Halla Tómasdóttir secured the presidency of Iceland on 1 June 2024, garnering 73,182 votes and capturing 34.1 percent of the total popular support. This victory positioned her as the second woman to lead the nation, following Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, and marked a significant shift in the country's executive leadership after her inauguration on 1 August 2024.
Academic Background and Early Professional Steps
Raised in Reykjavík, Tómasdóttir graduated from Verzlunarskóli Íslands in 1986. She relocated to the United States to pursue higher education, attending Evansville Central High School before completing a bachelor's degree in business administration at Auburn University at Montgomery in 1993. Her studies emphasized human resources and management. In 1995, she obtained a Master of Business Administration from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.
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In 1998, she served as a member of the founding team for Reykjavík University. Her career expanded into finance when she co-founded the investment firm Auður Capital. Later, she transitioned into the non-profit sector as the chief executive of The B Team, an organization focused on promoting climate-conscious and humanity-centered business practices.
Presidential Campaigns
Tómasdóttir entered presidential politics on 17 March 2016, securing 27.9 percent of the vote in an unsuccessful bid against Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. She returned to the ballot on 17 March 2024. Her second campaign platform highlighted artificial intelligence, tourism, and the influence of social media on youth mental health. During the 2024 cycle, she voiced opposition to Iceland purchasing arms for Ukraine, drawing criticism from Minister for Foreign Affairs Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir. Ultimately, she defeated Katrín Jakobsdóttir by approximately ten percentage points.
Executive Duties and Public Reception
Upon assuming office, Tómasdóttir acted as Grand Master of the Order of the Falcon. Her early months were marked by diplomatic engagement, including an October 2024 visit to Denmark where she delivered an address in English at Christiansborg. By September 2024, polling indicated a 45 percent satisfaction rate among the public regarding her performance.
Fast facts
- Born: 1968, Reykjavík
- Assumed office: 1 August 2024
- Education: Auburn University at Montgomery, Thunderbird School of Global Management
- Spouse: Björn Skúlason
- Parents: Tómas Björn Þórhallsson and Kristjana Sigurðardóttir
- Award: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon (2024)
- Award: Knight of the Order of the Elephant (2024)
Questions readers ask
What is Halla Tómasdóttir's educational background?
She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Auburn University at Montgomery and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
How many female presidents has Iceland had?
Tómasdóttir is the second woman to serve as president, following Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.
Achievements
- President of Iceland (from 2024)
- Knight of the Order of the Elephant — 2024
- Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon — 2024
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav
- Knight of the Seraphim — 2026
- Educated at Auburn University at Montgomery and Thunderbird School of Global Management
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