Redefining Comfort

Discover a new level of comfort with the NEW Stressless® Rome. The enveloping shape of the back provides premium comfort. Includes features like the Stressless Plus™-system for maximum comfort and support for the user’s neck and lumbar region. The sleep function can be activated with a hand movement. Add to that BalanceAdapt™ which automatically adjusts the seat and back angle to the user’s anatomy and movements.

 

 

 

Available to experience in-store now

Q-Free, Silje Troseth and Multicap Limited have partnered to help people with disabilities realise their vision to provide sustainable, meaningful and sustained employment for the community.

Silje Troseth posted: It was great to meet Tony Burns OAM and his amazing team and see firsthand the inspiring work they do. MultiCap’s vision is to empower people with disabilities to lead a fulfilling everyday life in a world where there are no barriers. Q-Free ASA is honoured to partner with MultiCap to help fulfil their vision of providing sustainable, meaningful and ongoing employment to this community.

VP Asia & Pacific, Silje Troseth, presented Q-Free Australia´s work on social procurement and was panelist in a discussion on "Sustainable and Ethical Procurement" at ITS Summit in Brisbane . 

The aim of the session was to create awareness of social procurement and share some of Q-Free Australia´s experiences in that space - And with that hopefully inspire others to do something similar. 

 

Silje has shared the some of the key points from the debate:

•  Sustainability partnerships are win-win partnerships that are not short sprints, but marathons.
• Sustainability is more than environmentalism and there are huge opportunities for improvement, impact and change also within the Social aspect of sustainability.
• Every dollar we spend has an impact.
• The goal with the collaborative sustainability project with Q-Free, Transurban, Apricot and Multicap Limited is to provide ongoing, sustainable and meaningful work for people with disability.

Los Angeles (September 30, 2022) – Viking today marked the company’s 25^thanniversary with a historic celebration in Amsterdam. To commemorate the milestone, for the first time ever, three classes of Viking ships—a river ship, an ocean ship and the company’s newest expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris—met in Amsterdam and sailed in a special convoy to IJmuiden, Netherlands. Participating in the convoy with the Viking Polariswere the Viking Longship, the Viking Mani, and the ocean vessel, the Viking Mars.

During the Amsterdam event, Viking also named the Viking Polaris and her identical sister ship, the Viking Octantis®, which is currently sailing her inaugural season in the Great Lakes. Both ships will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica, before travelling north to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages during spring and summer.

“Today is historic for Viking—to celebrate our 25^thanniversary, to have all classes of our ships sailing together for the first time, and to name our phenomenal new expedition vessels. We are very grateful to their godmothers, Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, for honouring us. As renowned explorers who became the first women to ski across Antarctica, they are the perfect choice for ships that are designed for expeditions,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “I am very proud of what we have accomplished in our first 25 years. And in our view, we are just getting started. Where do we go next? Onwards.”

Renowned explorers and educators Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, the respective ceremonial godmothers of the Viking Octantisand the Viking Polaris, were in attendance in Amsterdam and offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the new ships—with Arnesen offering her blessing remotely via video to the Viking Octantis in the Great Lakes. In keeping with the naming tradition, Arnesen and Bancroft assisted in breaking a bottle of Norwegian aquavit on each of the ship’s hull. During the ceremony, guests enjoyed performances from Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter,and violinist Tor Jaran Apold. Guests on all Viking three ships in Amsterdam were able to join in the naming ceremony, as well as witness the historic convoy, from their ships’ respective outdoor viewing areas.

Viking’s 25^thanniversary celebration in Amsterdam is the most recent event during a milestone year in which the company has also welcomed to its fleet eight new Viking Longships on the rivers of Europe and new purpose-built vessels on the Mekong, Nile and Mississippi rivers. By the end of 2022, two new, identical ocean ships will have also joined Viking’s fleet. Earlier this year, Viking was named the #1 Ocean Line and #1 River Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 “World’s Best” Awards, in which the company became the first cruise line ever to top both categories in the same year. Viking is also rated #1 for both rivers and oceans by Condé Nast Traveler, making it the first cruise line to ever simultaneously earn #1 in its categories from both publications. Additionally, Viking has published a newvideoabout the company’s history and some of the key partners who have contributed to its success, which was shared on board all Viking ships today as part of the 25^thanniversary celebration.

Liv Arnesen, Godmother of the Viking Octantis

Liv Arnesen is a native Norwegian, educator, cross-country skier, explorer and lecturer. Arnesen led the first unsupported women’s crossing of the Greenland Ice Cap in 1992. The Viking Octantisis named after Sigma Octantis, the south star; Arnesen was chosen as godmother specifically because of her accomplishment as the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. As the godmother of the Viking Octantis, Arnesen will periodically serve as a member of the Viking Expedition Team when sailing in Antarctica and beyond.

“It is an honor to be the godmother of the new Viking Octantis. I have spent significant time in Antarctica and recently had the privilege to return on one of the ship’s first voyages. The region is a special destination for scientists and adventurers, and sailing with Viking is the perfect way to get there,” said Liv.

Ann Bancroft, Godmother of the Viking Polaris

Ann Bancroft, an American polar explorer, educator and author from Minnesota, became the first woman to successfully ski to both poles in 1993. Bancroft also led the first American women’s east to west crossing of Greenland and dogsled 1,000 miles from the Northwest Territories in Canada to the North Pole. The Viking Polarisis named after Polaris, the north star; Bancroft was chosen as godmother specifically because of her accomplishment as the first woman to reach the North Pole by sled and foot. In addition to being the godmother of the Viking Polaris, she is the founder of the Ann Bancroft Foundation to inspire girls and build confidence.

“Growing up in the Minnesota region, the Great Lakes are where I spent my early years becoming an explorer. I am proud to be the godmother of an expedition vessel like the Viking Polaristhat will allow guests to visit, not only the Great Lakes, but also Antarctica, two regions that played a pivotal role in my life,” said Ann.

Liv Arnesen & Ann Bancroft Partnership

For more than 20 years, Arnesen and Bancroft have worked together and in 2001, they became the first women to ski across Antarctica. Together they co-founded Bancroft Arnesen Explore / Access Water, an initiative that aims to engage and empower more than 60 million minds to create a sustainable tomorrow.

Q-Free’s technology the HI-TRAC® CMU has been chosen by the Department of Transport and Main Roads in Queensland as the solution to count and monitor cycle and pedestrian in Queensland. The Government now has over 60 of Q-Free’s counters installed across Brisbane and some are being install and commissioned at this very moment. Q-Free is also maintaining these cycle and pedestrian counters for the Department. Each year, the Queensland Government continues to install more counters as the data from each counter provides them with valuable information. Each counter is installed in locations so they can understand the movement of cyclists and pedestrians and will use the data to install more cycle way and foot path so that the community can ride and walk safely to and from work.

The State Government goal to increase walking and cycling in Australia and have budget millions of dollars to extend and build more cycleway and foot paths.

Below are bike numbers on Veloway (one of Brisbane’s cycleway)

Metrics from State of Cycling Report

 

TMR’s statement below on their strategy.

“The Queensland Cycling Strategy 2017–2027 is part of a holistic approach to encourage all Queenslanders to enjoy and participate in regular physical activity to improve their health and wellbeing.

The Queensland Cycling Strategy 2017–2027, Queensland Walking Strategy 2019–2029, and the Government’s ten-year sport, active recreation, and physical activity strategy, Activate! Queensland 2019–2029, are key strategies to achieve Our Future State: Advancing Queensland's Priorities particularly the ‘Keep Queenslanders Healthy’ priority.

Many Queensland Government agencies support encouraging more people to ride and delivery of rideable environments through their work on transport, health, planning, education and recreation. We will continue to work across agencies to deliver a better integrated transport network and to make it easier to ride to work, school, or the shops, or for fun and recreation”

 

Photos of Q-Free’s cycle counter in Queensland.

Last week, Sophia Demetriades Toftdahl, President of the Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce attended the special viewing of the rooftop projection Across the Seas, which is part of the Vivid Sydney 2022 program. Across the Seas is a stunning collection of images projected on the Australian National Maritime Museum's façade, reflecting stories connected with nearby Pyrmont wharf, where many Australians arrived to start a new life.

The museum also hosts Australia's National Monument to Migration, one of the flagship creations which wraps and weaves acknowledgement, commemoration, celebration and interpretation of migrant histories into an exposition of identity.

The Monument now features the names of more than 31,000 migrants from 136 countries including 47 from Norway – it is a physical representation of the diversity of this nation.

If you are interested in inscribing your name or the name of a family or community member on the National Monument to Migration, the closing date for the next unveiling in October is 30 June 2022. Register here or phone 02 9298 3777.

Inspire great work

Flokk is a house of brands that launched in 2017 which offers a wide range of seating solutions, furniture and accessories for the workplace and beyond. The head office of the company is located in Oslo, Norway, with main production sites in Røros (Norway), Nässjö (Sweden), Turek (Poland) and Hawthorne (USA). Currently, Flokk products are sold in more than 80 countries worldwide. 

The vision of Flokk is simple: to inspire great work. Through its passion for furnishing, Flokk helps an individual fulfil their potential to put their hearts and minds into their work by creating a healthy and well-designed environment based on comprehensive insight into the needs of real people.

 

Keeping future generations in mind

Flokk also upholds a strong commitment to protecting the environment. With one of Flokk’s main production sites located in the remote Norwegian town of Røros, which has a rich natural landscape, Flokk is constantly reminded of the duty to protect the environment for future generations. 

The company therefore controls the entire value chain—from the design, manufacturing and sales processes—which allows Flokk to take full responsibility for every single detail of its work to ensure the company adopts a structured focus on creating sustainable furniture.  

As a house of brands, Flokk combines the heritage and expertise of nine district brands. One of those brands is HÅG. Founded in 1943, HÅG has been manufacturing designer office chairs that promote effortless movement of a user’s body while they sit and work in order to help them stay healthy and active. 

Sustainable furniture design is also something that HÅG has been pioneering for many decades. As early as 1995, the company began using recycled plastic from various sources like bottle tops in the production of their chairs. Notably, in April 2015, the HÅG Capisco chair won the award for “Best Recycled Plastic Product in Europe”, presented by the European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations. Today, every HÅG chair carries an EPD certification, which acknowledges that HÅG has some of the lowest CO2 emissions in the furniture industry.

By decreasing energy consumption, reducing waste and continuously increasing the use of recycled materials, HÅG is a market leader in sustainable furniture manufacturing. In this way, HÅG is united to Flokk through its goals of creating innovative designs that focus on their users’ health, wellbeing and the environment surrounding them. 

By Nishant Rath

‘Nordic Noir’(Nikel, 2021)—the subset of the crime fiction genre set in Nordic countries and defined by its murky atmosphere, dark narratives, and flawed protagonists—has progressively proved itself to be an engaging source of entertainment for Australian audiences. Indeed, the “Nordic Noir revolution” in Australia suggests a need to investigate the cultural exchanges and similarities between both regions, since cultural flows between countries are often pertinent indicators of the depth of partnership felt by countries. Thus, we ask - are there similarities between the ‘Nordic Viking’ and the ‘Australian Explorer’?  How deep are the cultural flows between the Nordic countries and Australia? Why are popular streaming platforms (Stan, SBS, Netflix) progressively acquiring Nordic Crime fiction shows to entertain Australian audiences? 

The relationship of the Nordic people with nature is rooted in the concept of Friluftsliv. The English translation, “An outdoorsy life”/“Open air life”, does not do justice to the breadth of this concept, which defines the historical Nordic connection with the land, the seas, the fjords, the mountains, the snow, the trees, and the fauna. The philosophical standpoint for Friluftsliv emerged from the Nordic need to connect with nature, which goes beyond recreation or a moral obligation of preservation.

 

Similarly, the Australian philosophy towards life is deeply connected to its geographical beauty: its thick rainforests, gorgeous beaches, national landmarks, deserts, mountains, and diverse flora and fauna. Australians love their early morning bike rides, hikes, swims and treks, often seeking an active lifestyle and investing time in recreational activities that complement the Geographical attributes of their region.

Operationally, Friluftsliv can be defined as a participation in nature-based outdoor recreation that is centered around the individual (Elgvin, 2009). The word Friluftsliv first emerged in 1859 in the iconic Dramatist Henrik Ibsen’s poem ‘Paa Vidderne’ (Elgvin, 2009). As a concept, Friluftslivit has been studied rigorously throughout the years using a canon of disciplinary lenses. The spiritual dimensions of experiencing the freedom of nature in its purest form is a significant part of Nordic culture. In fact, in his poem, Ibsen mystifies the symbolic feeling of escaping the material world, and suggests that the individual’s inspiration lies in the scenic Norwegian flora and fauna. Ibsen’s influence through his famed concept of Friluftsliv is evident in literature, drama and film, and is best seen in the numerous translated renditions of his plays in theatres all around the globe. Modern Nordic storytellers/filmmakers tend to likewise set their plots around scenic planes, fjords, mountains to expose the rich Geographical beauty of Nordic countries. 

 

The cultural partnership between Australia and Nordic countries should be re-visited and celebrated. The Norwegian saying, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothes”, applies to Australia too. There are two direct consequences of the Nordic-Australian cultural partnership. Firstly, in Australia, translations of Ibsen’s plays can be traced back to 1889 (Tompkins, 2013). Iconic Plays such as “A Doll’s House”, “Ghosts” and  “Peer Gynt” have been translated into English and performed for decades for Australian audiences. These performances continue to intrigue Australian audiences because of Ibsen’s modernist tendencies to rethink traditional drama structures. Secondly, SBS set a precedent in 2018 (SBS Guide. 2017) by creating content structured around the uniquely Norwegian Genre “slow TV”. SBS aired a three-hour unedited train-journey of the iconic Ghan (Australia’s first Passenger train) through the Australian outback.

In conclusion, the cultural exchanges between Nordic countries and Australia are far from recent. The cultural similarities of cultivating an intense relationship with flora and fauna are stark. Perhaps, the similarities between Friluftsliv and the Australian mindset, is why Australian audiences can relate to Nordic Noir. 

Sources:

https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2017/12/12/slow-tv-comes-sbs-ghan-australias-greatest-train-journey -  (SBS Guide. 2017. Slow TV comes to SBS with The Ghan: Australia’s Greatest Train Journey. [online] Available at: <https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2017/12/12/slow-tv-comes-sbs-ghan-australias-greatest-train-journey> 

https://www.academia.edu/8817952/Performing_Ghosts_in_Australia_Ibsen_and_an_example_of_Australian_Cultural_Translation - (Tompkins J., 2013 “Performing ghosts in Australia: Ibsen and an example of australian cultural translation” in Ibsen Studies, 2013 Vol. 13, No. 1, 2–27, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15021866.2013.792663)

https://norwegianjournaloffriluftsliv.com/doc/ibsens_use_of_friluftsliv_elgvin_2009.pdf

(Elgvin,T. D., 2009. «Henrik Ibsen: The birth of ‘friluftsliv’ – a 150 years Celebration»,. [online] Norwegianjournaloffriluftsliv.com. Available at: <https://norwegianjournaloffriluftsliv.com/doc/ibsens_use_of_friluftsliv_elgvin_2009.pdf> [Accessed 23 September 2021].)

https://www.lifeinnorway.net/nordic-noir/ - (Nikel, D., 2021. Nordic Noir: Scandinavian Crime Fiction Explained. [online] Life in Norway. Available at: <https://www.lifeinnorway.net/nordic-noir/> )

This article was published as part of a series written by interns of the Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce and images are used under Creative Commons.

Nordic Notables: Women Leading Ways Forward

"Why is it so important to promote and safeguard gender equality? It is a matter of human rights. It is a matter of democracy. 

Also, it is pure common sense." 

—Gro Harlem Brundtland

Written by Georgia Georgiou

The traversive words of Norway’s first female prime minister illustrate profound truths that should stand to be heard by all. The historical, feminist waves of sociocultural movements toward gender equality continue to beat upon the shores of our Postmodern era, where the daughters and granddaughters of feminist foremothers continue to struggle for the seeming simplicities of life—like equal pay and equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender. 

Whilst in Norway—as in every country—there is more work to be done in this push for gender equality, we cannot dismiss the contributions of trailblazing Nordic women, who have inspired and continue to inspire in all areas of life with their incredible achievements. Norway, which is considered one of the most gender equal countries in the world, is home to a long line of notable women. Indeed, of recent note, Norway has moved one step closer to appointing Western Europe’s first female central bank chief, after Oystein Olsen, Governor of the Central Bank of Norway, has announced that he will be stepping down in February 2022. According to Nordea Bank economist Dane Cekov and JP Morgan analyst Morten Lund, this places Ida Wolden Bache, who is the deputy governor, as his likely successor. With Bache set to potentially be a next addition to Norway’s list of notables, let’s take a moment to look at some Norwegian women who have paved stepping stones toward gender equality, and demonstrated the power of the female spirit.

Politics

In the world of politics, Gro Harlem Brundtland is a woman who stands out both in Norwegian circles and in world politics. Originally trained in medicine and practicing as a physician and doctor, in 1974 Brundtland entered government as Minister of the Environment. Brundtland became Norway’s first female Prime Minister in 1981, and served three terms in this position, quickly becoming known as “mother of the nation”. Soon after, Brundtland became an international leader, serving as Director-General of the World Health Organisation until 2003. In this time, she also chaired the Brundtland Commission, formerly the World Commission on Environment and Development, which is a sub-organisation of the United Nations that aimed to unite countries in pursuit of sustainable development. However, Brundtland’s incredible career in international politics didn’t end there—she served as UN Special Envoy on Climate Change from 2007 to 2010, was deputy chair of ‘The Elders’, and was also the Vice-President of the Socialist International. She has received many awards and recognitions for all her work.

 

Science

In the world of science, May-Britt Moser, a Norwegian psychologist and neuroscientist, stands out as a shining example of Nordic notability. This brilliant-minded and intelligent woman is not only a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)—in 2014, she won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, alongside her then-husband, Edvard Moser. May-Britt Moser was awarded the Nobel Prize for her work concerning discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain. She also co-established the Moser research environment at NTNU, and since 2012 has headed the Centre for Neural Computation.

 

 

Sports

Maren Mjelde is an internationally renowned footballer. She is Norway's national football team captain, and also plays for Chelsea Football Club Women. Yet, Mjelde is more than a sporting champion—she has become a champion of gender equality, having co-signed in 2017 an agreement to bridge the pay-gap between the male and female national football teams in Norway. This agreement saw that all international senior male and female players would be paid the same wages, with the women’s team receiving a pay rise of 2.5 million kroner.

Considering in more depth the world of sports, and in particular, the situation of equal pay for both male and female football players, it would be remiss to forget the important role that men have to play in these moves toward gender equality. Indeed, the agreement co-signed by Mjelde came after Norway’s men’s soccer team, in solidarity with their female counterparts, took a wage cut of 6 million kroner, accentuating the significant role of men in the move toward gender equality. 

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Brundlandt, Moser and Mjelde are but a microcosmic depiction of change, advancement and leadership showcased by Nordic women in the past few decades—and are a promising example for our future women to follow. These women have led the way in male-dominated fields. Through their example, they contribute to the incremental deconstruction of systems of marginalisation and inequality, in turn shaping positive outcomes for feminism.

Women can lead. Women should lead. However, the way to gender equality is not a one-woman job; rather, it calls for a collective, gender-combined effort to change dynamics within a more subtly oppressive postmodern society. Thus, we must also ask—what can we do to facilitate opportunities for women to lead?

 

Sources:

https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/norway-could-make-history-with-first-female-central-bank-chief-20210827-p58mcn.htmlhttps://www.lifeinnorway.net/norwegian-women/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/norway-footballers-equal-pay-agreement-a8112016.htmlhttps://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/norways-mens-soccer-team-took-wage-cute-so-women-players-earn-equal-pay-they-already-win-more/

This article was published as part of a series written by interns of the Norwegian Australian Chamber of Commerce and images are used under Creative Commons.

Looking to treat yourself or a special person this Festive Season?

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Check our these amazing Norwegian furnishings here so you are ready to purchase when the promotion kicks off.