Audbjorg Olafsdottir Email & Phone Number

Iceland

Iceland

As VP of Culture and Communications, I led all aspects of internal and external communications, public relations, social media, and culture-building initiatives, creating a cohesive and engaging environment aligned with organizational goals.Key achievements and responsibilities included:Culture & Community Engagement: Spearheaded culture-building events, such as Living our Values Week, which promoted collaboration, inclusion, and team bonding across departments and locations.Team Leadership: Led a diverse, high-performing team of 12 professionals from four nationalities, achieving exceptional satisfaction and engagement scores (between 4.6 and 4.8 out of 5), demonstrating a strong commitment to a positive and inclusive work environment.Learning & Development: Designed and implemented engagement surveys and action plans to drive employee satisfaction and growth. Led the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People training for 250 employees, and launched an in-house coaching center to support ongoing professional development and leadership training.Employee Experience: Played a vital role in employee lifecycle management, focusing on diversity, inclusion, and a strong culture of belonging. Spearheaded global community-building activities, training sessions, and workshops to foster a sense of unity across multiple sites, including Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the U.S.Employee Branding: Enhanced the company’s brand image by managing social media, PR, and employee branding efforts. Developed the narrative for talent attraction, represented Controlant at expos and fairs, and crafted strategies to attract and retain top talent.Strategic Change Management: Conducted organization-wide temperature checks to gauge engagement and satisfaction, followed by actionable feedback loops. Implemented change management initiatives that aligned with the company’s growth and sustainability goals.

Iceland

In this role I pioneered the company’s sustainability journey, laying the foundation for impactful environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and a strong internal communications framework.Key achievements and responsibilities included:Launching Controlant's Sustainability Journey: Established a cross-functional team to conduct a comprehensive materiality analysis and stakeholder interviews, mapping out the current status and identifying core areas for improvement. This process led to the development and implementation of Controlant’s first ESG and CSR policy, introduced to all stakeholders.UN Global Compact Partnership: Secured a partnership with the UN Global Compact and engaged the entire Controlant team in selecting which UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to focus on. This initiative fostered strong employee buy-in and commitment to sustainability and was celebrated as a resounding success.Achieving Controlant's First ESG Rating: Secured Controlant’s inaugural ESG rating from Ecovadis, establishing a benchmark for future sustainability efforts and further enhancing the company’s credibility in ESG standards.Internal Communications: Led all internal communications efforts, including the launch of Controlant's first intranet to streamline information sharing and team collaboration. Reorganized global staff meetings to improve engagement and transparency, and trained Controlant leaders and employees in effective communication practices.Community Engagement: Established a Community Champions Committee to oversee community engagement and partnerships with organizations like the Red Cross and UNICEF, amplifying Controlant’s impact within the community.In this role, I combined strategic thinking with hands-on execution to build a culture of sustainability and open communication, creating a strong foundation for Controlant’s ongoing commitment to social responsibility and employee engagement

Iceland

Iceland

During my 8-year tenure with global high-tech industry leader Marel, I had the privilege of progressing through roles with increasing responsibilities, from Specialist to senior leadership. For most of my time at Marel, I was responsible for all communications, both internal and external, as well as investor relations. I led a talented, diverse team achieving consistently high satisfaction scores and producing strong results.In 2016, I was selected to participate in Marel’s Leadership Program, developed in collaboration with TIAS Business School, aimed at identifying and nurturing future leaders. Key Responsibilities and Achievements:Communications & PR: Directed Marel's global corporate narrative, managing media relations, press releases, and executive media training. Oversaw content on Marel.com and social media, contributing in two major digital transformations of the company website. Internal Communication & Engagement: Led all internal communications, including running the intranet and other internal communication channels and running internal comms advisory. Participated in a world tour to introduce Marel's new values and vision, conducting workshops across four continents to reinforce these principles. Launched "fireside chats" with executives, broadcast live to all employees, which fostered transparency and unity.Investor Relations : Led investor relations for Marel, Iceland’s largest listed company at the time, guiding communications through its dual listing on Euronext Amsterdam. Organized events such as Capital Markets Day in Denmark, Iceland, and the Netherlands, as well as Annual General Meetings and quarterly investor meetings. Served as editor for Marel's annual reports.Crisis Management: Played an essential role on Marel's global crisis team. I was instrumental in Marel's COVID-19 response, conducting scenario planning and training leaders for potential crises, ensuring the organization was prepared to respond effectively.

Marel Garðabær

Internal communication, public relations, investor relations.

Garðabær, Iceland

Nefndarmaður í varastjórn Bankaráðs

Iceland

During my temporary tenure as an Information Officer with the European Union, (I was filling in for a colleague on maternity leave) I had the unique opportunity to engage in policy development at a pivotal time when Iceland was navigating its EU application process before ultimately withdrawing. In this role, I developed a deep understanding of EU policy mechanisms, rules and regulations as well as the application process and criteria. At the end of my contract, I was offered a permanent position; however, I had already committed to a new role with Marel.Key Responsibilities and Achievements:Policy Development & Analysis: Contributed to the formulation and analysis of policies that aligned with EU objectives, evaluating their impact and ensuring coherence across various EU programs. This involved in-depth research, data gathering, and collaborative discussions with policymakers and external stakeholders.Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitated dialogue between the EU and diverse stakeholders, including government representatives, NGOs, and private sector entities. Actively engaged in building relationships that supported EU initiatives and fostered understanding of EU policies on both a regional and national level.Public Communication: Represented the EU in public settings and media interactions, articulating policy positions and providing clear information to stakeholders and the public. Prepared briefing materials, press releases, and reports that communicated EU priorities and achievements.Certainly! Here’s an additional paragraph that integrates your role in assisting with analyses related to the EU application:In this role, I also contributed to analytical work supporting Iceland’s EU application process, conducting research and providing insights on economic, social, and political criteria relevant to EU accession. This involved gathering data, evaluating Iceland’s alignment with EU standards, and preparing reports.

Reykjavik

At Islandsbanki I specialized in economic analysis and forecasting, delivering valuable insights and market reports. My role encompassed both macroeconomic forecasting and public communication, with responsibilities that spanned from creating economic reports to representing the bank in media interviews.Key Responsibilities and Achievements:Economic Forecasting: Developed forecasts for key economic indicators, including inflation, housing prices, private consumption, and other macroeconomic metrics. These forecasts provided critical insights to guide decision-making within the bank and for its clients.Market Analysis & Reporting: Contributed daily to the bank’s market newsletter, which was published in both Icelandic and English, providing timely and relevant updates to stakeholders. Authored comprehensive economic reports, presenting complex data in clear and accessible formats.Internal Communication & Leadership: Chaired morning meetings on economic developments on an ad hoc basis, updating the team on critical economic issues and fostering informed discussions on evolving market trends.Representation: Represented Íslandsbanki Research in media interviews, acting as a spokesperson on economic issues and communicating the bank's perspective to a wider audience.Data Analysis & Presentation: Collected and analyzed economic data from key sources, including Statistics Iceland, Eurostat, the IMF, and the World Bank. Utilized Excel for in-depth analyses, translating data into actionable insights presented both in written reports and oral presentations.Risk Assessment: Authored country reports for Íslandsbanki's risk committee, evaluating economic risks and providing analysis to support risk management efforts within the bank.In this role, I honed my ability to analyze complex economic data and communicate insights effectively, helping to shape strategic decisions and strengthen Íslandsbanki's reputation as a trusted source of economic expertise.

Iceland

In my role as a Correspondent at Reuters News Agency in Iceland, I was responsible for monitoring and producing content on all newsworthy events and developments in Iceland. I conducted interviews with major players in Icelandic business life, including CEOs and the Central bank governor. Additionally, I covered global events in Iceland, such as interviewing Yoko Ono for the launch of the peace column in Reykjavík in 2007.

Reykjavik

• Conducted economic and political analysis as a journalist, specializing in business and culture topics.• Interviewed key figures in Icelandic political and economic spheres • Managed the delivery of all news articles as a news editor at Icelandic Financial News.

Oslo, Norway

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Economics

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science And Government

Marel Leadership Program

Marel together with Tias Business school developed the Marel leadership program for selected young leaders in Marel. The aim.

Diploma Of Education, Education

Activities and Societies: Diplóma í kennslufræði og Kennsluréttindi

Political Economy

Exchange student for one semester during my undergraduate Political science degree

Evolvia Coach Training

Pi Practitioner, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General

Certified 7Habits Teacher, Organizational Leadership