Gro Harlem Brundtland

Gro Harlem Brundtland (born April 20, 1939) is a Norwegian politician.

She was born in Bærum. Medical doctor (University of Oslo, 1963) and Master of Public Health (Harvard University, 1965). Norwegian Minister for Environmental Affairs 1974-79. Norway's first female Prime Minister February - October 1981, her cabinet renowned internationally for having 8 female ministers out of 18. Chair of the World Commission of Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission), developing the broad political concept of sustainable development, published its report Our Common Future in April 1987. Norwegian Prime Minister from May 9, 1986 until October 16, 1989, again from November 3, 1990 until October 25, 1996, when she was succeeded by Thorbjørn Jagland. Resigned as leader of the Labour Party in 1992.

She was elected Director-General of the World Health Organization in May 1998. She was succeeded, on July 21, 2003, by Jong-Wook Lee.

She was recognized in 2003 by Scientific American as their Policy Leader of the Year for coordinating a rapid worldwide response to stem outbreaks of SARS.