Ambassador

Curriculum Vitae

Markús Örn Antonsson,
Icelandic Ambassador to Canada

Born in Reykjavík on 25 May 1943.

Married to Steinunn Ármannsdóttir, MA, school principal at Álftamýrarskóli in Reykjavík. They have two grown-up children and two grandchildren.

Graduate Reykjavík College 1965. Exchange student in the USA.

Part-time journalist and photographer at the daily Morgunbladid 1961-65.

Trained in broadcasting journalism and television production in the UK and Sweden.

Reporter, newspresenter and programme producer at RUV TV 1965-70.

City councillor in Reykjavík 1970-85. Member of the Executive Committee of the Reykjavík City Council and chairman of several other committees.

President of the City Council 1983-1985.

Member of the Broadcasting Council 1979-1985. Chairman 1983-1985.

Director General of the National Broadcasting Service, RUV TV and Radio, 1985-1991.

Mayor of Reykjavík 1991-1994. Chairman of the City Council Executive Committee and leader of the Independence Party councillors´ group.

Director of RUV Radio Division 1995-1998.

Director General of RUV TV and Radio 1998 - 2005.

Other activities:

Board member Atlantic Alliance Association of Young Political Leaders 1971-1975.

Editor of business and travel magazines with Frjálst framtak publishing house 1972-1983.

Member of the Board of Management of Eurimages, the European Film Fund 1994-1999.

Board member Icelandic Symphony Orchestra 1995-1998.

Board member Icelandic National League, promoting relations between Iceland and people of Icelandic ancestry in Canada and the USA, 1997-2003. President 1998-2003.

Member of Rotary since 1983. Co-editor of Rotary Norden, the regional magazine for Rotary in the five Nordic countries, since 1996.

Member of the Executive Committee and Advisory Council of the European Cultural Foundation, Amsterdam, since 1994.