Bryndís Hlöðversdóttir, rector, associate professor

bryndis@bifrost.is

tel: 433 3064 / 699 3414

Cand. Jur., University of Iceland, 1992. Worked on the staff of the Ministry of Justice following studies and subsequently served as legal expert for the Icelandic Confederation of Labour until 1995, when she was elected to the Althing. Served as member of parliament until 2005, first representing the People’s Alliance and subsequently the Social Democratic Alliance, where she was chairman of the parliamentary party for a period of time. Part-time teacher at Bifröst University since 2004 and appointed Dean of the Law School in 2005. Vice-Rector at Bifröst University since 2006. In her teaching at Bifröst, Bryndís has focused on administrative law and her research centres on the same subject, i.e. parliamentary supervision of the executive branch and the relations between these two branches of government. Bryndís is chairman of the board of the National Power Company, Landsvirkjun, and a member of the board of the asset administration company Eignasel ehf., the Iceland Settlement Centre, and the educational organisation Menntaborg ehf. She has served on a number of boards and commissions appointed by the government, including various panels of experts appointed to prepare new legislation and government policy.

Dr. Jon Olafsson, provost, professor

tel: 433 3022 / 663 4664

jonolafs@bifrost.is

M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. in philosophy and postgraduate degree in Russian Studies, Columbia University. Jón has also studied philosophy at Freie Universität in Berlin and Ludwig-Maximilans Universtät in Munich, in addition to studies in philosophy and Russian at Moscow University.  He completed his B.A. degree in philosophy at the University of Iceland. His principal fields of interest are ethics, political philosophy and political history. He has published articles and one book, Kæru félagar, [Dear Comrades] on the Icelandic Communist Movement and its links with the Soviet Union. He is currently working on a book dealing with the Stalin era prison camp system, focusing on special camps for women, and a collection of his articles on political philosophy and related matters is in preparation for publication. Jón was the Dean of the Faculty of Social Science at Bifröst University since 2006-2011 and has been the provost of Bifrost University since January 2011. He teaches introductory courses in ethics and political philosophy in addition to advanced courses in philosophy.

Auður H. Ingólfsdóttir, assistant professor
audurhi@bifrost.is
Tel: +354 433 3000 / 892 0678

Auður H. Ingólfsdóttir holds a BA degree in international studies from University of Washington (Seattle), a diploma in professional jouranlism from University of Iceland, and a Master degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (Boston). During her graduate studies her special fields of study were international environment and resource policy, and international negotiations and conflict resolution. She has worked as a project manager for the University of Iceland, as a special advisor in the Ministry for the environment, and as a private consultant on environmental policy. During the period 2006-2008 she worked abroad for the Icelandic Crisis Response Unit. Her main interests are in the fields of international relations, environment and sustainable development, security studies, conflict resolution and peace building. Auður edited the book Grænskinna, a book about international environmental issues, and has written several articles, book chapters and reports related to international environmental issues, especially on subjects related to climate change and the Kyoto Protocol. Auður started working for Bifröst in January 2010 and teaches courses in PPE. Since September 2011 she has also been the head of Department of Social Sciences.

Dr. Eiríkur Bergmann, associate professor

tel: 433 3084

eirikur@bifrost.is

Eiríkur holds and Ph.D. in political science form the University of Iceland and Cand. Scient. Pol.-degree in international politics from the University of Copenhagen. He is an associate professor and director of the Centre for European Studies at Bifröst University. He has worked as a journalist, information officer for the European Union and adjunct in political science at the University of Iceland, in addition to lecturing at various foreign universities. He has engaged in various international research projects in his field and is currently a participant in the SENT Network in European Studies. He has written a number of articles, both peer-reviewed and general, in addition to essays, lectures and books on international relations and political affairs. He has written regular Op-Ed's in Icelandic newspapers, and is now a regular contributer in the British Guardian. His books include Ísland í Evrópu [Iceland in Europe] (editor) (2001), Evrópusamruninn og Ísland [The European Integration and Iceland] (2003), the novel Glapræði (2005), Opið land [Open land] (2007), Hvað með evruna? [How about the Euro?] (with Jón Thór Sturluson) (2008) and Frá Evróvisjón til evru (e. From Eurovision to the euro). See list of publications.

Dr. Ian Watson, assistant professor

ian@bifrost.is

B.A. degree in linguistics, Harvard University, and M.A. and Ph.D. in social science, Rutgers. His fields of interest include standards and standardisation, identification systems, typography and consumer trends. He also has extensive experience of tourism and has worked as a tour manager and guide in addition to publishing travel guide books. Ian is the editor of the Bifröst Journal of Social Science and has also worked as international representative at Bifröst University. In addition to his teaching at Bifröst Ian has taught courses at the Iceland Academy of Arts.

Dr. Magnús Árni Magnússon, associate professor

magnus@bifrost.is

Tel: 433-3000/898-8664

Magnús Árni has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Iceland, M.Phil. in European Studies from the University of Cambridge, and an MA degree in International and Development Economics from the University of San Francisco. His BA degree is in Philosophy from the University of Iceland. Magnús is an associate professor at Bifröst University. Previously he has been the rector and vice-rector of Bifröst University (previously Bifröst School of Business), and at the same school also the dean of both the Faculty of Social Science and the Faculty of Business. He was the director of the Social Science Research Institute of the University of Iceland, partner at Capacent Consulting and adjunct professor at the University of Iceland where he still lectures as a guest lecturer. Magnús´s research is currently focused on the Europeanization of Iceland.

See more: http://magnusarni.wordpess.com

Dr. Njörður Sigurjónsson, assistant professor, director of Research Centre

njordur@bifrost.is

Ph.D.  in Cultural Policy and Management at the City University in London, B.A. in philosophy and M.Sc. degree in international business, University of Iceland. Njördur has studied at the Copenhagen Business School (business), Stockholms Universitet (philosophy) and Université de Rennes I in France (philosophy). In recent years Njördur has taught Cultural Policy and Management at Bifröst University, but previously served as director of marketing for the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, stage manager for the Icelandic Opera and, most recently, managing director of the Icelandic Literature Fund. Since 2008 Njördur has held the position of Director of the Bifröst University Research Centre. He is the author of the book Höndlun þekkingar [Handling knowledge], published by the University of Iceland Institute of Business (2001).

Sigrún Lilja Einarsdóttir, adjunct and specialist at the Bifröst University Research Institute

sigrunlilja@bifrost.is

Sigrún Lilja is a PhD - candidate in Music Sociology at University of Exeter, England, where her PhD research aims at the musical identity and the everyday life experience of amateur Bach choir choristers performing a large scale choral work (Bach´s Mass in B Minor). She holds a MA degree in Cultural management from Bifröst University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from University of Akureyri and BA degree in Comparative Literature from University of Iceland. Sigrún has also studied Anthropology at University of Iceland. Sigrún has 7 years of teaching experience at primary and secondary school level. With her work and her studies, Sigrún is an active researcher and is a member of Sociology of Arts Network for the Intergration of Music Informatics, performance and Aesthetics- www.nnimipa.org), funded by Nordfosk. Furthermore, Sigrún is a partner in the Conventus project (hosted by center for Retail Studies - see http://some.lappia.fi/blogs/conventus/sample-page/), funded by LLP Grundtvig program.

Snæfríður Baldvinsdóttir, adjunct

snaefridur@bifrost.is

B.Sc. in economics and international affairs, John Cabot University, and MBA in international finance, St. Johns University (2000). She also studied economics at the University of Iceland and Panthéon Sorbonne University in Paris. Over the past six years, she has taught economics at undergraduate level at Bifröst University (microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics). Snæfríður worked for 17 years in Paris, Rome and Mexico City, where her work included consultancy for international organizations and enterprises. Her fields of interests lie within the spheres of  international and European economics and welfare economics. She is currently engaged in research on the effect of the economic crisis in Iceland on income distribution.

Ástráður Haraldsson, associate professor

astradur@bifrost.is

tel: 511 1199

Cand. Jur., University of Iceland, 1990. Private practice in Reykjavík since 1992. Alongside his private practice, Ástrádur served as legal counsel and director of the Labour Law Division of the Icelandic Confederation of Labour from 1995 to 2000. Part-time associate professor at Bifröst since 2002 alongside his private practice. Legal counsel in numerous proceedings before the Icelandic courts, including over a hundred cases before the Supreme Court. Examiner in labour law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Iceland 2000-2004. Part-time lecturer in labour law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Iceland in 2000 and 2004.

Einar Karl Hallvarðsson, associate professor

einarkarl@bifrost.is

tel: 863 2811

Cand. Jur., University of Iceland, 1993. Worked for the State Inland Revenue Board and subsequently at the Office of the Solicitor General from 1994. Admitted to practice before the district courts in 1994, and the Supreme Court in 1997. In his work for the Office of the Solicitor General, Einar Karl has been responsible for proceedings before the district courts, the Labour Court and the Supreme Court in various fields, including constitutional law, administrative law, tax law, the rights of government employees and tort law. Einar Karl has been teaching at Bifröst since 2004, first as adjunct and subsequently as associate professor since 2007. His principal areas of teaching are civil procedure and constitutional law. For a number of years Einar Karl has taught courses in preparation for admission to practice before the District Court in addition to courses organised by the Icelandic Bar Association.

Elín Blöndal, professor

elin@bifrost.is

433 3108 / 822 6127

Cand. Jur., University of Iceland, 1992, LL.M. in international law, University of Leiden, 1996. Worked as a legal expert in the Committee Department of the Althing, Director of Labour Affairs at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Head of Department in the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Elín has served on and led a number of committees and councils, both in Iceland and in international co-operation. Currently serves on a committee of legal experts in the field of labour law appointed by the European Commission, member of a study group of the European Labour Law Network (ELLN), Member of the board of the Icelandic Labour Law Association, and member of the board of the of the Icelandic chapter of the Nordic Administrative Forum. Head of the Research Centre for Labour Law since 2005 and professor at the Bifröst University School of Law since 2008.  Author of numerous articles, book chapters, legal opinions and legislative bills. Elín’s primary fields of specialisation are labour law, gender equality, human rights and administrative law. She has also led large cross-curricular projects, including the Equality Index Project, and she currently leads a an advisory group in an international project on corporate social responsibility and gender equality.

Ingibjörg Ingvadóttir, assistant professor

ingibjorging@bifrost.is

tel: 433 3067 / 891 9909

Cand. Jur., University of Iceland, and district court attorney. Studied history, English and Danish at the University of Iceland and Syddansk Universitet in Denmark. Ingibjörg worked for a number of years for the inland revenue service, first in the wage earner department, employer department and VAT department of the Reykjavik Inland Revenue and later as Head of Department and Assistant Director at the VAT Office of the State Inland Revenue. Served as an intern in the Danish State Inland Revenue and currently serves as an alternate member of the board of governors of the Central Bank of Iceland. Ingibjörg is currently an assistant professor at Bifröst University, where she mainly teaches jurisprudence and tax law.

Ingibjörg Þorsteinsdóttir, associate professor

ingibjorg@bifrost.is

433 3000 / 694 1915

Cand. Jur., University of Iceland, 1992, admitted to practice before the district courts in 1995, diploma in business and management studies 1995, and M.Sc. in human resource management at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, 2000. Worked as a journalist for a time along with her law studies and served on the staff of the District Commissioner of Kópavogur. Joined the Ministry of Finance in 1992, where she served on the Icelandic delegation to the European Union from 1995 to 1997. Represented the Ministry of Finance on  a number of committees, including a negotiation committee on double taxation avoidance treaties in 1997-1999.  Director of Human Resources at the Frjálsi Investment Bank for one year, and then joined the staff of Bifröst University in August 2001.  Served as Head of Department and later Dean of the Law School in 2002-2005, and has been associate professor since April 2004. Her research and teaching focus on jurisprudence, legal philosophy and tax law, particularly international tax law.

Sigurður Arnalds, associate professor

sarnalds@bifrost.is

tel: 433 3060 / 899 3320

Cand. Jur., University of Iceland, 1993. Admitted to practice before the district courts in 1994, and the Supreme Court in 2005. Sigurdur has served as legal counsel for BYKO hf., as an attorney for the VIS Insurance Company and in private practice. Part-time instructor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Iceland 1995-2002 and at the Reykjavík University School of Law in 2003-2004. Sigurdur has been a member of the teaching staff at Bifröst University School of Law since 2005, first as adjunct and subsequently as associate professor since 2007. His principal areas of teaching are contract law, company law and intellectual property law. Sigurdur has served on the boards of numerous companies and has been a member of the Industrial Intellectual Property Rights Board since 2003.

Sigurður Líndal professor

lindal@bifrost.is

tel: 433 3000

B.A. degree in Latin and history, 1957, Cand. Jur. 1959 and Cand. Mag. (M.A.) degree in history 1968. Studied legal history at the University of Copenhagen in 1960 and the University of Bonn 1961-1962 and at the University College, Oxford, 1998 and 2001.
Assistant judge at the Municipal Court of Reykjavík 1959-1960 and 1963-1964. Secretary General of the Supreme Court 1964-1972. Assistant professor at the University of Iceland, Faculty of Law, 1967, professor of law 1972-2001. Visiting professor at University College, London, autumn of 1982. Served on the Tax Investigation Board 1965-1979. Labour Court Judge 1974-1980. Head of the Institute of Law of the University of Iceland 1976-2001. President of the Icelandic Literary Society since 1967. Member of the board of governors of the Arnamagnean Institute, 1996-2006. Consultant of the Faeroese government on independence matters, 1997-2000. Editor of a series of volumes on the history of Iceland, Saga Íslands, since 1972. On the editorial board of Nordisk administrativt tidsskrift, 1984-1999. Editor of the literary journal Skírnir (with Kristján Karlsson) 1984-1986. Professor at Bifröst University since 2007. Part-time teacher at the Faculty of Law of the University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri.
Author or numerous writings in the field of law, history and political science.

Stefán Kalmansson, adjunct

stefank@bifrost.is

Stefán Kalmansson holds a Cand. Ocon. from the Faculty of Business Administration of the University of Iceland and a Cand. Merc. from the Aarhus School of Business. From 1987 to 1999 he was chief accountant, employee of the treasury department and head of the finance department at Eimskip. He was the mayor of Borgarbyggd from 1999 to 2002 and an adjunct at the Faculty of Law and financial manager of Bifröst University from 2002 to 2006. He has been an adjunct at the Faculty of Business of Bifröst University since 1 September 2006. Kalmansson’s areas of expertise include company finances and economics and he has taught courses on the Icelandic economy and employment issues. Kalmansson has served on the boards of numerous companies and organisations.

Dr. Ágúst Einarsson, professor, 

agust@bifrost.is

Dr. Ágúst Einarsson holds an MS degree in business economics from the University of Hamburg in Germany and undertook postgraduate studies at the Universities of Hamburg and Kiel. He holds a Ph.D. degree in economics from the University of Hamburg. He has served as managing director of companies in the fishing industry, has been a Member of Parliament and served on numerous boards and councils. He was a professor at the University of Iceland from 1990 to 2007 and was professor and Rector of Bifröst University from 2007 - 2010. Dr. Einarsson has conducted research at Siena University, Stanford University, New York University and the Copenhagen Business School. He has written 18 books and published numerous articles in journals, books, newspapers and on the Internet about economics, culture, politics and the fisheries sector. His research has primarily centred on business economics, the fishing industry, small and medium-sized businesses, the retail sector, music and cultural economics.

Einar Svansson, adjunct

einarsv@bifrost.is

Einar Svansson holds an M.Sc. degree in strategic management and in marketing and international business from the University of Iceland, in addition to degrees in the fields of tourism and fisheries. In recent years he has taught at Bifröst University and the University of Iceland and he has been involved in research projects at the Institute of Business Research of the University of Iceland. He has given lectures and talks in both Iceland and abroad. He has been a management consultant with ParX since 2006 and held various administrative positions, including chief executive posts in the fisheries industry for 15 years. Svansson has served on various boards and councils, including the board of representatives of the Confederation of Icelandic Employers; he was vice-chairman of the Federation of Icelandic Fish Processing Industries and has been a member and chairman of the boards of numerous companies. His areas of expertise include human resource and service management.

Emil B. Karlsson

emil@bifrost.is

Emil B. Karlsson is the Director of the Centre for Retail Studies. He holds a fil. kand. degree from the University of Lund in Sweden and a B.Sc. in business administration. Karlsson has several years of teaching experience and served as the head of publicity of the Technological Institute of Iceland and the head of the Enterprise Europe Network in Iceland for 12 years. He joined the staff of the Icelandic Federation of Trade and Services in 2001, where one of his responsibilities involved the handling of education and training matters for both the Federation of Trade and Services  and the Confederation of Icelandic Employers. For several years Karlsson participated in EU research and innovation programmes on behalf of Iceland and he has worked on various projects for the EU Commission. He currently serves on the expert committee of the Technology Development Fund of the Icelandic Centre for Research and is an assessor in the Leonardo da Vinci vocational training programme.

Guðmundur Ólafsson, assistant professor

lobbi@bifrost.is

Gudmundur Ólafsson holds a cand. oecon. degree from the University of Iceland and also studied philosophy and linguistics at the same university. He also studied mathematics at the University of Iceland and Tekhnologititeskií Universitet imeni Kallinina in Leningrad and Russian at Podgotovitelni Odel. Early in his career he taught mathematics at the secondary school level and later taught economics, information technology, statistics and mathematics at the University of Iceland, the Technical College of Iceland and Bifröst University. He previously served as financial director of Hagvirki, on the board of SVR and the Committee Against Alcohol Abuse of Reykjavík.

Jón Freyr Jóhannsson, adjunct

jonfreyr@bifrost.is

Jón Freyr Jóhannsson holds a B.Sc. degree in computer science and an MBA from Reykjavík University. He has been teaching at Bifröst Universtiy since the spring of 2008; previously he taught at Reykjavik University from 2000 to 2008 and the University of Iceland, the Technical College of Iceland and the Institute of Continuing Education of the University of Iceland from 1990 to 2000. He was head of the software division of the State Hospitals from 1998 to 2000 and a director at Skýrr from 1991 to 1995.
For a number of years, Jóhannsson worked as a consultant in the area of management, services and information technology with particular emphasis on quality management issues.
His areas of expertise include the analysis, design and creation of information systems, data base theory, electronic transactions and electronic administration.
Jóhannsson has focused particular attention on advances in the use of information technology in teaching and the dissemination of teaching materials.

Kári Joensen, assistant professor

kari@bifrost.is

Kári Joensen holds an M.Sc. degree in economics from the University of Iceland and a BS degree in industrial engineering from the same school. For the past few years Kári has been teaching at Bifröst University while at the same time working as an economist for the Centre for Retail Studies. His work for the Centre consists primarily of practical research for the Icelandic service sector and the collection, processing and publication of statistical information on the status of retail markets. While Joensen’s primary areas of expertise include price measures and indices, he has also been involved in research in areas such as health economics and projects relating to currency risk.