
This is the Kavli Trust and this is how we work
About the Kavli Trust
Every time you buy something tasty from Kavli or Q-Meieriene, you're also doing a good deed!
The Kavli Trust owns the entire Kavli Group, including Kavli and Q-Meieriene in Norway. We donate 100% of our profits to good causes, and we've been doing so since 1962. In total, we've contributed over NOK 1.3 billion to charitable purposes.
Most of the Kavli Trust's funds are distributed to good causes in the three countries where the Kavli Group produces food: Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The remaining funds go to international development projects.
The goal of the Kavli Trust's allocations is to create positive ripple effects in people's lives, local communities, and society as a whole.
How we work
The Kavli Trust owns the entire Kavli Group, including Kavli and Q-Merieriene in Norway. We donate 100% of our profits to good causes, something we've been doing since 1962. In total, we've contributed over NOK 1.3 billion to charitable purposes.
Most of the Kavli Trust's funds are distributed to good causes in the three countries where the Kavli Group produces good: Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The remaining funds support international development projects.
Our goal is to create positive ripple effects, in people's lives, local communities, and society at large.
Administration
The Kavli Trust is run on a day-to-day basis by a small administration and has a board consisting of one chairperson and five board members.

Ingrid Paasche
CEO

Rune Mørland
Head of Strategy and Development with Grantmaking Responsibility

Anette Fondevik
Communications and Grant Manager (UK)

Malin C. Mjøs Lassen
Finance and Grants Manager (Sweden)
The Board
The Kavli Trust's board is required to have expertise in the Kavli Group's business areas and experience within culture, research, or humanitarian work. At least one board member must have competence in finance or investment activities.

Dag J. Opedal
Chair of the board

Dag J. Opedal
Chair of the board
Dag J. Opedal has been chair of Kavli Trust since 2021. He has been a director of Kavli Holding AS since 2013. He was a trustee of Kavli Trust from 2014-2021. He is CEO of Treschow Fritzøe AS and has held a number of board positions in various industries. Opedal was CEO of Orkla ASA from 2005 – 2010. He has a master’s degree in economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and an MBA from Insead.
Dag J. Opedal has been chair of Kavli Trust since 2021. He has been a director of Kavli Holding AS since 2013. He was a trustee of Kavli Trust from 2014-2021. He is CEO of Treschow Fritzøe AS and has held a number of board positions in various industries. Opedal was CEO of Orkla ASA from 2005 – 2010. He has a master’s degree in economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and an MBA from Insead.

Frank Mohn
Trustee

Frank Mohn
Trustee
Frank Mohn has been a trustee of Kavli Trust since 2025. He is Chief Executive Officer of W. Giertsen AS, an industrial group based in Bergen, Norway, with operations across three strategic business areas. Mohn has more than 30 years of senior executive experience from the manufacturing industry, with responsibilities spanning general management, sales, marketing, and supply chain. He has been a board member of Kavli Holding AS since 2014 and has previously held several leadership positions CEO of Rieber & Søn ASA. Mohn holds a Master of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and has also completed advanced studies in Corporate Finance at NHH.
Frank Mohn has been a trustee of Kavli Trust since 2025. He is Chief Executive Officer of W. Giertsen AS, an industrial group based in Bergen, Norway, with operations across three strategic business areas. Mohn has more than 30 years of senior executive experience from the manufacturing industry, with responsibilities spanning general management, sales, marketing, and supply chain. He has been a board member of Kavli Holding AS since 2014 and has previously held several leadership positions CEO of Rieber & Søn ASA. Mohn holds a Master of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and has also completed advanced studies in Corporate Finance at NHH.

Line Hammergren
Trustee

Line Hammergren
Trustee
Lise Hammergren has been a trustee of Kavli Trust since 2019. She is Executive Vice President for BI Executive at BI Norwegian Business School. Hammergren has held leadership positions in Orkla, Schibsted and Lever Europe. She has board experience from, i. a., Kavli Holding, Weifa, Adresseavisen and Orkla Finance. Lise Hammergren is currently Vice Chair of UNICON Consortium for University based Executive Education. She holds an MSc in business economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).
Lise Hammergren has been a trustee of Kavli Trust since 2019. She is Executive Vice President for BI Executive at BI Norwegian Business School. Hammergren has held leadership positions in Orkla, Schibsted and Lever Europe. She has board experience from, i. a., Kavli Holding, Weifa, Adresseavisen and Orkla Finance. Lise Hammergren is currently Vice Chair of UNICON Consortium for University based Executive Education. She holds an MSc in business economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).

Erik Volden
Trustee

Erik Volden
Trustee
Erik Volden was appointed Trustee of Kavli Trust in 2021, after serving as CEO at Kavli Holding AS from 2005 to 2021. Previously, he has held leading positions in ICA Norway, The Coca-Cola Company and Accenture. Today, he is a Senior Advisor at BCG, Head of the Board of Norsk Mineral AS and a member of the Board of the Sectoral Federation Food Drink Norway, at The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). He holds an MSc in Economics and Business Administration from Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).
Erik Volden was appointed Trustee of Kavli Trust in 2021, after serving as CEO at Kavli Holding AS from 2005 to 2021. Previously, he has held leading positions in ICA Norway, The Coca-Cola Company and Accenture. Today, he is a Senior Advisor at BCG, Head of the Board of Norsk Mineral AS and a member of the Board of the Sectoral Federation Food Drink Norway, at The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). He holds an MSc in Economics and Business Administration from Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).

Katrine Trovik
Trustee

Katrine Trovik
Trustee
Katrine Trovik has been a trustee of Kavli Trust since 2023. For ten years, she held a number of key roles in senior management for corporate banking in DNB, and she also has many years of experience as a business lawyer. Since 2019, Katrine Trovik has had full-time board work primarily within finance and the marine industries, but also with several positions within culture, research and non-profit organisations. Trovik has a degree in economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), and has a law degree from the University of Bergen.
Katrine Trovik has been a trustee of Kavli Trust since 2023. For ten years, she held a number of key roles in senior management for corporate banking in DNB, and she also has many years of experience as a business lawyer. Since 2019, Katrine Trovik has had full-time board work primarily within finance and the marine industries, but also with several positions within culture, research and non-profit organisations. Trovik has a degree in economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), and has a law degree from the University of Bergen.

The Kavli Factory at Damsgård, 1964
Olaf Schau
The story of Kavli and the Kavli Trust
Since 1962, the Kavli Trust has donated the entire profit from the Kavli Group to good causes. It all began with an innovative, adventurous, and socially committed man from Molde.
The story of the Kavli Trust begins in 1872, the year Olav Kavli was born. Growing up in Molde, he was full of ambition and, at just 18, moved to Bergen to pursue a career as a merchant. At the age of 21, he founded his own food company.

Olav was persistent. After much trial and error, in 1924 he introduced the world's first shelf-stable cream cheese: Primula. This innovation became Kavli's big breakthrough. The company thrived and grew steadily, and within 16 years, Kavli had established operations in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.

The Kavli Trust's Statutes
Our statutes describe the trust’s charitable purpose, owner responsibility and basic financing. They also provide guidelines for the composition of our board of trustees. Statutes for O Kavli and Knut Kavli’s Charitable Trust. With amendments adopted by the board of trustees at its meeting of 16 June 2011.
O Kavli and Knut Kavli’s Charitable Trust is a trust with the object of promoting humanitarian causes, research and culture through the award of grants as determined by the board of trustees of the Kavli Trust.
The registered name of the Kavli Trust is O Kavli and Knut Kavli’s Charitable Trust. The Kavli Trust has its seat in Bergen.
The Kavli Trust’s basic capital comprises NOK 2 617 000. This consists of 500 shares, each with a nominal value of NOK 16 000, in Kavli Holding AS. These shares cannot be disposed of by the Kavli Trust. This prohibition does not preclude capital expansions or mergers in Kavli Holding AS or its subsidiaries when and in so far as significant influence is secured for the Kavli Trust and Kavli Holding AS.
The Kavli Trust is governed by a board of three, four or five trustees. The composition of the board is determined in accordance with the following criteria:
• at least two of the trustees must possess expertise in the Kavli group’s business areas
• at least two of the trustees must have expertise in culture, research or humanitarian work
• at least one trustee must possess expertise in finance or investment activities
• all the trustees must have an interest in charitable work.
Should a trustee die or resign, the remaining trustees will appoint a new trustee in their place, unless the board has determined on a successor in advance or resolves to reduce the number of trustees within the limits specified in the first paragraph above. Before an appointment or advance appointment can be made, the views of the executive management and board of directors of Kavli Holding AS must be obtained. The board of trustees elects its own chair.
The duty of the board is to decide on disbursements as specified in statute 1 above. It must manage the Kavli Trust’s capital in an acceptable manner, so that the Kavli Trust’s charitable object can be realised over time. This includes safeguarding the Kavli Trust’s interests in Kavli Holding AS to ensure that the group is run in accordance with the principles which apply for forward-looking business management at any given time.
The board appoints the Kavli Trust’s auditor, who must be state-certified.
A trustee serves on the board of the Kavli Trust for eight years, subject to the reservation that the trustee must resign if a majority of the other trustees request them to do so during a period of two years from their appointment. At the expiry of their period of service, a trustee may remain in office for two years at a time providing they are requested to do so by a majority of the other trustees, subject to the reservation that a trustee must in any event retire upon reaching the age of 67. At the special and unanimous request of the other trustees, their appointment as a trustee can be extended for one year at a time, subject to the reservation that no trustee can remain in office beyond the age of 70.
Regardless of the provisions in statute 7 concerning the period of service for a trustee of the Kavli Trust, a trustee must resign when circumstances arise which indicate that the said trustee ought to resign from the board of the Kavli Trust, and a majority of the other trustees request that they do so.
Should disagreement arise between the trustees over the interpretation of these statutes, including the basis for resignation, the issue will be settled through arbitration pursuant to the Norwegian Act.
Annual reports
Each year, we publish an annual report that explains how the Kavli Trust's funds have been managed and which projects the foundation has supported during the year.

Annual Report 2024
Together, we create change

Annual Report 2023
Stronger together for good causes

Annual Report 2022
Love to share
Previous years
Annual Report 2021
Annual Report 2020
Annual Report 2019
Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2017
Annual Report 2016
Annual Report 2015
Annual Report 2014
Annual Report 2013
Annual Report 2012
Annual Report 2011
Annual Report 2010
Annual Report 2009
Annual Report 2008
Logo and brand assets
Here you can download the Kavli Trust's logo for use in print and digital channels. The Kavli Trust's logo may be used by agreement with the administration of the Kavli Trust.