Programme
Below you may find the schedule of the symposium webinars held between 30 November and 2 December 2020.
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
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Joseph Cheek
Project Manager, International Polar Foundation
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Piet Steel
Vice-President, Belgian Polar Secretariat; Director, IPF Board; President Corporate, EU-Asia Centre
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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
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Mike Sfraga
Director, Wilson Center Polar Institute
Speakers
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Virginijus Sinkevičius
European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
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Stéphane Dion
Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the EU and Europe, and Canada's Ambassador to Germany
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Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway
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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
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Adam Stępień
Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
Speakers
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Hilde Svartdal Lunde
Senior Arctic Official, Ambassador/ Special Advisor for the Arctic and Antarctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
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Petteri Vuorimäki
Senior Arctic Official; Ambassador, Arctic and Antarctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
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Nikolay Korchunov
Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, Senior Arctic Official of the Russian Federation
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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
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Adam Stępień
Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
Speakers
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Friðrik Jónsson
Director-General GRÓ, Senior Arctic Official, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland
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Margretha Jacobsen
Representative of the Faroe Islands to the Arctic Council
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Mira Kleist
Special Advisor, Greenland Minsitry for Foreign Affairs and Energy
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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
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Adam Stępień
Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
Speakers
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Meredith Rubin
Senior Arctic Official, U.S. Department of State
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David Sproule
Senior Arctic Official, Canada; Director General, Polar, Eurasian and European Affairs, Global Affairs Canada
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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
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Adam Stępień
Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
Speakers
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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
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Arne Holm
Editor in Chief, High North News at the High North Center, Nord University
Speakers
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Pál Weihe
Director of the Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Faroe Islands
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Kristen Tanche
Regional Health & Wellness Coordinator, Dehcho First Nations, Alumni of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship Program
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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
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Philippe Archambault
Scientific Director, Arctic Net; Professor of Marine Biology, Université Laval
Speakers
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Kjersti Tønnessen Busch
CEO, SALT Lofoten AS
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Lisanne Raderschall
Policy Analyst, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD
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Andres Sanabria
Policy Analyst, Economist, Regional and Rural Development, OECD
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Hjálmar Hátun
Senior Research Scientist at the Faroe Marine Research Institute and Lecturer at the University of the Faroe Islands
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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
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Embla Eir Oddsdóttir
Director, Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN); Chair, SDWG
Speakers
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Crystal Martin Lapenskie
President of National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC)
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Vilena Valeeva
Research Associate, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies
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Isak Utsi
Mayor of Arjeplog, Sweden
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Marya Rozanova Smith
Professorial Lecturer at the George Washington University (GWU) and Advisor to the Chancellor at the Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU)
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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
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Doris Carson
PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Umeå University
Speakers
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Trevor Bell
Geographer and University Research Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland; Founder and Director of SmartICE
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Emil Skjervedal
Head of Business Department, Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq
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Christian Vintergaard
CEO, Danish Foundation for Entrepreneurship
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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
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Marie-Anne Coninsx
Former EU Ambassador at Large for the Arctic, European Union
Speakers
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Anne Bergenfelt
Senior Advisor in the Cabinet of High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission Joseph Borrell Fontelles
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Urmas Paet
Member of the European Parliament (Renew Europe Group)
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Elle Merete Omma
Head of EU Unit, Saami Council
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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
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Marie-Anne Coninsx
Former EU Ambassador at Large for the Arctic
Speakers
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Einar Gunnarsson
Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Iceland; Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials
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Veronika Veits
Director for International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries, in the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) European Commission
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Tomas Norvoll
President, Nordland County Council and Chair of the Board, North Norway European Office
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Elin Mortensen
Head of Mission of the Faroes to the EU
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Christian Keldsen
Director, Greenland Business Association