We are empowering and nurturing the representatives of the future.

Active listening, respect and well-being at work

Helga Stefánsdóttir, Hildur Sigþórsdóttir and Jenný Dagbjört Gunnarsdóttir all have the common bond of being dynamic and ambitious managers and representatives for the City of Hafnarfjörður in the fields of environmental and planning, finance, childcare and education. Helga and Jenný have worked for the municipality for many years and possess a vast amount of experience and knowledge, whereas Hildur is a new and young manager who brings a breath of fresh air and sees opportunities for improvement and growth at every turn, not least in the field of digital development. An interview with them appeared in a special edition of the Fréttablaðið about women in business on Wednesday, 26 January, which was published in collaboration with FKA – the Association of Women in Business.

Interview with Helga Stefánsdóttir

Interview with Hildur Sigþórsdóttir

We are empowering and nurturing the representatives of the future.

„An important foundation and a roadmap for our children's future is laid within the country's nurseries through professional and creative work.“ says Jenný Dagbjört Gunnarsdsóttir, development officer for nurseries at Hafnarfjörður Municipality. Jenný worked as a nursery teacher and nursery manager for 21 years before starting her current role almost a decade ago, and she is now the point of contact for the managers and staff of the town's 16 nurseries, providing central support in education and public health. „I am in a great deal of active dialogue and collaboration with colleagues in the field, and it is there, amongst other things, that ideas for development, solutions and approaches that advance the issue are born. Hafnarfjörður is a leader in so many fields, and I believe that this active listening and letting actions speak are what really matters.”

Increased flexibility and greater coherence between the early years of schooling

The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður recently introduced a landmark step in the strengthening and development of its nursery education by deciding to increase flexibility and greater coherence between the early years of schooling. Thus, the nursery school operation has been brought closer to that of the primary schools, both in the organisation of the school year and in working hours. “A great deal of work has gone into implementing the measures with all relevant parties, including the Association of Nursery Teachers. When it was approved in 2019 that a single licence would be valid for teaching at both nursery and primary school levels, we began to experience a shift between school stages and a reduction in the number of professionals within nurseries. For several years, we have provided grants and support for professional qualifications in the profession, and many have taken advantage of this opportunity. That has helped a great deal, but it was clear that it was important to take even bigger steps to reverse the trend. This step has now been taken in Hafnarfjörður, and the coming weeks and months will bear witness to the success of the measures. I am very optimistic,” says Jenný. The aim of the municipality's measures is to increase the number of professionals in the town's nurseries and to equalise working conditions for nursery and primary schools. Since 1 January 2023, the town has also offered home payments to parents of children aged 12 months and over who are not with a childminder or in a nursery, as well as offering start-up grants for childminders and higher subsidies. “I have been immersed in the field of nursery education for decades and am passionate about the advancement of staff, the development of the profession, and adapting it to the needs of society at any given time. I get to challenge myself and thrive in my work, and for that, I am grateful.“