Chief Scientist at the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) in Norway. BSc. and MSc. of science from the University of Oslo; Doctor in Philosophy of science from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and studies in Business administration at Edinburgh and Heriott Watt University, UK. SINTEF is one of the leading applied multidisciplinary research institutions in Europe with more than 2000 professional employees from more than 70 countries. Mr. Karstensen has been working at SINTEF for more than 30 years and has had all possible scientific and administrative positions within SINTEF.

Been working globally with Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency for three decades. Regarded to be one of the pioneers in Co-processing & treatment of wastes in resource and energy intensive industry and contributed to increase the waste management capacity in many countries and to reduce air pollutants and GHGs from the industry.

 Tested and documented the possibilities of using local cement kilns for destruction of hazardous organic chemicals in many countries and been instrumental in developing regulatory frameworks and guidelines for numerous Governments, UN-bodies and international organisations; has been assisting leading international industry in raising their sustainability benchmark. 

 Extensive experience from Asia and been instrumental in implementing co-processing practice in several Asian countries; for example, been working with the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment since 2005 and with the Indian Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change since 2010.

 Published crucial R&D findings on the possibilities and limitations of co-processing of wastes in key scientific and technical journals with >100 peer reviewed publications, author of several books and book-chapters, >300 scientific reports and >200 oral presentations at scientific conferences.

 Associate professor at the University of Oslo, 1988-9192, and Adjunct faculty at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, 2006-2016. Founder of Applied Research International and Global Sustainability.