The expertise behind Reykjavík Institute
Páll Gunnarsson
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Reykjavík Institute is an independent body coordinating between the scientific community, national governments, and the international institutions an AMOC response depends on.
It began with a question. In 2024, its founder, Páll Gunnarsson, read the emerging research on the risk of AMOC collapse and assumed what most people would: that the institutions responsible for national stability – central banks, security bodies – must already be tracking something this serious. The science was there, and scientists were raising concerns. However, he could find no sign that the institutions that would have to act on it were tracking it. The risk was well described and, at the level of the state, unattended.
He had reason to take that gap seriously rather than assume someone else would close it. His earlier career was in software, including work with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children that contributed to a significant global improvement in child-safety protection. It was an experience that convinced him that genuine global harms can be reduced by focused, determined work – and that the problems worth one's time are those where the stakes are real and the work is unambiguously right. AMOC risk was exactly such a problem. He founded the Institute to attend to it.
Siham Wootton
ADVISOR
Siham Wootton advises Reykjavík Institute on fundraising strategy and efforts to build and strengthen relationships across the philanthropic sector.
Prior to joining the Institute, Siham was Director of The Taylor Family Foundation where she initiated and led a comprehensive review of the foundation’s strategy, working closely with key stakeholders to develop a structured and intentional approach for the foundation’s future.
Siham has over a decade's experience as chief of staff or senior advisor to several high-profile individuals, offering guidance across various political and philanthropic initiatives, strong judgment, strategic thinking, and discretion.
Chetan Chandavarkar
ADVISOR
At Reykjavík Institute, Chetan Chandavarkar advises on operations, messaging, and communications.
Chetan started his career as employee #1 in a successful startup in New York City. He then pivoted to working for large global organizations like Pitney Bowes, TIBCO Software, and Software AG. He developed a track record of leading operations across sales, marketing, product, research, and data. His work has made multi-million and long-lasting impacts to the top and bottom line.
After two decades of leading large-scale transformations in corporate America, Chetan was inspired to apply his skills to mission-driven organizations that are addressing the key challenges that face our planet today.
Our Funders
