Kjell Brataas is an international expert on crisis management, crisis communication and the human and institutional aftermath of disasters. He has played central roles in managing some of Norway’s most significant crises, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 22 July 2011 terrorist attacks in Oslo and on Utøya and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has extensive experience advising organizations on leadership responsibility, support for victims and bereaved families, communication, and long-term learning after high-impact events. Brataas has designed and led numerous crisis exercises and has developed crisis management plans for both private companies and government institutions.

He regularly presents internationally and has given talks in cities including Stockholm, Amsterdam, Denver, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne. While researching his most recent books, Brataas conducted field-based work and met with survivors, bereaved families, first responders and experts in locations such as London, The Hague, Boston, Halifax, Las Vegas, Newtown, Los Angeles and Port Arthur.

Brataas is a member of several expert groups, including the Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network, and is the author of multiple Routledge-published books, including Disaster Memorials and Monuments (2025) and Managing the Human Dimension of Disasters (2022).

He currently works as a Security Specialist with DNB, Norway’s largest financial institution.