The High North Dialogue conference brings together major stakeholders concerned with Arctic development. Register here.
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Program:
Unless stated otherwise, all events will take place at Radisson Blu in Bodø.
Tuesday April 21
18.00–19.00: Bodø in the Centre of Arctic Geopolitics (Pubinar at the local brewery Bådin)
The attention to the Arctic has never been greater. Yet, the Arctic is not a distant and frozen arena for great power competition, it is local communities and cities, with vibrant businesses and football teams. This pubinar at Bodø’s premier microbrewery will discuss how the effects of great power rivalry and geopolitics are local, and how Bodø is placed in the centre of the world’s Arctic fascination
Moderator: Dr. Andreas Østhagen, Research Director, Fridtjof Nansen Institute and Senior Advisor, High North Center
Panel:
- Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
- Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, Mayor of Bodø and former Minister of Fisheries
- Siv Dagny Aasvik, Regional Manager, Offshore Norway
- Gjert Lage Dyndal, Major General, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, Norwegian Joint Headquarters
Click here for location on Google Maps.
Wednesday April 22
09.00 – 09.15 Welcome to High North Dialogue 2026
Opening by:
- Dr. Andreas Raspotnik, Director, High North Center for Business and Governance, Nord University Business School
- Prof. Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk, Acting Rector, Nord University
09.15 – 10.30 Panel 1: Governance
Narratives about the future of the High North are increasingly being shaped outside the region, in capitals like Washington DC, Beijing, and Brussels. This panel will explore the expanding role of non-regional stakeholders in shaping Arctic policy, and how their priorities – particularly regarding security, climate, and resource access – can diverge, or complement, the values and needs of the Nordic Arctic. How can the Nordic High North assert its own agenda within this broader geopolitical context?
Keynote:
- Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Moderator: Dr. Andreas Raspotnik, Director, High North Center for Business and Governance, Nord University Business School
Panel:
- Mr. Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
- H.E. Amy Baker, Ambassador of Canada to Norway
- H.E. Nicolas de La Grandville, EU Ambassador to Norway
- Mr. Paul Bendik Jåma, Member of the Sámi Parliament Council Norway
- Ms. Sophie Arts, Fellow, Transatlantic Security, German Marshall Fund United States
10.30 – 11.00 Break
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch
13.00 – 14.00 Panel 2: Business
The Arctic is full of local knowledge, research institutions, and entrepreneurial energy—but turning ideas into viable businesses remains a challenge. How can we strengthen innovative ecosystems in the Nordic Arctic to create more start-ups, scale-ups, and skilled jobs?
Moderator: Dr. Jan-Gunnar Winther, Director, Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
Keynote:
- Ms. Anne Berit Figenschau, Director, Innovation Norway Arctic
Panel:
- Ms. Anne Berit Figenschau, Director, Innovation Norway Arctic
- Dr. Stefan Steinicke, Senior Manager Security and Raw Materials with the Federation of German Industries (BDI)
- Mr. Malte Humpert, Investigative Journalist, High North News
14.00 – 14.30 High North Young Entrepreneur
High North Young Entrepreneurs is an international pitch competition for Arctic-related business ideas of young entrepreneurs and start-ups. The three finalists will give a presentation and conference participants will vote for the best project. The winner will be announced at the Conference dinner.
Finalists:
- Hringvarmi (Iceland)
- Araxni (Iceland)
- SenSea (Norway)
Moderator: Prof. Bård Borch Michalsen, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
14.30 – 15.00 Break
16.00 – 16.30 Break
19.00 Reception
19.30 Conference Dinner at Radisson Blu Hotel
Thursday April 23
09.00 – 10.00 Panel 3: Resilience
The Arctic is changing faster than ever, yet our ability to adapt is falling behind. Resilient communities demand strong emergency preparedness capacities. Preparedness starts at the local level, where knowledge, experience, and people are essential. The panel will highlight the value of local insight, the role of people living in the Arctic in preparedness and resilience, and how we can build readiness.
This panel has been developed in cooperation with Center for Crisis Management and Collaboration – Nordlab at Nord University.
Moderator: Dr. Jennifer Spence, Arctic Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
Panel:
- Mr. Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, Mayor of Bodø
- Mr. Hans Kristian Madsen, Director of Fire and Rescue, Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB)
- Ms. Ingibjörg Lilja Ómarsdóttir, Head of Disaster Recovery and Education, Civil Protection in Iceland
- Mr. Vesa Orassalo, Skolt Sámi Fisherman and Student at University of Lapland
10.00 – 10.30 Break
11.30 – 12.00 Break
12.00 – 12.30 High North Scenarios
Master students from the course “International governance and business in the High North” present their best future scenarios for the region.
Moderator: Dr. Elena Dybtsyna, Associate Professor, High North Center for Business and Governance, Nord University Business School
12.30 – 13.00 High North Hero Award
The High North Hero Award is an annual award established by the High North Center for Business and Governance to honor a person, organization or company who has contributed to highlighting or developing the High North.
Moderator: Ms. Anu Fredrikson, Executive Director, Arctic Frontiers
13.00 – 13.45 Lunch
13.45 – 15.00 Panel 4: People
While the Arctic is often portrayed through the lens of remoteness and challenge, those who live here know the truth: the Nordic North offers rich cultural life, strong communities, unique work–life balance, and increasingly world-class opportunities in education, digital services, and innovation.
This panel will explore the real value of living and working in the Arctic—through the eyes of young professionals, employers, and civic leaders. What makes people stay, move here, or return? And how can we better tell that story—both to ourselves and to the world?
Keynote:
- Mr. Bjørnar Skjæran, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
Moderator: Ms. Patti Bruns, Secretary General, Arctic Mayors’ Forum
Panel:
- Mr. Bjørnar Skjæran, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development
- Dr. Gry Agnete Alsos, Dean, Nord University Business School
- Ms. Birgitta Larsson, Mayor of Gällivare, Sweden
- Mr. Brynjar Andersen Saus, leader, True North 2026 – Tromsø European Youth Capital
- Ms. Mikajosefin Jonsson Gehrke, Board Member of Sáminuorra – Sámi Youth Organisation in Sweden
15.00 – 15.30 Break
16.30 – 17.00 Break
17.00 – 17.30 Closing
