Author, Journalist and Director, Word for Word, Iceland
Thordis Elva is an award-winning writer, an entrepreneur and a public speaker, who was voted Woman of the Year 2015 by the Federation of Women’s Societies in Reykjavík due to her work towards gender equality. Nine of her plays have been professionally produced and her book about gender-based violence earned her a nomination for the Icelandic Literature Prize. In 2011, she founded an equality campaign that sparked a national debate, and in 2012 she was commissioned to reinvent the approach to violence prevention and sex education in Icelandic schools, resulting in award-winning short films. She has been the Chairman of the Board of the Icelandic Women’s Shelter, has served on government committees, and is a sought-after speaker on subjects like gender-based violence and non-consensual pornography. She holds a BA in theatre, an MA in Editing and Publishing, and currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden with her partner and their son. Her recent book, “South of Forgiveness” tells the story of how she was sexually assaulted at the age of 16 by her first boyfriend, Tom Stranger, who co-authored the book with her. Following a viral TED Talk in February 2017, Thordis has since addressed audiences worldwide with the hope that her story can raise awareness of sexual assault and underline the importance of consent.
motto: Without a struggle, there can be no progress.
