Ann-Magritt - urban planner shaping the future in Sarpsborg

A diverse role as urban planner

Ann-Magritt Holøs has a central role as urban planner at Sarpsborg municipality. She works with a variety of projects and is responsible for the municipality’s reporting, public health work and forecasts and statistics on population development. A large part of her work involves participating in collaborations with the business community and regional actors to ensure sustainable development. As of 2026, her main task will be to implement Sarpsborg’s societal plan, the municipality’s overarching strategic document

“It’s incredibly exciting to be part of the development of the municipality and hopefully be able to contribute to solving some of the major challenges that we in society are facing,” says Ann-Magritt.

Responsibility and development opportunities

One of Ann-Magritt’s favourite aspects of her work is the wide variation and the many opportunities for professional development it offers. She describes the work environment as very supportive, both in her operational unit and in collaborations with other departments in the municipality.

“The best thing about the job is the good work environment and the cooperation internally in our unit as well as the varying duties of the working day,” she says.

She has also been given a lot of responsibility in a short time, which has given her plenty of room to grow in her role.

Major challenges in the job

Despite all the benefits, there are also challenges in the role of urban planner. One of the biggest is to get an overview of everything that is happening in the municipality and liaise with the right people in different departments. Sarpsborg has about 6,000 employees, and it can sometimes be difficult to get hold of the right people.

“As an urban planner, I need to have a holistic view and an overview of almost everything,” explains Ann-Magritt.

Another major challenge is to find solutions to the major societal problems, especially for those residents living in socio-economically vulnerable areas that often fall outside society’s safety net.

“Helping to break the legacy of poor socio-economic conditions is seen as one of the biggest challenges we have to solve,” she adds.

Becoming an urban planner

Ann-Magritt began her career in real estate management at OBOS, Norway’s largest housing developer, before she decided to further her education in urban planning. After her master’s in strategic urban and regional planning and a period of maternity leave, she started working as an area planner in Våler municipality. There she got a thorough introduction to planning work and participated in several major projects, including the construction of a new school and sports area.

“I was in Våler for just over a year before I applied for the job I now have, as urban planner in Sarpsborg,” she says.

The education that shaped a career

Social and urban development has always interested Ann-Magritt, and her previous work at OBOS sparked a curiosity about how best to plan to create sustainable and inclusive societies. She is passionate about improving public health by making it easier for people to live more active lives.

“I’ve always known that I’d take a master’s degree one day, and when my family lived in Linköping because of my husband’s job, I chose urban and regional planning,” she says.

The programme was challenging, especially as studies took place during the Covid-19 pandemic and involved a lot of online teaching. But despite these challenges, she appreciates that the programme provided her with a broad and deep understanding of the different aspects of planning.

“It was a big transition to go back to school, but with good guidance from teachers and fellow students it went pretty quickly,” she says.

Tips for future students

Ann-Magritt encourages anyone thinking about studying urban and regional planning to take that step.

“Go ahead! The programme gives you insights and opportunities. You learn the big connections and are well prepared for working life,” she concludes.