National security and resilience
Varða is an independent, open think tank working to strengthen Iceland's national security and resilience against present and future risks and threats.
Varða works to strengthen Iceland's national security and societal resilience. Among its aims is to establish a new, independent forum in Iceland for these important but complex issues.
Varða is led by co-founder Kristinn Árni L. Hróbjartsson and supported by the Foobar Foundation. Its output is open: analyses, roundtable summaries and contributed articles are freely available.
“It is no longer enough to rely solely on defence cooperation or on Iceland's geographic isolation. The world has changed: cyberattacks threaten infrastructure, great-power competition is shifting rapidly and hardening, and the effects of climate change demand a new approach to the nation's security.”
Advisory council
Varða's advisory council is composed of experienced experts who support the think tank's professional development and strategy. Its role is to advise and provide professional oversight on Varða's strategy, plans, projects and priorities. The council is not responsible for operations or published material.
Ari Kristinn Jónsson, PhD President of the NATO Innovation Fund. Former CEO of Videntifier and President of Reykjavík University, and before that a research scientist and manager at NASA in the United States for ten years. 
Garðar Forberg Former defence counsellor of Iceland in Washington, DC, and before that Iceland's military representative to the NATO Military Committee. A commissioned officer trained at the German armed forces' officer academy, the Bundeswehr, with years of experience in aviation operations. 
Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir Sat in Alþingi for the Women's List and the Social Democratic Alliance; former leader of the Social Democratic Alliance, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mayor of Reykjavík. Served as UN Women's regional director for Europe and Central Asia and later as director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). 
Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir Ambassador of Iceland to the United Kingdom. Sat in Alþingi for the Independence Party and served as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation. Was the Council of Europe Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Situation of the Children of Ukraine. 
Rannveig Rist CEO of ÍSAL – Rio Tinto in Iceland. Has served on numerous boards of companies and organisations including SAMÁL, the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise, the Iceland Chamber of Commerce, HB Grandi, Klíníkin, Lýsi and Síminn. Varða — Lækjargata 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. Inquiries about analyses, interviews or partnerships: hallo@varda.org.
A monthly English-language briefing on North Atlantic security, from Reykjavík — officials quoted in full, primary sources linked.
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