APPS
APPS
In 1975, 90 percent of Icelandic women walked out, leaving workplaces, schools, and homes, and brought the nation to a standstill. That single day reshaped history, proving the indispensable role of women in society and igniting a movement that would help position Iceland as a global leader in gender equality.
This CORE Impact Story follows the arc from that historic moment to today’s Reykjavik Global Initiative, where Icelandic leaders and global changemakers gather to transform dialogue into action. What began as a national awakening has become an international platform advancing inclusive leadership, measurable progress, and systemic change across sectors.
From one bold act of collective courage to a worldwide movement for equality, this story captures how history becomes momentum, and how momentum becomes lasting change.
00:00 | 2027
COMING SOON TO CORE
CORE+ is partnering with the Reykjavik Global to translate the insights, research, and convenings of the Reykjavik Global into a practical, scalable leadership toolkit that can be implemented across organisations worldwide.
Together, CORE+ and the Reykjavik Global are developing a structured suite of learning journeys, digital resources, and measurable action frameworks designed to help organizations operationalize gender equality and inclusive leadership. This collaboration ensures that the mission of the Reykjavik Global principles live on as adaptable tools within governments, multilateral institutions, educational institutions, corporations and private identities.
The CORE+ toolkit will integrate the Reykjavik Index for Leadership, the Reykjavik Action Items and other core pillars into interactive educational modules and strategic implementation guides.
Importantly, by embedding research, data benchmarks, and actionable frameworks into institutional practice, this partnership has the potential to inform policy development and support the evolution of legislation around equality and more balanced leadership. By equipping leaders with evidence-based tools and implementation strategies, CORE+ can help translate dialogue into structural change at both organizational and governmental levels.
Through CORE+, Reykjavik Global’s research and convening power become a continuous learning ecosystem, combining storytelling, data, policy insight, and implementation strategy. The result is a globally accessible framework that supports institutions in moving from dialogue to action, embedding inclusive leadership practices into governance structures, corporate cultures, educational systems, and ultimately contributing to broader legislative progress.
This partnership leverages a global community and proven best practices from Iceland, host of the Reykjavík Global Forum, to create a scalable, policy-informed platform for measurable change. It is specifically designed to empower the next generation of leaders across all sectors and continents.
Reykjavik Global is a global leadership community, created to advance and expand the presence and influence of women in leadership across sectors worldwide.
The flagship Reykjavik Global Forum - Women Leaders was launched in 2018 under the theme “Power, Together!” and has grown into a premier annual convening that brings together presidents, prime ministers, business executives, academics, activists, and changemakers to collaborate on systemic solutions that promote equality and inclusive leadership. The Forum has from the start been co-hosted by the Government and Parliament of Iceland and in partnership with an impressive list of international and Icelandic partners, many of whom have been leading globally in the field of gender equality. Each year, 500 global leaders are invited to attend the Forum in Iceland to exchange best practices and co-create solutions that address barriers to women’s leadership in public life, business, and civil society.
More than a single event, the Reykjavik Global functions as a year-round community where leaders connect, share insights, and collectively accelerate progress toward gender parity, informed by Iceland’s long-standing commitment to equality.
The Reykjavik Global impact is strengthened through signature frameworks and initiatives such as the Reykjavik Index for Leadership and the Reykjavik Action Items, which provide evidence-based insights and policy-oriented commitments that inspire global adoption of equality strategies. Co-Founded and Chaired by Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, a global advocate for gender equality and women’s leadership, with deep experience in public service, international policy, and global convening. She also currently serves as a Senior Advisor to UN Women, where she helps advance global strategies to expand women’s representation and influence across political, economic, and civic spheres. Previously, Hanna Birna had a long political career in Iceland. She was Mayor of Reykjavík from 2008 to 2010, a member of the Icelandic Parliament (Althing) representing the Reykjavík South constituency, and served as Minister of the Interior in 2013–2014.
Through its convenings, research, and collaborative initiatives, Reykjavik Global serves both as a catalyst for action and a platform where leaders, guided by shared purpose and partnership, work to transform global leadership norms and promote policies that support equality, representation, and inclusive governance.
Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir is an Icelandic leader and global advocate for gender equality and women’s leadership, with deep experience in public service, international policy, and global convening. She currently serves as Chair and Co-Founder of the Reykjavik Global Initiative (Reykjavik Global Forum) and is a Senior Advisor to UN Women, where she helps advance global strategies to expand women’s representation and influence across political, economic, and civic spheres.
Previously, Hanna Birna had a long and impactful political career in Iceland. She was Mayor of Reykjavík from 2008 to 2010, a member of the Icelandic Parliament (Althing) representing the Reykjavík South constituency, and served as Minister of the Interior in 2013–2014. During her time in public office, she also chaired the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and held leadership roles within Iceland’s Independence Party.
Educated in political science at the University of Iceland and holding a master’s degree in International and European Politics from the University of Edinburgh, Hanna Birna has blended domestic political leadership with international influence. Her work with Reykjavik Global and UN Women positions her at the intersection of global policy, gender equality advocacy, and leadership development, contributing to initiatives that inform strategy and action on equality issues worldwide.
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