Mr. Árni MAGNUSSON

The Minister of Social Affairs, since May 23rd 2003, is Árni Magnússon.

Place of Birth: Reykjavik, Iceland.

Date of Birth: June 4th, 1965.

Parents:
Mr. Magnús Bjarnfreðsson (b. 1934) media person and Mrs. Guðrún Árnadóttir
(b. 1937) librarian.

Family:

Married since June 28th, 1997 to Mrs. Edda B. Hákonardóttir, businesswoman
(b. June 25th, 1960). Their children are Sara Dögg (b. 1994) and Árni Páll (b. 1996).
Daughter of Árni and Þuríður G. Aradóttir is Guðrún Magnea (b. 1983).
Edda's children from her former marriage are Björgvin (b. 1981) and Hans Þór (b. 1983).

Education:

Diploma from Bifröst, School of Business in 1983, several seminars in management, business management and political science from the University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri.

Career:

• Various office-work 1983-1987.
• Reporter, journalist and programer in radio and television, several newspapers
  and magazines 1987-1994.
• Campaign manager for the Progressive Party in the South-Constituency for
  the parliamentary elections in 1995.
• Assistant to the Minister of Industry and Commerce 1995-1999.
• Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs 1999-2001.
• CEO of the Progressive Party 2001-2003.

Membership of boards and committees:

• Board of the Market Office of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce
  and Landsvirkjun 1995-1999.
• Chairman of the board of a campaign to create new employment oportunities 1995-1999.
• Chairman of the board of a campaign to search for energy sources 1997-1999.
• Alternate in the board of the Nordic Investment Bank 1995-2000.
• Chairman of the committee for reinforcement of cinematography 1996-1999.
• Chairman for the committee of reinforcement of the music industry 1999-2003.
• Chairman of the board of the Icelandic International Developlement Agency 1999-2003.

Political background:

• Chairman of the district board for the Progressive Party in South Iceland 1998-2001.
• Councillor in the town of Hveragerði 1998-2003.
• Member on the regional board in Árnes-area 1998-2003.
• Chairman of the board of the Health Service in Hveragerði 1998-2003.
• Representative in the annual general meetings of the International Bank
  for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and
  the International Monetary Fund in 1999 and 2000.
• Chairman of the town executive board of Hveragerði 2002-2003.
• Chairman of the board of the Heating Utility in Hveragerði 2002-2003.
• Chairman of the board of the Art Gallery of Árnes-area 2002-2003.
• Vice-chairman of the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities 2002-2003.
• Chairman of the EEA-committee for the Association of Local Authorities 2002-2003.
• Member of Althingi (the Icelandic Parliament) and Minister of Social Affairs since 2003.