Hein Rune Skjoldal has been working at the Institute of Marine Research since 1981, where he also has held the position as Research director and head of Department of Marine Environment.  He has also held positions at the University of Bergen, latest as Associate professor at Institute of Fisheries and Marine Biology.  He has participated in several national committees and expert groups, such as: Chairman of advisory committee on marine protected areas, Chairman of expert group on marine eutrophication (1995-99), Member and chairman of the steering committee for the Norwegian Research Program on North Norwegian Coastal Ecology (MARE NOR) (1992-96, chairman 1994-96), Member of the steering committee for the Norwegian Research Program on Marine Pollution (1991-96).  Skjoldal has also been participating in a number of international committees and expert groups, such as: Member of Steering Group, Bergen Conference on Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries, Bergen, 26-28 September 2006, Regional Vice-Chair for Western Europe of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (2005-  ), Co-Chair of ICES/EuroGOOS Planning Group on the North Sea Pilot Project NORSEPP (2004-present), Member of the Scientific Committee for the FAO Reykjavik Conference on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem (2001), Chairman of ICES Advisory Committee on Ecosystems (ACE) (2001-2003), Chairman of ICES Advisory Committee on Marine Environment (ACME) (2000), Co-chair for Workshop on Ecological Quality Objectives for the North Sea (OSPAR/NSC/ICES), 1-3 September 1999.  Skjoldal has published more than 40 scientific papers, of which more than 30 in refereed journals. In addition he is the author of a number of printed reports and manuscripts.