Professional Affiliation

Director, Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN)

Expert Bio

Embla Eir Oddsdottir is the Director of the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN), located in Akureyri, Iceland. Embla is currently chair of the Social, Economic and Cultural Expert Group (SECEG) under the Arctic Council Sustainable Development Working Group as well as lead of the SDWG project Gender Equality in the Arctic, an Arctic Council Icelandic Chairmanship project. Embla represents Iceland as co-chair in the Arctic Science Ministerial Science Advisory Board co-organized by Iceland and Japan. 

Embla has experience in research, project management, and international and multi-stakeholder collaboration on policy relevant issues in the Arctic. Educational background is interdisciplinary, and includes socio-economic development, anthropology, cultural geography, international relations, international law, indigenous studies and other topics. Embla holds a Msc in Law, Anthropology and Society from The London School of Economics and Political Science. Her undergraduate studies include socioeconomic development at the University of Akureyri and interdisciplinary studies at the University of Northern British Columbia in Canada. Additionally, Embla has completed Diploma level courses in Polar Law at the University of Akureyri.