It is with great pleasure that we introduce the new US Ambassador to Iceland, Carin Patman as Keynote Speaker at Startup Iceland 2023. As a seasoned lawyer, business leader, and philanthropist, Ambassador Patman brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new role.
Ambassador Patman’s background is diverse and impressive. Prior to becoming ambassador, Carrin served for six years as the first woman board chair of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, an agency that runs Houston and Harris County’s transit operations, with a $1.3 billion budget, 4,100 employees, and a 1,300-square-mile service area containing 3.9 million people. For three decades Carrin was a trial lawyer for the international law firm of Bracewell LLP, handling major litigation involving commercial disputes, securities matters, antitrust and competition issues, and regulatory compliance, and she became the first woman elected to serve on the firm’s management committee. She has served as the chair of the Houston First Corporation, which promotes tourism and economic development in Houston, Texas. She has also been a partner at a prestigious law firm, Vinson & Elkins, where she specialized in securities litigation and white-collar criminal defense.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ambassador Patman has a strong commitment to community service. Carrin’s distinguished record of civic engagement includes prior service on the boards of the Greater Houston Partnership (the Houston-area chamber of commerce), the Houston-Galveston Area Transportation Policy Council, Girls Incorporated of Greater Houston, Sheltering Arms Senior Services, the Legacy Community Health Foundation, the University of Texas Law School Foundation, and the Houston Bar Foundation. She was a member of the Houston Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, and a founding board member of the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas School of Law.
Carrin earned her B.A. from Duke University and her J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law, and in 2014 completed a year-long Advanced Leadership Initiative fellowship at Harvard University.
Carrin’s multiple recognitions for professional achievement combined with community service include the Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award given by the Anti‐Defamation League (Southwest Region), the Distinguished Alumna for Community Service Award given by the University of Texas School of Law, the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame, and the Houston Women’s Transportation Seminar Woman of the Year.
Ambassador Patman’s role in Iceland will be especially exciting for those in the startup community, as she will be a keynote speaker at Startup Iceland 2023. This annual event brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators from Iceland and around the world to network, learn, and share ideas.
As a leader in the business and legal fields, Ambassador Patman is well-equipped to provide insights and advice to those in the startup world. Her experience in promoting economic development in Houston and serving on nonprofit boards will also be valuable for those looking to create positive social impact through their work.
We are thrilled to welcome Ambassador Patman to Iceland and look forward to hearing her speak at Startup Iceland 2023. Her leadership and expertise will undoubtedly be an asset to both the US Embassy and the Icelandic community.
