Árni Mathiesen

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Árni M. Mathiesen is an Icelandic politician.

Since September 2005, he has been Minister of Finance in Iceland. From 1999-2005 he was Minister of Fisheries. Mathiesen was first elected MP to the Icelandic Althing for the Independence Party in 1991.

Mathiesen was born in Reykjavík on October 2, 1958 and is the son of former MP and cabinet minister Matthías Á. Mathiesen.

Mathiesen graduated from Flensborgarskóli in Hafnarfjörður with a university entrance diploma in 1978. He studied veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh, qualifying as veterinarian in 1983. He studied fish pathology at the University of Stirling and in 1985 was awarded the (M.Sc. in Aquatic Veterinary Science).

After completing his studies, he worked as veterinarian in various areas of Iceland, and served as veterinary officer for fish diseases 1985-1995. Mathiesen was also the managing director of the aquaculture firm Faxalax hf. 1988-1989.

Árni M. Mathiesen was chairman of the Flensborgarskóli student association 1977-78, president of Stefnir, the association of young conservatives in Hafnarfjörður 1986-88, and vice-president of SUS, the association of young conservatives in Iceland 1985-87. He was a member of the Board of the Guarantee Division of Aquaculture Loans 1990-94, of the Board of the Icelandic Veterinary Association 1986-87, and was on the Salary Council of the Confederation of University Graduates 1985-87. He was chairman of the team handball division of his local FH club 1988-90 and was a member of the Flensborgarskóli school board from 1990-1999. Mathiesen was an Icelandic representative on the Nordic Council 1991-95; he has been a member of the Board of Búnaðarbanki Íslands and of the Agricultural Loan Fund and the chairman of the Council of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mathiesen was also a member of the EFTA/EEA parliamentarians' committee from 1995-99.