The new Board of the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland held its first meeting on Tuesday, February 4. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, Professor at the Faculty of History at the University of Iceland and President of Iceland from 2016 to 2024, has been appointed as the new Chair. Additionally, Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, Arctic Ambassador, has joined the board as the new representative from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The importance of active engagement in international affairs has never been greater, making it especially valuable to have a board composed of individuals with extensive and diverse expertise in the field.
The board members are: Ann-Sofie Nielsen Gremaud, Associate Professor of Danish at the School of Education, University of Iceland, and Chair of the Board of the Vigdís International Centre, Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, Ambassador, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Kári Hólmar Ragnarsson, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Iceland, Maximilian Conrad, Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Iceland, Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Iceland, Þorsteinn Gunnarsson, CEO of Reykjavík City and Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, Professor at the Faculty of History, University of Iceland, and President of Iceland from 2016 to 2024. Guðni also serves as Chair of the Board
This was also the final board meeting for Guðmundur Hálfdánarson, the outgoing Chair, who has led the Institute of International Affairs with great distinction over the past eight years.
The Institute's activities are wide-ranging, encompassing research, education, and public events on international affairs. A summary of its 2024 initiatives can be found here.
