Defence Staff College in Norway.

Marie has gained broad insight into Norwegian security policy through both professional experiences and academic work, in Norway and internationally. Before joining Holtan + Partners, she conducted a research project forthe Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) at the Division of Total Defence, examining the security implications of recent developments in thefinancial system in the context of growing strategic competition.
Marie gained political experience serving as a deputy representative at one of Oslo’s municipalities for four years until 2023. She also has experience as head of communication at the Young Ambassadors Program, a nonpartisan organisation dedicated to leadership development for Norwegian youth.