Dr. María Rún Bjarnadóttir is lead academic in the field of IT law at Reykjavík University. Previously she served at the executive level of the Icelandic police, including as the Head of Legal and Substitute for the Commissioner at the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police. She has extensive policy experience from a decade long career with the Icelandic Government Offices, has held regulatory roles on a national level and monitoring roles on a European level. Her expertise lies at the intersection between technology, law and human rights with an emphasis on democratic institutions and equality.

María holds B.A. and Mag.Jur. degrees in law from University of Iceland, and a PhD in law from University of Sussex.