New Reykjavik: The transformation of a young city.

Former mayor of Reykjavik, Dagur B. Eggertsson, will tell a personal story of the transformation of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, were he was until recently one of the longest serving mayors in history. We will hear about how Reykjavik went from being the city with the most youth drinking, smoking and use of drugs during his years as a teenager, to having the lowest numbers in comparative studies and what lead to these results. And how that project and focus on city planning through the lens public health kept him in politics and out of medicine, his former profession. In short, we will get insight into the urban transformation of Reykjavik, the northern-most capital in the world, a key focus during his mayorship.
Dagur B. Eggertsson deputy mayor of Reykjavik
Dagur is a medical doctor and was one of the longest serving mayors of Reykjavik, 2014-2024. He has served as chairman of OECD Champion mayors for inclusive growth and has been active participant in numerous international projects and forums. Climate change, fair transition and climate adaption has been a strong focus in his work as mayor integrating climate issues with land use planning, transport and an inclusive housing strategy and public health in Reykjavik cities Masterplan and the Reykjavik Green Plan.
Dagur studied, trained and worked as a physician and also has a master’s degree in Human Rights and International Law from the University of Lund in Sweden. He is married to Arna Dogg Einarsdottir MD and they have four children.