Lars Fause

Lars Fause (born 20 February 1965) is a Norwegian prosecutor and civil servant serving as the governor of Svalbard since 2021.

Early life and education Fause is originally from Balsfjord Municipality in Troms county. Fause graduated from the University of Tromsø in 1991 with a Master of Studies in Law.

Career Following his graduation, Fause worked for the Oslo Police District as an assistant. He made headlines in October 2008 for becoming the first person to deny a person residence in Svalbard: a 28-year-old man who was said to be behind "many crimes". After leaving office, he returned to his former position as chief prosecutor in Troms og Finnmark.

Fause took office as governor on 24 June 2021, following the departure of term-limited Governor Kjerstin Askholt. He was selected over several other applicants, including judges Jørn Holme and Cecilie Østensen Berglund. He is limited to a maximum of two terms of three years each, according to the Svalbard Treaty, upon which point he would not be eligible for a third term. both words translate to English as 'governor', but the change was required as part of Norway's effort to replace gendered governmental titles.