Jonas Hafström, a Swedish diplomat, currently serving as Sweden’s ambassador to the United States will visit Gustavus Adolphus College on Wednesday, Nov. 10.
During his time at the College, Hafström will attend three classes, have lunch with students who have an interest in Sweden, visit the Swedish House, and have dinner at the President’s House with employees and friends of the College.
Hafström earned a law degree from Lund University in 1974 and has since served in numerous positions within the Swedish government. Prior to assuming his current position in Washington D.C., in the fall of 2007, Hafström served from 2004 to 2007 as the Swedish ambassador to Burma, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand. He was noted for his efforts in assisting Swedish tourists in Thailand following the 2004 tsunami that devastated the region. He was later awarded H.M. The King’s Medal from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden for his “meritorious efforts during the tsunami disaster in South East Asia.”
From 2000 to 2004, Hafström served as Deputy Director-General and head of the Department for Consular Affairs and Civil Law at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. From 1994 to 2000, Hafström was head of the International Bureau of the Moderate Party and foreign policy advisor to Sweden’s Prime Minister Carl Bildt. Hafström also served Bildt as his press secretary from 1987 to 1991 when Bildt was chairman of the Moderate Party. Hafström also served stints as First Secretary at the Swedish embassies in Iran (1982-1984) and the United States (1984-1987).
For more information about Hafström’s visit to Gustavus, contact the President’s Office at 507-933-7538.
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