She is physician who trained in Norway who became interested in public health and environmental issues, as well as women’s rights.

She served as Norwegian Minister for Environmental Affairs (1974-1979), and briefly as Norway’s Prime Minister in 1981, followed by longer periods in 1986-1989 and 1990-1996.  In 1983, she was invited to establish and chair the World Commission on Environment and Development, widely known as the Brundtland Commission.

Brundtland went on to serve as Director-General of the World Health Organization (1998-2003) and as a UN Special Envoy for Climate Change (2007-2010).  She is a founding member and Deputy Chair of The Elders, a group of distinguished world leaders addressing human rights issues, and is also a member of the Club of Madrid and the Council of Women World Leaders.

Brundtland has received numerous awards, and is often seen as “The Mother of Sustainable Development.”