Össur Skarphéðinsson

This is an Icelandic name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name; this person is properly referred to by the given name Össur.

Össur Skarphéðinsson

Minister for Foreign Affairs
In office 1 February 2009 – 23 May 2013
Prime Minister	Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
Preceded by	Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir
Succeeded by	Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson
Minister for Industry, Energy and Tourism
In office 24 May 2007 – 10 May 2009
Prime Minister	Geir Haarde, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
Preceded by	Jón Sigurðsson (as Minister of Industry and Commerce)
Succeeded by	Katrín Júlíusdóttir
Nordic Cooperation
In office 24 May 2007 – 10 June 2008
Prime Minister	Geir Haarde
Minister for the Environment
In office 1993–1995
Prime Minister	Davíð Oddsson
Succeeded by	Guðmundur Bjarnason
Member of the Althing
Incumbent
Assumed office 1991
Personal details
Born	(1953-06-19) 19 June 1953 Reykjavík, Iceland
Political party	Social Democratic Alliance
Spouse(s)	Árný Erla Sveinbjörnsdóttir
Children	Two daughters (b. 1994, 1998)
Alma mater	University of Iceland University of East Anglia
Profession	biologist, journalist

Össur Skarphéðinsson (pronounced [ˈœsːʏr ˈskar̥pçɛðɪnsɔn]; born 19 June 1953) is an Icelandic politician who was Minister for Foreign Affairs from February 2009 - 2013.

Össur matriculated from the Reykjavík Grammar School in 1973, and gained a BS in Biology from the University of Iceland in 1979, and a doctorate from the University of East Anglia in 1983 entitled "The effect of photoperiod on the growth of the rainbow trout".^[1] He has been a member of the parliament (Althing) since 1991, as Member for Reykjavík Constituency from 1991 to 2003 and Member for Reykjavík North Constituency since 2003. He was Chairman of the Social Democratic Party parliamentary group from 1991 to 1993, Minister for the Environment from 1993 to 1995, and Chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance from 2000 to 2005.^[1]

Össur was appointed Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism for the Social Democratic Alliance in May 2007. He was also Minister for Nordic Cooperation from 24 May 2007 to 10 June 2008.^[1] In February 2009 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Össur has been noted for being a prominent blogger, often quoted by the Icelandic press.

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 CV at Althing website.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir	Minister for Foreign Affairs 2009-2013	Succeeded by Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson
Preceded by Jón Sigurðsson as Minister of Industry and Commerce	Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism 2007–2009	Succeeded by Katrín Júlíusdóttir
Preceded by	Minister for Nordic Cooperation 2007–2008	Succeeded by Björgvin G. Sigurðsson
Preceded by	Minister for the Environment 1993–1995	Succeeded by Guðmundur Bjarnason
Party political offices
Preceded by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir	Chairman of the Social Democratic Party 1991–1993	Succeeded by Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
Preceded by Margrét Frímannsdóttir as spokesperson	Chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance 2000–2005	Succeeded by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir

Members of the Althing

Northeast Constituency	Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson Kristján Þór Júlíusson Höskuldur Þór Þórhallsson Steingrímur J. Sigfússon Líneik Anna Sævarsdóttir Valgerður Gunnarsdóttir Kristján L. Möller Þórunn Egilsdóttir Bjarkey Gunnarsdóttir Brynhildur Pétursdóttir

Northwest Constituency	Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson Einar K. Guðfinnsson Ásmundur Einar Daðason Haraldur Benediktsson Guðbjartur Hannesson Elsa Lára Arnardóttir Jóhanna María Sigmundsdóttir Lilja Rafney Magnúsdóttir

Reykjavik Constituency North	Illugi Gunnarsson Frosti Sigurjónsson Katrín Jakobsdóttir Össur Skarphéðinsson Brynjar Þór Níelsson Björt Ólafsdóttir Sigrún Magnúsdóttir Steinunn Þóra Árnadóttir Birgir Ármannsson Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson Valgerður Bjarnadóttir

Reykjavik Constituency South	Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir Vigdís Hauksdóttir Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir Pétur H. Blöndal Svandís Svavarsdóttir Róbert Marshall Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson Karl Garðarsson Helgi Hjörvar Jón Þór Ólafsson Óttarr Proppé

South Constituency	Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir Silja Dögg Gunnarsdóttir Unnur Brá Konráðsdóttir Páll Jóhann Pálsson Oddný G. Harðardóttir Ásmundur Friðriksson Haraldur Einarsson Vilhjálmur Árnason

Southwest Constituency	Bjarni Benediktsson Ragnheiður Ríkharðsdóttir Árni Páll Árnason Willum Þór Þórsson Jón Gunnarsson Guðmundur Steingrímsson Ögmundur Jónasson Vilhjálmur Bjarnason Þorsteinn B. Sæmundsson Katrín Júlíusdóttir Birgitta Jónsdóttir Elín Hirst

First cabinet of Davíð Oddsson

Ministers	Davíð Oddsson Eiður Svanberg Guðnason Friðrik Klemenz Sophusson Guðmundur Árni Stefánsson Halldór Blöndal Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson Jón Sigurðsson Ólafur Garðar Einarsson Össur Skarphéðinsson Rannveig Guðmundsdóttir Sighvatur Kristinn Björgvinsson Þorsteinn Pálsson

Second cabinet of Geir Haarde

Ministers	Árni Mathiesen Björgvin G. Sigurðsson Björn Bjarnason Einar Kristinn Guðfinnsson Geir Haarde Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir Kristján L. Möller Össur Skarphéðinsson Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir

First cabinet of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

Ministers	Ásta Ragnheiður Jóhannesdóttir Gylfi Magnússon Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir Katrín Jakobsdóttir Kolbrún Halldórsdóttir Kristján L. Möller Ögmundur Jónasson Össur Skarphéðinsson Ragna Árnadóttir Steingrímur J. Sigfússon

Second cabinet of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

Ministers	Álfheiður Ingadóttir Árni Páll Árnason Guðbjartur Hannesson Gylfi Magnússon Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir Jón Bjarnason Katrín Jakobsdóttir Katrín Júlíusdóttir Kristján L. Möller Oddný Guðbjörg Harðardóttir Ögmundur Jónasson Össur Skarphéðinsson Ragna Árnadóttir Steingrímur J. Sigfússon Svandís Svavarsdóttir