Published First 30. November, 2024
The inaugural Gracelandic Echo Conference took place on September 26, 2024, at the Innovation House in Reykjavik, drawing an esteemed audience that included the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, and the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Market, Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, as keynote speakers. Other distinguished guests included the First Gentleman of Iceland, Björn Skúlason, CEOs, investors, founders, academics, and professionals from various sectors and industries.
The Echo Conference, organized by Gracelandic, is a trailblazing event designed to promote inclusion and diversity in entrepreneurship and innovation in Iceland. At Gracelandic, we believe fashion goes beyond clothing—it’s about creating a meaningful impact.
The conference opened with remarks from Gracelandic’s Founder and CEO, Grace Achieng, who welcomed attendees both in person and online. The conference was streamed by Stjórnvísi as a collaborative event with their Climate and environmental expert group where Grace is a board member. She introduced the Echo Conference as an annual event committed to driving innovation, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion in Iceland. Grace emphasized that the conference is a platform for amplifying the voices of those who are often unheard, aligning with Gracelandic’s core values of justice and human rights to foster a sustainable and innovative future for Iceland.
As part of her vision for a sustainable future, Grace extended an open invitation to investors, encouraging them to join Gracelandic’s mission and invest in the company with confidence, highlighting its strong business model and the potential for substantial returns.
As part of the opening remarks, Kehinde Kayode, Gracelandic’s Growth and Business Operations expert, emphasized the significance of the Echo Conference as a space for meaningful dialogue between immigrants and native Icelanders on crucial issues such as inclusion, diversity, and sustainability—key drivers for a better Iceland and a better world.
In her keynote speech, President Halla Tómasdóttir stressed that inclusion is fundamental to entrepreneurship, societal well-being, and the health of the planet. She advocated for fashion and business to be forces for positive impact, stating, “I don’t understand how you can be an entrepreneur or in business and not think about the impact you are making—it must come first, followed by economic and financial profits.” The President commended Gracelandic for leading on this model. Halla also highlighted Iceland’s potential to lead in innovation and entrepreneurship, noting its global leadership in closing the gender gap and expertise in geothermal and renewable energy.
In his keynote, Minister Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson acknowledged Iceland’s growing diversity, with its immigrant population increasing from 8% in 2012 to 18% today—the highest among OECD countries. Guðmundur pledged his commitment to introducing Iceland’s first integration policy, with a four-year action plan and 15-year strategy set to be presented in the Parliament this November. Guðmundur stressed that diversity fuels innovation and that Iceland must welcome people of all backgrounds, ensuring that discrimination has no place in the country.
The conference panel, featuring notable speakers such as Prof. Lára Jóhannsdóttir (University of Iceland), Heiðrún Sigfúsdóttir (CEO & Co-founder of Catecut), Kathryn Gunnarsson (Founder & CEO of Geko), Freyr Guðmundsson (Executive Director at Íslandsbanki), Jeffrey Guarino (Photographer, Creative Director, and Producer), and Randi Stebbins (Head of Content at AGR), engaged in thought-provoking discussions on sustainability, inclusion, diversity, allyship, and national identity.
The Gracelandic Echo Conference marked a pivotal moment in fostering meaningful conversations and collaborations for a more inclusive and innovative future in Iceland. Organizers of the Conference included the Gracelandic team: Grace Achieng, Kehinde Kayode and Feven Aberham. Gracelandic featured a Runway Show and Ölgerðin Egill Skallagrimsson sponsored the event.
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