Equality Council’s Equality Awards

Starting this year, the Equality Council of the University of Akureyri will present an annual award in recognition of contributions to equality, inclusion, and diversity, in accordance with the university’s equality plan. This year, the awards were presented during a waffle coffee gathering held on 12 February.

Nominations were requested from the university community and, after reviewing the submissions, the Equal Rights Committee decided to grant six awards on this occasion. The awards go to organisations and individuals who have made an important and commendable contribution that deserves recognition and public attention.

The recipients of this year’s Equality Award are:

Berglind Hólm Ragnarsdóttir

Berglind is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri and has, from the beginning, had extensive and positive impact on equality matters within the university and the wider community. She has worked toward equality in numerous areas — through research, teaching, committee work, and community engagement. Her research focuses on equality and social class, and in recent years she has actively disseminated her findings both nationally and internationally. In her teaching, Berglind places strong emphasis on equality and critical thinking, and students who nominated her highlighted in particular her unique ability to inspire their interest in equality issues. She also served as Chair of the Equal Rights Committee from 2022 to 2024 and led the development of the new Equality Action Plan, emphasising the commitment to making the university an inclusive institution that respects and supports diversity. Beyond her work at the university, Berglind has contributed actively to equality initiatives in the community, including giving lectures to various groups and serving on the board of Aflið.

Ergi – Félag Hinsegin Stúdenta á Norðurlandi

The organisation Ergi was founded in the summer of 2025, in part by students at the University of Akureyri who recognised the pressing need for such an initiative and took the lead in establishing it. Creating a safe space and opportunities for queer students to build networks has proven especially important in light of the backlash against equality seen in today’s society. Since its founding, Ergi has provided queer visibility with significantly more space and presence within the university community. Such visibility and a sense of belonging are key factors in fostering inclusion among queer students and staff. Furthermore, the organisation has played an important advisory role for the Equal Rights Commiittee this academic year, helping to strengthen inclusion and support for queer students.

Hrafnhildur Eggerz Haraldsdóttir

Hrafnhildur is a third-year nursing student at the University of Akureyri and receives recognition for her contribution to the Gender Identity micro-course, a collaboration between the School of Nursing and partner institutions in the Nordic region. She participated actively as a co-host and helped organise various components of the course. She also presented the course at the annual Sjónaukinn Conference, where she drew particular attention to the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community through a creative and impactful contribution. Her presentation at Sjónaukinn is a clear example of how undergraduate students can make meaningful contributions to academic discussions on equality.

Margrét Unnur Ólafsdóttir

Margrét is also a third-year nursing student at the University of Akureyri and receives recognition for her contribution to the Gender Identity micro-course, a collaboration between the School of Nursing and its Nordic partner universities. She served as a co-host and participated in the organisation of several aspects of the course. In doing so, she demonstrated outstanding ability to create a safe, inclusive, and encouraging learning environment, with a positive attitude and exceptional sensitivity to equality and human rights. Margrét also presented the course at the Sjónaukinn Conference, delivering a video lecture. Her ongoing commitment to equality is evident in her continued involvement in the course, which will next be taught in April in Norway — this time with Margrét as a lecturer and workshop facilitator.

Jóhannes Már Pétursson

Jóhannes is the Chair of the SHA International Committee and has fulfilled that role with dedication and integrity right form the start. He has placed particular emphasis on representing the interests of international students at UNAK, building connections with exchange students, and managing communication with them, including through active information-sharing in a dedicated WhatsApp group. This has ensured that these students receive important information about events and opportunities that help them connect with the community during their stay. Jóhannes is always ready to offer assistance, whether approached by international students or others seeking to strengthen support and engagement for that group. He has also advocated publicly for the interests of international students, including through opinion pieces highlighting the potential consequences of proposed legislation related to international students’ work rights.

Sara Stefánsdóttir

Sara is a lecturer in the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Akureyri and receives recognition for her dedicated and selfless work in establishing and developing a foundational diploma programme for people with diverse support needs, in collaboration with the department. She recently completed a PhD in Disability Studies, where she examined the experiences of parents with intellectual or cognitive disabilities and the systemic barriers they encounter — including challenges in accessing appropriate support and navigating the various systems involved in family matters.
In December, Sara received an award from the Icelandic Disability Alliance (ÖBÍ) for an outstanding doctoral thesis in Disability Studies. This was the first time ÖBÍ awarded such a prize for master’s or doctoral work focused on disabled people and/or Disability Studies.

We warmly congratulate all recipients of the Equality Council’s Equality Awards on their well-deserved recognition!