Gunnrún Úlla Jörvarsdætr

*This is a Velkanian name. The last name is a family name, but this person should be referred to by the given name* Gunnrún Úlla*.*

**Gunnrún Úlla Jörvarsdætr** (born 14 August 1983) is a Velkanian politician and activist who has served as Co-Leader of the Green-Agrarian Party since 2012, serving with Fúsi Bastíansson. From 2012 to 2016, she served as Minister of Energy in the first cabinet of Síf María Vílhelmsdætr, and has additionally served in the Stádlink in 2008.

Born in Svalbadránossáthur, Gunnrún Úlla graduated from Svalbadránossáthur Gymnasium in 2002, and afterwards moved to Naríthjábæk to attend the University of Naríthjábæk. After graduating with a degree in environmental studies in 2005, Gunnrún Úlla returned to school and received a second bachelor's degree in political science in 2008. While studying for her second degree, Gunnrún Úlla began a career as an environmental activist, frequently organizing protests and rallies with her nonprofit organization Vælkjágrön ("Green Velkania"). Gunnrún Úlla was elected to the Stádlink for the Green-Agrarians in the 2008 election, representing the Olobethia constituency. She and Fúsi Bastíansson were elected party leaders in 2012, tasked with leading the party into the 2012 election, where the party saw great success and entered a majority governing coalition with the Liberal-Democrats. Gunnrún Úlla was appointed Minister of Energy in the first cabinet of Síf María Vílhelmsdætr, but lost her place in the cabinet and her party's place in the coalition after losing a number of seats in the 2016 election.

## Early life and education

Gunnrún Úlla was born on 14 August 1983 in Svalbadránossáthur as the only child of parents Jörvar Tímisson (born 1950) and Daníela Steinkellsdætr (born 1955). Both of her parents had come to Olobethia from Naríthjábæk as young adults, and Gunnrún Úlla has described them both as "flower children" and "former hippies." The family owned and operated a small store in Svalbadránossáthur, where they sold handcrafted jewelry, antiques, and pieces of artwork they made themselves.

Gunnrún Úlla began her education in 1989, attending a local public primary school in Svalbadránossáthur. In primary school, Gunnrún Úlla became interested in art and music, and had become interested in pursuing a career as an art therapist or art teacher. Around the age of 14, Gunnrún Úlla became more interested in environmentalism and helping the planet, inspired by her parents. She graduated from primary school in 1999, and afterwards enrolled in Svalbadránossáthur Gymnasium to study a general academic program, graduating in 2002. After graduating from high school, Gunnrún Úlla moved to Naríthjábæk to attend the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Naríthjábæk, graduating with a degree in environmental studies in 2005. After graduating, Gunnrún Úlla founded the nonprofit organization Vælkjágrön, dedicated to pursuing protections for the environment and stopping climate change.

Feeling as if she had to pursue a career in politics to further her goals, Gunnrún Úlla returned to school and graduated with a degree in political sciences from the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at the University of Naríthjábæk in 2008.

## Political career

### Political beginnings

After turning 16, Gunnrún Úlla registered with the Green-Agrarians and began supporting them in elections. While a university student, she began attending Green-Agrarian rallies and later began supporting Green-Agrarian politicians after launching her nonprofit in 2005.

In 2008, Gunnrún Úlla applied to stand as a candidate in the 2008 election in the Olobethia constituency of the Stádlink. She went on to be elected, and has been reelected in 2012 and 2016.

### Co-Leader of the Green-Agrarians

In late-2011, former party leaders Hildar Magnússon and Björk Anna Daríusdætr were approaching the end of their second term as leaders, and were unable to run for reelection for a third term due to term limits within the party. Gunnrún Úlla and Fúsi Bastíansson soon declared their candidacy to run for the position of Co-Leaders of the Green-Agrarian Party in November 2011. The Green-Agrarian Party is the only Velkanian political party to employ a co-leader system; each set of co-leaders must also consist of one male and one female.

Gunnrún Úlla and Fúsi were the only sitting members of parliament to declare their candidacy in the election, and were widely expected to be elected party leaders. They went on to win the election, and took office on 15 January 2012, being tasked with leading the party into the 2012 election. Gunnrún Úlla and Fúsi were later reelected as party leaders for a second and final term in 2016, running unopposed.

#### Minister of Energy

Now leading the party, Gunnrún Úlla and the Green-Agrarian won a number of seats in the 2012 election, leading to a majority coalition with the Liberal-Democrats, led by Síf María Vílhelmsdætr. With Síf María as Prime Minister, she had Gunnrún Úlla appointed Minister of Energy in her first cabinet.

Gunnrún Úlla served as Minister of Energy from 2012 to 2016. During the 2016 election, the Green-Agrarians suffered a major defeat and their coalition with the Liberal-Democrats collapsed. With this collapse, Gunnrún Úlla lost her position as a cabinet minister, and reentered parliament as a member of the opposition.

## Personal life

Gunnrún Úlla has resided in Naríthjábæk since 2002, although she also owns a small cottage in her hometown of Svalbadránossáthur. Gunnrún Úlla has never married and has no children. She is a vegan, and has been open about her beliefs on veganism frequently.