Iceland the Brave: a lecture by Dr Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson

About the speaker

Guðni Th. Jóhannesson is the 6th President of the Republic of Iceland. He was inaugurated on 1 August 2016 and re-elected in 2020. A historian by profession, Guðni studied History at the University of Iceland and at Oxford University in England. In 2003 he completed his PhD from Queen Mary University of London. Before taking office, he was Professor of History at the University of Iceland.

As an academic, Guðni's focus of research has been on the formation of Iceland´s foreign relations, constitutional matters, and contemporary history. His publications include numerous books and scholarly articles on modern Icelandic history. He has received a variety of recognitions for his works, and in 2017 he was awarded an honorary degree by Queen Mary University.

President Jóhannesson is an active sport enthusiast and an advocate for public health. He is patron to the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland and the Icelandic Youth Association, among others. Guðni is married to Eliza Jean Reid and has five children.

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