First Day as Director

My first day as PRIO Director. Quite fittingly, I am in Cyprus, where – besides conferencing on forced migration - I have enjoyed discussions with the staff of our Cyprus Centre. Yesterday, I was invited to dinner by Mete, Rebecca and Costas, and before I know it, we were on our way out of Nicosia, heading north. We had fantastic seafood in Kyrenia, a town that blends the newest in casinos and discos with an uncomparable crescent-shaped harbor surrounded by historical buildings. The Kyrenia castle dates back to the Byzantines, but carries the imprint of shifting powers. I am now stocking up on Cyprus readings, and in my pursuit of the best, I have been glad to note that my reading list prominently features PCC researchers.

Kristian’s Notes is an experiment. It will be a venue where PRIOites can follow what I am occupied with, and shall be published on most working days. This is not the channel for administrative decisions or PRIO news, there we have the intranet (and the handbook). To follow my blog is not obligatory, it shall never be the sole channel for what you need to know at PRIO. Most importantly, a blog offers opportunities to respond – use them! Your responses will decide the blog’s fate.

Stein, now PRIO’s former director, should be on the plane to Scotland, with a week of trekking the highlands ahead of him. I talked to him yesterday afternoon, as he was about to wrap up at PRIO. He has received well-deserved praise over the recent few weeks, topped up by Nils Petter’s ‘The best PRIO Director ever’, which is seconded by many, myself included. Stein’s wishes of luck for PRIO – and myself as new Director – are appreciated. I start today with gratitude and humility, knowing that the years ahead will be challenging and rewarding. Jørgen recently conducted some bookshelf archeology in my home study, and was pleased to identify the title ‘How to Lead Colleagues that are Smarter Than Yourself’, also on my reading list for the summer!