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Unearthing potential: The future of US geothermal energy
Energy & Environment Energy Transitions Northern Europe Renewables & Advanced Energy

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EnergySource

Jun 1, 2018

A geothermal leader: The case of Iceland

By Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir

This piece is the first in a series examining geothermal potential in Iceland and elsewhere and the contribution geothermal resources can make to energy security and diversification, as well as sustainability and emissions reductions. A combination of necessity, a great deal of ingenuity, some stubbornness, a “problem solving” mentality, and daring policy decisions have enabled […]

Northern Europe Renewables & Advanced Energy

New Atlanticist

Mar 7, 2017

The Untapped ‘Girl Power’ in the Energy Sector

By Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir

In recognition of International Women’s Day 2017, and under the banner of #BeBoldForChange, the United Nations (UN) is calling upon all actors to strive for equal representation of men and women in the professional world. UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka emphasized this focus in a message entitled: “Women in the Changing World of Work: […]

Press Release

Mar 6, 2017

Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir Joins Atlantic Council Global Energy Center As Senior Fellow

By Atlantic Council

WASHINGTON, DC – The Atlantic Council today announced that former Icelandic Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, has been appointed as a nonresident senior fellow with the Global Energy Center, making her the first former Icelandic government official to join the Atlantic Council as a fellow. While serving as the minister of industry […]

Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir is a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center. From 2013 to 2017, Ms. Árnadóttir was the minister of industry and commerce in Iceland, a position that included a wide portfolio such as energy, industry, tourism, innovation, film industry, design, and commerce. Ms. Árnadóttir was an elected member of Parliament for the Independence Party from 2007 to 2016 and chairman of the party’s Parliamentary group from 2010 to 2012. She held positions in several standing committees in the Parliament, including: Committee on Economics and Taxation (2007-09), Committee on Industry (2007-09), Committee on Foreign Affairs (2007-13), and Committee on Business and Commerce (2010). Ms. Árnadóttir was a member of the Icelandic Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2007 to 2013 and served as chairman from 2007 to 2009.

Before she was elected to Parliament, Ms. Árnadóttir served as the political adviser to the minister of finance (1998-2005), the minister for foreign affairs (2005-06), and the prime minister (2006-07). She worked for the Trade Council of Iceland from 1995 to 1998, both in New York as vice commercial counsellor and later as commercial counsellor, and in Reykjavík as project manager. Ms. Árnadóttir served as the executive director of the Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce from 1996 to 1997.

Ms. Árnadóttir graduated from the University of Iceland in 1991 with a BA degree in political science, and an MSFS degree from Georgetown University in 1994. She was invited to attend the Georgetown Leadership Seminar in 2007.Other professional responsibilities include a membership on the Icelandic Public Sector Wage Negotiation Committee (1999-2005), an alternate member of the board of directors of the Nordic Investment Bank (2002-06), and a member of the board of Iceland Naturally (2005-07) and Iceland Naturally Europe (2006-07). Ms. Árnadóttir was a vice chairman of the board of directors of the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformist from 2011 to 2015.Ms. Árnadóttir is married to Guðjón Ingi Guðjónsson; she has two sons and two stepdaughters.