First speaker announcement
We can’t believe it’s time to reveal our first speakers for Iceland Innovation Week 2025. See for yourself who’s speaking:
Svend Hardenberg
↪ Inuit Development Company
Svend Hardenberg is a serial Greenlandic entrepreneur with an extensive background in top management with focus on operational, organizational and business development and strategy implementation. He is a seasoned resource within board work in both operating, project development, service companies and retail. Experience in Consultancy, as well as high level Governmental and Municipal work. He has specific operational experience within the infrastructure segment, such as airline, utilities, telecommunications, retail, fuel import distribution and sales. In addition consultancy services within large scale infrastructure projects.
Rosanne Longmore
↪ Coroflo
Rosanne Longmore is the CEO of Coroflo has been at the helm since the company’s inception in 2017. As CEO Rosanne has steered the team through seven years of DeepTech R&D, clinical studies and technology and user validation. Rosanne will now oversee Coro’s launch to the market in March 2025.
Rosanne has successfully led the company through multiple funding rounds which saw the company backed by private capital, Enterprise Ireland and the European Innovation Council.
Rosanne’s leadership in FemTech and as a female co-founder has been recognised with numerous high profile awards and speaking engagements, most recently as Irish Tatler Women of the Year, the Innovation Award, alongside her co-founder Dr Helen Barry.
Her interviews have also been published in numerous global publications including Forbes, the Guardian, The Times and also featured in the Vagina Business: The Innovative Breakthroughs That Could Change Everything in Women's Health by award winning journalist Marina Gerner.
Rosanne completed a BA in Public Administration, majoring in economics in the University of Limerick. She completed professional exams in project management, accountancy and banking and is a qualified financial advisor.
Prior to her career at Coroflo, Rosanne worked in the financial services sector, responsible for strategy development, implementation and business systems improvement.
Alexandra Sif Tryggvadottir
↪ Spotify
Alexandra Sif Tryggvadottir is a Senior Editor at Spotify, where she focuses on audience development for audio and video creators. She collaborates with podcasters to expand their reach, curates on-platform programming, and oversees Spotify's annual "Best of the Year" Wrapped lists.
After graduating from UCLA, Alexandra launched her career in audio storytelling in 2018, producing a daily news and culture show at KCRW, her local NPR affiliate. At Spotify, she has contributed to creative development, launched new podcasts, and supported video programming initiatives.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Iceland, Alexandra brings a unique cultural perspective to her work and a deep passion for storytelling. Outside of work, she enjoys reading—having completed over 30 books this year—and loves hosting dinner parties, picnicking, and exploring the restaurants and wine bars in her Brooklyn neighborhood.
Signe M. Sveinbjørnsson
↪ Heartcore Capital
Signe M. Sveinbjørnsson is a partner and COO at Heartcore Capital, Denmark’s leading early-stage VC investor with more than €800M cumulative committed capital, currently. Signe has 20 years of stellar legal, operational and strategic experience across law, energy and venture capital. In the past, she has held key roles in legal and operations at Maersk Oil and Total, as well as serving as an M&A lawyer with Kromann Reumert, a leading Danish law firm.
Seth Schachner
↪ Strat Americas
Seth Schachner – Seth is Managing Director of Strat Americas, a consultancy that provides strategic guidance and helps clients with partnerships.
Seth spent eleven years with Sony Music, in Latin America and Jive Records in New York. Seth has held business development roles with Microsoft, Liberty Media, Viacom, and Universal Music. Seth was AOL’s first music executive.
Seth is a graduate of Columbia University and is on Faculty at Georgetown University.
Recent media appearances include Fox News, Sky News, Voice of America.
Guðrún Hildur Ragnarsdóttir
↪ Keeps
Guðrún Hildur Ragnarsdóttir is the founder and CEO of Keeps CMS, a company dedicated to simplifying content management for businesses in the travel industry. With a background in the travel sector, including roles at companies like Hertz, Expedia, and Guide to Iceland, Guðrún brings valuable experience and insight to her work. Her vision with Keeps CMS is to help hotels and travel businesses streamline their online presence through centralized content management.
Gunnar Steinn Valgarðsson
↪ Aldin Dynamics
Gunnar Steinn Valgarðsson is the Co-Founder of Aldin. Gunnar has directed Aldin’s pioneering work at the intersection of VR/AR, AI, and gaming since co-founding Aldin in 2013. Driven by his passion for immersive experiences and emerging technologies, he oversees product development and operations that keep Aldin as a leading pioneer in next-generation virtual experiences.
Emilie Christensen
↪ Nordic Edge
Emilie Christensen is the Internationalization Manager at Nordic Edge. Leading the internationalization and investment strategies at Nordic Edge, Emilie has over the last years specialized in helping startups with sustainable business development, internationalization, and investor readiness. With expertise in sustainability, ecosystem building, and fundraising, she supports companies in navigating the investment landscape and securing the right partnerships for expansion. Emilie connects Nordic and global stakeholders to drive innovation and growth in green technology sectors and is known for her engaging insights on emerging technologies and fostering impactful collaborations.
Lena Thiede
↪ Planet A Ventures
Lena Thiede is a seasoned environmental and climate policy expert, who advised the German government on sustainable finance, as well as spearheaded initiatives in East Africa targeting biodiversity and water resource management. At Planet A she leads the science team, setting a new standard for assessing environmental impact in VC.
Michael Hendrix
↪ Founder, creative director, professor, and author
R. Michael Hendrix is a founder, creative director, professor, and author with over 30 years of experience in design and innovation. He leads Invisible Notes, a design practice that helps organisations, brands, and individuals unleash their creative potential. He also teaches international trends in creative industries at Bifröst University, where he shares his insights and knowledge on the intersection of design, culture, and business.
Previously, he was a Partner and Global Design Director at IDEO, one of the world's leading design and innovation firms. He led transformative initiatives, managed brand creative direction, built a global creative excellence program, and consulted with clients across various sectors and domains. He also co-founded Tricycle, Inc., a sustainable design firm that pioneered innovative software that reduced textile industry waste, and the Open Music Initiative, a non-profit that simplifies music rights management with cutting-edge technologies. He co-authored Two Beats Ahead, a book that explores what the musical mind can teach us about innovation. He is an AIGA Fellow, a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader, a Marshall Memorial Fellow and a Fulbright Specialist.
José Ramos
↪ MIT Office of Corporate Relations
José has worked in sustainability and innovation through his career after graduating in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. Currently, at MIT’s Office of Corporate Relations, he works with corporations and startups around the world, including Iceland. He also spends a good deal of time in the Icelandic music scene, organizing shows, performing in gigs and crowdsurfing.
Heath Cardie
↪ New Iceland Advisors
Heath Cardie is the Managing Partner at New Iceland Advisors. Heath has been working in the investment industry since 1993 and focused on private equity since 1997. His private equity experience has included: General Partner of a private equity fund of funds, Vice President of Alternative Investments (hedge funds and private equity), Director of Private Equity Consulting for an institutional investment consulting firm. Heath and his wife are also residents of Iceland and have resided there since 2018.
Margrét Rán
↪ Performer | Composer
Margrét Rán Magnúsdóttir is an Icelandic musician, best known as the lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist of the dream-pop band Vök, which she co-founded in 2013. Under her leadership, Vök has released acclaimed albums such as Figure (2017) and In the Dark (2019), the latter winning Album of the Year at the 2019 Icelandic Music Awards.
Beyond her work with Vök, Margrét is also a film composer, having created scores for international documentaries and cinematic projects, showcasing her versatility as an artist.