Garðabær Town Council
The town council is responsible for the administration of the town in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act. It has overall control over institutions and enterprises under the town, unless it delegates this responsibility to others. Other tasks include the election of councils and committees, the management of finances, the preparation of resolutions and the determination of fees in accordance with the law and as needed.
Representatives of bæjarstjórn Garðabæjar
Garðabær Town Council 2022-2026 is composed of 11 representatives.
The president of the town council is Margrét Bjarnadóttir. The vice presidents are Gunnar Valur Gíslason (1st vice president) and Ingvar Arnarson (2nd vice president).
The members of bæjarstjórn Garðabæjar are:
Email: almar@gardabaer.is
Educational career
MBA from London Business School 2005
B.A. in Economics from the University of Iceland 1997
Matriculation exam from FG 1992Career
Pension Funds Database 2020-2022
Managing Director of Krítar Financing Solutions 2017-2020
CEO of the Confederation of Icelandic Industries 2014 - 2017
Executive Director of the Icelandic Employers' Association 2009 - 2014
Part-time lecturer at Reykjavík University and in the Open University's management program since 2009
Various management positions in the financial sector (Íslandsbanki, Glitnir) 1997-2008Social work
Chairman of the Stjörnunn football department 2009 - 2016
On the UI Student Council for Vaka 1995-1997 (Vaka Leader ´96-´97)
President of the Student Union FG 1990-91Committee work on behalf of Gardabær
Municipal Council 2018/2019
Chairman of the Family Council 2018-2022
Council of Elders from 2019
Chairman of the jury for fitness at Ásgarður 2017-18
In the working group on the multi-purpose sports hall in Vetrarmýri 2017-18
Alternate member of the Gardabaer school committee 2010-2014Email:sigridur.hulda.jonsdottir@gardabaer.is
Educational career
MBA, University of Iceland, 2017
MA in Educational and Career Counseling, University of Iceland, 2013
Diploma in Educational and Career Counseling, University of Iceland, 1994
Pedagogy for teaching qualifications, University of Iceland, 1991
BA degree in Education, University of Iceland, 1989
Student of sociology, Akureyri High School, 1984Career
Owner and Managing Director at SHJ Consulting since 2013
Director of Student Services, Reykjavik University, 2007-2013
Freelance from 2003 to 2007, main projects:Consulting and teaching for Reykjavík University and Keilir, 2004-2007
Project Manager at Mími-Símenntun, 2004-2007
Teaching and supervision of a preschool bridge in the capital area, 2007
Advice and solutions for young people who do not receive school placements for the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, 2006-2007
Editorial work for magazines, 2006-2007
Conceptual work for Kaupás regarding marketing issues, 2006
Development of a new course for young people for the Reykjavík Educational Association, 2006
Project manager in the development of a prevention strategy for Garðabær, 2006
Project manager for the prevention planning for Kópavogur, 2006
Project manager of the "Be there" prevention project of the Public Health Institute and the Association of Icelandic Municipalities. Worked with 23 municipalities, 2003-2006
Project manager for Garðabær for an examination of the situation of young people in the municipality who did not start upper secondary school after the 10th grade, 2004
Consultant in the Island Project on behalf of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council, 2003
Project Manager for Prevention in Upper Secondary Schools for the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, 1997-2012
Educational and career counselor and teacher at Fjölbrautskólann in Garðabær, 1989-2003
Elementary school teacher at Síðuskóli in Akureyri, 1984-1985
Foreman of Akureyri town's school grounds during the summer while studying at high schoolCommittee work
Vice Chairman of the Municipal Council since 2014
President of the Municipal Council 2015-2016
Chairman of the school board of Garðabær elementary school since 2014
Chairman of the school board of Garðabær Music School, 2010-2014
Vice-chairman of the committee for the cultural center in Garðabær 2018
Chairman of the committee on the entrance symbol of Garðabær 2016Email:bjorg.fenger@gardabaer.is
Educational career
Lawyer (Cand jur.) from the University of Iceland 2005
Matriculation from the Icelandic School of Business 1999
Career
Board of Directors 1912 Ltd. 2007 -
Specialist at the Ministry of Welfare 2010 - 2013
Lawyer at the Financial Supervisory Authority 2005 - 2007
Social work/committee work
Sólheimar Representative Council 2006 –
Stjörnunn Handball League Board 2013-2014
Board of the Grótta Handball League 2009 - 2011
Various committee work related to school and sports activities
Chairman of the Icelandic Tourism Association 2014 – 2022
Capital Region Ski Area Board 2014 – 2022
Chairman of the Board of Strætó bs. 2018 – 2020
Gardabaer Town Council 2020 -2021
President of the Gardabær Municipal Council 2021-2022
Chairman of the Garðabær Municipal Council 2022 -
Chairman of the Garðabær Planning Committee 2022 -
Email:gunnar.valur.gislason@gardabaer.is
Educational career
Student from Reykjavík High School, 1978
Civil Engineer from the University of Iceland, 1982
Master's degree in civil engineering from Karlsruhe, Germany, 1986
MBA degree from the University of Iceland, 2013.Career
Managing Director of an engineering firm in Akranes, 1986-1992
Mayor of Bessastaðahrepp, 1992-2004 and Mayor of Álftanes, 2004-2005
CEO of the construction company Eyktar ehf. 2005-2012
Managing Director of the real estate company Höfðatorg ehf., 2012-2014
Director of Business and Development at Mókoll ehf. 2014-2018
Managing Director of the real estate company Íþoka ehf. since 2018.Committee work on behalf of Gardabær
Municipal council, municipal councilor since 2014, including president 06.2016-06.2017 and 06.2018-06.2019
Municipal Council, occasionally 2014-2021, 2022
Chairman of the Culture and Museums Committee, 2014-2022
Current chairman of the family council.Email: hrannarey@gardabaer.is
Educational career
2020 – ML degree in law from Reykjavík University
2018 – BA degree in law from Reykjavík University
2014 – Matriculation examination from Fjölbrautaskólinn in Garðabær
Career
2020 – Lawyer at the General Pension Fund.
2018 – 2020 Consultant at the Icelandic General Pension Fund.
Committee work on behalf of Gardabær
2022 – Chairman of the Sports and Recreation Council
2022 – Board of Directors of Strætó bs.
2022 – 2nd alternate member of the Garðabær Town Council
2022 – Alternate member of the board of the Garðasóknar Foundation.
2018 – 2022 Committee member of the Garðabær Culture and Museum Committee.
Email:gudfinnur.sigurvinsson@gardabaer.is
Educational career
Student at the Technical College's Industrial Master's School from 2025
Journeyman's exam in hairdressing 2025
Hairdressing student at the Hair Academy 2022-2023.
MPA in Public Administration, University of Iceland 2018,
BA in Political Science, University of Iceland, 2013.
Student from Akureyri High School 1999.
Career
Barber at Sjoppunn hair salon from 2023
Parliamentary assistant of the Independence Party since 2019 - 2023
Communications Manager at Sýn hf., the parent company of Vodafone, Stöðvar 2 and related media 2017–2019.
Information officer and team leader at the Icelandic Environment Agency 2014–2017.
News and program producer at the Icelandic National Broadcasting Corporation 2005–2013.
Advisor to the Minister of Justice and project manager in the Minister's working group on prevention and awareness-raising against sexual and gender-based violence 2022.
Helped establish Icelandic Nature Day in 2010.
Made the documentary Vigdís – The Bold Candidate, which discusses Vigdís Finnbogadóttir's presidential candidacy, for RÚV in 2010.
Committee work
Municipal representative from 2022.
First Vice President of the Municipal Council, Chairman of the Culture and Museums Committee, on the board of Sorpa bs. and on the Strategic Council of the Capital Region Destination from 2022.
Deputy Mayor 2018-2022.
Served on the Environmental Committee 2018-2022.
Served on the board of Símenntun in Suðurnes 2002-2006.
Served on the Student Council of the University of Iceland 2001-2003.
Chairman of Vaka, the association of democratic students at the University of Iceland 2002-2003.
Inspector Scholae, chairman of the Akureyri High School Student Association 1998-1999.
Email: margret.bjarnadottir@gardabaer.is
Educational career
Matriculation examination from Fjölbrautarskólinn in Garðabær
Apprenticeship in Culinary Arts
Law student at Reykjavik UniversityCareer
Flight attendant at Wow air 2014-2016
Culinary student at Geira Smart 2016-2018
Culinary student at VOX 2018-2020
Municipal representative of the Independence Party in Garðabær 2022Committee work on behalf of Gardabær
Municipal representative 2022-
Municipal Council 2022-
Chairman of the preschool committeeEmail: thorbjorg.thorvaldsdottir@gardabaer.is
Educational career
Primary school exam 2006. Garðaskóli .
AFS exchange student 2008. Honduras.
Matriculation examination 2011. Reykjavík High School, Department of Archaeology II.
BA in General Linguistics 2015. University of Iceland.
MA (research) in linguistics 2017. Leiden University, Netherlands.
Additional Diploma in Secondary School Teacher Education 2022. University of Iceland.
Career
Project Manager and later Communications and Publicity Manager, 2023-2025. Samtökin '78.
Supervising teacher and subject manager in Icelandic in the junior department, from December 2019-2023. Víðistaðaskóli.
Researcher and PhD student, 2017-2019. University of Iceland.
Part-time lecturer, fall 2018. University of Iceland.
Researcher, winter 2016-2017. Leiden University Centre for Linguistics.
Various summer jobs and part-time jobs during school 2003-2014. Paperwork, delivery, care, reception, teaching assistant, flight attendant jobs.
Social work/committee work
Samtökin '78 – Board of Trustees 2015, Secretary 2018-2019 and Chairman 2019-2022
Leiden University – Student representative on the Teaching Committee (Opleidingscommissie) 2016-2017
Leiden University Centre for Linguistics – Events Director 2016-2017
Young Social Democrats – Executive Committee (Event Director) 2014-2015
Mímir - Student Association of Icelandic Studies – Secretary 2013-2014
Backpacking trip 2011-2012
Reykjavík High School Student Association – Treasurer (quaestor scholaris) 2009-2010
Committee member of the Culture and Museums Committee 2018-2022.
Committee member on the Family Council from 2022.
Email:ingvar.arnarson@gardabaer.is
Educational career
2021- University of Iceland – MPA, Public Maritime Administration.
1999-2002 University of Iceland - BSc degree in Sports Science with teaching privileges.
1994-1999 Garðabær Multi-College School – Garðabær Multi-College School. Matriculation examination in the natural sciences program.Career
2006 - The Multi-College School in Gardabaer
Teacher in the sports department, director of education in the sports department 2011 to 2013 and 2019 - 2021. School cooperation committee 2007 - 2021. Security officer 2013 - 2021. Chairman of the FG teachers' association 2007 to 2009.
2002 - 2006 Garðaskóli Teacher in natural sciences, sports and swimming.Committee work
Deputy Mayor 2014 – 2018
Municipal Representative 2018 – 2026
Municipal Council 2018 – 2019, 2020 – 2021, 2022 - 2023
Family Council 2014 – 2018
Garðabær Music School School Committee 2022 - 2026
Alternate member of the Planning Committee 2018 – 2026
Alternate member of the school board of Garðabær Music School 2018 - 2022Email: brynja.dan@gardabaer.is
Email: gudlaugur.kristmundsson@gardabaer.is
Educational career
- Studied political and gender studies at the University of Iceland.
- Commercial and matriculation exams from the Icelandic School of Commerce.
- Dale Carnegie International Coaching Certification
Career
- CEO of FlyOver Iceland from 2023
- Trainer at Dale Carnegie since 2016
- Sales and Marketing Manager Park Inn by Radisson 2022
- Executive Director of the Viðreisnar parliamentary group 2020-2021
- Hotel Manager, Hotel Iceland / Health Center 2018-2020
- Sales and Marketing Manager, Icelandair Hotels 2011-2017
Committee work
- Garðabær Town Council from 2024
- Garðabær Planning Committee from 2022
- Board of Directors of the Icelandic Design Museum since 2018
- Garðabær Preschool Committee 2018-2022
- Children's Welfare Board 2019 - 2022
- Chairman of the Foster Parents Association since 2016
- Whales of Iceland Board of Directors 2012-2016
- Various positions of trust and committee seats at Viðreisn since 2018
Town council meetings
Garðabær Town Council meets on the first and third Thursday of each month, and the meetings begin at 5:00 PM.
The meetings are held in Sveinatunga, the town council meeting room at Garðatorg 7, and are open to everyone. You can follow the meetings live.
The next town council meeting will be on Thursday, May 7th at 5:00 PM in Sveinatunga.
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