Ólöf Gestursdætr

*This is a Velkanian name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name. The subject should be referred to by the given name* Ólöf*.*

**Ólöf Gestursdætr** (born 22 August 1970) is a Velkanian politician who has served as Leader of the Social Democratic Party since 2018. She has additionally served as a member of the Stádlink since 2008.

Born in Naríthjábæk, Ólöf graduated from Akuhólmur School in 1989. After finishing high school, she enrolled in the University of Naríthjábæk to study economics, graduating in 1992. She subsequently returned to the university and received her MBA in 1995. After completing her education, Ólöf moved to Munbach to work as a finance manager for the Helvarian automobile manufacturer Haüsch. In 1998, she returned to the Velkanian Isles to work as chief finance manager to the Velkanian technology company Steizel. In 2004, she left Steizel and became the chief financial officer (CFO) for the Velkanian financial technology start-up Skyridge. Ólöf was elected to the Stádlink for the Social Democratic Party in the 2008 election, representing the Capital Region constituency. Shortly before the 2012 election, Ólöf ran for party leader in the 2012 leadership election, but lost to Ólíver Daníelsson. Following the resignation of Ólíver, Ólöf ran again in the 2018 leadership election and won, becoming the third woman to lead the party.

## Early life and education

Ólöf was born on 22 August 1970 in Naríthjábæk to parents Gestur Halldórsson (born 1945) and Hjördís Ásbergsdætr (born 1947). The family was working-class, with Gestur working as a landscaper and Hjördís as a receptionist. Ólöf was raised in the Saudárverfi district of Naríthjábæk as the eldest of three children; her younger siblings include Ragnfrídur, born  (1972-12-13) 13 December 1972 (age 51), and Hrappur, born  (1975-11-09) 9 November 1975 (age 48).

Ólöf began her education in 1976, attending a local public primary school. While in primary school, Ólöf was a high academic achiever who aspired to become a primary school teacher. She graduated from primary school in 1986, and subsequently enrolled in Akuhólmur School to study a general academic program. She ultimately graduated from high school in 1989, and afterwards enrolled in the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at the University of Naríthjábæk, ultimately graduating with a degree in economics in 1992. Ólöf afterwards returned to the university and enrolled in the Faculty of Business and Industry, graduating with an MBA in 1995.

While completing her MBA, Ólöf worked as a finance associate at the Velkanian bank Velkanbank. After finishing her degree, she moved to Munbach and began working as a finance manager for the Helvarian automobile manufacturer Haüsch. In 1998, she returned to the Velkanian Isles to work as chief finance manager to the Velkanian technology company Steizel. In 2004, she left Steizel and became the chief financial officer (CFO) for the Velkanian financial technology start-up Skyridge.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

Since she was 16 years old, Ólöf had registered with the Social Democratic Party, having been raised in a heavily-Social Democratic family. In 2008, Ólöf applied to stand as a candidate in the 2008 election in the Capital Region constituency of the Stádlink. She went on to be elected, and has been reelected in 2012 and 2016.

### Leader of the Social Democratic Party

Months prior to the 2012 election, Social Democratic party leader Hilda María Dagfarisdætr announced that she would not be seeking reelection and a leadership election was called. Ólöf declared her candidacy and advanced as one of the top five candidates, but later lost to Ólíver Daníelsson.

In April 2018, Ólíver announced that he'd be resigning as party leader and a leadership election was called. Ólöf declared her candidacy and emerged as an early frontrunner. She went on to win the election and was sworn in on 17 June 2018, becoming the third woman to serve as Social Democratic party leader.

## Personal life

Ólöf began a relationship with Velkanian economics lecturer Ingibjörn Hildibergur Arndórsson in 1990, while they were both students at the University of Naríthjábæk. They became engaged in 1994, but later broke off their engagement when Ólöf moved to Munbach in 1995. They reconciled after Ólöf returned to the Velkanian Isles in 1998, becoming engaged in 1999, and later marrying the year afterwards.

They have three children together: Ríkardur, born  (2003-07-01) 1 July 2003 (age 20), Ísadóra, born  (2005-01-09) 9 January 2005 (age 19), and Sebastían, born  (2007-10-18) 18 October 2007 (age 16). The family resides in Naríthjábæk.