Svavar Halldorsson is an Icelandic national, born on 10th of April 1970 in the Westman islands archipelago of Icelands south coast. He has advanced experience in public relation, lecturing, international sales, marketing strategy and implementation.
Professional career:
2021 – present: Marketing manager at Algalif Iceland.
Algalif is a biotechnology company that produces astaxanthin from microalgae. The job includes overseeing all web presence, public relation, marketing, and sales effort worldwide with special focus on Asia. Late results include contracts with the two biggest Asia-Pacific clients in the company’s history.
2020 – present: University lecturer on social media and marketing. Creating and teaching Master level courses at the University of Gastronomic Science in Italy and at the Agricultural University of Iceland.
2019 – present: Manager and consultant at Rabb ráðgjöf.
Rabb ráðgjöf is a marketing, public relation, social media, and sustainability consulting company. It participates in international projects as European Food Marketing.
2015 – 2019: Manager of Icelandic Lamb Marketing Agency and the Icelandic Lamb Marketing Board.
Icelandic Lamb Marketing Agency is owned by the Icelandic Lamb Marketing Board which in return is owned by the abbatoirs and the Icelandic farmers associations. The manager’s job – apart from leading the whole agency – involved overseeing marketing efforts of Icelandic lamb products domestically and worldwide, conducting international market research, strategy planning and implementation with special emphasises on big marketing programs in Germany, Japan, USA (Whole Foods) and beyond. Major results include 2018 being the best export year ever and new profitable export programs in Germany and Japan.
2013 – 2015: Manager of Icelandic Food and Food Culture.
International media production, Public Relation, and consulting for World Food Travel Association, Condé Nast International, Phaidon Press Limited and the Icelandic Ministry of Industries and Innovation, among others.
2002 – 2013: Resident editor and Senior TV and Radio journalists at RÚV and Channel 2.
RÚV (e. Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) is a state-owned media company and Channel 2 is the biggest private media company in Iceland.
Education and academic work:
2019: Master in Food Culture, Communication and Marketing from the University of Gastronomic Science in Italy.
Rigid and demanding 90 ECTS unit master’s program. Thesis: Marketing heritage tradition in the age of social media.
2011: Edward R. Murrow Program for International Journalists in the USA.
A comprehensive month-long graduate training course, with emphasis on the changing media environment, media industry and the potential and challenges of the Internet in media.
2009-2010: International media research.
The research was done in collaboration of domestic and U.S. Universities, funds, and scholars (Institute of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Iceland, University of Iceland’s Social Sciences Institute, K. Amber Curtis and Joseph Jupille of the University of Colorado, David Leblang of the University of Virginia, the National Science Foundation and the Colorado European Union Centre of Excellence).
2006: Master’s in public management (MPA) from the University of Iceland.
120 ECTS units. Emphasis on policy making. Thesis: Media, Pluralism and Public Administration.
2004: BA in Political Science from the University of Iceland.
180 ECTS units. Thesis: Regulations and Industrial Policy in Iceland after 1991.
In addition, several short courses in marketing, the use of social media in marketing, web page building, public relations, journalism, food policy and various other interesting topics related to management and marketing regarding food, marketing, and retail.
Also, a professional captain license for small fishing boats.
Specific digital skills:
Excellent knowledge of digital marketing strategy and comprehensive experience in using Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google and other digital platforms for marketing, public relation, and advertising.
Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google office tools and web development using WordPress and similar tools.
Published material:
Numerous articles, books, podcasts, reports and TV shows on marketing, PR, food policy and -culture. For further details go here.
Foreign Relations and language skills:
Professional English and native Icelandic speaker.
Knowledge of Italian and Scandinavian languages.
Member of the Icelandic foreign ministers business delagation to Japan.
Attending and exhibiting at international business expo´s and conferences in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Numerous international lectures and talks for National Geographic, Slow Food International, UNISG Strategic Partners Club, World Food Travel Association and more.
Invitee by the US state department to the International Visitor Leader-ship Program.
Partnership in international conferences of political scientists and international journalists symposiums (EPSA and ECPR))
OSCE election surveillance on behalf of the Icelandic government.
Social and committee work:
Board member of Slow Food Reykjavik from 2019.
Member of Slow Food Terra Madre Nordic Steering committee from 2019.
On the Advisory Board for Business Iceland from 2017.
Several positions and confidential committees for Icelandic farmers from 2015 to 2019.
Member of the World Food Travel Association from 2013.
Edward R. Murrow alumnus from 2011.
Associate of the European Political Science Association (EPSA) from 2010.
Chairman of the Icelandic Association of Political Scientists 2009 to 2012.
Deputy Chairman of the Icelandic Association of Radio and TV Reporters 2007 to 2011.
Board member of the Icelandic Journalist Union from 2007 to 2010.
Board member of the Icelandic Association of Public Administration Professionals 2007 to 2010.
Various confidential positions for the Icelandic Independence party from 1990 to the present.
Extensive international experience of lecturing and public speaking.
Svavar Halldorsson 