Current Position

2024 - Ambassador of Iceland to the United States of America.

Professional Career

Secretary General of the Iceland Chamber of Commerce, 2020-2024.

Senior Advisor at the The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, 2017-2020.

Senior Advisor at the Prime Minister‘s Office, 2017-2017.

Senior Advisor at the The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs , 2013-2017.

Advisor to the Chairman of the Independence Party, Alþingi, 2012-2013.

Secretary General of the IP‘s Parliamentary Group, Alþingi, 2009-2012.

Host and editor at Stöð 2 (Channel 2), 2004-2009.

Newsreporter, radio and television host and editor at RÚV (The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service), 1999-2004.

Education

Reykjavík University, MBA

University of Iceland, Cand. jur.

Boards, Committees, Working Groups and Social Activities

The Culture and Business Affairs Minister’s Working Group on the Merger of Institutions, 2022-2023.

The Prime Minister‘s Working Group on Foreigners Employment Rights, 2022-2023.

Leikfélag Reykjavíkur (Reykjavík City Theatre), 2022-2024.

Grunnstoð ehf. 2021-2024.

Háskólinn í Reykjavík (Reykjavík University), 2021-2024.

Íslandspóstur (Iceland Post), 2014-2019.

Íslandsstofa (Business Iceland), Investment Advisory Council, 2013-2016.

The Culture and Education Minister‘s Committee on Access to Media in the Lead-up to Elections, 2012-2013.

Various other social activites: Vice-Chair of the Economic and Business Committee of the Independence Party from 2015-2018 and in the Coordination Committee of the Independence Party 2011-2018. Various projects for the Ministry of Education from 1997 – 2002: chairperson and vice-chairperson of the State Youth Council, participation and chairmanship in Youth for Europe and the Children's Culture Fund, and representative in the Nordic Youth Committee under the Nordic Council of Ministers 1999-2001. In the Gender Equality Committee of Reykjavík City from 1998 – 2001.

Personal

Svanhildur was born in 1974. She is married with seven children, aged 14-35.