The Future of the Icelandic Language on May 10th in New York City

In 2018, Iceland celebrates 100 years as a free and sovereign state. In 1918, Iceland and Denmark signed a Union Treaty, effectively freeing Iceland from Denmark. This was the culmination of nearly a century long campaign for Icelandic self-determination. 2018 will be a continuous celebration of this remarkable event.  

In celebration of the centenary the Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce is organizing panel discussions on the Future of the Icelandic Language with a keynote presentation from the President of Iceland Mr. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson at Scandinavia House on Park Avenue in New York City. 

Conference Chair is Jon Sigurdsson, Chairman, Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO, Össur.

Agenda May 10th

08:15-09:00    Light breakfast and networking 

09:00-09:10    Welcome

09:10-09:40    Keynote Presentation Followed by Q&A

The President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson

09:40-10:20    The Icelandic Language and Technology

Moderator:

Pamela Pecs Cytron, CEO, Pendo Systems, Inc.

Panelists:

Richard Sproat, Senior Staff Research Scientist, Google, Inc

Hal Daumé III,  Principle Researcher and Associate Professor,  Microsoft Research and University of Maryland

Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson, Professor of Icelandic Language, Faculty of Icelandic and Comparative Cultural Studies, University of Iceland

Anna Björk Nikulásdóttir, Researcher at the Language and Voice Lab, Reykjavik University

Ingvar Pétursson, former Executive Vice President, Technology and Finance, Nintendo of America

10:20-10:40    Networking Break 

10:40-11:20    The Status and Future of Icelandic Literature

Moderator: 

Anne Giardini, Chancellor, Simon Fraser University 

Panelists:

Eliza Reid, First Lady of Iceland

Adam Gopnik, Staff Writer, The New Yorker

Chad W. Post, Contributing Writer, Publishers Weekly, Publisher/Editor, Open Letter, University of Rochester

Birna Anna Björnsdóttir, writer

11:20-11:30    Closing

Stefanía Guðrún Halldórsdóttir, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Landsvirkjun, Chairman, Almannarómur

The event is in partnership with the Consulate General of Iceland in New York, American Scandinavian Foundation and Almannarómur