Halla Tómasdóttir

Halla Tómasdóttir (born 11 October 1968) is an Icelandic politician who has been the president of Iceland since 2024. She is the second Icelandic female president after Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. Halla was previously a businesswoman and public speaker. Before becoming president, she was the chief executive of The B Team, a global nonprofit group.

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Halla.

Her Excellency Halla Tómasdóttir
7th President of Iceland
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 August 2024
Prime Minister	Bjarni Benediktsson
Preceded by	Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
Personal details
Born	(1968-10-11) 11 October 1968 (age 55) Reykjavík, Iceland
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Björn Skúlason
Children	2
Alma mater	Auburn University at Montgomery
Awards	Cartier Women's Initiative Awards[1]

Early career

Halla is a former member of the founding team of Reykjavík University in 1998. She also co-founded Auður Capital, an investment firm.^[2] She served as the chief executive of The B Team, a global nonprofit group of business and civil society leaders working to promote business practices focused on humanity and the climate.^[3]

2016 presidential campaign

Halla announced her candidacy for the presidency of Iceland on 17 March 2016.^[4] She received 27.9% of the vote, the second-highest share after that of the winner, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, who received 39.1%.^[5]

Presidency

On 1 June 2024, Halla won the Icelandic presidential election, defeating former prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir by a roughly 10-point margin.^[6] Her campaign focused on issues such as the effects of social media on the mental health of youth, tourism development, and the role of artificial intelligence. She took office on 1 August 2024.^[7]

Personal life

Halla was born in Reykjavík. She is married to Björn Skúlason.^[8] They have two children.

Honours

National honours

•  Iceland:
  • Grand Master and Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon (1 August 2024)

External videos
Halla Tomasdottir: A feminine response to Iceland's financial crash, TED (conference), 10:17, 2010[9]
It's time for women to run for office, TED (conference), 19:19, 2016[9]

References

1. "Audur Capital provides financial services based on women-friendly values". Cartier Women's Initiative. 2009. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
2. "Halla ætlar að bjóða sig fram". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
3. "Businesswoman Tomasdottir becomes Iceland's next president". France 24. 2 June 2024. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
4. "New presidential candidate emerges in Iceland". Morgunblaðið. Iceland. 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
5. "Guðni Jóhannesson wins Iceland's presidential election". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 26 June 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
6. "Election week: Halla Tómasdóttir will be the president of Iceland". RÚV. Iceland. 2 June 2024. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
7. "Businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir set to become Iceland's next president". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
8. "Halla átti kærasta þegar þau Björn hittust fyrst" (in Icelandic). mbl.is. 22 March 2024. Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
9. "Halla Tómasdóttir, Change catalyst". TED (conference). 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.

External links

• Lindskog, Chad (16 August 2018). "Memorial QB, an exchange student from Iceland, lives with coach's family". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
• Halla Tómasdóttir at TED

Political offices
Preceded by Guðni Th. Jóhannesson	President of Iceland 2024–present	Incumbent