2025 A Healthy Arctic

A Healthy Arctic

Arctic communities have long lived side by side with nature and the environment; however, these are increasingly threatened by climate change. The program explored how these changes are affecting public and individual health. At the same time, the vast and sparsely populated North poses challenges for accessing health services.

Participants examined the types of investment needed to improve health outcomes across the region and collaborated to develop ideas for a comprehensive and holistic understanding of health and well-being in the Arctic. From community and livelihoods to the land itself—what makes us healthy?

Meet our Emerging Leaders of 2025

Dr. Emma Vogel (she/her) is an interdisciplinary postdoctoral researcher at the Arctic Sustainability Lab, University of Tromsø, interested in spatial ecology, animal movement, and sustainable marine ecosystems. Her research uses marine megafauna biotelemetry data to identify ecological blue corridors across the North Atlantic and Arctic, helping to inform ecological connectivity models that account for the cumulative impacts of anthropogenic activities along their migration paths. She is also investigating the sustainability of blue food systems in northern Norway, using the Coastal Barometer—a tool designed to assess coastal sustainability in the region. Both projects aim to protect and restore vulnerable marine ecosystems by deepening our understanding of these complex systems and identifying key areas where human activities could be better managed, mitigated, or reduced for ecosystem health. Emma obtained her PhD in animal movement and marine ecology from the University of Tromsø in December 2023. Her thesis focused on how the movements and behaviours of marine top predators are influenced by various prey fields and environmental factors at both individual and population levels. She employed a range of techniques, including bio-logging, stable isotope analysis, and quantitative modelling, to study these interactions.

Taya Tootoo (she/they) is currently the Executive Director for the Arctic Children and Youth Foundation. Prior to moving into administration, she started work in the organization within the Qupanuaq Office, managing a small team building the foundations for the service structures and support for families. Her previous work had her working within the Department of Education, resource division, where she managed all the Inuktut Resources for the territory’s schools. Taya was raised in Iqaluit, Nunavut for the majority of her life. She completed high school at Pearson College, United World College of the Pacific on Vancouver Island. She is currently enrolled as a student at the University of Toronto within the Anthropology and Indigenous studies streams. Taya is also a mother, advocate, and avid dog lover. She loves to hike, hunt, boat, camp, berry pick and enjoy time with family and friends. Her lineage is a mix of Metis on her mother’s side and Inuk on her fathers. She was raised with cultural values from both backgrounds and grown around a sense of community that she continues to incorporate into her daily life; actively learning and growing in her role as a mother, student, leader, and team member.

Archana Singh (she/her) is a scientist at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, India. Her research focuses on organic matter dynamics in the Arctic, where she studies the nature and fate of organic matter in response to climate change. Currently pursuing a PhD, she is working on the isolation and characterization of organic biomolecules from Arctic samples. This research is enhancing her analytical skills while helping her understand the ecological implications of organic matter through its biochemical and molecular composition. In addition to her scientific work, she is actively involved in the logistics of the Indian Arctic Program, which has broadened her experience in the organizational and managerial aspects of polar research. This has given her a unique perspective on balancing scientific objectives with logistical challenges. She has had the honor of representing India and NCPOR at various international platforms, committees, and working groups, allowing me to contribute to global discussions on Arctic research and climate change. Her work is driven by a passion for understanding the Arctic's evolving environment and its impact on our planet's future.

Pauke Schots (she/her) is currently working as a Postdoctoral research fellow within the SECURE project, an interdisciplinary project that aims to develop knowledge on novel sustainable marine raw materials to enable food security for a growing population. In her postdoc project, she will be studying the potential health effects of consuming low trophic marine resources such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, and kelp, particularly regarding obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. She has a PhD in marine biotechnology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. During her PhD she studied the health effects of a novel marine oil "Calanus Oil" derived from the zooplankton Calanus finmarchicus. She focused on the health effects related to obesity, diabetes & insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases. She studied the effect of the oil as a whole in mice models, but also the effect of individual mono- and poly unsaturated fatty acids in cell models. During her PhD she spent 3 months in Barcelona, Spain at Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute abroad to study mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and she participated in a PhD immunology course at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Between her PhD and Postdoc she worked as a scientific advisor for the Nansen Legacy project.

Annemijn Sandig (she/her) is currently a researcher at Wageningen Marine Research, where I focus on Arctic ecosystems and cumulative impact assessments. During my master’s studies in Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management at Wageningen University, I specialized in Polar cod parasites in the Central Arctic Ocean. My research passion led me to UNIS in Svalbard, where I conducted a research internship on benthic biodiversity at cold seeps, and participated in several Arctic research cruises. Having spent eight months on Svalbard, I developed a deep commitment to understanding and protecting the Arctic. My current work bridges Arctic marine research with broader ecological projects, including advising governmental bodies on saltwater and freshwater ecosystems. I aim to contribute to balanced policy decisions that safeguard both human interests and ecological health.

Dan Piscoya — Daniel Piscoya (he/him) is a Lieutenant with the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed in Juneau, Alaska. He does search and rescue planning for the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District Command Center. If you are missing or in danger at sea, he helps figure out how to find and help you. He is a lifelong Alaskan and grew up in Ketchikan and Fairbanks before attending the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau. After college, he worked as a naturalist aboard a charter whale-watching boat in Juneau. However, after two seasons, he decided he needed a career rather than just a job. He joined the Coast Guard, earning his commission in 2020. He is Inupiaq Eskimo on his father’s side. He has relatives all over the state, though the Piscoyas originally hail from Nome. His mother is from Vermont, originally, so you could say he is northern through and through. He has been married to his wife for 5 years. They have two children (4 and 2 years old) and one on the way. He is honored to be part of this program and is looking forward to meeting the other selectees.

Larissa Parker — Larissa is an environmental lawyer in Toronto with expertise in climate litigation and climate change adaptation strategies. She was called to the bar in Ontario in November 2022 and routinely works on environmental litigation and regulatory matters covering a broad range of questions on environmental assessment, climate change, energy regulation, and Indigenous land and resource rights. Larissa is published in the fields of climate litigation, environmental human rights, international environmental governance, and rights of nature. Before law, Larissa also completed a Master’s at Oxford, where her dissertation focused on the socio-cultural effects of climate change on Indigenous communities and related community-based adaptation strategies and resilience-building. Her research highlighted the many similarities between the climate impacts that face small island states and arctic communities across the globe, as well as similarities between these communities' adaptation needs. This research continues to influence Larissa's approach to legal advice on climate change adaptation to municipal and Indigenous community clients across Canada.

Katrine Næss established Katrine Næss Consult last year so that she could work with projects across different business fields - that are contributing to what is call "bolyst" in Norway. These are projects that in some sort of way can increase the quality of life for local communities, and make a place FEEL good to live in. Nowadays she works 50% as a project manager for Visit Hammerfest, where she leads a regional tourism development project. She also works 50% as a communications advisor for a city development (real estate) project. On top of that she also does social media for two international festivals - DanseFestival Barents and Finnmarksløpet.

Clémentine Moulin is Head of Expeditions for the Tara Ocean Foundation. As a diver and navigator, her approach to the ocean is intimately linked to marine biodiversity, maritime adventure and environmental protection.

Chip McCrimmon — Chip is an Indigenous entrepreneur & intrapreneur from Deninu Kųę́ First Nation in the Northwest Territories, Canada. He is currently the Co-Founder & Partner of Bird & McCrimmon, an Indigenous-owned management consulting firm bridging the gap between businesses and Indigenous Peoples with a focus on climate tech & sustainable development. Previously, he exited LUX BIO, a Vancouver-based cleantech startup powered by biotech that engineers proteins to generate light. As Co-Founder & COO of LUX BIO, he helped raise $1.75M from American venture capitalists including SOSV - one of the world’s leading biotech & cleantech investors. Chip is also an adjunct professor at Queen’s University where he teaches an entrepreneurship class and in his free time he is also a semi-professional artist. Chip is a graduate of the Master’s of Management, Innovation & Entrepreneurship program from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. He is also an alumnus of Creative Destruction Lab, League of Innovators, and NEXT 36 programs. Chip resides in Calgary, Canada with his two rescue dogs Willy & Lulu.

Dave Marsh — David Marsh is a space industry professional focused on improving life on Earth using technologies in orbit and understanding the geopolitical implications of space exploration. He previously served as the Director of Strategy for Voyager Space, where he helped plan for the future of human spaceflight onboard commercially-owned platforms. A member of The Explorers Club since early 2024, he is an alumnus of the Young Explorers Program, where his research addressed the impact of space technology on remote Arctic communities. Prior to his time in the space industry, he supported the U.S. government as a consultant, working on security cooperation projects in the Middle East, Latin America, and Washington D.C. He received his Bachelor’s in International Relations from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he supported archeological research at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology and Arctic foreign policy research at the Hudson Institute think tank. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, he is a competitive endurance canoe racer.

Rúna Magnússon (she/her) is a creative scientist, half Dutch and half Icelandic, working on relations between polar vegetation, climate change and permafrost thaw. She uses a range of methods, from field experiments to tree-ring studies to remote sensing and drones. Nowadays she mostly does research on Svalbard, but in my PhD she studied the climate, permafrost and plants of the North-Eastern Siberian lowland tundra. She is fascinated by polar ecosystems that are tough yet delicate, hard and icy yet soft and mossy. She is also interested in human-nature relationships, and in our emotional and psychological connection to the Arctic. She likes using visual storytelling and graphic techniques (e.g. linocut or monoprint) to share the beauty of the Arctic or other ecosystems. This way she hopes to inspire a broader audience, also beyond academia. To find out more: https://runamagnusson.com/

Andreas Langdal (he/him) is a Ph.D. candidate in seafood science at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, working on sustainability assessments throughout the production chain of marine food. He has specialised himself on environmental assessments but has been eager to study holistic sustainability viewpoints. He is frequently participating in scientific outreach through either organising events to share new findings or partake himself. Before his Ph.D. study, he undertook a bachelor and master on Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. Trying to learn how the marine food systems impacted the ecosystems, but also how they contributed to ensure nutrients to consumers. He is of the firm conviction that we need to break out of our own communication bubbles to find solutions suitable for everyone. He has therefore also studied in both Portugal, Canada, and Belgium – attempting to understand local challenges and their relationships to global challenges.

Trude Knutsen (she/her) is an advisor at the Norwegian Fishermen's Association, a professional fishermen’s union and business organization. She is 33 years old, originally from Vesterålen - but have lived in Tromsø since 2015. I have, since I was little, had a great interest in the ocean and life in the sea - and therefore very grateful for the opportunity to work with the marine life, resource management and regulations in close collaboration with the fishermen. It is of great importance for me that we manage our resources in a sustainable way, without compromising the ability of future generations.

Kristoffer Karlsen (he/him) comes from a small community in Eidsfjorden, Vesterålen. He is 27 years old and has been living in Tromsø for the past 6 years with his dog. He moved to Tromsø to take a master’s degree in societal safety. While he did his master’s he worked with the Norwegian Avalanche Warning Service on understanding avalanche accidents in the backcountry, as well as arranging emergency prepeardness excercises for them. After he finished my masters, he moved on to work as a safety and emergency advisor in Tromsø municipality, with a special focus on natural hazard risk management. In his work, he strongly believes in local stakeholder engagement to find the best solutions. After all, it's them they're working for.

Mikajosefin Jonsson Gehrke (she/her) was born in Nacka and is strongly connected to Idre Sami village (the southernmost Sami village in Sweden). Currently, she is a Political Science candidate at Luleå University of Technology. From the legacy of her reindeer-herding family, which still runs reindeer husbandry based on the reindeer's and nature's conditions, she is committed to the Arctic habitat. The Arctic is particularly vulnerable to global warming. Because of this, she has the arctic environment as a special interest outside of her studies, which has led her to be involved in WWF Sweden Youth and the Arctic Youth Dialogue. She has participated in conferences in the European Parliament in Brussels and in Latvia and Switzerland to discuss and talk with politicians about the Arctic environment. In addition to her studies and her personal interest and commitment to the Arctic, she wants to be able to influence Arctic politics.

Malou Platou Johansen — Malou (she/her), an Inuk from Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), recently earned her Master’s degree in Arctic Marine Ecology. She previously completed her Bachelor’s degree in Joint Marine Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her deep connections to the Arctic stem from various experiences, starting with her participation in the Arctic Winter Games as an adolescent. She later attended Lester B. Pearson United World College with students from all provinces and territories of Canada, which further broadened her Arctic network. Over time, she expanded her expertise through higher education, conferences, and youth engagement opportunities. Malou has gained extensive experience aboard scientific research cruises, collaborating with institutions like Pinngortitaleriffik (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources), the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. She is eager to continue learning and contributing to this field. After living outside the Arctic for her studies and recently returning, Malou is certain that she wants to build her future in the Arctic. A true lover of snowy winters, Malou enjoys cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and watching the northern lights. Her hobbies include knitting, beading, scuba diving, kayaking, and embracing all aspects of life.

Elise Lund Holm (she/her) is a 28-year-old woman from Båtsfjord, Norway. She currently works as an HR coordinator at Lerøy Norway Seafoods AS. She is a true Båtsfjord patriot, and is passionate about a vibrant local community. She has two children, ages 1 and 4, and she hopes to provide them with a safe and nurturing upbringing, just like the one she experienced herself. In her free time, she is actively involved in the local community. She is a member of the municipal council in Båtsfjord Municipality and Deputy Chair for the national park board for Varangerhalvøya National Park. Additionally, she sings in the Båtsfjord Women's Choir and participates in the Midnight Ski Race for women. She thrives best when there’s a lot going on, and loves being social.

Kevin Heller (he/him) is a Program Coordinator with the Contaminated Sites Program at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium where they aim to empower Alaska Native communities in addressing contaminated land through building strong partnerships, providing education, technical and hands-on assistance, and promoting economic innovation to ensure a sustainable and healthy future. He hails from the ancestral homelands of the Erie people and currently resides in Anchorage, on the ancestral lands of the Dena'ina people. Kevin is also pursuing a graduate degree in Environmental Policy & Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, with a language focus in Russian. He aspires to become a diplomat focused on environmental sustainability and peacebuilding in the Arctic and firmly believes that, despite the challenges, the Arctic can remain a region of cooperation and forward-thinking solutions to address the most critical issues of the 21st century.

Eirik Haugstvedt Henriksen — Born and raised in Tromsø - the gateway to the Arctic, Eirik (he/him) did his Bachelor, Master and PhD in Biology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Here, he specialized in freshwater biology working mainly with parasites in snails, amphipods and fishes. Parasites are embedded in food webs and provide information on the state and functioning of Arctic ecosystems. Following his time at the University he has worked for the government with spatial planning before his current job as a researcher in freshwater biology with Akvaplan-niva. Here he works with pollution in freshwater ecosystems, anadromous fish and parasites on Svalbard - among other things. Eirik lives in Tromsø with his girlfriend and their three huskies Tommy, Maile and Mozart. He spends his spare time fishing in the fjords, skiing in the mountains and going to cultural events in the city. He cares about the region and hopes that my work can contribute to a healthy Arctic in the future.

Wahaj Habib (he/him) is a Postdoctoral researcher at Trinity College Dublin, focusing on satellite-driven modelling to upscale Ireland's CO2 Net Ecosystem Exchange (ICONEEx) project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland. His research interest lies in geospatial machine learning, land use change analysis, and geospatial data science, with applications in climate change. He earned his PhD in Remote Sensing and GIS from Trinity College Dublin in 2024, where he researched the impact of management activities on peatland ecosystems using multi-spatial-temporal remote sensing and machine learning techniques. His MSc in Remote Sensing and GIS from the Asian Institute of Technology included developing machine learning models for flood forecasting in Thailand. His research experience encompasses high-resolution habitat mapping, artificial drainage detection, and land use change assessment using satellite imagery and deep learning methods. He is also involved in teaching GIS and remote sensing at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, covering modules such as GIS for Smart and Sustainable Cities, Biodiversity and Conservation and Environmental Sciences.

Dan Guhl (he/him) is the Chief Business Development Officer at Solvest Inc., northern Canada’s largest renewable energy company. Born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, Dan leads renewable energy projects aimed at increasing energy security and economic resilience in remote and Indigenous communities across the North. He specializes in business development, strategic partnerships, and the deployment of clean energy solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the Arctic region. Dan has a deep personal and professional commitment to sustainable development in the Arctic. He is actively working to expand his knowledge through a Master’s in Sustainability in Energy Security from the University of Saskatchewan, complementing his Energy Transitions Graduate Certificate. Dan’s experience includes leading market research initiatives, optimizing business processes, and developing long-term relationships with Indigenous communities, Governments and development corporations. In addition to his role at Solvest, Dan is a new father, an avid subsistence hunter, and the co-founder of Balance Health and Fitness, an entrepreneurial venture in Whitehorse. Passionate about creating a healthier, more resilient Arctic, Dan is dedicated to finding solutions that enhance both environmental sustainability and economic growth for future generations.

Edvard Foss (he/him) is a Director of Innovation Management at Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) in Tromsø, Norway. He holds a Master of Science in Electronic Systems Design and Innovation from NTNU and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Space Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Edvard works on developing cutting-edge satellite communication services designed to meet the connectivity demands of satellite constellations that monitor Earth for environmental, security, and defense purposes. These services are critical for global climate monitoring, security surveillance, and defense operations, particularly in the Arctic region.

Helle Fossbakk-Lossius (she/her) is a driver of sustainable business development by education, occupation and heart with vast experience and core competencies within strategy, improvements and project leadership. Helle is currently employed at Equinor ASA, where she is the team leader Future operations in Exploration and Production Norway. She is responsible for developing, enabling and implementing a safe, efficient and sustainable future operating model for Wisting in the Barents Sea. Helle holds a Master’s in Business analytics and performance management from the Norwegian School of Economics, with special focus on sustainable business development. Helle is originally from and currently situated in Harstad, but studied and worked in Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger. She has a passion for traveling, new experiences and cultures.

Sam Farquhar — LTJR Samantha Farquhar (she/her) is a PhD Candidate at East Carolina University in Integrated Coastal Sciences, where her research focuses on the impacts of Arctic fisheries development on local food security. She investigates how these emerging industries may affect subsistence and culturally important food sources for Indigenous communities, offering critical insights into balancing economic growth with the preservation of essential food resources in rapidly changing Arctic environments. Sam's interests also extend to Arctic search and rescue and oil spill response, areas vital to the safety and sustainability of these vulnerable regions. Alongside her academic pursuits, Sama serves as a Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2) in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves, where she contributes to the Coast Guard’s mission of protecting marine environments and supporting national security.

Andrew Erskine (he/him) is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy and a researcher with the Consortium of Indo-Pacific Researchers. He has held previous fellowships with the NATO Association of Canada and with the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada. He graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History and a Masters of Global Affairs. Currently, Andrew works as a Policy Officer with the Government of Prince Edward Island, after previously being a Parliamentary and Legislative Assistant to the Member of Parliament for Orléans. Andrew has published with the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, IPD, Canadian Global Affairs Institute, Open Canada, The Hill Times and the Atlantic Forum. His work focuses on Canadian security, defence, and foreign policy pertaining to North America, the Arctic, the Indo-Pacific and NATO.

Marguerite Cassegrain (she/her) is a French student in her first year of a PhD in geography/geopolitics at Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne. Her thesis, which is under the supervision of Sophie Hou (specialist in energy issues in Russia, Eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East) and Yann Richard (specialist in the EU and its regional environment), looks at how the EU constructs its security in its Arctic neighbourhood. This work takes place against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, which has reinforced the need for the EU to think about its security in the Arctic.

Caroline Ponthieu — Caroline Buus Ponthieu (she/her) is half French and half Danish, and was born and raised in France. She moved to Denmark to study international relations and psychology for my bachelor’s degree. During this time, she developed an interest in the Arctic and energy transitions, which led her to live in Tromsø for a while. She later pursued a master’s degree in Stavanger, where she studied the energy transition from a socio-political perspective. Her passion for the Arctic led her back to Tromsø where she wrote her thesis on hydrogen developments in northern Norway, doing fieldwork in various parts of Finnmark. After completing her master’s, she accepted a PhD position at NTNU, where she is now researching the race for critical minerals and how it is changing global geopolitics. She remains strongly interested in the Arctic, believing that this region is crucial for understanding and addressing many of today’s energy and geopolitical challenges.

Gabrielle Battaglia — Gabriella Battaglia (she/her) is an early-career Sustainability professional with a Master's degree in Resource Economics and Sustainable Development and a Bachelor's degree in International Cooperation and Development. She pursued a course in Arctic Studies at Dickinson College, solidifying her focus on this area and leading her to publish a short documentary examining the impacts of Climate Change in the region. Currently, she is completing an internship in the Corporate Sustainability team at PUMA, where she supports initiatives related to Sustainable Development and Circularity in the private sector. Her previous experience at Patagonia ignited her passion for the intersection of the Outdoor sector and Indigenous lands. Gabriella has also gained valuable Renewable Energy Anlaysis, Stakeholder Engagement and ESG through previous work experience and she always seeks ways to enrich her knowledge about the Arctic by taking courses from the Woodwell Climate Research Center and by watching NatGeo documentaries.

Diego Arteaga (he/him) is a Mineral processing engineer who completed a Master's in Mineral Resources and Sustainable Mining in 2023 and began his PhD at the University of Oulu at the end of that year. Originally from Chile and now based in Finland, he has worked in the mining industry in Chile, where he gained valuable insight into the operational challenges of the sector and how mining can impact local communities. In Chile, mining activities often affect water availability, land use, and the health of nearby populations, which has fueled his passion for creating more responsible ways to extract resources. Through his current research, he is committed to exploring innovative solutions that minimize environmental harm and positively influence the communities involved.

2025 Program Recap

The group of 30 young professionals from 13 nationalities and 5 different Indigenous groups met first at the Salmon Centre in Bodø with 4 mentors – unfortunately Kari Helene Skog fell sick and could not join the program.

During their time in the city, the group visited the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and the Bådåddjo/Buvvda museum.

They took a flight to Andenes in Andøya known for its whale sightings. Unfortunately, their whale watching was cancelled due to strong winds. Instead, the group visited a local fish farm with aims to become the greenest one on the island. Their time in Andøya was also marked by a visit to Andøya Space.

The group flew to Tromsø where they attended the first-ever Arctic Youth Conference, held by the Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council.

To work on their Brief Outlook videos, the group retreated to Sommarøy – a small town outside Tromsø.

Upon their return to Tromsø, the group participated in the Arctic Frontiers 2025: Beyond Borders Conference. There they had a workshop, spoke in sessions, took part in recorded segments, and hosted the annual Emerging Leaders Reception.

Their program was marked by beautiful weather in the North and ongoing geopolitical unrest following the USA’s 2025 presidential inauguration.

Update: the group is currently working on a publication reuniting their views and lessons.

2025 Brief Outlooks

These are short videos produced by the Emerging Leaders 2025 participants. They develop the script and must come to a consensus on their messages. The videos are shown during the Big Picture sessions at the Arctic Frontiers conference.