ABOUT THORALF
The diplomat behind Progressive Diplomacy
25 years on the front line of international trade and diplomacy — from the negotiating table when China joined the WTO, to the work on the UN Sustainable Development Goals in New York and decent work at the ILO in Geneva.
Thoralf Stenvold spent over 25 years as a Norwegian diplomat. His career spans bilateral postings across Asia and the multilateral negotiating halls of Geneva and New York — always at the intersection of trade, development and rights.
As Norway's chief negotiator during China's WTO accession in 2001, he sat at the table during one of the 21st century's most decisive trade-historical turning points — an agreement that shaped the world economy for the decades that followed.
At Norway's UN Mission in New York he was a key driver in shaping the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and as Senior Specialist at the ILO in Geneva he led global reform work for decent work standards. Along the way he has served in China, North Korea, Mongolia, India and Bhutan.
In 2025 he founded the think tank Progressive Diplomacy. He serves on the steering committee of the global initiative Trade — Not Just Aid, conducting diplomatic work for WTO reform on behalf of the initiative's founder, CUTS International. Today he lectures and advises in Norwegian and English, for engagements nationwide and internationally.
Concrete Results
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2001 China's WTO Accession
Norway's chief negotiator when China joined the WTO — one of the 21st century's most significant trade-historical turning points.
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2012 UN Sustainable Development Goals
Key driver at Norway's UN Mission in New York during the drafting and creation of the 17 global SDGs.
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2018 Decent Work (ILO)
Led global reform efforts for decent work standards as Senior Specialist at the ILO in Geneva.
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2025 Progressive Diplomacy
Founded the think tank Progressive Diplomacy and coordinates international reform work as diplomatic lead for the initiative 'Trade — Not Just Aid'.
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