About:
Over the years, the young leaders that have participated in the Emerging Leaders program have grown to establish and distinguish themselves in their respective fields. The Emerging Leaders Network thus represents a unique collective of early and mid-career professionals with interests in the Arctic ranging from scientists to industry leaders to policy experts.
Arctic Frontiers aims to provide a platform for young voices and to facilitate Emerging Leaders Alumni taking the stage and leading with their own ideas and initiatives.
Are you an alumni and have an idea for Emerging Leaders alumni collaboration? Contact Katrine Opheim, katrine@arcticfrontiers.com to see how Arctic Frontiers can help you!
Scheduled Alumni Activities
Mentorship Opportunities
Emerging Leaders Alumni are invited to participate in our Student Forum program, which runs during the Arctic Frontiers conference week, as mentors. Participants in the program are bachelor's and master's levels students developing projects. The mentors help them work across discipline, provide feedback and help them plan and network at the conference.
Bi-Annual Meetings
The Alumni Network is convened digitally in early Spring and early Fall to enhance inter-cohort communication and to allow for the Alumni Network to provide input into the direction of the upcoming Arctic Frontiers conference and Emerging Leaders program. This includes discussing themes, topics, specific speakers, and any other question which should be discussed between alumni.
Alumni Session
Every year the Alumni are called on to organize a session for the annual Arctic Frontiers conference. This is entirely led by the Alumni and can focus on whichever topic they prefer and is open to the format which works best for their intended purpose.
Expert Seminars
Online seminars will be given bi-annually by high-level experts that the alumni choose. The goal is to offer exclusive insight into timely topics and give alumni the opportunity to ask questions to these experts.
Leadership Workshops
Online leadership workshops were delivered by Aya Leadership from spring 2023 to fall 2025. These focused on workplace professional development tackling soft skills such as networking, managing conflict, adaptive leadership, influencing with impact, developing strong teams, leadership communication, and resilience. Recordings and workbooks are available for all program alumni.
Re-engaging with the Alumni
Arctic Frontiers vouches to include Alumni in events abroad and in Norway and provide support for Alumni activities.
Student Forum 2026 Mentoring
At the 2026 Arctic Frontiers: Turn of the Tide conference, three Emerging Leaders Alumni participated as mentor to the Student Forum program. They shared their insights to help students develop strong interdisciplinary projects that could realistically move from proposal to action. Thank you to Chip McCrimmon, Malou Platou Johansen and Conor Savage for their mentorship!
Emerging No More Arctic Leaders at Work Reflections, Relationships, and Collaboration
At the 2026 Arctic Frontiers: Turn of the Tide conference, seven Emerging Leaders Alumni put together a side event focused on how to utilize youth programs and networks to bolster your career. They shared their journeys and facilitated networking for an interactive and personal session. Thank you to Jens Toft, Kevin Heller, Caroline Ponthieu, Pouya Dabiran Zohoory, Linda Dahlberg Solstrand, Conor Savage and Pauke Schots for a fun session.
Secrets of the Ocean: Ice, Technology, Law & Ethics
In April 2025, Arctic Frontiers together with the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS) held an Open event in Tromsø focusing on sea ice geoengineering. Together with Mario Acquarone (AMAP), Harald Steen (NPI), Apostolos Tsiouvalas (NCLOS), Emerging Leader Alum Malou Platou Johansen gave a presentation on the ethical and local considerations of sea ice geoengineering in the Arctic - advocating for Indigenous and Inuk rights. Thank you Malou for your contribution.
Student Forum 2025 Mentoring
At the 2025 Arctic Frontiers: Beyond Borders conference, two Emerging Leaders Alumni participated as mentor to the Student Forum program. They shared their insights to help students develop strong interdisciplinary projects that could realistically move from proposal to action. Thank you to Conor Savage and Ugo Nanni for their mentorship!
Where Are All Those Jobs Everyone is Talking About?
At the 2025 Arctic Frontiers: Beyond Borders conference, seven Emerging Leaders Alumni put together a side event focused on the difficulties of finding jobs in the Arctic and the demographic challenges faced in the North. They shared their stories and were joined by Cecilie Myrseth - Minister for Trade and Industry of Norway, and Rear Admiral TVN Prasanna - Joint Secretary for the National Security Council Secretariat of India. Thank you to Conor Savage, Haliehana Stepetin, Ugo Nanni, Irina Zhilina, Larry Ibrahim Mohammed, Alina Kovalenko, and Zdenek Dvorak for a great session. Picture credit: David Jensen. Click on picture to watch the session.
Inclusive Governance in Shaping Arctic Futures: Empowerment of Youth Leadership
In January 2025, the Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council held the first-ever Arctic Youth Conference. On this occasion, four Emerging Leaders Alumni, one ex-mentor, and another rising young voice - Emma Tom Tom, came together to hold an interactive session where participants could give their input on developing inclusive governance. The theme was based off the paper by the 2024 Emerging Leaders cohort. Thank you to Emerging Leaders Alumni: Sterre Koops, Alina Kovalenko, Haliehana Stepetin, Sophie Roher, and Emma Tom Tom, and Naima El Bani Altuna - previous program mentor for their splendid efforts. Picture credit: Petra Polčičová
Co-creating Arctic Futures: Perspectives from Emerging Leaders on Youth Leadership and Inclusive Governance
Ten participants from the 2024 program of Emerging Leaders came together after the program to publish in a peer-review paper. In it, they highlight the unique perspectives offered by younger generations and leaders to advocate for changes across a spectrum of critical Arctic issues. Thank you to Pouya Dabiran-Zohoory, Anastasiya Henk, Sterre Koops, Shannon E. Moore, Ugo Nanni, Leah Palmer, Sophie Roher, Conor Savage, Polina Smirnova & Haliehana Stepetin for their great work. Click on the picture to read their paper. Picture Credit: The Arctic Yearbook
We Need to Talk about Mining
Two participants from the 2023 program of Emerging Leaders came together after the program to publish in a peer-review paper. Here, they dive whether we can imagine a future for mining in the Arctic which ensures long-term sustainability, environmental stewardship and Indigenous wellbeing and collaboration. Thank you to Jessica Hall and Anna Bidgood for their marvelous and nuanced analysis. Click on the picture to read their paper. Picture Credit: Bidgood & Hall, 2024.
