Are you ready for a boost of powerful motivation, profound experiences, and a genuine sense of adventure? On Saturday, June 6th, we welcome you to a very special talk during Vårmessa!
We are incredibly proud to present Vibeke Andrea Sefland – adventurer, mountaineer, humanitarian, and Aclima ambassador. Vibeke Andrea Sefland is a living legend who proves that nothing is impossible – whether it's conquering the world's toughest mountains, leading military operations, or transforming the lives of thousands in some of the world's most vulnerable areas.
In 2015, Vibeke set course for the roof of the world to climb Mount Everest for the first time. But nature had other plans. A massive earthquake struck Nepal, triggering a huge avalanche and claiming over 9,000 lives. The climb was abruptly interrupted, and focus shifted in an instant from personal goals to urgent crisis management.
Instead of returning home, Vibeke stayed in Nepal for almost two years. She rolled up her sleeves and dedicated her time to reconstruction, emergency aid, and initiating several of her own relief projects for the local population. Only after two years of intense humanitarian work did she return to the mountain and reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Vibeke's talk is about far more than just high mountains. It's about shifting focus and how much one can truly achieve in life. Drawing on Nelson Mandela's famous words – "There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living" – she aims to inspire us all to discover and harness the immense potential within us.
When: Saturday, June 6th at 10:15 AM
Where: The Canteen on the 2nd floor
This is a lecture that is guaranteed to move you, inspire you, and perhaps give you a new perspective on what is possible to achieve.
Don't miss this opportunity during the Spring Fair!
The lecture lasts approximately 1 hour. Immediately after the lecture, there will be a mountain hike to Åttepiggen for those who wish to join.
You can see the full fair program here!
Vibeke Andrea Sefland For over three decades, she has lived an extraordinary life. With 30 years of experience in the Norwegian Armed Forces and a bachelor's degree in social sciences and conflict management, she has dedicated her career to international operations. Ever since her first UN mission in Lebanon in 1994, she has juggled a demanding daily life in the world's conflict zones with a passion for extreme climbing on the Earth's highest peaks.
Vibeke is a Major in the Armed Forces and a specialist and instructor in cold weather exposure and high altitude at NATO's cold weather training center, the NATO Centre of Excellence Cold Weather Operations. Today, she works as a Liaison to the allied forces in Bardufoss. She has served in 13 international missions during crises and wars. Her historical achievements include:
When not in uniform, Vibeke has challenged the forces of nature on the 'roof of the world'. She has stood atop «The 7 Summits» (the highest mountain on each of the seven continents) and has climbed a total of eight 8,000-meter peaks – including all seven 8,000-meter peaks in Nepal (Manaslu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Kanchenjunga) as well as Nanga Parbat in Pakistan.
This has resulted in several unique records:
Following the catastrophic earthquake in Nepal in 2015, Vibeke chose to reside in the country for almost two years to assist in the reconstruction. Today, she runs a number of extensive aid projects to secure a better future for vulnerable people.
Through her passionate commitment, and with highly cost-effective methods (including establishing large projects for only 5,000 USD each), she has achieved fantastic results:
Vibeke's unique combination of courage, strength, and deep compassion has been recognized both nationally and internationally:
The picture above is from Everest Base Camp. Photo: @johnalexanderfrgs
Website: mountainvibs.com
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