About me

I am an experienced qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods researcher.   My reseach addresses the impact the food system has on people and planet, primarily from a demand-side perspective.  I explore such things as what the key barriers and levers are to the adoption of healthier and sustainable behaviours, how policy-making can address these, and how knowledge can be mobilised to achieve systematic impact.

I also have a broad interest in all things related to environmental and social justice, whether or not it is related to food.

I am originally from Iceland, but I have lived in the UK for most of my adult life, and for the last 18 years here in Cambridge.

Some of the things I have got up to here are:

• Being the President of the Cambridge Zero Postgraduate Academy in the academic year 2023-2024.

• Serving as an elected Student Member of the College Council, and Trustee of Darwin College in the academic year 2024-2025.

• Co-founding the Darwin Climate Society.

• Holding governance posts on various executive, student and steering committees such as the Cambridge Climate Society, the Good Food Institute Cambridge University Alternative Protein Project, and the Mature Student’s Society.

• Engaging with both academic and non-academic audiences in a wide variety of settings about the subject matters that I feel most passionate about.  See further information in the News section.

In my free time I can often be found cycling or running around the Cambridgeshire countryside for extended periods of time.  I especially love running quite far, and have completed seven full marathons (London, Brighton, Edinburgh, Paris, Prague, Cyprus and an Ironman in Wales) and numerous half marathons to date.  I also used to do a lot of vigorous rowing on the river.  However, my riperian activities are now generally limited to relaxing walks, watching other oarsmen and women exert themselves, and maybe the occasional bit of punting.  I also regularly attempt something that could generously be described as singing in my college choir.

Before there was academia

Prior to embarking on my current career of doing research in service of facilitating a fair, inclusive, healthy and sustainable food system transformation, I spent seven years working as the Operations Manager for a pharmaceutical developer start-up here in Cambridge.

Before that I had a varied career involving amongst other things: 

• Studying medicine and working in the national health service in three different countries.

• Managing award-winning bars and restaurants in Copenhagen and London.

• Being a full-time athlete and getting to represent my country in both road cycling and triathlon world championships.

• Spending countless early mornings and evenings coaching rowing crews on the Cam and the Isis, whilst completing a law degree - and for some time after that.

I have also been fortunate enough to get to live in several different countries and experience different people, cultures, and environments.