About me
Hanna Katrín Friðriksson is an accomplished Icelandic politician, businesswoman, and former national handball player who has served as a member of Althing for the Reform Party (Viðreisn) representing Reykjavík South since 2016. She has established herself as a prominent advocate for gender equality and women's rights throughout her diverse career spanning athletics, business, academia, and politics.
As a former national handball player who earned 34 caps for Iceland and achieved four-time cup champion status, Friðriksson's athletic background informed her later advocacy work promoting women's sports and gender equality in athletics. Her leadership role as chairman of the Ministry of Education committee on strategic planning in girls' and women's sports (1996-1997) demonstrated her early commitment to addressing gender disparities in sporting opportunities and recognition.
Friðriksson's advocacy for women's rights extends across multiple sectors through her involvement in the Ministry of Education and Office of Equality committee on Women and the Media (1998-1999), where she worked to address gender representation and equity in media coverage. Her academic and professional background—including a BA in philosophy and economics from the University of Iceland and an MBA from UC Davis—has informed her policy approaches to gender equality and social justice.
As an openly LGBTQIA2S+ politician married to Ragnhildur Sverrisdóttir, with whom she has twin daughters born in 2001, Friðriksson represents visible LGBTQIA2S+ leadership in Icelandic politics. Her presence in parliament contributes to Iceland's reputation as a leader in LGBTQIA2S+ rights while providing representation for rainbow families within the political system.
Throughout her career in journalism at Morgunblaðið, leadership roles at Reykjavík University, and her service as assistant to the Minister of Health, Friðriksson has consistently advocated for policies that advance gender equality and social inclusion. Her current role as Minister of Industries positions her to influence economic policies that can advance gender equity and LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion while supporting Iceland's continued leadership in human rights and equality.
Through her multifaceted career and visible family life, Friðriksson embodies Iceland's progressive approach to LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion while continuing to advocate for comprehensive equality policies that benefit all marginalized communities.
