Marie joined the Crop Trust in March 2012 as the Executive Director, although she was previously on the Board. Mrs. Haga will work to bring the mission of the Crop Trust and the importance of crop diversity, conservation, and availability to the front of the agenda for policy makers, donors, and citizens of the world. Her background is in Foreign Service and Politics. She has held senior positions in the Norwegian Embassies in New York and New Delhi. Mrs. Haga has served as Member of the Norwegian Parliament for eight years, she has been the leader of the Centre Party and held three Ministerial positions: Minister of Cultural Affairs, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, and Minister of Petroleum and Energy. She has also held positions as Director of Renewable Energy of the Federation of Norwegian Industries and Secretary General of the biggest voluntary organization in Norway, the Norwegian Air Ambulance. Mrs. Haga has served as the Head of several Governing Boards, among them the Industrial Development Corporation (SIVA) and the Norwegian Institute for Nature Science (NINA). Mrs Haga has published three books – two on Norwegian politics and one novel. She is fluent in Norwegian, English, and has a working knowledge of German.