2025 -- S 1075

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LC002835

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

WELCOMING ELIZA REID, RENOWNED WRITER AND FORMER FIRST LADY OF

ICELAND, TO THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Valverde, Lauria, Tikoian, Sosnowski, Rogers,
LaMountain, Urso, Appollonio, and Britto

     Date Introduced: May 15, 2025

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Eliza Reid grew up on a farm near Ottawa, Canada. She later moved to

Ashton and was a student at Trinity College, University of Toronto, where she earned her

Bachelor's degree in International Relations, and later attained her Master's degree in Modern

History from St. Antony's College, Oxford University; and

     WHEREAS, In 2003, Eliza Reid moved to Iceland and became a freelance writer for

multiple Icelandic publications. From 2005 to 2008, she wrote for The Reykjavík Grapevine and

Iceland Review, and in 2012, she became an editor for Icelandair Stopover. In 2014, she co-

founded the Iceland Writers Retreat, an event which has garnered international acclaim; and

     WHEREAS, In 2004, Eliza Reid married Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, and in 2016, became

the First Lady of Iceland when her husband became the country's sixth President. During her

tenure as first lady, Eliza actively sought opportunities to advance and bring focus on gender

equality, entrepreneurship and innovation, tourism and sustainability. She also supported and

encouraged the country's writers and promoted its rich literary heritage; and

     WHEREAS, A bestselling author, Eliza Reid wrote Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland's

Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World, published in 2022, and Death on

the Island, also known as Death of a Diplomat, published in 2025; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout her career, Eliza Reid has been a patron of many Icelandic

organizations, including the United Nations Association Iceland, is a Goodwill Ambassador for

SOS Children's Villages Iceland, was named a United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism

and the Sustainable Development Goals, and has been honored with numerous nominations for

'Person of the Year' by multiple Icelandic media outlets, and honored in Berlin with an award on

International Women's Day; and

     WHEREAS, Eliza Reid has brought a panoply of opportunities and a wealth of literacy to

the people of Iceland and the world, and she has distinguished herself as a person worthy of our

recognition and admiration; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby warmly welcomes

Eliza Reid to the Rhode Island State House. We furthermore congratulate her and wish her good

health, fulfillment, and much success in all her future endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Eliza Reid.

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