If psychological research has shown us anything, it is that conflicts of interest have a clear tendency to influence our judgments and behavior. I try to the best of my ability not to let my interests influence me when I express opinions publicly or make decisions that affect others, but I know that I will not always succeed.
To enable others to make an independent assessment of my impartiality, I share my interests here. The overview will never be complete and will always have shortcomings, but I believe it is significantly better than nothing.
Updated March 17, 2023
Employer
Stiftelsen Dam
I am employed in a full-time position as Program Manager at Stiftelsen Dam. My main responsibility is quality assurance and development of the foundation's programs (grant schemes). About 350 million kroner is distributed annually through the programs, and the funds come from the surplus of Norsk Tipping. I have written a report on application processing in the position, and the foundation has clear opinions on Norwegian gambling policy and prevention of gambling addiction.
The foundation has approximately 300 million kroner in financial investments. Management takes place according to principles determined by the foundation's board, and Grieg Investor manages the investments on behalf of the foundation.
Areas of greatest conflict: Research funding, application processing, open research, gambling policy, prevention of gambling addiction
Professional Interests
Speaking and Consulting
I run the sole proprietorship Hesselberg Rådgivning (Hesselberg Consulting). About three-quarters of the business in the company is speaking engagements. Since 2012, I have given around 250 paid lectures, of which about half are for private actors. Among previous clients are Danske Bank, DNB, Venstre, Equinor, Virke, Tekna, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Høyre, and NVE. I normally have no contact with former clients.
Current fixed assignments are for:
- ANTI (the podcast “Ha det bra” produced for Podimo)
- The Norwegian Courts Administration (training in decision psychology for Norwegian judges)
- Wiersholm (training in decision psychology for new associates).
- Reitan Retail (member of Future Advisory Board in 2023)
- Kongsberg (leadership training)
I also have Plan B as management and receive assignments via Athenas.
Areas of greatest conflict: Have developed ties to individuals in the various companies through assignments.
The National Research Ethics Committee for Medicine and Health Sciences (NEM)
I am one of twelve members of NEM. The committee handles, among other things, complaints under the Health Research Act on decisions in Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK). Committee members are appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research upon recommendation from the Research Council of Norway. I have been a member since 2017 and am now in my second and final four-year term.
Areas of greatest conflict: Research policy, open research
Research
I am a PhD candidate at the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo. My employer, Stiftelsen Dam, finances the research. The project concerns disagreement in peer reviews in research - whether it is in connection with funding (grant peer review) or publishing (journal/editorial peer review).
Areas of greatest conflict: Application processing, research funding, open research
Political and Ideological Interests
I am a member of Effective Altruism Norway, The Norwegian Humanist Association, and The Norwegian Psychological Association.
I am not and have not been a member of any political party, but I am fundamentally positive towards leveling economic differences, both nationally and internationally, and believe this happens best through taxation. I am an atheist and a strong supporter of public enterprises being neutral in terms of life stance.
I describe myself as an empirical, or scientific, skeptic and am generally critical of claims that lack scientific support.
Areas of greatest conflict: Foreign aid, distribution of resources, life stance and religion, alternative medicine
Financial Interests
I currently have no board positions or financial investments in individual companies.
Non-Financial Interests
The Norwegian Psychological Association
I am a member of the Norwegian Psychological Association and was a member of the jury that awards the Psychology Prize in the period 2015-2022.
Teddy TV and Folkeopplysningen
I worked for the TV production company Teddy TV in the period 2010-2016. One of the programs we made was Folkeopplysningen, which for several seasons directed critical spotlights at various industries and phenomena. I no longer work editorially for Teddy TV, but have contact with the company and I have close relationships with several of the people involved.