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Emerging Leaders

2023 The Green Shift

The Emerging Leaders program took place in Northern Norway from January 27 to February 2, 2023. This year’s theme was "The Green Shift".

The Green Shift

The ongoing war in Ukraine has highlighted the vulnerabilities of the energy sector in Europe leading to strong worries about energy security and affordability. At the same time, the need for a shift towards greener energy sources has never been more dire as the Arctic continues to warm at four times the global average rate.

Is geopolitical instability leading to a faster or slower energy transition? What is the role of the Arctic in it and what are the costs economically and environmentally?

Meet our Emerging Leaders of 2023

Liz Peredun (she/her) is the Executive Director of Yukon Women in Trades and Technology, a Whitehorse-based non-profit that focuses on achieving gender equity in skilled trades and technology careers. She has worked in a variety of educational contexts with participants of all ages, and grounds her work in feminist theory, place-based education and mentorship. Liz has spent 500+ field days leading remote backcountry expeditions in the Yukon, U.S, and worldwide where she developed her pedagogy, as well as her risk management and problem-solving skills. Her published works include the intersection of place education and feminism.
Liz Peredun (she/her) is the Executive Director of Yukon Women in Trades and Technology, a Whitehorse-based non-profit that focuses on achieving gender equity in skilled trades and technology careers. She has worked in a variety of educational contexts with participants of all ages, and grounds her work in feminist theory, place-based education and mentorship. Liz has spent 500+ field days leading remote backcountry expeditions in the Yukon, U.S, and worldwide where she developed her pedagogy, as well as her risk management and problem-solving skills. Her published works include the intersection of place education and feminism.
Ciera Lee-Kooneeliusie (she/her) was born and raised in Qikiqtarjuaq and Panniqtuuq, NU. She grew up intertwined in and aware of a rapidly evolving landscape, both in our physical environment and epistemology. Her parents, both passionate educators, skilled hunters and navigators, supported her placement between the Euro-Canadian world and their traditional world – this provided her with the footing to support where she is today. Her career with the Canadian Coast Guard’s Arctic Region began in 2018, when she worked as a Search and Rescue (SAR) Crew member with the newly developed Inshore Rescue Boat Program in the Arctic. Since then, her career with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has continued to develop as she has taken on various positions with increasing ability to enact change in how the program is established specifically for the Arctic.
Ciera Lee-Kooneeliusie (she/her) was born and raised in Qikiqtarjuaq and Panniqtuuq, NU. She grew up intertwined in and aware of a rapidly evolving landscape, both in our physical environment and epistemology. Her parents, both passionate educators, skilled hunters and navigators, supported her placement between the Euro-Canadian world and their traditional world – this provided her with the footing to support where she is today. Her career with the Canadian Coast Guard’s Arctic Region began in 2018, when she worked as a Search and Rescue (SAR) Crew member with the newly developed Inshore Rescue Boat Program in the Arctic. Since then, her career with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has continued to develop as she has taken on various positions with increasing ability to enact change in how the program is established specifically for the Arctic.
Bryan Cassella (he/him) is the Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross of Alaska. He comes to this position by way of an academic and professional career in international development and humanitarian aid. Having lived and worked around the world, most extensively in Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Rwanda, his experiences have embedded a deep passion for and care of community engagement, exchange, and empowerment. In relocating back to the United States, he sought to make Alaska his home, as it possesses such a vast and under-appreciated wealth of history, culture, diversity, resilience, and independence. While in graduate school, he discovered some of his greatest academic interests revolved around movements for self-determination and transitional justice. Through the combination of these two themes, he sought to decolonize his understandings of social motivations and reconstruct his approach and methods in engaging communities where they are at, with the tools and wisdoms most available and comfortable to them. He has found great appreciation and value for the state he lives in, for there is much to learn from the ways of its native communities and even more to cherish from the pride Alaskans maintain. Through extensive travel across this vast state, he has seen first-hand the devastating impacts of climate change on Arctic and Sub-Arctic communities. Now more than ever he is driven to foster new connections between Arctic communities, support the people of his home state in their evolution of modern resiliency strategies, and find new paths for resources that may deliver hope for a sustainable future while preserving a historic past. The opportunity for advocacy and privileges granted by his position are the greatest tools at his disposal as we all seek to identify the most effective course of action for unprecedented development in the global Arctic.
Bryan Cassella (he/him) is the Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross of Alaska. He comes to this position by way of an academic and professional career in international development and humanitarian aid. Having lived and worked around the world, most extensively in Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Rwanda, his experiences have embedded a deep passion for and care of community engagement, exchange, and empowerment. In relocating back to the United States, he sought to make Alaska his home, as it possesses such a vast and under-appreciated wealth of history, culture, diversity, resilience, and independence. While in graduate school, he discovered some of his greatest academic interests revolved around movements for self-determination and transitional justice. Through the combination of these two themes, he sought to decolonize his understandings of social motivations and reconstruct his approach and methods in engaging communities where they are at, with the tools and wisdoms most available and comfortable to them. He has found great appreciation and value for the state he lives in, for there is much to learn from the ways of its native communities and even more to cherish from the pride Alaskans maintain. Through extensive travel across this vast state, he has seen first-hand the devastating impacts of climate change on Arctic and Sub-Arctic communities. Now more than ever he is driven to foster new connections between Arctic communities, support the people of his home state in their evolution of modern resiliency strategies, and find new paths for resources that may deliver hope for a sustainable future while preserving a historic past. The opportunity for advocacy and privileges granted by his position are the greatest tools at his disposal as we all seek to identify the most effective course of action for unprecedented development in the global Arctic.
Aubrey Roberts (she/her) and her family moved from the United Kingdom when she was four. She grew up surrounded by the beautiful nature in Southwestern Norway, which awoke her deep appreciation for the natural world. As a result, she decided to study biology at the University of Oslo (UiO). A pivotal decision in her life was when she decided to spend a semester at the University Centre in Svalbard (Unis). She fell in love with final frontier feeling of Longyearbyen, the beautiful nature and the amazingly rich fossil history of the archipelago. It was here she realised that it was possible to live her childhood dream of studying fossils. So Aubrey decided to continue with a master’s degree at UiO, focused on fossil reptiles from Svalbard. This opened a door into a whole new world and she was hooked. As Norwegian PhD positions are few and far between in palaeontology, Aubrey decided to return to the UK, to see if she could make a collaboration project between her research group in Oslo and a UK-based institution. She ended up at the University of Southampton, where she built up a collaboration project, putting reptile fossils from Svalbard into perspective with penecontemporanous fossils from the UK. After her PhD, she took a temporary job at the University of Bath, but decided to move with her partner to London, where she pursued her interest in teaching. Here she received a post graduate Certificate in Education from Kingston University and became a research associate at the London Natural History Museum. In 2019 Aubrey was offered a job back in Oslo and rejoined the palaeontology research as a post doc. Now she studies fossils documenting marine ecosystem recovery from Svalbard after the largest global mass extinction.
Aubrey Roberts (she/her) and her family moved from the United Kingdom when she was four. She grew up surrounded by the beautiful nature in Southwestern Norway, which awoke her deep appreciation for the natural world. As a result, she decided to study biology at the University of Oslo (UiO). A pivotal decision in her life was when she decided to spend a semester at the University Centre in Svalbard (Unis). She fell in love with final frontier feeling of Longyearbyen, the beautiful nature and the amazingly rich fossil history of the archipelago. It was here she realised that it was possible to live her childhood dream of studying fossils. So Aubrey decided to continue with a master’s degree at UiO, focused on fossil reptiles from Svalbard. This opened a door into a whole new world and she was hooked. As Norwegian PhD positions are few and far between in palaeontology, Aubrey decided to return to the UK, to see if she could make a collaboration project between her research group in Oslo and a UK-based institution. She ended up at the University of Southampton, where she built up a collaboration project, putting reptile fossils from Svalbard into perspective with penecontemporanous fossils from the UK. After her PhD, she took a temporary job at the University of Bath, but decided to move with her partner to London, where she pursued her interest in teaching. Here she received a post graduate Certificate in Education from Kingston University and became a research associate at the London Natural History Museum. In 2019 Aubrey was offered a job back in Oslo and rejoined the palaeontology research as a post doc. Now she studies fossils documenting marine ecosystem recovery from Svalbard after the largest global mass extinction.
Anna Bidgood (she/her) is a postdoctoral researcher in the iCRAG raw materials spoke. She graduated with a PhD in environmental science from the University of Oxford in 2020, before joining iCRAG under the supervision of Prof. Murray Hitzman. Her research focusses on metamorphism and mineral growth in the Central African Copperbelt, a large sedimentary basin which contains economic concentrations of critical elements required in the transition from hydrocarbon to renewable energy-based technology. Her research aims to describe the relationship between mineralisation, fluid chemistry and mineral growth by analysing the textures and chemistry of rocks and combining these observations with thermodynamic modelling to understand how and when these minerals grew. This research adds to scientific understanding of mineral growth and metal mobility in salty systems such as in the Central African Copperbelt and will assist industry with exploration strategies. Her research aims to understand the formation of mineral deposits containing technology and critical metals in the Earth’s crust. The focus of her research is these technology and critical metals which are crucial for the production of low-carbon technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels and electric cars. The Central African Copperbelt, the world’s primary source of cobalt, produces about 70% of the metal which is critical for the production of batteries needed to help decarbonise our societies. In her next career chapter Anna hopes to apply the geological knowledge from well-known regions such as Central Africa to the Arctic, where resource potential is high, whilst at the same time balancing the environmental and societal risks of resource extraction with our need for critical metals.
Anna Bidgood (she/her) is a postdoctoral researcher in the iCRAG raw materials spoke. She graduated with a PhD in environmental science from the University of Oxford in 2020, before joining iCRAG under the supervision of Prof. Murray Hitzman. Her research focusses on metamorphism and mineral growth in the Central African Copperbelt, a large sedimentary basin which contains economic concentrations of critical elements required in the transition from hydrocarbon to renewable energy-based technology. Her research aims to describe the relationship between mineralisation, fluid chemistry and mineral growth by analysing the textures and chemistry of rocks and combining these observations with thermodynamic modelling to understand how and when these minerals grew. This research adds to scientific understanding of mineral growth and metal mobility in salty systems such as in the Central African Copperbelt and will assist industry with exploration strategies. Her research aims to understand the formation of mineral deposits containing technology and critical metals in the Earth’s crust. The focus of her research is these technology and critical metals which are crucial for the production of low-carbon technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels and electric cars. The Central African Copperbelt, the world’s primary source of cobalt, produces about 70% of the metal which is critical for the production of batteries needed to help decarbonise our societies. In her next career chapter Anna hopes to apply the geological knowledge from well-known regions such as Central Africa to the Arctic, where resource potential is high, whilst at the same time balancing the environmental and societal risks of resource extraction with our need for critical metals.
Andrijana Djokic (she/her) is the child of Serbian immigrants that relocated to Canada in order to give their children more opportunities than they had. She owes so much of her success to the First Nation of Na-cho Nyak Dun, who have welcomed her into their home and have allowed her to be a guest on their Traditional Territory - they have provided her with warmth, kindness, somewhere to call home, and a meaningful living. She spends most of her time on the Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation and Ta'an Kwach'an Council, as her home and work location is in Whitehorse, Yukon. She has been working at the Nacho Nyak Dun Development Corporation (NNDDC), which is the active business arm of the First Nation of Na-cho Nyak Dun as the Chief Executive Officer since November 2019. It has been her strategic direction at NNDDC to position the company as a leader in the green economy, energy sovereignty, and food sovereignty, with Indigenous Nations, Peoples, and companies holding meaningful equity in these projects and initiatives.
Andrijana Djokic (she/her) is the child of Serbian immigrants that relocated to Canada in order to give their children more opportunities than they had. She owes so much of her success to the First Nation of Na-cho Nyak Dun, who have welcomed her into their home and have allowed her to be a guest on their Traditional Territory - they have provided her with warmth, kindness, somewhere to call home, and a meaningful living. She spends most of her time on the Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation and Ta'an Kwach'an Council, as her home and work location is in Whitehorse, Yukon. She has been working at the Nacho Nyak Dun Development Corporation (NNDDC), which is the active business arm of the First Nation of Na-cho Nyak Dun as the Chief Executive Officer since November 2019. It has been her strategic direction at NNDDC to position the company as a leader in the green economy, energy sovereignty, and food sovereignty, with Indigenous Nations, Peoples, and companies holding meaningful equity in these projects and initiatives.
Alina Kovalenko (she/her) is a PhD candidate in Business at Nord University and a Research Fellow at Centre for High North Logistics, Norway. She is currently finalising her thesis. Her research is a feasibility analysis of commercial shipping via Polar Routes (focus on the Northeast Passage). Alina participates in teaching activities on courses such as "Arctic Logistics" and "Transport and Logistics". She is also involved in the UTFORSK Project “Logistical and environmental management of natural resources, development, and transportation in the Arctic area" in cooperation with Molde University College-Specialized university in Logistics. Alina is interested in learning more about the green shift in the Arctic in the area of transportation and networking with other Arctic researchers and professionals. In the future, she plans to extend her research, paying much more attention to the environment and will continue to contribute to the development of education and research in the areas of Business and Logistics in the Arctic.
Alina Kovalenko (she/her) is a PhD candidate in Business at Nord University and a Research Fellow at Centre for High North Logistics, Norway. She is currently finalising her thesis. Her research is a feasibility analysis of commercial shipping via Polar Routes (focus on the Northeast Passage). Alina participates in teaching activities on courses such as "Arctic Logistics" and "Transport and Logistics". She is also involved in the UTFORSK Project “Logistical and environmental management of natural resources, development, and transportation in the Arctic area" in cooperation with Molde University College-Specialized university in Logistics. Alina is interested in learning more about the green shift in the Arctic in the area of transportation and networking with other Arctic researchers and professionals. In the future, she plans to extend her research, paying much more attention to the environment and will continue to contribute to the development of education and research in the areas of Business and Logistics in the Arctic.
Donovan Russoniello (he/him) is currently the Outreach Director for Renewable Energy Alaska Project - the leading clean energy education and advocacy group in the only Arctic state in the United States. Donovan earned a degree in Finance and Applied Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, and after graduating in 2016 he spent three years honing his analytical skills as an economic consultant in Chicago. Since then, Donovan has utilized those skills to assist in developing and advocating for policies designed to accelerate Alaska's clean energy transition. He also has extensive experience managing Alaskan political campaigns and community organizing with organizations such as the Sunrise Movement, The Climate Reality Project, and the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition. In 2021, Donovan's organizing and advocacy helped convince Alaska's Republican Governor to introduce Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation that would require the state's urban utilities to generate 80% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2040. Since joining REAP full time in 2022, Donovan has worked to further the organization's mission by developing and expanding its organizational membership, fundraising programs, and grant proposals along with managing REAP’s external communications and events. Donovan is passionate about building a broad movement of government agencies, private industry, technology providers, and other Alaskan energy stakeholders united by a common vision for our clean energy future and developing policies that will allow us to realize that shared vision. He is inspired by the example Norway has set as an oil-rich society that nonetheless generates the vast majority of its electricity from renewable resources while leading the charge toward electrified transportation solutions. Donovan hopes to draw lessons from the Norwegian success story to help inform Alaska's own Green Shift.
Donovan Russoniello (he/him) is currently the Outreach Director for Renewable Energy Alaska Project - the leading clean energy education and advocacy group in the only Arctic state in the United States. Donovan earned a degree in Finance and Applied Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, and after graduating in 2016 he spent three years honing his analytical skills as an economic consultant in Chicago. Since then, Donovan has utilized those skills to assist in developing and advocating for policies designed to accelerate Alaska's clean energy transition. He also has extensive experience managing Alaskan political campaigns and community organizing with organizations such as the Sunrise Movement, The Climate Reality Project, and the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition. In 2021, Donovan's organizing and advocacy helped convince Alaska's Republican Governor to introduce Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation that would require the state's urban utilities to generate 80% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2040. Since joining REAP full time in 2022, Donovan has worked to further the organization's mission by developing and expanding its organizational membership, fundraising programs, and grant proposals along with managing REAP’s external communications and events. Donovan is passionate about building a broad movement of government agencies, private industry, technology providers, and other Alaskan energy stakeholders united by a common vision for our clean energy future and developing policies that will allow us to realize that shared vision. He is inspired by the example Norway has set as an oil-rich society that nonetheless generates the vast majority of its electricity from renewable resources while leading the charge toward electrified transportation solutions. Donovan hopes to draw lessons from the Norwegian success story to help inform Alaska's own Green Shift.
Larry Ibrahim Mohammed (he/him) is a Ph.D. Research Fellow in Comparative Indigenous Studies at UiT- The Arctic University of Norway. He regards himself as a Global Citizen who believes in contributing his quota to making the world a better place. He constantly strives to deepen his insights as an Arctic Advocate and a Policy Analyst. Larry has served as an Envoy from UiT-The Arctic University of Norway to Arctic Frontiers where he managed the Arctic Frontiers Student Forum (2020 and 2021) and also coordinated young programs under the Arctic Frontiers Young portfolio. Larry has participated as a delegate in two Youth Assemblies at the United Nations in New York and volunteered at the 12th Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva. Larry's academic interest stretches from International Indigenism, Arctic governance, and resource extraction and conflict resolution. His current Ph.D. topic is " In pursuit of Self-Determination; Indigenous Peoples voices in search of impacts; A comparative study of renewable energy in Norway and Canada"
Larry Ibrahim Mohammed (he/him) is a Ph.D. Research Fellow in Comparative Indigenous Studies at UiT- The Arctic University of Norway. He regards himself as a Global Citizen who believes in contributing his quota to making the world a better place. He constantly strives to deepen his insights as an Arctic Advocate and a Policy Analyst. Larry has served as an Envoy from UiT-The Arctic University of Norway to Arctic Frontiers where he managed the Arctic Frontiers Student Forum (2020 and 2021) and also coordinated young programs under the Arctic Frontiers Young portfolio. Larry has participated as a delegate in two Youth Assemblies at the United Nations in New York and volunteered at the 12th Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) in Geneva. Larry's academic interest stretches from International Indigenism, Arctic governance, and resource extraction and conflict resolution. His current Ph.D. topic is " In pursuit of Self-Determination; Indigenous Peoples voices in search of impacts; A comparative study of renewable energy in Norway and Canada"
Kristiane Mauno Krystad (she/her) is from the coastal town of Hammerfest. She has both qven and sami ancestors, and after moving around in Norway for her studies (International Relations in Lillehammer and Political Science in Tromsø) she decided it was time to go home to her roots. She now works for Arctic Energy Partners and considers herself lucky to be in a job where she can work with her passion. Arctic Energy Partners work for ripple effects from energy production in Northern Norway. This is their main goal, but in the transition towards a green industry there is more and more focus on sustainability and renewable energy. She and the company want the Arctic to be up front globally in this transition, and we call it the Arctic way to zero. Besides this, she also works with a very exciting project called “Young in the North”. This project is still in its early stages, but a very important part of it is that it will be developed by young people from the North.
Kristiane Mauno Krystad (she/her) is from the coastal town of Hammerfest. She has both qven and sami ancestors, and after moving around in Norway for her studies (International Relations in Lillehammer and Political Science in Tromsø) she decided it was time to go home to her roots. She now works for Arctic Energy Partners and considers herself lucky to be in a job where she can work with her passion. Arctic Energy Partners work for ripple effects from energy production in Northern Norway. This is their main goal, but in the transition towards a green industry there is more and more focus on sustainability and renewable energy. She and the company want the Arctic to be up front globally in this transition, and we call it the Arctic way to zero. Besides this, she also works with a very exciting project called “Young in the North”. This project is still in its early stages, but a very important part of it is that it will be developed by young people from the North.
Judith Braun (she/her) is an environmental scientist, having mostly worked on biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen in various terrestrial systems as well as in the Arctic Ocean. For her studies, she has moved from Germany to Austria and then Scotland where she spent the past five years on the beautiful west coast, completing a PhD at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Her PhD project focused on productivity in the Barents Sea based on nutrient availability, uptake and cycling in relation to sea ice cover. This involved several research cruises to the Barents Sea in close collaboration with UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The fieldwork was performed covering an entire Arctic season followed by many years of chemical analyses in the laboratory. Her research was conducted as part of the interdisciplinary project Arctic PRIZE which allowed her to collaborate closely with several others studying the Arctic Ocean from different angles. At the moment, she is working on the publication of her research in academic journals.
Judith Braun (she/her) is an environmental scientist, having mostly worked on biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen in various terrestrial systems as well as in the Arctic Ocean. For her studies, she has moved from Germany to Austria and then Scotland where she spent the past five years on the beautiful west coast, completing a PhD at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Her PhD project focused on productivity in the Barents Sea based on nutrient availability, uptake and cycling in relation to sea ice cover. This involved several research cruises to the Barents Sea in close collaboration with UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The fieldwork was performed covering an entire Arctic season followed by many years of chemical analyses in the laboratory. Her research was conducted as part of the interdisciplinary project Arctic PRIZE which allowed her to collaborate closely with several others studying the Arctic Ocean from different angles. At the moment, she is working on the publication of her research in academic journals.
Jessica Hall (she/her) has previously studied a bachelors and masters in Comparative Literature. She wrote her master´s thesis on Indigenous ecopoetry as a form of protest against colonial legacies. She wrote about Marshallese and Alaskan communities and was struck by the parallels of suffering at the hands of colonial policies. Early in the research, she realized that her interest was not focused on the literature anymore and that she wanted to understand what could be done to empower and reassign environmental sovereignty to Indigenous communities worldwide. She knew that she needed further education in this area and in September of this year, Jessica began studying a second master's in Government and Entrepreneurship in Northern Indigenous Areas at the University of Saskatchewan and UiT the Arctic University of Norway. At the beginning of her degree, she travelled to Northern Saskatchewan and lived with the Metis Cree Nation on Treaty 6 Territory to learn which environmental issues were causing the most concern. Here she had the honour of speaking to the elders of the community and understanding firsthand the ecological and political devastation caused by colonial legacies. She is working alongside leaders in the community to research the impact of phragmites on deltas in Northern Saskatchewan.
Jessica Hall (she/her) has previously studied a bachelors and masters in Comparative Literature. She wrote her master´s thesis on Indigenous ecopoetry as a form of protest against colonial legacies. She wrote about Marshallese and Alaskan communities and was struck by the parallels of suffering at the hands of colonial policies. Early in the research, she realized that her interest was not focused on the literature anymore and that she wanted to understand what could be done to empower and reassign environmental sovereignty to Indigenous communities worldwide. She knew that she needed further education in this area and in September of this year, Jessica began studying a second master's in Government and Entrepreneurship in Northern Indigenous Areas at the University of Saskatchewan and UiT the Arctic University of Norway. At the beginning of her degree, she travelled to Northern Saskatchewan and lived with the Metis Cree Nation on Treaty 6 Territory to learn which environmental issues were causing the most concern. Here she had the honour of speaking to the elders of the community and understanding firsthand the ecological and political devastation caused by colonial legacies. She is working alongside leaders in the community to research the impact of phragmites on deltas in Northern Saskatchewan.
Jens Toft (he/him) works as a project coordinator at the Arctic Council Secretariat in Tromsø after concluding a one-year internship at the Secretariat. As a project coordinator he is tasked to develop a strategy on how to empower youth to participate in decision making processes in the Arctic. At the same time, he is finishing his studies at the Indigenous Studies Masters program at UiT, the Arctic University of Norway. His thesis is on the topic of extractive industries and Indigenous Peoples’ rights as an affiliate to the IndKnow project at the Centre for Sami Studies. Previous studies include Global Humanities at Roskilde University, Denmark, with a focus on communication and cultural encounters and an exchange program to Maynooth University, Ireland, with a particular focus on international development. A central goal with moving to the Arctic was to work at the Arctic Council Secretariat and to play a part in the Council’s circumpolar aim to inform decision makers on changes in the Arctic related to Arctic Peoples, biodiversity, climate, ocean, pollution, and emergency preparedness. Jens holds that cooperation between actors in the Arctic is central to sustainable development and wants to play an active part in this process.
Jens Toft (he/him) works as a project coordinator at the Arctic Council Secretariat in Tromsø after concluding a one-year internship at the Secretariat. As a project coordinator he is tasked to develop a strategy on how to empower youth to participate in decision making processes in the Arctic. At the same time, he is finishing his studies at the Indigenous Studies Masters program at UiT, the Arctic University of Norway. His thesis is on the topic of extractive industries and Indigenous Peoples’ rights as an affiliate to the IndKnow project at the Centre for Sami Studies. Previous studies include Global Humanities at Roskilde University, Denmark, with a focus on communication and cultural encounters and an exchange program to Maynooth University, Ireland, with a particular focus on international development. A central goal with moving to the Arctic was to work at the Arctic Council Secretariat and to play a part in the Council’s circumpolar aim to inform decision makers on changes in the Arctic related to Arctic Peoples, biodiversity, climate, ocean, pollution, and emergency preparedness. Jens holds that cooperation between actors in the Arctic is central to sustainable development and wants to play an active part in this process.
Jenny Arthur (she/her) is a glaciologist and remote sensing polar scientist, focusing on satellite observation and monitoring of ice sheets. She is currently a researcher in Antarctic glaciology and remote sensing at the Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromsø, Norway. She recently completed her PhD in Antarctic glaciology at Durham University, UK, where she used satellite remote sensing to investigate surface meltwater on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. During her PhD, she lived for three months in Nuuk, Greenland where she worked with the government-owned company Asiaq Greenland Survey. It was during this time that she caught the bug for the Arctic and its amazing landscapes. Jenny also has broad interests in polar science communication and outreach, and is a keen advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion and widening participation in polar science.
Jenny Arthur (she/her) is a glaciologist and remote sensing polar scientist, focusing on satellite observation and monitoring of ice sheets. She is currently a researcher in Antarctic glaciology and remote sensing at the Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromsø, Norway. She recently completed her PhD in Antarctic glaciology at Durham University, UK, where she used satellite remote sensing to investigate surface meltwater on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. During her PhD, she lived for three months in Nuuk, Greenland where she worked with the government-owned company Asiaq Greenland Survey. It was during this time that she caught the bug for the Arctic and its amazing landscapes. Jenny also has broad interests in polar science communication and outreach, and is a keen advocate of diversity, equity and inclusion and widening participation in polar science.
Currently, Janelle Flett (she/her) is a project coordinator on the development team for Barkley Project Group. They work directly with Indigenous communities within British Columbia and the Yukon. Janelle specializes in working on solar power development, community energy planning, and implementation. She holds a BSc. in Environmental Science from Mount Royal University and is a proud member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation located on Treaty 8 Territory and am Gwich'in from her mother's ancestry. She has participated in studies on water quality, aquatic metabolism, and geochemical weathering in proglacial rivers on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains at the University of Alberta. She is the co-chair of the Indigenous Youth Advisory Council in partnership with Suncor. As the first cohort, she recently completed the Indigenous Clean Energy: Generation Power program. She hopes to expand her knowledge and research in the renewables sector to decrease the impact on the environment and uphold the industry's responsibility for land stewardship.
Currently, Janelle Flett (she/her) is a project coordinator on the development team for Barkley Project Group. They work directly with Indigenous communities within British Columbia and the Yukon. Janelle specializes in working on solar power development, community energy planning, and implementation. She holds a BSc. in Environmental Science from Mount Royal University and is a proud member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation located on Treaty 8 Territory and am Gwich'in from her mother's ancestry. She has participated in studies on water quality, aquatic metabolism, and geochemical weathering in proglacial rivers on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains at the University of Alberta. She is the co-chair of the Indigenous Youth Advisory Council in partnership with Suncor. As the first cohort, she recently completed the Indigenous Clean Energy: Generation Power program. She hopes to expand her knowledge and research in the renewables sector to decrease the impact on the environment and uphold the industry's responsibility for land stewardship.
Jamie Greendyk (she/her) is an active duty Coast Guard Officer and 2012 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy. She specializes in afloat operations and has served on four ships, including both of the United States' operational polar icebreakers and as Commanding Officer of a 110' patrol vessel homeported in Seward, Alaska. In addition to regularly operating in the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, she has completed three Arctic patrols and one Antarctic "Operation Deep Freeze" deployment. During her shore tour, she served on staff at the Seventeenth Coast Guard District in Juneau, Alaska where she was exposed to strategic planning related to operating in the Arctic region and came to better understand firsthand the logistical challenges of supporting operations around remote Alaska and the Arctic. Her educational background is in political science. In graduate school, while completing a Master's in Public Administration and a Master's in Homeland Security, her research focused heavily on local, state, tribal and federal governance in remote Alaska and similar areas, strategic policy in the polar regions, and Arctic security. She is currently the Operations Officer onboard USCGC Healy, the United States' largest icebreaker. In this role, she is responsible to the Commanding Officer for the safe navigation and successful execution of all operations onboard. She also collaborates with the embarked science party and oversees the scientific sensor deployments and oceanographic research throughout the Arctic.
Jamie Greendyk (she/her) is an active duty Coast Guard Officer and 2012 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy. She specializes in afloat operations and has served on four ships, including both of the United States' operational polar icebreakers and as Commanding Officer of a 110' patrol vessel homeported in Seward, Alaska. In addition to regularly operating in the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, she has completed three Arctic patrols and one Antarctic "Operation Deep Freeze" deployment. During her shore tour, she served on staff at the Seventeenth Coast Guard District in Juneau, Alaska where she was exposed to strategic planning related to operating in the Arctic region and came to better understand firsthand the logistical challenges of supporting operations around remote Alaska and the Arctic. Her educational background is in political science. In graduate school, while completing a Master's in Public Administration and a Master's in Homeland Security, her research focused heavily on local, state, tribal and federal governance in remote Alaska and similar areas, strategic policy in the polar regions, and Arctic security. She is currently the Operations Officer onboard USCGC Healy, the United States' largest icebreaker. In this role, she is responsible to the Commanding Officer for the safe navigation and successful execution of all operations onboard. She also collaborates with the embarked science party and oversees the scientific sensor deployments and oceanographic research throughout the Arctic.
Freya Sykes (she/her) is a climate scientist currently undertaking a PhD in paleoceanography and marine ecology at UiT, Norway, with a focus on trace element analysis of the microscopic zooplankton foraminifera for use in reconstructing past (sub)polar climate change at the North Atlantic - Nordic Seas - Arctic Ocean interface. To this end she is carrying out culturing experiments on (sub)polar foraminifera, to see how chemical uptake in their calcium carbonate shells responds to different environmental conditions. The results of this research will increase fill in significant knowledge gaps of how high latitude seas react to current warming, critical for understanding current Arctic climate change. Outside of her own research project, she has a passion for integrating climate and environmental science within the modern social and political sphere, and public outreach. Her interest in shaping and directing scientific studies based on local community needs led her to hosting a workshop on Ethical and Sustainable Arctic Research, supported by APECS Sweden, which in turn resulted in being invited to speak at the Young Friends of the Earth Climate conversations: environmental racism seminar. Volunteering as a sea-scout leader in Stockholm, a large focus of the programme was on conservation of nature and the Baltic Sea. Through weekly meetings and sailing trips she held several lectures and excursions based around these themes, with the aim of engaging the scouts in environmental issues. A key goal in scouting is training children in leadership skills, and it was important to her and the rest of the leadership team that this included making them aware of the changes our planet is currently undergoing, and giving them skills and knowledge required to tackle these changes.
Freya Sykes (she/her) is a climate scientist currently undertaking a PhD in paleoceanography and marine ecology at UiT, Norway, with a focus on trace element analysis of the microscopic zooplankton foraminifera for use in reconstructing past (sub)polar climate change at the North Atlantic - Nordic Seas - Arctic Ocean interface. To this end she is carrying out culturing experiments on (sub)polar foraminifera, to see how chemical uptake in their calcium carbonate shells responds to different environmental conditions. The results of this research will increase fill in significant knowledge gaps of how high latitude seas react to current warming, critical for understanding current Arctic climate change. Outside of her own research project, she has a passion for integrating climate and environmental science within the modern social and political sphere, and public outreach. Her interest in shaping and directing scientific studies based on local community needs led her to hosting a workshop on Ethical and Sustainable Arctic Research, supported by APECS Sweden, which in turn resulted in being invited to speak at the Young Friends of the Earth Climate conversations: environmental racism seminar. Volunteering as a sea-scout leader in Stockholm, a large focus of the programme was on conservation of nature and the Baltic Sea. Through weekly meetings and sailing trips she held several lectures and excursions based around these themes, with the aim of engaging the scouts in environmental issues. A key goal in scouting is training children in leadership skills, and it was important to her and the rest of the leadership team that this included making them aware of the changes our planet is currently undergoing, and giving them skills and knowledge required to tackle these changes.
Linda Jarrett (she/her) I am a geographer with specialization in natural sciences. In my master and PhD I had a particular focus on the cryosphere, paleo-climate and climate change. My PhD was on ice patches (very small ice bodies) in central Norway, and part of a larger project which studied the effects of climate change on vulnerable alpine heritage environments. The project investigated ice patches present condition and development as natural systems, their glaciological and geomorphological characteristics, their potential as climate archives and their ability to maintain and protect organic artifacts (i.e wood arrow shafts, shoes, scare sticks etc) for over 5000 years at low altitudes I love working in the intersection where nature meets society and am very passionate about working towards understanding and finding solutions for the ongoing climate and biodiversity crisis. I currently work at the Research Council of Norway in the department of climate and environment, a job I find very interesting as it sits in the point of intersection between research/knowledge production and politics/decision making. My job consists of investing money in research and innovation on behalf of the Norwegian government to ensure that this funding goes to credible, relevant and state of the art knowledge and innovation projects which again may serve as a knowledge foundation for well informed political decisions. This requires close contact with the research fields, staying up to date on research needs and contributing to build bridges between disciplines, research environments, sectors (public, private etc), trade and industry in Norway and internationally.
Linda Jarrett (she/her) I am a geographer with specialization in natural sciences. In my master and PhD I had a particular focus on the cryosphere, paleo-climate and climate change. My PhD was on ice patches (very small ice bodies) in central Norway, and part of a larger project which studied the effects of climate change on vulnerable alpine heritage environments. The project investigated ice patches present condition and development as natural systems, their glaciological and geomorphological characteristics, their potential as climate archives and their ability to maintain and protect organic artifacts (i.e wood arrow shafts, shoes, scare sticks etc) for over 5000 years at low altitudes I love working in the intersection where nature meets society and am very passionate about working towards understanding and finding solutions for the ongoing climate and biodiversity crisis. I currently work at the Research Council of Norway in the department of climate and environment, a job I find very interesting as it sits in the point of intersection between research/knowledge production and politics/decision making. My job consists of investing money in research and innovation on behalf of the Norwegian government to ensure that this funding goes to credible, relevant and state of the art knowledge and innovation projects which again may serve as a knowledge foundation for well informed political decisions. This requires close contact with the research fields, staying up to date on research needs and contributing to build bridges between disciplines, research environments, sectors (public, private etc), trade and industry in Norway and internationally.
Wiktoria Karolina Szapoczka (she/her) is a PhD candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB), Norway. Her position is linked to the project “Novel sensor technology & anti-biofouling: pH sensor” at Smart Ocean, a centre for research-based innovation (SFI) funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The project is a collaboration with Bergen-based Aanderaa (a Xylem brand), NORCE and UiB. The project aims to develop a compact, stable, and affordable pH sensor for long-term use in seawater. In academia, long-term monitoring of pH levels in oceans is of great interest in climate and environmental research. This kind of pH level monitoring is currently absent from the market and will improve the environmental monitoring in, e.g., the Arctic waters. Prior to this position, Wiktoria obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degree in analytical and environmental chemistry from UiB. She was a part of the EGGTOX project, a collaboration between UiB and the Institute of Marine Research, also funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The aim of the project was to unravel the mechanistic effects of crude oil toxicity during the early life stages of the Atlantic haddock, which has a spawning area around the Lofoten Islands, Norway. Wiktoria was born in Stettin, Poland, and moved to Sunnfjord, Norway, as a child, and thus always had a close relationship with the sea. To contribute to marine-related research at one of the best ocean universities in the world just made sense to her.
Wiktoria Karolina Szapoczka (she/her) is a PhD candidate at the University of Bergen (UiB), Norway. Her position is linked to the project “Novel sensor technology & anti-biofouling: pH sensor” at Smart Ocean, a centre for research-based innovation (SFI) funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The project is a collaboration with Bergen-based Aanderaa (a Xylem brand), NORCE and UiB. The project aims to develop a compact, stable, and affordable pH sensor for long-term use in seawater. In academia, long-term monitoring of pH levels in oceans is of great interest in climate and environmental research. This kind of pH level monitoring is currently absent from the market and will improve the environmental monitoring in, e.g., the Arctic waters. Prior to this position, Wiktoria obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degree in analytical and environmental chemistry from UiB. She was a part of the EGGTOX project, a collaboration between UiB and the Institute of Marine Research, also funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The aim of the project was to unravel the mechanistic effects of crude oil toxicity during the early life stages of the Atlantic haddock, which has a spawning area around the Lofoten Islands, Norway. Wiktoria was born in Stettin, Poland, and moved to Sunnfjord, Norway, as a child, and thus always had a close relationship with the sea. To contribute to marine-related research at one of the best ocean universities in the world just made sense to her.
Virga Popovaitė (she/her) is a PhD fellow in Sociology at Nord University, Bodø campus, Norway. She is educated in History (BA and MA) and Social and Cultural Anthropology (MSc). In her professional life, she was mostly engaged in Archaeology. Her PhD project focuses on use of maps during Search and Rescue operations in Northern Norway, which essentially relates to wider questions of safety and security in the Arctic region. She is keen on inspecting transdisciplinary approaches and how they can be applied in practice. Therefore, her explorations led me to where and what she is researching now. Virga is currently located within the Polar Circle (Bodø) and her research connects her interest in remote surroundings, fascination with uncertainty, and the need to explore how and why things work the way they do. Her experience of changes in surroundings allows her to reflect on her own situated knowledge. Even though she is mostly rooted in academic exploration, she has also been involved in other walks of life. She has worked as a cigarette-butt picker in Lithuanian suburbs, a cleaner at a busy airport in Amsterdam, a bartender in rushing London, a camping warden in a remote volcanic valley in Iceland, an archaeologist in Canadian bushes, among other roles. She likes challenges and exploration. With each country she has lived in and each project she has taken on, she's gained invaluable experiences and motivation for further inquiry into one’s interactions with surroundings.
Virga Popovaitė (she/her) is a PhD fellow in Sociology at Nord University, Bodø campus, Norway. She is educated in History (BA and MA) and Social and Cultural Anthropology (MSc). In her professional life, she was mostly engaged in Archaeology. Her PhD project focuses on use of maps during Search and Rescue operations in Northern Norway, which essentially relates to wider questions of safety and security in the Arctic region. She is keen on inspecting transdisciplinary approaches and how they can be applied in practice. Therefore, her explorations led me to where and what she is researching now. Virga is currently located within the Polar Circle (Bodø) and her research connects her interest in remote surroundings, fascination with uncertainty, and the need to explore how and why things work the way they do. Her experience of changes in surroundings allows her to reflect on her own situated knowledge. Even though she is mostly rooted in academic exploration, she has also been involved in other walks of life. She has worked as a cigarette-butt picker in Lithuanian suburbs, a cleaner at a busy airport in Amsterdam, a bartender in rushing London, a camping warden in a remote volcanic valley in Iceland, an archaeologist in Canadian bushes, among other roles. She likes challenges and exploration. With each country she has lived in and each project she has taken on, she's gained invaluable experiences and motivation for further inquiry into one’s interactions with surroundings.
Veena Prasad (she/her) is a graduate from Kerala Agricultural University. She did her masters on Climate change adaptation. Her passion towards environmental science has led her to start a career on climate change and cryospheric research. At present she is working as a project Associate at Indian Institute of Science. The major focus of her research is to understand the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers using remote sensing and numerical modeling approaches. She has also conducted multiple field investigations on glaciers of Himalaya and Iceland, where she has engaged with the mountain communities to learn their adaptive capacity to climate change. Soon she will be joining the doctoral programme at FAU, Erlangen working on the next generation framework for climate change.
Veena Prasad (she/her) is a graduate from Kerala Agricultural University. She did her masters on Climate change adaptation. Her passion towards environmental science has led her to start a career on climate change and cryospheric research. At present she is working as a project Associate at Indian Institute of Science. The major focus of her research is to understand the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers using remote sensing and numerical modeling approaches. She has also conducted multiple field investigations on glaciers of Himalaya and Iceland, where she has engaged with the mountain communities to learn their adaptive capacity to climate change. Soon she will be joining the doctoral programme at FAU, Erlangen working on the next generation framework for climate change.
Tor-Arne S. Nord (he/him) is a Ph.D. student in computer science at UiT: The Arctic University of Norway where he is developing a privacy-preserving system for automatic catch documentation and detection of illegal events. This system can be applied in the fishing industry to facilitate more sustainable fishing practices. Fisheries are an important part of local society in the North and contribute greatly to the economies of Arctic states.
Tor-Arne S. Nord (he/him) is a Ph.D. student in computer science at UiT: The Arctic University of Norway where he is developing a privacy-preserving system for automatic catch documentation and detection of illegal events. This system can be applied in the fishing industry to facilitate more sustainable fishing practices. Fisheries are an important part of local society in the North and contribute greatly to the economies of Arctic states.
Sophie Hou (she/her) is a lecturer in Geography at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris, France) and at the UMR8586 PRODIG. She is 35 years old and has been the Director of the Master’s Degree in Geopolitics (Master 2 géopolitique) since 2019-2020. She is also the President of the Commission of Political Geography and Geopolitics of the French National Committee of Geography (CNFG). Her research work is in the field of energy geography and geopolitics. It first focused on Russia and the development of gas networks in Eastern Russia, which was an opportunity to understand the territoriality of energy issues and the interplay of actors that they involve. This interest in Eastern Russia shifted to the Russian Arctic regions and more broadly to the Arctic. She continues to deepen her reflections on energy in the field of political geography and in particular on the notion of energy transition applied to Arctic territories.
Sophie Hou (she/her) is a lecturer in Geography at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris, France) and at the UMR8586 PRODIG. She is 35 years old and has been the Director of the Master’s Degree in Geopolitics (Master 2 géopolitique) since 2019-2020. She is also the President of the Commission of Political Geography and Geopolitics of the French National Committee of Geography (CNFG). Her research work is in the field of energy geography and geopolitics. It first focused on Russia and the development of gas networks in Eastern Russia, which was an opportunity to understand the territoriality of energy issues and the interplay of actors that they involve. This interest in Eastern Russia shifted to the Russian Arctic regions and more broadly to the Arctic. She continues to deepen her reflections on energy in the field of political geography and in particular on the notion of energy transition applied to Arctic territories.
Sheng Xu is a PhD candidate at Department of Marine Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. His principal area of research is Arctic shipping safety. He has developed different risk models for Arctic shipping accidents, such as ship besetting in ice and icebreaker-ship collisions, and analyzed the safe distance between icebreaker and ship in escort/convoy operations. The results from his work could be integrated with route planning to calculate emissions from maritime traffic and contribute to safer operations and mitigate the adverse effects of accidents. He currently works on “Ocean Pilot Project – Risk, Reliability, and Ice data in Arctic Marine Environment”. He has been a part of several international teams performing great variety of tasks ranging from development of new models for Arctic shipping to route planning. In addition, he worked as a cadet/third mate on board in Royal Wagenborg, the Netherland and has ice navigation experience. He is an academically skilled PhD student. He is a committed person, and Arctic challenges are his great passion.
Sheng Xu is a PhD candidate at Department of Marine Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. His principal area of research is Arctic shipping safety. He has developed different risk models for Arctic shipping accidents, such as ship besetting in ice and icebreaker-ship collisions, and analyzed the safe distance between icebreaker and ship in escort/convoy operations. The results from his work could be integrated with route planning to calculate emissions from maritime traffic and contribute to safer operations and mitigate the adverse effects of accidents. He currently works on “Ocean Pilot Project – Risk, Reliability, and Ice data in Arctic Marine Environment”. He has been a part of several international teams performing great variety of tasks ranging from development of new models for Arctic shipping to route planning. In addition, he worked as a cadet/third mate on board in Royal Wagenborg, the Netherland and has ice navigation experience. He is an academically skilled PhD student. He is a committed person, and Arctic challenges are his great passion.
Raylene Mitchell (she/her) is a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) graduate currently pursing her M.Eng (Computer Engineering) at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. She has demonstrated experience clean energy project development, Indigenous community outreach, and research and analysis obtained through various engineering and research related roles in the private sector and at academic institutions. In her research assistant role at Yukon University's Northern Energy Innovation, she develops wind turbine models for northern Canadian communities. Bringing northern and Indigenous lived experiences into engineering remains one of her goals - deconstructing the idea that being Indigenous and being an engineer are mutually exclusive.
Raylene Mitchell (she/her) is a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) graduate currently pursing her M.Eng (Computer Engineering) at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. She has demonstrated experience clean energy project development, Indigenous community outreach, and research and analysis obtained through various engineering and research related roles in the private sector and at academic institutions. In her research assistant role at Yukon University's Northern Energy Innovation, she develops wind turbine models for northern Canadian communities. Bringing northern and Indigenous lived experiences into engineering remains one of her goals - deconstructing the idea that being Indigenous and being an engineer are mutually exclusive.
Marius Paulsen Haugen (he/him) is a Senior Engineer Operations Manager at Equinor Harstad. He is originally from Sortland in Vesterålen, Northern Norway. He currently lives in and has lived in Northern Norway most of his life. Consequently, he cares about his homeplace, the Arctic region, and how we further develop the region without compromising the characterizing and stunning nature. He enjoys nature and activities connected to it, such as skiing, bicycling and running. He currently has the role as Digital Lead within operations for the oil field development project Johan Castberg. His current responsibilities are to increase safety, efficiency and reduce carbon footprint through digitalization and new technology. He is the task manager for three teams: Automation, IT PreOps and a core team working on continuous improvement initiatives. Marius sees himself as hard working and ambitious. He is hoping to exchange knowledge and competence with other young professionals and to broaden his network, develop his communication skills and discuss the global environmental challenges to get a further holistic perspective on the current issues and challenges.
Marius Paulsen Haugen (he/him) is a Senior Engineer Operations Manager at Equinor Harstad. He is originally from Sortland in Vesterålen, Northern Norway. He currently lives in and has lived in Northern Norway most of his life. Consequently, he cares about his homeplace, the Arctic region, and how we further develop the region without compromising the characterizing and stunning nature. He enjoys nature and activities connected to it, such as skiing, bicycling and running. He currently has the role as Digital Lead within operations for the oil field development project Johan Castberg. His current responsibilities are to increase safety, efficiency and reduce carbon footprint through digitalization and new technology. He is the task manager for three teams: Automation, IT PreOps and a core team working on continuous improvement initiatives. Marius sees himself as hard working and ambitious. He is hoping to exchange knowledge and competence with other young professionals and to broaden his network, develop his communication skills and discuss the global environmental challenges to get a further holistic perspective on the current issues and challenges.
Malcolm Hodgkiss (he/him) grew up in Canada and spent much of his summers on canoe trips around northern Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. Although he started his undergraduate studies in engineering, he quickly switched to Earth sciences because of the love of nature that he developed during his childhood, and specifically to work in Arctic environments. He has actively sought out these opportunities, and has been extremely fortunate to lead and/or join many research expeditions over the course of his education (B.Sc, M.Sc – McGill University; Ph.D – Stanford University) and postdoc (University of Cambridge & Geological Survey of Norway): northern Yukon, N.W.T, Nunavut (Baffin Island and Belcher Islands), northern B.C., northern Quebec/Labrador, Finnmark, and Finnish Lapland. The common thread linking these degrees and disparate field areas is studying the ancient Earth system to understand changes that have occurred during Earth history that have impacted the evolution of early life, such as the first appearance of oxygen in the atmosphere ~2.5 billion years ago. In his current position as Postdoctoral Researcher at the Geological Survey of Norway, he is studying the geology/geochemistry of the North Sea and Barents Sea to understand processes that control the timing of oil/gas formation, storage, and destruction through the application of new and developing geochemical techniques, in collaboration with Lundin Energy. He is also developing a pilot project to understand the formation of secondary microplastics in rocky beaches. Most northern coastlines around the world are rocky, high-energy environments where the potential for generation of ‘secondary’ microplastics through mechanical abrasion is extremely high. Remarkably, there is only one scientific publication studying these environments, despite their outsized potential as ‘microplastic factories’. He hopes to use results from this pilot project to develop a more comprehensive study of microplastics in rocky beaches along the coast of Norway and Svalbard.
Malcolm Hodgkiss (he/him) grew up in Canada and spent much of his summers on canoe trips around northern Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. Although he started his undergraduate studies in engineering, he quickly switched to Earth sciences because of the love of nature that he developed during his childhood, and specifically to work in Arctic environments. He has actively sought out these opportunities, and has been extremely fortunate to lead and/or join many research expeditions over the course of his education (B.Sc, M.Sc – McGill University; Ph.D – Stanford University) and postdoc (University of Cambridge & Geological Survey of Norway): northern Yukon, N.W.T, Nunavut (Baffin Island and Belcher Islands), northern B.C., northern Quebec/Labrador, Finnmark, and Finnish Lapland. The common thread linking these degrees and disparate field areas is studying the ancient Earth system to understand changes that have occurred during Earth history that have impacted the evolution of early life, such as the first appearance of oxygen in the atmosphere ~2.5 billion years ago. In his current position as Postdoctoral Researcher at the Geological Survey of Norway, he is studying the geology/geochemistry of the North Sea and Barents Sea to understand processes that control the timing of oil/gas formation, storage, and destruction through the application of new and developing geochemical techniques, in collaboration with Lundin Energy. He is also developing a pilot project to understand the formation of secondary microplastics in rocky beaches. Most northern coastlines around the world are rocky, high-energy environments where the potential for generation of ‘secondary’ microplastics through mechanical abrasion is extremely high. Remarkably, there is only one scientific publication studying these environments, despite their outsized potential as ‘microplastic factories’. He hopes to use results from this pilot project to develop a more comprehensive study of microplastics in rocky beaches along the coast of Norway and Svalbard.
Linda Solstrand Dahlberg works as a Science & Innovation policy adviser at the British Embassy in Oslo, as of February 2020. As a Science & Innovation policy adviser she works to promote and strengthen UK and Norway’s bilateral relationship in these areas, identifying opportunities and facilitate greater collaboration, and to promote UK’s strength and capacities in science. She was born in Northern Norway, and has a passion for the region where she still has strong ties. Linda’s background is in academia as a neuroscientist in movement disorders. She has worked as a researcher at McGill University (at the Montreal Neurological Institute), and at Harvard University (Massachusetts General Hospital) after she finished her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Uppsala University.
Linda Solstrand Dahlberg works as a Science & Innovation policy adviser at the British Embassy in Oslo, as of February 2020. As a Science & Innovation policy adviser she works to promote and strengthen UK and Norway’s bilateral relationship in these areas, identifying opportunities and facilitate greater collaboration, and to promote UK’s strength and capacities in science. She was born in Northern Norway, and has a passion for the region where she still has strong ties. Linda’s background is in academia as a neuroscientist in movement disorders. She has worked as a researcher at McGill University (at the Montreal Neurological Institute), and at Harvard University (Massachusetts General Hospital) after she finished her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Uppsala University.
Lauren Wiesebron (she/her) is a PhD candidate at the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research where she is researching how sediment dynamics drive the establishment and survival of intertidal benthic communities. However, her scientific curiosity does not stop at the intertidal and she has studied a diverse number of topics, including trophic dynamics in Patagonian forage fish, salmon migration, and nutrient cycling in Arctic Alaska. This past summer, she investigated patterns in seaweed cover on rocky beaches in Svalbard. She is American and Dutch and grew up in France. When she is not having scientific adventures in the field or behind the computer, she enjoys hiking, weaving, and reading her constantly growing pile of books.
Lauren Wiesebron (she/her) is a PhD candidate at the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research where she is researching how sediment dynamics drive the establishment and survival of intertidal benthic communities. However, her scientific curiosity does not stop at the intertidal and she has studied a diverse number of topics, including trophic dynamics in Patagonian forage fish, salmon migration, and nutrient cycling in Arctic Alaska. This past summer, she investigated patterns in seaweed cover on rocky beaches in Svalbard. She is American and Dutch and grew up in France. When she is not having scientific adventures in the field or behind the computer, she enjoys hiking, weaving, and reading her constantly growing pile of books.
Growing up in the oil capital of Norway, Stavanger, Frida Layti (she/her) was always curious and fascinated by the industry and engineering. This led her to a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Technology at the University of Stavanger. To gain a more interdisciplinary competency, she continued with a master’s degree in Industrial Economics. As one of her elective courses she chose Arctic Offshore Engineering at the University Centre in Svalbard. It was an unforgettable experience that not only thought her how to conduct safe operations and developments in the Arctic, but also introduced the unique society of Longyearbyen and the beautiful landscape around it. Following her studies, she started as a field engineer at the world’s largest service and technology provider for the energy sector, Schlumberger. After working in the industry for five years,she started on the Ph.D. program in technology and science, with focus on green transition and innovation. She wishes to investigate how the industry practically can transition, and include topics such as entrepreneurship, green investments, technology, and societal challenges.
Growing up in the oil capital of Norway, Stavanger, Frida Layti (she/her) was always curious and fascinated by the industry and engineering. This led her to a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Technology at the University of Stavanger. To gain a more interdisciplinary competency, she continued with a master’s degree in Industrial Economics. As one of her elective courses she chose Arctic Offshore Engineering at the University Centre in Svalbard. It was an unforgettable experience that not only thought her how to conduct safe operations and developments in the Arctic, but also introduced the unique society of Longyearbyen and the beautiful landscape around it. Following her studies, she started as a field engineer at the world’s largest service and technology provider for the energy sector, Schlumberger. After working in the industry for five years,she started on the Ph.D. program in technology and science, with focus on green transition and innovation. She wishes to investigate how the industry practically can transition, and include topics such as entrepreneurship, green investments, technology, and societal challenges.
Stine Raastad (she/her) is a political scientist with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Oslo. She wrote her thesis about geopolitics in the Barents-sea region, and she has always been interested in the High North. She has also focused on environmental issues throughout her studies, specializing in both security policy and sustainability. She is currently a trainee at the Norwegian Space Agency, where she will write two articles about space and security policy. One of the articles will focus on how Norway will maneuver the increased strategic importance of space. This means that the Arctic is highly relevant for her scholarly research: Norwegian space assets are based in the High North. As a person, Stine is positive and energetic and likes to make other people happy, although her comedy skills occasionally miss. She is very interested in music and literature, usually spending her time off reading books or listening to new songs. Stine grew up in Oslo - her favorite city still - but currently lives in Jessheim.
Stine Raastad (she/her) is a political scientist with a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Oslo. She wrote her thesis about geopolitics in the Barents-sea region, and she has always been interested in the High North. She has also focused on environmental issues throughout her studies, specializing in both security policy and sustainability. She is currently a trainee at the Norwegian Space Agency, where she will write two articles about space and security policy. One of the articles will focus on how Norway will maneuver the increased strategic importance of space. This means that the Arctic is highly relevant for her scholarly research: Norwegian space assets are based in the High North. As a person, Stine is positive and energetic and likes to make other people happy, although her comedy skills occasionally miss. She is very interested in music and literature, usually spending her time off reading books or listening to new songs. Stine grew up in Oslo - her favorite city still - but currently lives in Jessheim.
Zdenek Dvorak (he/him) is an experienced professional with two master’s degrees and a broad view on sustainable development issues in the Arctic. He has ten years of working experience in nature education & conservation, regional & Arctic policy, project management and international relations. Zdenek was born in Czechoslovakia, in the last year of communism (1988). His hometown Zilina is surrounded by mountains, and he has spent a lot of time in nature since his early childhood. Since nature conservation and environmental challenges have been a huge problem, he decided to study management of protected areas and engage in youth politics. His passion for alpine and arctic ecosystems led him to Norway where he did his master’s degree in nature conservation. Right after his studies he got a job as managing director at Nordland National Park Centre and worked hard on bringing national parks closer to people. In this period, he understood that even though people’s relation to nature is very important, the way we think about the future of our society is what really matters. Since 2015 he has been working in Nordland County Council with international relations and EU programmes. To broaden his education and perspectives he completed an MBA in ecological economy and did research on sustainable tourism on Svalbard. After a short break, when he was working with protected areas and climate change at the Governor of Nordland's office, Zdenek returned to Nordland County Council. As a special adviser at County Leader’s Office he is now working with sustainability, regional development, Arctic issues and international relations.
Zdenek Dvorak (he/him) is an experienced professional with two master’s degrees and a broad view on sustainable development issues in the Arctic. He has ten years of working experience in nature education & conservation, regional & Arctic policy, project management and international relations. Zdenek was born in Czechoslovakia, in the last year of communism (1988). His hometown Zilina is surrounded by mountains, and he has spent a lot of time in nature since his early childhood. Since nature conservation and environmental challenges have been a huge problem, he decided to study management of protected areas and engage in youth politics. His passion for alpine and arctic ecosystems led him to Norway where he did his master’s degree in nature conservation. Right after his studies he got a job as managing director at Nordland National Park Centre and worked hard on bringing national parks closer to people. In this period, he understood that even though people’s relation to nature is very important, the way we think about the future of our society is what really matters. Since 2015 he has been working in Nordland County Council with international relations and EU programmes. To broaden his education and perspectives he completed an MBA in ecological economy and did research on sustainable tourism on Svalbard. After a short break, when he was working with protected areas and climate change at the Governor of Nordland's office, Zdenek returned to Nordland County Council. As a special adviser at County Leader’s Office he is now working with sustainability, regional development, Arctic issues and international relations.
Ingunn Johnsen (she/her) has been working as a sustainability coordinator in Cermaq Norway since she finished her MSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science focusing on resource management in 2019. Born and raised in Tromsø, she now lives in Alta. In her spare time she enjoys the activities that comes with the Arctic seasons: skiing in the winter and mountain hiking in the summer.
Ingunn Johnsen (she/her) has been working as a sustainability coordinator in Cermaq Norway since she finished her MSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science focusing on resource management in 2019. Born and raised in Tromsø, she now lives in Alta. In her spare time she enjoys the activities that comes with the Arctic seasons: skiing in the winter and mountain hiking in the summer.

2023 Program Recap

The Emerging Leaders 2023 cohort was made up of 33 participants from 16 different nationalities and included 3 different Indigenous groups of the Arctic.

The group met in Bodø where they visited the Joint Rescue and Coordination center and CERMAQ. Here they discussed the difficulties of transitioning the defense and fisheries and aquaculture sectors to greener alternatives – notably due to the reliance on ships which use highly polluting fuels.

Later, a storm rolled in cancelling their boat to Lofoten. Thus, the group boarded the official Bodø Glimt FC bus and travelled to Svolvær.

There, the group presented to each other and heard presentations from mentors. These varied from green colonialism to the race for minerals, to hydrogen, and to renewable energies. These were beginnings to group discussions about the complexities of the Green Shift in the Arctic where social, scientific and business issues meet.

The group the developed their Brief Outlook Videos (below) for the Arctic Frontiers conference. The group then boarded the Hurtigruten boat and sailed overnight to Tromsø while searching for northern lights.

When they arrived in Tromsø, the group participated in the Arctic Frontiers 2024: Actions & Reactions Conference. There they participate in a science-policy roundtable, spoke in the Big Picture, side events and science sessions, took part in recorded segments, and hosted the annual Emerging Leaders Reception.

Update: two participants got together to publish a peer-reviewed paper in the Geological Society Publications.

2023 Brief Outlooks

These are short videos produced by the Emerging Leaders 2023 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.

Mentors of 2023

Naima El bani Altuna (she/her) is as an advisor at Arctic Frontiers 2023 and works coordinating Side Events and Emerging Leaders. She is also a postdoctoral researcher in the ARCLIM research group at UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, where she studies ocean circulation changes in the Nordic Seas and the Arctic Ocean at times of past climate change since the last interglacial. She completed her PhD in Marine Geology at CAGE at UiT-The Arctic University in September 2021. Since the completion of her PhD, she started working at Arctic Frontiers as the Young Program Coordinator (2022), while carrying out research activities at UiT. She is originally from Bilbo, in the Basque Country, and she has participated in several outreach initiatives to disseminate Arctic science in her mother tongue, Basque, since 2018.
Naima El bani Altuna (she/her) is as an advisor at Arctic Frontiers 2023 and works coordinating Side Events and Emerging Leaders. She is also a postdoctoral researcher in the ARCLIM research group at UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, where she studies ocean circulation changes in the Nordic Seas and the Arctic Ocean at times of past climate change since the last interglacial. She completed her PhD in Marine Geology at CAGE at UiT-The Arctic University in September 2021. Since the completion of her PhD, she started working at Arctic Frontiers as the Young Program Coordinator (2022), while carrying out research activities at UiT. She is originally from Bilbo, in the Basque Country, and she has participated in several outreach initiatives to disseminate Arctic science in her mother tongue, Basque, since 2018.
Salve Dahle (he/him) is a marine biologist and consultant at Akvaplan-niva, a Norwegian research and consultancy company focusing on marine and freshwater environments. He was Akvaplan-niva’s director from 2001 to 2020. His work as a researcher has focused on human impacts on marine environments such as operational and accidental emissions of organic waste and hazardous substances to the ocean. He has acted as an advisor to AMAP's work on oil and gas and its consequences in the Arctic. He has also researched the marine contamination and biodiversity in the Russian Arctic and the use of autonomous vehicles for observing the marine environment, with special focus on surface and diving Gliders equipped with state-of-the-art sensors. He is the founder of Arctic Frontiers, which he began in 2007 with support from partners and for which he led the board until 2020. He also initially founded and developed the Emerging Leaders program in 2011. He believes in the necessity for arenas for discussions of science, politics, business development and the well-functioning of cities and smaller communities, notably in the Arctic.
Salve Dahle (he/him) is a marine biologist and consultant at Akvaplan-niva, a Norwegian research and consultancy company focusing on marine and freshwater environments. He was Akvaplan-niva’s director from 2001 to 2020. His work as a researcher has focused on human impacts on marine environments such as operational and accidental emissions of organic waste and hazardous substances to the ocean. He has acted as an advisor to AMAP's work on oil and gas and its consequences in the Arctic. He has also researched the marine contamination and biodiversity in the Russian Arctic and the use of autonomous vehicles for observing the marine environment, with special focus on surface and diving Gliders equipped with state-of-the-art sensors. He is the founder of Arctic Frontiers, which he began in 2007 with support from partners and for which he led the board until 2020. He also initially founded and developed the Emerging Leaders program in 2011. He believes in the necessity for arenas for discussions of science, politics, business development and the well-functioning of cities and smaller communities, notably in the Arctic.
Siri Beate Arntzen (she/her) is an economic development professional currently leading Fabric+, a department of local and regional development and design in AT arkitektur, North Norway’s largest independent architecture and planning firm. She currently leads projects dealing with regional economic development, building age-friendly arctic communities, improving services for immigrants, and understanding the future role of local shops in small communities. She has an MSc in Local Economic Development from London School of Economics and Political Science, a degree focusing on understanding the various actors and drivers of development in different geographies and contexts. She has spent 4 years working internationally with Arup’s Integrated City Planning team in London with development projects in cities and regions in Europe, South America and Asia. She also has experience from university administration having worked as an adviser for the former Rector of UiT – Norway’s Arctic University, and as lead for external collaboration at Nord university. She has grown up in Lofoten and is now living with her family in Bodø.
Siri Beate Arntzen (she/her) is an economic development professional currently leading Fabric+, a department of local and regional development and design in AT arkitektur, North Norway’s largest independent architecture and planning firm. She currently leads projects dealing with regional economic development, building age-friendly arctic communities, improving services for immigrants, and understanding the future role of local shops in small communities. She has an MSc in Local Economic Development from London School of Economics and Political Science, a degree focusing on understanding the various actors and drivers of development in different geographies and contexts. She has spent 4 years working internationally with Arup’s Integrated City Planning team in London with development projects in cities and regions in Europe, South America and Asia. She also has experience from university administration having worked as an adviser for the former Rector of UiT – Norway’s Arctic University, and as lead for external collaboration at Nord university. She has grown up in Lofoten and is now living with her family in Bodø.
Lisa Grosfeldt (she/her) is a marine geoscientist, now working in project management at AWI. Since she experienced the Arctic Regions, first during her master thesis expedition in the Chukchi Sea and latest as a media coordinator during the MOSAiC expedition, she has been inspired and enthusiastic about its uniqueness and beauty, motivating her to raise awareness for its vulnerability and protection. She is always impressed by the high motivation and enthusiasm of young professionals engaging for the Arctic! Working for the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) she wants to support them and to give opportunities to grow and to integrate them into the broader polar community. Since 2018, she has been Project Officer at APECS and since 2021 she is engaged in the EU project Arctic PASSION. Besides the project-based work aiming to initiate the exchange with young audiences and stakeholders, she is also affiliated with the German Arctic Office, a unit at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) to promote knowledge transfer from science into policy, especially on the level of the Arctic Science Ministerial and its Arctic Science Funders Forum.
Lisa Grosfeldt (she/her) is a marine geoscientist, now working in project management at AWI. Since she experienced the Arctic Regions, first during her master thesis expedition in the Chukchi Sea and latest as a media coordinator during the MOSAiC expedition, she has been inspired and enthusiastic about its uniqueness and beauty, motivating her to raise awareness for its vulnerability and protection. She is always impressed by the high motivation and enthusiasm of young professionals engaging for the Arctic! Working for the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) she wants to support them and to give opportunities to grow and to integrate them into the broader polar community. Since 2018, she has been Project Officer at APECS and since 2021 she is engaged in the EU project Arctic PASSION. Besides the project-based work aiming to initiate the exchange with young audiences and stakeholders, she is also affiliated with the German Arctic Office, a unit at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) to promote knowledge transfer from science into policy, especially on the level of the Arctic Science Ministerial and its Arctic Science Funders Forum.
Jon Petter Gintal (he/him) is the head of section in the department of rights and international affairs of the Sami Parliament, the elected representative assembly for the sámi people in Norway. As such his main responsibilities encompass environmental politics, nature conservation and management, Indigenous Peoples' rights and traditional knowledge. These are critical in consultations between state authorities and the Sámi Parliament, and international negotiations, and human rights report. His background is in environment and conservation studies.
Jon Petter Gintal (he/him) is the head of section in the department of rights and international affairs of the Sami Parliament, the elected representative assembly for the sámi people in Norway. As such his main responsibilities encompass environmental politics, nature conservation and management, Indigenous Peoples' rights and traditional knowledge. These are critical in consultations between state authorities and the Sámi Parliament, and international negotiations, and human rights report. His background is in environment and conservation studies.
Dr. Pål Brekke (he/him) is a solar physicist, expert on the northern lights and an international recognized lecturer. He currently works as Lead Space Science at the Norwegian Space Agency. Previously he worked for six years at NASA Goddard Space Flights Center as the Deputy Project Scientist for the legendary sun-observing satellite SOHO. He received a Fulbright Fellowship in 1994, ESA’s Exceptional Achievement Award in 2002, and Laurels for Team Achievements from the International Academy of Astronautics in 2003. He is a Norwegian delegate to several European Space Agency Program Boards and is also a Prof. II at the University Center at Svalbard (UNIS). Brekke is also the author of several international popular science books about the Sun and the Northern Lights translated into seven languages. He has recently produced the award-winning documentary «The Northern Lights - a Magic Experience. He is also a member of the exclusive Explorers Club in New York.
Dr. Pål Brekke (he/him) is a solar physicist, expert on the northern lights and an international recognized lecturer. He currently works as Lead Space Science at the Norwegian Space Agency. Previously he worked for six years at NASA Goddard Space Flights Center as the Deputy Project Scientist for the legendary sun-observing satellite SOHO. He received a Fulbright Fellowship in 1994, ESA’s Exceptional Achievement Award in 2002, and Laurels for Team Achievements from the International Academy of Astronautics in 2003. He is a Norwegian delegate to several European Space Agency Program Boards and is also a Prof. II at the University Center at Svalbard (UNIS). Brekke is also the author of several international popular science books about the Sun and the Northern Lights translated into seven languages. He has recently produced the award-winning documentary «The Northern Lights - a Magic Experience. He is also a member of the exclusive Explorers Club in New York.
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