Mr Árni M. Mathiesen, Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree from the University of Edinburgh, U.K. and an MSc in Aquatic Veterinary Science from the University of Stirling, U.K. After completing his studies, he worked as a veterinarian, specializing in fish diseases for ten years and was also the Managing Director of an aquaculture firm.

Mr Mathiesen was a member of the Board of the Icelandic Veterinary Association from 1986 to 1987 as well as the Chairman of the Council for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals from 1994 to 1999. From 1990 to 1994, he was a member of the Board of the Guarantee Division of Aquaculture Loans and, from 1994 to 1998, a member of the Board of the Agricultural Bank of Iceland and of the Agricultural Loan Fund. In 1991, Mr Mathiesen was elected to the Icelandic Parliament and served as Minister for Fisheries from May 1999 to September 2005 and, subsequently, as Minister for Finance until February 2009.

Before joining FAO in 2010, was a consultant for the Confederation of Icelandic Employers as well as working in a general veterinary practice in Iceland.