Halla Tómasdóttir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Halla Tómasdóttir
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Halla in 2024
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| 7th President of Iceland | |
| Assumed office 1 August 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Bjarni Benediktsson Kristrún Frostadóttir |
| Preceded by | Guðni Th. Jóhannesson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 October 1968 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Björn Skúlason |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Auburn University at Montgomery (BBA) Thunderbird School of Global Management (MBA) |
| Awards | Cartier Women's Initiative Awards |
Halla Tómasdóttir (born 11 October 1968) is an Icelandic businesswoman and politician. She is the seventh President of Iceland, taking office in 2024. Halla is the second woman to become president of Iceland, following Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. Before becoming president, she was a public speaker and led a global nonprofit group called The B Team.
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Early Life and Education
Halla finished high school in Iceland in 1986. After that, she moved to the United States as an international student. She studied at Auburn University at Montgomery, earning a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1993. Her studies focused on management and human resources. In 1995, she earned a master's degree in business administration from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Career Before Presidency
Halla was part of the team that started Reykjavík University in 1998. She also helped create Auður Capital, which was an investment company. Later, she became the chief executive of The B Team. This is a global group of business and community leaders. They work to encourage business practices that are good for people and the planet.
Presidential Campaign in 2016
Halla announced she would run for President of Iceland on 17 March 2016. She received 27.9% of the votes in that election. She came in second place, after Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, who won with 39.1% of the votes.
Presidency (2024–Present)
On 1 June 2024, Halla won the 2024 Icelandic presidential election. She defeated former prime minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. Halla's campaign focused on important topics for young people. These included how social media affects mental health. She also talked about tourism and the role of artificial intelligence. Halla officially became president on 1 August 2024.
Personal Life
Halla Tómasdóttir was born in Reykjavík, Iceland. She is married to Björn Skúlason. They have two children together. Halla's father, Tómas Björn Þórhallsson, was a plumber. Her mother, Kristjana Sigurðardóttir, worked as a social educator.
Awards and Honours
Halla has received several important honours.
Honours from Iceland
Iceland:
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- She became the Grand Master and Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon on 1 August 2024.
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Honours from Other Countries
Denmark:
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- She was made a Knight of the Order of the Elephant on 8 October 2024.
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Norway:
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- She will become a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav on 8 April 2025.
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Sweden:
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- She will become a Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim on 6 May 2025.
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External Links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Guðni Th. Jóhannesson |
President of Iceland 2024–present |
Incumbent |
See also
In Spanish: Halla Tómasdóttir para niños
