Emerging Leaders

About the program

Emerging Leaders is an early-career and mentoring program in the Arctic for young professionals from the academic, industry and policy sector.

Image shows the 30 participants of Emerging Leaders 2023 in front of some mountains covered in snow.

About Emerging Leaders

Since 2012, Emerging Leaders has been an early-career Arctic mentoring program for leaders from 18 to 35 years old from the academic, industry, public and NGO sectors. The program brings together young leaders from all sectors and indigenous, business, and policy representatives, to learn about the Arctic in a thrilling journey through Northern Norway.  

The program includes a 5-day trip beginning in Bodø, to the Lofoten archipelago and ends in Tromsø. Along the way, the participants meet with local representatives of different sectors and engage in contemporary discussions and workshops on current visions, trends and challenges in the Arctic centered around the year’s theme. 

In Tromsø, the Emerging Leaders participants join the Arctic Frontiers conference where they engage with various stakeholders to share their expertise and views. Through educational and cultural activities, the Emerging Leaders program serves as an international and cross-cultural platform for networking, and dialogue to support the Arctic leaders of the future. 

Image shows Emerging Leader speaking n a panel with four other people at a Side Event organised by Arctic Frontiers.
Emerging Leader speaking at Arctic Frontiers 2023: Moving North.

Emerging Leaders 2024

Applications open August 22nd, 2023. The deadline to apply is September 25th, 2023. 

The Emerging Leaders program 2023 will run from January 25th to February 1st, 2024 in Northern Norway. This year’s theme will be announced before the call for applications opens.  

The program provides space to exchange perspectives and ideas for the future of the Arctic while simultaneously discovering the Norwegian high north landscape. 

As well as meeting with local businesses, scientists and public organizations, participants create videos that are shown during the Arctic Frontiers conference where they may also be invited to participate as speakers. Thereby, participants will make their own contribution to the conference, engaging with high-level panels and represent their Arctic perspective.   

Emerging Leaders 2023

The 2023 program invited 33 candidates from 16 different nationalities, to a socially and professionally inspiring journey of the Arctic in the Arctic environment.

This included travel on the coastal steamer, Hurtigruten, from Bodø via the Lofoten archipelago to Tromsø. During this travel the Emerging Leaders were supported by six mentors to learn about this year’s theme on “the Green Shift”. A panel and roundtable discussion were arranged during the trip about “the Green Shift”, in which two Emerging Leaders gave a keynote presentation, together with four more invited speakers to get a broader overview on the topic. Additionally, the candidates met, discussed, and engaged with representatives from regional management, business, academia and organizations along the travel route, before attending Arctic Frontiers when arriving in Tromsø.

The Emerging Leaders contributed to the Arctic Frontiers conference program in many ways. Three participated as panellists in the Big Picture sessions, three were panellists in Side Events, three were commentators on Break TV, one delivered a science presentation, and another three were speakers at the Emerging Leaders Reception. As a team, they also produced two Brief Outlook videos that were played during the Big Picture sessions.

Image shows Emerging Leader speaking in front of a microphone at Exhibition opening.
Emerging Leaders speaking at Arctic Frontiers 2023: Moving North

2023 Brief Outlooks:

Read more:

  • Must be no older than 35 years of age at the time of application.  
  • Must be either 1) a PhD candidate, 2) a Post-doc, 3) a professor, 4) an early-career professional (ie. has completed their studies) 
  • Must either 1) live in the Arctic, 2) work in the Arctic or on Arctic issues, or 3) relate to the Arctic in personal ways (e.g. growing-up in the Arctic) 
  • Must have funding (see more below) 

FUNDING:  

The cost of the program is approximately 37 000 NOK excl. VAT which must be paid by bank transfer. This covers all travel expenses, accommodation, meals, and Arctic Frontiers conference registration. Note that travel to Bodø and from Tromsø is not included. To help cover these fees, see the options below: 

  • Norwegian Research Council Scholarship (9) 

For PhDs and Post-docs enrolled at Norwegian universities. To apply for this, specify in our online application form.  If successful, the scholarship will cover the cost for participating in the program, except travel to Bodø and from Tromsø.   

  • Sparebanken Nord Norge Scholarship (5) 

For professionals (non-academics) employed within the private or public sectors and based in Northern Norway (Troms and Finnmark, and Nordland). To apply for this, specify in our online application form. If successful, the scholarship will cover the cost for participating in the program, except travel to Bodø and from Tromsø. 

  • Global Arctic Leadership Initiative by Global Affairs Canada Scholarship (5)  

For Canadian citizens from all sectors, based in Canada. To apply for this, specify in our online application form.  If successful, the scholarship will cover all cost for participating in the program, including all travel from Canada to Norway and back. 

  • Other Potential Funders* 

In general, your employer or school and foreign embassies in Norway or Norwegian embassies abroad are a good place to start. Below are a few that helped sponsor 2023 Emerging Leaders. 

The French Institute of Norway may offer a scholarship to French Emerging Leaders. You must inquire at [email protected] about possible funding.  

The Marine Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland in Oslo and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) may offer a scholarship to Irish Emerging Leaders. Please contact the embassy.  

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands may offer a scholarship to Dutch Emerging Leaders. Please contact the embassy. 

The Royal Norwegian Embassy of New Delhi may offer a scholarship to Indian Emerging Leaders. Please contact the embassy. 

Equinor may offer a scholarship to an employee of theirs for Emerging Leaders. Please speak to your superior. 

The Norwegian Space Agency may offer a scholarship to an employee of theirs for Emerging Leaders. Please speak to your superior. 

The US Coast Guard may offer a scholarship to an employee of theirs for Emerging Leaders. Please speak to your superior. 

*These are merely suggestions; we do not guarantee a positive response and do not help in this process. 

  • Can I leave the program early? 
    For logistic and practical reasons, it is not possible to leave the program early during the travel days from 25.01.-29.01.2024. However, once we arrive in Tromsø on the 29.01.2024 at around 14:30, you will be able to leave, if you have other duties to get to or need to travel home earlier.   
  • Do I have to make my own hotel or travel arrangements? 
    Everything will be taken care of. All accommodation and travel will be arranged by the Emerging Leaders program for the duration of the program. 
  • What if I arrive early or need to stay longer? 
    You will have to book your own hotel if you arrive in Bodø earlier than the 25th of January, and if you plan to stay longer in Tromsø than the 1st of February.  
  • Will I need to cover any costs during the program? 
    Your participation fee or funding covers all costs for duration of the program. This includes all accommodation, travel and meals from program start at 16:00 on January 25th until program end at 16:00 on February 1st, 2024.  
  • What do I have to pay myself? What costs or not included in the participation fee? 
    You will need to pay and arrange your own travel to Bodø and back home from Tromsø after program end. Alcoholic beverages are not covered during the program and need to be purchased at one’s own cost.  
  • Do I have to pay something if I receive funding from the Norwegian Research Council, Sparebanken1 Nord Norge? 
    You will only have to cover your own travel to Bodø and back home from Tromsø.  
  • Do I have to pay something if I receive funding from Arctic Frontiers, supported by The Global Arctic Leadership Initiative (GALI) from Global Affairs Canada? 
    No, all travel will be arranged for you and all costs will be covered. However, in some cases we may not be able to book or pay local transport for you, hence, you may have to pay some costs yourself, but you will be reimbursed.  

All questions can be directed to [email protected].  

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