Karin Maria Bruzelius, born on February 19, 1941, is a distinguished figure in Norwegian law and advocacy. Originally she was born in Sweden but later on moved to Norway after she f her marriage to Norwegian lawyer and peace activist Fredrik Heffermehl. Bruzelius made history in Norway as the first woman to hold the position of Permanent Secretary in a government ministry, leading the Ministry of Transport and Communications from 1989 to 1997. Her career continued as she assumed the role of supreme court justice on the Supreme Court of Norway in 1997, serving until her retirement in 2011. Bruzelius's contributions extend beyond the judiciary; she has served as a director-general in the Ministry of Justice and as a corporate lawyer. Her expertise in law and governance led to her appointment as a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague from 2004 to 2010, and she chaired the Petroleum Price Board from 1987 to 2004. Throughout her career, Bruzelius has been a staunch advocate for women's rights. She served as president of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights from 1978 to 1984 and again from 2018 to 2020, demonstrating her enduring commitment to gender equality. Since 2011, she has been affiliated with the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law at the University of Oslo Faculty of Law, further enriching the academic and legal community with her expertise and leadership.