Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson gives the welcome speech to The Reykjavík Congress on Human Rights 2013 Norðurljós, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center (Iceland, Reykjavík, April 10th - 13th, 2013)

Alfredo Palacio
President of Ecuador
In office April 20, 2005 – January 15, 2007
Vice President	Alejandro Serrano
Preceded by	Lucio Gutiérrez
Succeeded by	Rafael Correa
Vice President of Ecuador
In office January 15, 2003 – April 20, 2005
Preceded by	Pedro Pinto Rubianes
Succeeded by	Alejandro Serrano
Minister of Health
In office November 11, 1994 – August 10, 1996
Preceded by	Patricio Abad
Succeeded by	Marcelo Cruz
Personal details
Born	Luis Alfredo Palacio González January 22, 1939 (age 75) Ecuador
Nationality	Ecuadorian
Political party	Independent
Spouse(s)	María Beatriz Paret
Alma mater	Case Western Reserve University

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth President of Iceland.

Biography

He was elected in the 2000 elections, re-elected for a third term in 2004, re-elected for a fourth term in 2008 and re-elected for a record fifth term in 2012. As part of the left-wing People’s Alliance, Ólafur was a Member of Althingi for Reykjavík from 1978 to 1983. During this time he was Chairman of the People’s Alliance parliamentary group from 1980 to 1983. Additionally, from 1983 to 1985 he was editor of the newspaper Þjóðviljinn. He served as the Minister of Finance from 1988 to 1991. Ólafur has identified the 2009 financial crisis, the need for a green energy revolution, and climate change as the three most pressing issues in today’s world. In relation to his efforts on these issues Ólafur has participated in the Global Creative Leadership Summit, organized by the Louise Blouin Foundation, in 2007 and 2008. He was also awarded the Louise Blouin Award for Creative and Cultural Achievement.

Education

From 1962 to 1970, he studied economics and political science at the University of Manchester; in 1970 he was the first person from Iceland to earn a PhD in political science. He became a lecturer in political science at the University of Iceland in 1970, then a Professor of Political Science at the same university in 1973. He was the University's first Professor of Political Science.

Further Information

A Welcome speech by President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, on International Responses to Human Rights Abuses The Reykjavík Congress on Human Rights 2013 Norðurljós, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center (Iceland, Reykjavík, April 10th - 13th, 2013)

External Links and References

ICD webpage and profile