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 With her election as President of Iceland in 1980, Vigdis Finnbogadottir became
the first female head of state in the world. She was subsequently reelected three
times and retired in 1996. Finnbogadottir took an active role in promoting the
country, acting as a cultural ambassador, and enjoyed immense popularity.
Prior
to entering politics, Finnbogadottir worked with the Reykjavik Theatre Company,
and taught French at several different institutions and through a show on
Icelandic state television. She also served as member of the Advisory Committee
on Cultural Affairs in the Nordic Countries. She is the founding chair of the
Council of Women World Leaders.
In 1998, she was appointed president of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World
Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology. Currently,
she is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and a member of the Club of Madrid.
Finnbogadottir holds honorary Degrees from fifteen universities around the world.
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