Programme

Housekeeping and Welcome Remarks

Following a welcome from the International Polar Foundation, Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, dlievered the opening keynote speech.

Speakers

• Joseph Cheek

  Project Manager, International Polar Foundation

• Piet Steel

  Vice-President, Belgian Polar Secretariat; Director, IPF Board; President Corporate, EU-Asia Centre

• Virginijus Sinkevičius

  European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

Arctic Challenges

This session heard the perspectives of distinguished speakers, who focused on topics including international cooperation in the Arctic, ocean governance, and security.

Moderators

• Mike Sfraga

  Director, Wilson Center Polar Institute

Speakers

• Virginijus Sinkevičius

  European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

• Stéphane Dion

  Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the EU and Europe, and Canada's Ambassador to Germany

• Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide

  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway

• James DeHart

  U.S Coordinator for the Arctic Region

Break

Arctic Policies: European Arctic and Russia

The discussion focused on new elements in the Arctic policies of Arctic states, the EU and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations. Three panel discussions were held on this topic followed by a summing up from the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Moderators

• Adam Stępień

  Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland

Speakers

• Hilde Svartdal Lunde

  Senior Arctic Official, Ambassador/ Special Advisor for the Arctic and Antarctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway

• Petteri Vuorimäki

  Senior Arctic Official; Ambassador, Arctic and Antarctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

• Nikolay Korchunov

  Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, Senior Arctic Official of the Russian Federation

• Tonje Margrete Winsnes Johansen

  Advisor, Saami Council Arctic and Environment Unit

Arctic Policies: Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Denmark

The discussion focused on new elements in the Arctic policies of Arctic states, the EU and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations.

Moderators

• Adam Stępień

  Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland

Speakers

• Friðrik Jónsson

  Director-General GRÓ, Senior Arctic Official, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland

• Margretha Jacobsen

  Representative of the Faroe Islands to the Arctic Council

• Mira Kleist

  Special Advisor, Greenland Minsitry for Foreign Affairs and Energy

• Thomas Winkler

  Arctic Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark; Head of the Department of Arctic and North America of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Arctic Policies: North America

The discussion focused on new elements in the Arctic policies of Arctic states, the EU and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations.

Moderators

• Adam Stępień

  Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland

Speakers

• Meredith Rubin

  Senior Arctic Official, U.S. Department of State

• David Sproule

  Senior Arctic Official, Canada; Director General, Polar, Eurasian and European Affairs, Global Affairs Canada

• Dalee Sambo Dorough

  Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council

Arctic policies: EU

The discussion focused on new elements in the Arctic policies of Arctic states, the EU and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations.

Moderators

• Adam Stępień

  Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland

Speakers

• Michael Mann

  EU Special Envoy for Arctic Matters

Arctic Community Needs and Preparedness

This panel looked at the challenges Arctic communities face, and how to make these communities better prepared to face challenges and promote the well-being of its inhabitants.

Moderators

• Arne Holm

  Editor in Chief, High North News at the High North Center, Nord University

Speakers

• Pál Weihe

  Director of the Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Faroe Islands

• Kristen Tanche

  Regional Health & Wellness Coordinator, Dehcho First Nations, Alumni of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship Program

• Julie Rademacher

  Head of Communication, Tele Post

Break

Pollution, Climate Change and Biodiversity: Challenges and Solutions

This session looked at marine pollution, threats to biodiversity, climate change and how they affect community security in the Arctic. It will also discussion solutions to these challenges.

Moderators

• Philippe Archambault

  Scientific Director, Arctic Net; Professor of Marine Biology, Université Laval

Speakers

• Kjersti Tønnessen Busch

  CEO, SALT Lofoten AS

• Lisanne Raderschall

  Policy Analyst, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD

• Andres Sanabria

  Policy Analyst, Economist, Regional and Rural Development, OECD

• Hjálmar Hátun

  Senior Research Scientist at the Faroe Marine Research Institute and Lecturer at the University of the Faroe Islands

• Ellen Avard

  Director, Nunavik Research Center

Break

Resilience through Empowerment

This panel looked at how to empower Arctic residents, in particular women and indigenous peoples.

Moderators

• Embla Eir Oddsdóttir

  Director, Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN); Chair, SDWG

Speakers

• Crystal Martin Lapenskie

  President of National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC)

• Vilena Valeeva

  Research Associate, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies

• Isak Utsi

  Mayor of Arjeplog, Sweden

• Marya Rozanova Smith

  Professorial Lecturer at the George Washington University (GWU) and Advisor to the Chancellor at the Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU)

• Andrey Petrov

  Director, ARCTICenter, University of Northern Iowa

A Uniquely Arctic Entrepreneurship and Investment Culture

This panel looked at how to foster entrepreneurship in small Arctic communities - including using traditional knowledge and climate research as a source of entrepreneurship - as well as encouraging investment in the Arctic.

Moderators

• Doris Carson

  PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Umeå University

Speakers

• Trevor Bell

  Geographer and University Research Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Founder and Director of SmartICE

• Emil Skjervedal

  Head of Business Department, Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq

• Christian Vintergaard

  CEO, Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship

• Tor Erik Somby

  Co-founder, Tundra Drone AS

Break

The EU’s Engagement in the Arctic and Implementing the EU Green Deal Part 1

This discussion focused on the EU’s involvement in Arctic affairs, in which areas the EU should engage more, and how the goals of the EU Green Deal will be implemented in the Arctic.

Moderators

• Marie-Anne Coninsx

  Former EU Ambassador at Large for the Arctic, European Union

Speakers

• Anne Bergenfelt

  Senior Advisor in the Cabinet of High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission Joseph Borrell Fontelles

• Urmas Paet

  Member of the European Parliament (Renew Europe Group)

• Elle Merete Omma

  Head of EU Unit, Saami Council

• Anu Fredrikson

  Executive Director, Arctic Frontiers

Break

The EU’s Engagement in the Arctic and Implementing the EU Green Deal Part 2

This panel discussion focused on the EU’s involvement in Arctic affairs, in which areas the EU should engage more, and how the goals of the EU Green Deal will be implemented in the Arctic.

Moderators

• Marie-Anne Coninsx

  Former EU Ambassador at Large for the Arctic

Speakers

• Einar Gunnarsson

  Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Iceland; Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials

• Veronika Veits

  Director for International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries, in the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) European Commission

• Tomas Norvoll

  President, Nordland County Council and Chair of the Board, North Norway European Office

• Elin Mortensen

  Head of Mission of the Faroes to the EU

• Christian Keldsen

  Director, Greenland Business Association