2024 Coexistence

Coexistence in the Arctic

The race for the Arctic has begun. Countries race to assert sovereignty over Arctic waters, businesses vie for space in an increasingly competitive market, locals strive to be heard, and ecosystems face daring changes. How do interests intersect and what does a fair coexistence look like?

Participants explored coexistence in the Arctic considering the strategic placement of the region, the rights of Indigenous peoples, the looming threat to nature and the environment, and what is left for the future generations.

Meet our Emerging Leaders of 2024

Sterre Koops - PhD student place identity & climate change, Arctic Centre, University of Groningen Researcher climate change adaptation, Hanze University of Applied Sciences — Sterre Koops (she/her) is a climate change adaptation researcher currently affiliated with the research group ‘Spatial Transformation – Water’ at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. The group focuses on enhancing sustainability in our living environment, utilizing tools such as full-scale tests, ClimateScan, and ClimateCafés to analyze challenges and solutions related to the evolving urban climate. Simultaneously, Sterre is pursuing an external PhD at the Arctic Centre (University of Groningen), where she explore the role of people’s relationships to place in recognizing and responding to the sustainability challenges we are facing. She wants to gain insight into how individuals and communities in the Arctic adapt to the challenges brought about by climate change, and how people’s connection with a place can affect their adaptive capacity. As a passionate advocate for sustainable development, she is committed to a future where our actions harmonize with the natural world. She ardently believes in infusing ecological principles into climate-adaptive solutions and holds a deep-seated passion for the Arctic, recognizing the urgency of safeguarding its ecosystems in the face of global warming. She aspires to contribute to a sustainable future where innovative thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration pave the way for resilient communities and a thriving planet.

Steven Gabelein - Client Services Manager, Alaska Chadux̂ Network — Steven Gabelein (he/him) has been working to provide creative solutions for vessel compliance throughout Alaska since 2014. He started at the Marine Exchange of Alaska as a vessel monitoring watch stander, specializing in maritime domain management and oil spill prevention measures. Then he moved over to the Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network, as the Director of Planning & Vessel Services, speaking at events as a subject matter expert on vessel behavior in the Arctic and Alaska-specific solutions for OPA-90 compliance. Now he is dedicated to the mission at Alaska Chadux̂ Network as the Client Services Manager, where he is responsible for managing their State and Federal compliance programs for over 600 domestic and international member companies, comprised of vessels, oil storage facilities, and railroads. He works with State and Federal regulators, policymakers, and compliance partners to ensure their compliance programs remain the industry lead. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a minor in Political Science from Gonzaga University, spent nearly five months circumnavigating the globe aboard the MV Explorer as a student studying oceanography, global studies, and human effects on coastal systems, and is currently working toward his Master’s in Marine Policy from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Ugo Nanni - Researcher on glacier stability, University of Oslo — Ugo Nanni (he/him) studies the instability of glaciers using multi-disciplinary and innovative field-based approaches the High Arctic and in the European Alps and using remote-sensing approaches in the Pamir mountains. UN is actively involved in the dissemination of his research results beyond the academic community and with policymakers. UN holds a PhD from the University of Grenoble Alpes, where he specialized in the use of seismology to study glacier dynamics. UN has extensive experience of designing, installing and maintaining instruments on glaciers over several years, as well as co-leading fieldwork in the High Arctic over several seasons. UN has extensive collaboration with a wide range of scientists, artists and stakeholders. He has been involved on high-level international negotiations in preparation and at COP27 and COP28.

Vikash Kumar - Scientist at National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Goa, India — Dr. Vikash Kumar (he/him) is a Scientist at the National Centre for Polar & Ocean Research, Goa, India, specializing in past climate and ocean studies. He earned his Ph.D. in Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences from Goa University with a thesis examining the teleconnections between past high and mid-latitude climate and Indian Monsoon variability. Dr. Kumar’s research focuses on polar climate reconstructions, while also delving into their global teleconnections. A significant aspect of his work investigates how Arctic climate change impacts the Indian climate system. With a focus on understanding the interconnectedness within Earth climate system, Dr. Kumar is dedicated to contributing to the dialogue on Arctic coexistence, providing perspectives on the global implications of localized climate changes.

Ingrid Rekkavik - Adviser cultural heritage, environmental administration and zoning plan, Kings Bay AS — Ingrid Rekkavik's (she/her) educational background consists of a BA in archeology and an interdisciplinary MA from the University of Bergen, where she specialized in management of cultural heritage. She worked in both science and infrastructure consulting all over Norway before coming to in Svalbard in 2019. What brought her to the Arctic was a very special project, namely the restoration of Sveagruva, a former coal mine. This recently completed project was the biggest and most ambitious nature restoration project in the world. Since 2022, she has lived even further north, being a part of the leader group of Kings Bay, which owns and operates the research settlement of Ny-Ålesund. Ny-Ålesund is the northernmost inhabited place in the world, at almost 79°N. My areas of responsibility include land use planning, cultural heritage management and environmental administration.

Ingvild Skeie Liland - Senior advisor, Norwegian Coastal Administration — Ingvild Skeie Liland (she/her) is a Senior advisor in the Norwegian Coastal Administration – staff for Environmental Emergency Response. Her main priorities are related to coordinating oil spill research and development (R&D) initiatives, both on a national and international level. For instance, she has been the Project leader of the annual Norwegian oil spill R&D conference in Lofoten since 2020 and is in charge of the Norwegian interagency R&D forum for oil spill response. In short: any R&D effort that improves oil spill response is of interest to Ingvild. Her background is chemical engineering, and she has previously worked as a field specialist for Baker Hughes offshore with tasks related to well stability (both in Norway and abroad). She is currently the chair of the Marine Environmental Response Expert Group in EPPR (Arctic Council Working Group). Fun fact: Ingvild and her family runs a sheep farm in Lofoten.

Julia Spriggs - Chief Reinvestment Officer, Na-Cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation — Julia Spriggs (she/her) is an emerging leader who hails from Canada's North with a strong commitment to advancing economic reconciliation and empowering Nations to achieve their socio-economic goals, objectives, and strategies. With a wealth of experience in economic development and strategic management, Julia actively contributes to various facets of community growth and prosperity. Since 2018, Julia has held prominent roles in senior leadership positions within Indigenous Economic Development corporations. Her valuable contributions have helped drive positive change and create meaningful opportunities for the community. Julia also serves as the youngest and only female member of City Council for her hometown of Dawson City in the Yukon. She is dedicated to representing the interests of her constituents, advocating for policies that promote growth, sustainability, and the well-being for all residents. She demonstrates a steadfast commitment to fostering positive change, ensuring transparency, and enhancing the quality of life for all members of our community. Driven by a desire to build stronger and more resilient communities, Julia's approach is rooted in holistic thinking. She understands that sustainable development encompasses more than just economics – it also embraces the social, cultural, and environmental aspects of a community.

Jordyn Stafford - Food Security Manager, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services — Jordyn Stafford (she/her) is the Food Security Manager for the Nunavik region of Arctic Canada, where she works alongside community food projects to strengthen food security through an Inuit-lead approach. She completed her studies on sustainable food systems and environmental science at Dalhousie University in Atlantic Canada. Jordyn's passion both in work and life, sits at the intersection of food and the environment.

Kristian Liland - Project Leader Exploration, Equinor — Kristian Liland (he/him) a geologist from Andøy in Vesterålen, living and working in Harstad, Northern Norway. He has spent his whole life North of the Arctic circle and is deeply committed to the region, the people, and the environment. He has two kids, enjoys spending time with the family and going fishing. Kristian holds a masters in structural geology from the University of Tromsø. His current employment is with Equinor Harstad where he works as a project leader with exploration in the Barents Sea.

Leah Palmer - PhD Student in the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies at the University of Galway. — Leah Palmer (she/her) is a first-year PhD Student at the University of Galway, working as part of the Exploring the Arctic Archive research project. Her research involves 19th century dictionaries and wordlists of Arctic Indigenous languages, their changing forms and uses over time, and how they can be reimagined today to tell a story of the 19th century Arctic as an inhabited, multicultural space. Her other research interests are in Arctic sociolinguistics, Indigenous Data Governance and its application to humanities research, and the link between Indigenous languages and mental health. She has completed an MPhil in Polar Studies at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, England.

Marlisa Brown - Public Communication and Indigenous Engagement Specialist, Government of the Northwest Territories — Marlisa Brown (She/her/they/them) is Nihtat Gwich’in, First Nation and of settler Canadian ancestry living in Thebacha (Fort Smith, NT) raising her two young boys. Originally from Inuvik, NT, Marlisa was raised in Somba k’e (Yellowknife, NT) and attended university in the south. Marlisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Anthropology and minor in French from MacEwan University, as well as a graduate diploma in Indigenous Policy and Administration from Carleton University. She currently works as a Public Participation and Indigenous Engagement Specialist with the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services. Marlisa is an Alumna of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship, with a published a policy paper on, "Reconnecting to our Relations: The Need for Land Claim and Self-Government Education in the Northwest Territories". She is also a co-founder of Treaty Talks NWT, an Indigenous young-adult led organization that creates space and opportunity for treaty education.

Nathan Sheridan - Arctic Affairs Officer in the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State — Nathan Sheridan (he/him) is an Arctic Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State where he supports the Senior Arctic Official in U.S. representation in the Arctic Council and in implementing U.S. foreign policy goals in the Arctic. Nathan joined the Department of State in August 2020 as a Foreign Affairs Officer and Presidential Management Fellow on the France and Monaco Desk during which he served a four-month rotation at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. Prior to this, Nathan was a Program Assistant at the German Marshall Fund of the United States for two years where he oversaw programming for GMF's Transatlantic leadership exchange programs. Nathan received his B.A. in International Relations from Wheaton College in Massachusetts and his M.A. in International Studies from Aarhus University in Denmark. Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Nathan currently resides outside Washington, D.C.

Nicolas Müller - PhD Student in Cybernectics, Norwegian University of Science and Technologies — Nicolas Carlo Müller (he/him) is an industrial PhD candidate at NTNU and UBIQ Aerospace on the topic of icing on propellers of UAVs. He graduated in 2020 from the University of Stuttgart as an aerospace engineer. He gained experience with computational fluid dynamics during his bachelor thesis on the numerical calculations of component temperatures and did apply those in a year developing aerodynamic simulations for the Formula Student team “Greenteam”, of the University of Stuttgart. While studying, he did also work for 3 years in the aerodynamics department of an automotive company in Germany. His master thesis was about the numerical calculation of ice accretion on propellers of UAVs. Now his PhD project is working on the issue of icing on a propeller of UAVs, where he is researching the hazards of the ice accretion an developing an Icing protection system for the propeller of UAVs. He is also working as aerospace engineer at UBIQ Aerospace.

Oda Sofie Bye Wilhelmsen - Adviser in Chemistry, Akvaplan-niva — Oda Sofie Bye Wilhelmsen (she/her) is an adviser in the Chemistry section at Akvaplan-niva where she, among other things, look at environmental pollutions in the seabed. She has a broad competence in the field of science, and she enjoy using her skills to help Akvaplan-niva achieve their goal, 'from research to value generation'. She graduated from the University in Tromsø in 2019 with a master's degree in marine biotechnology with a master thesis looking at the gene expression and the secondary metabolite profiles of local cyanobacteria strains subjected to different stress factors. She started in Akvaplan-niva in the fall of 2019 as an adviser and have over time gained more responsibilities and collected a lot of experience, both in the lab but also with fieldwork. In October 2023 I took over the responsibility as both the process owner and the validation manager for quality assurance for the chemistry section, herby being responsible for the accreditation for TEST-079. She is inspired by my son and my wish to give him a bright future. In my free time I enjoy reading, cooking and running outdoors.

Polina Smirnova - PhD candidate in Social Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway — Polina Smirnova (she/her) is a researcher from Russia with a diverse academic background. She holds Bachelor's degrees in Nordic Studies and Circumpolar Studies from Russia and Norway, as well as a Master's in Energy, Environment, and Society from the University of Stavanger. Currently, Polina is pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Tromsø, where her research focuses on mobilities and security in the changing Arctic region. Polina's academic interests are aligned with pressing global challenges and potential solutions for them. She is passionate about sustainable transitions, advocating for environmentally and socially responsible practices in energy and society. For example, she explored the implications of decarbonization and digitalization for urban mobility in her master thesis, shedding light on the complex intersections of technology and human life. In addition, Polina is interested in posthumanism, a philosophical perspective that reimagines human relationships with the environment and technology. Her inspiration is to adopt this approach in her academic work, as she believes it is necessary to redefine social structures beyond their humanly or even biological origins for earthly survival.

Pouya Dabiran-Zohoory - Assistant Legal Counsel, Crosslinx Transit Solutions — Pouya Dabiran-Zohoory (he/him) is a jurist and practicing advocate with a passion for the polar regions, climate, Indigenous sovereignty, and economics. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce where he graduated second in his class, and focused on economics, corporate social responsibility, and philosophy. He also has a Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctorate from McGill’s Faculty of Law, where his legal education was transsystemic and taught him about three legal traditions – the common law, civil law, and Indigenous systems of law. Following his education, he gained advocacy experience before all levels of Court in Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, on a diverse range of matters – from Indigenous rights and the history of the Canadian American border (including in the Arctic), environmental and land-use planning law, human rights, and complex international commercial and economic litigation. I have experience representing municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government, including on matters of international importance involving UN standards. In addition to his practice, he is a published author on the intersection of climate change, the international law of the sea, and climate litigation.

Shannon Moore - PhD candidate in species distributions with NFH, UiT — Shannon Moore (she/her) is a first-year PhD candidate at Norges Fiskerihøgskole at UiT in Tromsø. She received a bachelor's degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Saint Olaf College in Minnesota. As a bachelor's student, Shannon assisted NOAA with the Alaskan northern fur seal demographics project, studied the relationship between bottlenose dolphin behavior and marine vessels in Spain, and explored the relationship between corals and Earth's geochemical history. She was awarded a Fulbright Student Researcher Grant to Tromsø, during which she investigated the efficiency of the red fox culling program in Varanger, Norway. Shannon remained in Tromsø for her master's degree at UiT and wrote her thesis on the role of parasites in food webs using an Arctic lake's food web matrix to assess how network topology changed when parasites were included in the analysis. Shannon received the award for the best master's thesis in the department and has recently published her thesis in Oecologia. This spring, Shannon began a Ph.D. aimed at elucidating the cumulative effects of climate change and anthropogenic stressors on community composition of demersal fish in the Barents Sea and exploring how these stressors cumulatively affect the distribution of the ecosystem functions and services they provide.

Sophie Roher - Senior Research Advisor, Institute for Circumpolar Health Research Post-Doctoral Fellow, Well Living House — Dr. Sophie Roher (she/her) is a health policy researcher who specializes in policies impacting Indigenous and Arctic communities. She is SPOR-funded post-doctoral fellow at the Well Living House, and a Senior Research Advisor at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, a community-based research institute in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Dr. Roher believes in the power of relationships and storytelling. Her work uses participatory approaches and narrative and arts-based methods to foster dialogue and co-learning between community and health system stakeholders with the goal of addressing inequities in care and driving patient-centred health policies and programs. She is passionate about advancing Indigenous health outcomes and has worked for over eight years on a wide-range of community-led research projects with Indigenous communities and governments in the Arctic. Dr. Roher earned her MSc in Health Policy and Bioethics and her PhD in Social and Behavioural Health Research at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She has experience working on policy initiatives in Ontario, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, and Uganda.

Anja Marja Nystø Keskitalo - Advisor, Saami Council's EU unit — Anja Márjá Nystø Keskitalo (she/her) grew up in Guovdageaidnu, on the Norwegian side of Sápmi. She holds a Master of Science in Geography from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Anja Márjá works as an advisor for the Saami Council's EU unit, focusing on topics like EU-Arctic relations, youth engagement and research. From policy brief writing to public speaking, Anja Márjá is a talented communicator and advocate for Sámi rights and interests.

Arianit Pllana - Capital Markets Analyst, Freyr Battery — Arianit Pllana (he/him) is a Capital Markets Analyst at Freyr Battery, a company listed on NYSE, with the aim of providing industrial scale clean battery solutions to reduce global emissions. He has previously worked as a Financial Analyst and contributed to the growth of Play Magnus, a company started by the world chess champion, Magnus Carlsen. Aside from business, Pllana has a passion for geopolitics and has previously been politically active in the Norwegian Conservative Party, Høyre. He has been a part of the Rising Leaders Program run by the US Embassy and AmCham in Norway. Pllana is also an alumnus of BI Norwegian Business School and Imperial College London, where he earned his MSc in Finance. In 2022, he was recognized as the youngest talent on Kapital’s 40 under 40 list in Norway.

BBogdan Løw-Hansen - PhD student in Engineering Cybernetics, NTNU

Clara Malm-Nicolaisen - Advisor, SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge — Clara Malm-Nicolaisen (she/her) is an advisor and fund manager in SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge, specializing in entrepreneurship and youth-related topics. She holds two bachelor's degrees, one from The Norwegian Dance College in Oslo and another from The Arctic University of Tromsø and The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. She has also worked as an innovative entrepreneur in several award-winning startup companies in the Nordics. She currently lives in Tromsø, with her husband and two children.

Colin Sinclair - PhD candidate in Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway — Colin Sinclair (he/him) is a PhD Candidate in Geosciences at UiT. He recently moved to Norway from the United States, where he worked to administer clean drinking water regulations. At UiT, Colin is studying fine grained glacial sediments (glacial flour) and whether they can be used as a soil amendment to help grow crops in the north. Colin is interested in the physical and social impacts of climate change, glaciers, hydrology, and agriculture, and has a passion for Arctic, Antarctic, and high mountain regions. His background is mainly in geology and physical geography, but he has also previously worked in groundwater remediation and forestry.

Conor Savage - ESG Programme Manager, Sainsbury's — Conor Savage (he/him) is an ESG Programme Manager with Sainsbury's, where he is responsible for leading the development and delivery of Sainsbury's Bank's ESG strategy. Before this he was a Climate Reporting Manager with NatWest Group, where he provided advice and technical expertise on climate, nature, and other sustainability-related policy. He joined the Group in 2019, as a Change & Business Solutions Graduate with Ulster Bank. Prior to this he studied Marine Biology at Bangor University, completing both a BSc and MSc. Whilst there, he specialised in the effects of Arctic sea ice retreat on sea ice-reliant and sea ice-associated species, in particular walruses.

Gabrielle Gundry - National Security Analyst for Climate and Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory — Gabrielle Gundry (she/her) is a National Security Analyst for Climate and Energy at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a master's student in Security and Disaster Management with concentrations in Arctic and Climate Security at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, both in the United States. Gabrielle's work lives in the intersection of climate, energy and national security, to include the Arctic. Her graduate studies similarly align but with an emphasis on the connections between geopolitics, geography and cryosphere sciences of the Arctic and the threats that are being presented within and beyond the region by consequence of climate change. Though Gabrielle does not hail from the Arctic, she acknowledges the significance of her home country, the United States, in being an active participant in its governance and scientific cooperation, with aspirations to lead such efforts in her current and future professional career.

Edson Silva - PhD Student in Oceanography, Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center — Edson Silva (he/him) is a Ph.D. student at the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC). He holds a BSc. degree in Oceanography and an MSc. degree in Remote Sensing. Since 2014, he has been actively researching oceanography and remote sensing, focusing on algae blooms, optical water types, and bio-optical algorithms. Currently, he is studying the sub-seasonal to seasonal prediction of harmful algae blooms.

Haliehana Stepetin - Assistant Professor of Arctic Security Studies, Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies — Haliehana Stepetin (she/her) (Unangax̂, Qigiiĝun Tribe) was born and raised in Akutan, Alaska in Unangam Tanangin [Aleutian Islands]. She is an Assistant Professor of Arctic Security Studies at the Ted Stevens Center and has a Ph.D. in Native American Studies with a designated emphasis in Studies in Performance and Practice from the University of California Davis (2023), a Master of Arts in Cultural Studies from the University of Washington Bothell (2018), and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies - Russia track (2016) from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her research forwards Unangax̂ and Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ sustainable food sovereignty and environmental practices as guidelines for navigating a changing climate. Dr. Stepetin has received numerous prestigious fellowships including the Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship (2020), the Social Sciences Research Council’s International Dissertation Research Fellowship (2021), the Andrew W. Mellon Public Scholars Program Fellowship (2021), and the Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship (2022). She co-authored a publication in Gender and Education with Eve Tuck, Rebecca Beaulne-Stuebing, and Jo Billows titled “Visiting as an Indigenous Feminist Practice,” and has a forthcoming chapter in the book Sovereign Aesthetics: Indigenous Approaches to Sound Studies titled, “Oceanographies: The Hydrological Function of Story in the Native North Pacific.

Vilde Gjærum - Researcher, NORCE — Dr. Vilde Gjærum (she/her), a researcher at the Drones and autonomous systems group at NORCE, works mainly within the fields of machine learning, robotics, and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). She holds a PhD in XAI for robotic applications and a master's in cybernetics and robotics from NTNU. Her research focuses on bridging the gap between AI and human interaction, ensuring AI systems are not only efficient but also trustworthy. In NORCE she has been focusing on how to use machine learning for computer vision, especially for autonomous drones used for inspection and monitoring.

Alayna Ningeongan - Intern at the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat — Alayna Ningeongan (she/her) is currently an intern at the Arctic Council Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat. She is Inuk and grew up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada where she worked for the municipality. Her educational background is in Human Resource Management, Rural Development, and Physical Education. She is passionate about sports and recreation; she is an accomplished competitive volleyball player and has worked with the Brandon Wheat Kings hockey team. Her experiences have led her to work in public institutions like the Government of Nunavut, and the Recreation and Parks Association of Nunavut. Though her family she has been involved in the Kivalliq Inuit Association and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami which established her interest for international Arctic and Indigenous issues. Alayna grounds herself in the values of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and camping.

Anastasyia Henk - Associate Professor, Nord University Business School — Dr. Anastasiya Henk (she/her) initiated into academia in 2010 and currently serves as an Associate Professor at Nord University Business School. Her doctoral research at Nord University, titled ""Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Managing Business Processes in the Turbulent Environments,"" delved into the challenges faced by shipping companies in turbulent and demanding task, business and institutional environments of the Arctic operations. Her scholarly endeavors extend to the OpLog project, which focused on the organizational dynamics and control mechanisms of logistics operations within the Arctic. A graduate of Nord University (Ph.D., 2019), Dr. Henk's current research endeavors are anchored in the digital transformation landscape. Specifically, she delves into the potential of digital technologies in enhancing food export operations, with an emphasis on Northern Norwegian seafood companies targeting Asian markets. Passionate about sustainable development, Dr. Henk's overarching aspiration is to contribute meaningfully to the Arctic's future, intertwining academic insights with on-ground realities.

Alex Hamel - Lieutenant Commander, Operations Officer, International Ice Patrol, US Coast Guard — LCDR Alex Hamel (he/him) is the Operations Officer at the U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol, where he leads aerial iceberg reconnaissance based out of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and oversees daily iceberg drift modelling. His previous assignments in the Coast Guard were aboard four different vessels and included deck watch officer on the polar icebreaker HEALY, and captain of the patrol boat YELLOWFIN based in Puerto Rico. He is a fixture within several international coalitions to include the North American Ice Service and the International Ice Charting Working Group where he works on ice observation and forecasting. Alex earned a master's degree in physical oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 2020.

2024 Program Recap

The group of 30 young professionals from 13 nationalities and 4 different Indigenous groups met first at the Salmon Centre in Bodø with 5 mentors – unfortunately Marlisa Brown was unable to join the group due to personal reasons.

During their time in the city, the group visited NordLab at Nord University where they learned about ongoing collaboration between Norway and Russia on search and rescue in the Arctic.

The group visited the Jektefarts Museum and Stormen library where they participated in group discussions on sustainability and cultural exchange in the North.

The group took a boat across Vestfjorden to Svolvær and stayed in little cabins on the sea in Kabelvåg. There the group heard presentations from the mentors covering a wide variety of topics from traditional knowledge to aquaculture to career development. The group also worked on developing their Brief Outlook videos (below) and consulted with a videographer. The group also took some time off to visit the Lofoten aquarium and watch the seals.

The plans to take a boat to Tromsø were altered due to a wild winter storm so the group fearlessly spent a day travelling from Lofoten to Tromsø by bus.

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

Their program was marked by two of the strongest storms in decades.

Update: the group published a peer-reviewed paper in the Arctic Yearbook.

2024 Brief Outlooks

These are short videos produced by the Emerging Leaders 2024 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.