Embassy information

The role of the Embassy in Rome is to protect the interests of Icelanders and to promote bilateral, political, economic and cultural links between Iceland and the above countries and organisations.

The Embassy is also a permanent mission to the United Nations in Rome and represents Iceland at three international organizations:

  • FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
  • WFP, World Food Program
  • IFAD, International Fund for Agricultural Development

Permanent Mission of Iceland in Rome

Address:

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 154
00186 Rome

Phone: +39 06 9480 4230

Email: rome@mfa.is

Opening hours: Appointments must be arranged in advance, Mon - Fri.

Ambassador

Mr. Guðmundur Árnason

Professional Experience

  1. Ambassador, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, from April 2024. Transferred to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in January 2024, effective from April 2024.

  2. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, June 2009 to December 2023.

  3. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, September 2002 to December 2008.

  4. Chief Administrative Coordinator for the Prime Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, January 2009 to May 2009.

  5. Deputy Permanent Secretary, The Prime Minister’s Office, January 1997 to September 2002.

  6. Senior Advisor, The Nordic Development Fund, Helsinki, August 1998 to July 2000.

  7. Head of Division, The Prime Minister's Office, January 1991 to December 1996. Chairman of the Board of Directors, The General Pension Fund, Iceland, 2010-2021.

  8. Member of the Board of Directors of the Oman Investment Authority (The Sultanate of Oman´s Sovereign Fund), December 2019 to end-March 2024.

  9. Alternate Governor for Iceland to the Asian International Investment Bank (AIIB, from inception to 2023), the Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) (all 2009 to 2023).

Education

  • Master´s Degree in International Relations, Sussex University, England, 1990.
  • Bachelor´s Degree in Political Studies, University of Stirling, Scotland, 1989.
  • University Entrance Exam (Social Sciences), Hamrahlíð College, Reykjavík, 1984.

Personal

  • Born 20 September 1963, in Eskifjörður, East-Iceland.
  • Married to Sólveig Berg Emilsdóttir, Architect (1966). Two children: Birna (1992), lawyer, and Kristján (1999), medical student, and one grandson, Skarphéðinn (2022).

Rome, Italy