Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson
Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson (born 4 January 1959 in the Westman Islands, Iceland)[1] is an Icelandic diplomat. He has been the Ambassador of Iceland to Japan since April 2021. He was previously the Ambassador to the United Kingdom from November 2017 to November 2020.[2]
Career
Jóhannesson has been a civil servant since 1985.[1] From 2001 to 2005, he was the Ambassador of Iceland to the UN in Geneva, and concurrently from 2002 to 2005, the Ambassador of Iceland to Slovenia.[1] From 2005 to 2010, Jóhannesson was the Ambassador to the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Morocco, Switzerland and the EU.[3][4][5]
Between 2009 and 2013, Jóhannesson was the Chief Negotiator in Iceland's accession talks with the European Union.[3][6][7] The talks were later abandoned.
Jóhannesson was made the Ambassador to the United Kingdom in November 2017. He presented his Letters of Credence to Queen Elizabeth II on 14 December 2017.[8] In November 2020, he was replaced by Sturla Sigurjónsson.[9]
Jóhannesson was already in August 2020 appointed the Ambassador to Japan and originally would take the post at the turn of the year between 2020 and 2021.[10] He presented his letter of credence to Emperor Naruhito on 8 April 2021.[11][12]
Personal life
Jóhannesson is married to Halldóra Hermannsdóttir and they have three children, including Einar Stefánsson, musician from Vök and Hatari. He has a law degree from the University of Iceland.[3]
References
- "Curriculum Vitae STEFÁN HAUKUR JÓHANNESSON Permanent Secretary of State" (PDF). Government of Iceland. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- "11 November 2020 Windsor Castle". Court Circular. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- "Æviágrip Stefán Haukur Jóhannesson ráðuneytisstjóri" (PDF). Government of Iceland (in Icelandic). Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- "Icelandic Ambassador to the UK visits the University of Greenwich". University of Greenwich. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- "European Economic Area 1994-2009" (PDF). EFTA. May 2009. p. 6. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- Leigh Phillips (6 November 2009). "Concern over Iceland EU bid as public support tanks". EU Observer. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- "2012 Annual Report: Celebrating 21 Years" (PDF). Institute of International and European Affairs. May 2013. p. 28. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- "14 December 2017 Buckingham Palace". Court Circular. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- "Ambassador Sturla Sigurjónsson". Government of Iceland. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
- "Ráðuneytisstjóraskipti í utanríkisráðuneytinu". RÚV. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- "駐日アイスランド大使の信任状捧呈". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- Stefan H Johannesson on Twitter: "Presented my credentials to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan this morning. Motorcade departing for the Imperial Palace from the iconic Tokyo Station for the presentation ceremony on this beautiful day 🇯🇵🤝🇮🇸"