Walter Qvam graduated as a civil engineer from the Norwegian Technical University, and has been a leader in Norwegian industry ever since.

He was director of Det Norske Veritas 1980–1994, director of passenger and freight traffic at NSB, director of Gemini Consulting 1995–1999 , director of Cap Gemini 2000–2005, partner in Bene Agere 2005–2008 and CEO of Kongsberg Gruppen 2008–2016. In 2016 he became chairman of SINTEF, and is today serving on multiple boards (including mnemonic until 2024).