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 and commerce in Iceland, Minister Árnadóttir had a wide portfolio that included energy, industry, tourism, innovation, film industry, design, and commerce.

“Minister Árnadóttir brings an extensive amount of experience and expertise to the Atlantic Council, and we are thrilled to bring her on board,” said Ambassador Richard Morningstar, founding director and chairman of the Global Energy Center. “She comes to the Center at a time when environmental concerns and innovation in the energy sector are immensely important. Iceland has been a global leader in developing geothermal and renewable energy technology, and we are eager to draw on Minister Árnadóttir’s thought leadership in this field as we continue to develop strategies for pursuing a global clean energy future.”

Prior to serving as Iceland’s minister of industry and commerce, Minister Árnadóttir was an elected member of Parliament, sitting on various committees including: Committee on Economics and Taxation, Committee on Industry, Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Committee on Business and Commerce. Minister Árnadóttir was also a member of the Icelandic Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, where she previously served as chairman. Before being elected to Parliament, Minister Árnadóttir served as the political adviser to the minister of finance, the minister for foreign affairs, and the prime minister. She also worked in various positions for the Trade Council of Iceland and as the executive director of the Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce.

“We are delighted to welcome Minister Árnadóttir to the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center,” said David Koranyi, director of the Atlantic Council’s Energy Diplomacy Initiative. “Her experiences facilitating diverse partnerships in matters of trade and foreign affairs at the highest levels of government will be an asset to the Global Energy Center as we seek to catalyze international cooperation on pressing concerns to the energy sector. In particular, her work on renewable energy will be critical to enhancing our future work on this topic.”

“I am very pleased to join the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center as a nonresident senior fellow, and I look forward to working with the Council and its experts on energy-related matters,” said Minister Árnadóttir. “Following up on Iceland’s pioneering work in the field of geothermal energy, my work at the Council will focus on renewable energy issues, and specifically geothermal energy. I am thrilled to be able to utilize the Atlantic Council as a platform to bring together key stakeholders of the global energy industry to tell Iceland’s story and share our lessons learned with others looking to further develop this technology.”

The Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center works to promote global access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. Alongside government, industry, and civil society partners, the Center devises creative responses to energy-related geopolitical conflicts, advances sustainable energy solutions, and identifies trends to help develop energy strategies and policies that ensure long-term prosperity and security. For more information on the Global Energy Center or to schedule an interview with Minister Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, please email press@atlanticcouncil.org

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