Pure Salmon Technology appoints new project director

Land-based fish farms supplier Pure Salmon Technology has appointed Monica Bjørkmo Ringen as its new project director.

The company said Bjørkmo Ringen has more than 20 years’ experience with Pure Salmon Technology and its predecessor, Krüger Kaldnes, and related companies, and has made big contributions to projects in Norway and worldwide.

Her role entails overseeing a department of 19 people, including project managers, site managers, and a commissioning team. She leads the planning, execution, and delivery of Pure Salmon Technology’s projects, covering both national and international assignments. Among these is the construction of a facility for Grieg Seafood in Adamselv, Norway - a modern facility combining advanced technology, environmentally conscious solutions, and a strong focus on fish welfare.

Environment for growth

“My greatest motivation is to create an environment where team members can grow, develop, and reach their potential. Effective leadership is also about being a clear and dependable leader, someone who takes responsibility, makes decisions, communicates effectively, and builds trust so the team can work together toward success,” Bjørkmo Ringen said in a press release.

The project director is passionate about diversity and gender equality in leadership.

“Diversity is about more than gender. It’s about including people with different backgrounds and perspectives. By doing so, we don’t just create better solutions but also stronger and more dynamic organisations,” she said.

She believes that true inclusion requires concrete action.

Diversity 'is a strategic necessity'

“It’s about more than good intentions. We need to build structures that provide equal opportunities for everyone. This isn’t just about fairness, but a strategic necessity,” she explained.

“When we invest in people and create space for different perspectives, we build organisations that are better equipped to succeed in a global market.”

Pure Salmon Technology’s chief operating officer, Luke Kellgren-Parker, said Bjørkmo Ringen had been an invaluable asset in the projects she leads.

“She sees the big picture while keeping a close eye on the details. And she ensures that clients, suppliers, and the rest of us stay on track.

“Monica is a resource any company would be lucky to have. She is not just a skilled leader but also someone who makes the workplace better for all of us. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her ability to build solutions, relationships, and trust.”

Big ambitions

Pure Salmon Technology is part of the Pure Salmon group owned by investment fund 8F Aquaculture, which is intending to produce more than 260,000 tonnes of salmon annually in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) built close to major population centres around the world. Pure Salmon Technology’s subsidiaries – Pure Salmon Kaldnes (in Norway) and Pure Salmon Kaldnes RAS (in Denmark) - are established suppliers of RAS smolt systems.

8F, which has offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Germany, bought the RAS division of Krüger Kaldnes from international water and waste giant Veolia in 2021 and formed a new company, Pure Salmon Kaldnes. Although Pure Salmon is focused on growing fish to harvest size in RAS that will be supplied by Pure Salmon Technology, much of Pure Salmon Technology's work in Norway has been the design and / or delivery of smolt and post-smolt facilities. 

Pure Salmon group says that about 30% of all Norwegian salmon produced in RAS has been grown in a facility designed by Pure Salmon Technology.