Arctic360 2023 Annual Conference

Tilting the Globe
Accelerating Cooperation, Innovation & Opportunity

February 21 – 23, 2023

Arctic360’s Annual Event brings together Northern and Indigenous governments, institutions, and corporations; global finance; state leaders; mining, innovation, and other industry leaders; and Arctic experts from Canada and around the circumpolar North to advance the conversation and foster action for building a sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous Arctic region.

The globe has tilted, and the Arctic is now in full view.

March 2022, Arctic360 held the first international conference a few short weeks following the outset of the war in Ukraine. This February will mark almost one year to date since the collective political peace in the Arctic was upended.

Reorienting Arctic GeopoliticsThe immediate geopolitical shift that followed Russia’s invasion became an unintentional source of renewed motivation to strengthen subregional Arctic cooperation among like-minded Arctic nations and Arctic communities. This past year has also been marked by the search for new opportunities and an acceleration of new innovative technologies and ideas to help with those efforts.

Indigenous Reconciliation The North American and Nordic Arctic is demonstrating global leadership in Indigenous reconciliation and forging new models of economic prosperity. From minerals to geothermal energy, defence and security investments, fisheries, new sea routes and using the cold climate for new economic sectors such as the Arctic Blue Economy and the Digital Economy, the Indigenous and Northern mantra ‘nothing about us without us’ is transforming the way Arctic states and business thinks and acts.

Net Zero Energy Economy The Arctic is at the forefront of the global transition to the net-zero energy economy, led by sustainable mining practices and investments defined by Indigenous leadership and Indigenous equity partnerships.

Multi-purpose and Multi-User Infrastructure The path to net-zero necessitates building accompanying supply chains, including North of 60. Building green, connected, smart, and climate resilient transportation infrastructure, is expected to support local economic growth and well-being at home, connect the Nordic and North American Arctic neighbourhood, and the Arctic to global markets.

Defence and Security infrastructure Attention to needed social and economic infrastructure to enable sustainable and prosperous Arctic communities is intersecting with an accelerated push to build regional Arctic defence and security infrastructure. Attention has turned to multi-user and multi-purpose critical infrastructure investments including energy, telecommunications, and transportation. Arctic security, means addressing social, economic, and defence infrastructure needs in the region. It also requires strategic planning and financial investment.

Global capital and Public-Private-Indigenous Partnerships In a move away from earlier thinking about ESG and the Arctic, institutional investors including Pension and Venture Capital funds are coming to understand that the Arctic has a significant role to play in the global transition to a zero-carbon energy economy. Public-private-Indigenous partnerships are increasing in numbers and today global investors are running towards rather than away from Arctic investment opportunities.

Innovation out of the Arctic The Arctic is becoming its own innovation hub. From climate resilient infrastructure, to AI and smart technology applications and storing of the accompanying data, cutting edge technologies and new solutions are coming out of the Arctic rather than being imported from elsewhere. Arctic innovations also have the potential to scale far beyond the region itself.

Taking Stock and Looking Ahead As global attention to the Arctic accelerates and its regional geopolitical prominence continues to move to the centre, the Arctic region is experiencing a period of new cooperations, innovation, and opportunity.

21 FEBRUARY 2023

16:00 – 17:00 BOOK TALK
His Excellency, Whit Fraser C.C.

Whit Fraser will speak on his important book: True North Rising: My fifty-year journey with the Inuit and Dene leaders who transformed Canada’s North.

17:00 – 18:00
COCKTAIL RECEPTION & BOOK SIGNING

Co-sponsored by the Canadian International Council and the Toronto Branch of the Canadian International Council

18:00 – 21:00
DINNER & FIRESIDE CHAT

DISCUSSION KEYNOTE: His Excellency Whit Fraser C.C., Vice-Regal Consort of Canada

Moderator: Dr. John English, Director Emeritus, Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History; Co-Chair, BOD, Arctic360 & Co-Chair, Canadian International Council

The Faculty Club

41 Willcocks Street
Toronto, ON M5S 1C7

22 FEBRUARY 2023 – DAY 1 FULL DAY CONFERENCE

08:00 – 09:00
NETWORKING BREAKFAST

09:00 – 09:30
OPENING REMARKS

  • Dr. Jessica Shadian, President and CEO, Arctic 360
  • Madeleine Redfern, Executive Director, Northern Branch, Arctic360
  • John English, Director Emeritus, Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History; Co-Chair, BOD, Arctic360 & Co-Chair, Canadian International Council
  • Bill Braden, Braden Photography

9:30-10:45
SESSION I: ANNUAL ARCTIC AMBASSADORS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: TAKING STOCK AND LOOKING AHEAD

Moderators: Dr. Jessica M. Shadian, President and CEO, Arctic360

  • Jon Elvedal Fredriksen, Norway Ambassador to Canada
  • H.E. Roy Eriksson, Finland Ambassador to Canada
  • Louis J. Crishock, U.S. Senior Arctic Official
  • Heidi Kutz, Senior Arctic Official and Director General, Arctic, Eurasion, and European Affairs, Global Affairs Canada
  • Kenneth Høegh, Head of Representation to Canada and US, Government of Greenland
  • Hanne Fugl Eskjær, Kingdom of Denmark Ambassador to Canada
  • Hlynur Guðjónsson, Iceland Ambassador to Canada

10:45-11:00
NETWORKING BREAK

11:00-12:15
SESSION II: ASIA STATES AND THE ARCTIC

Moderator: Dr. Hema Nadarajah, Senior Fellow, Arctic360

  • Yamanouchi Kanji, Ambassador of Japan to Canada
  • Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Canada, His Excellency LIM Woongsoon

12:15-13:30
LUNCH AND FIRESIDE CHAT: 50 years in the Arctic: A Retrospective

Q&A: Hon. Sen. Dennis Patterson, Nunavut

Moderator: Madeleine Redfern, Executive Director, Northern Branch, Arctic360

13:30-13:40
BREAK

13:40-14:55
SESSION III: BUILDING SUPPLY CHAINS NORTH OF 60: A CONVERSATION WITH ARCTIC TRADE COUNSELLORS TO CANADA

Moderator: Naomi Powell, Managing Editor, Economics and Thought Leadership, Royal Bank of Canada

  • Kenneth Høegh, Head of Representation to Canada and US, Greenland Representation
  • Helene Scherling Olsen, Deputy Head of Trade, Sr. Advisor, Arctic, Danish Trade Council
  • John Fleming, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy, Ottawa
  • Patricia Boeg-Jensen, Business Sweden, Swedish Trade Commission, Toronto
  • Per Unheim, Head of Public Affairs and Trade, Embassy of Iceland in Ottawa
  • Hamid Shirazi, Senior Adviser, Innovation Norway, Toronto
  • Mike Walsh, Director General of Policy and Planning, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

14:55-15:05
BREAK

15:05-16:25
SESSION IV: GLOBAL CAPITAL, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE-INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS

Moderator: Doug Turnbull, Vice Chairman and Country Head, Canada at DBRS Morningstar Credit Ratings

  • Alanna La Rose, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, RBC
  • Clint Davis, CEO, Nunasi Corporation
  • Jeff Maurice, CEO, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI)
  • Darrell Beaulieu, CEO, Denendeh Investment Corporation, NWT
  • Mark Brajer, Chief Executive Officer, Tłı̨chÇ« Investment Corporation & Group of Companies

16:25-17:55
SESSION V: INNOVATION OUT OF THE ARCTIC

Moderator: Dr. Heather Exner-Pirot, Senior Fellow, Arctic360 & Global Fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C.

  • Monica Paulsen, Cluster Manager, Arctic Cluster Team (ACT), Norway
  • Dr. Bree Sharratt, Partner, Mostar Financial
  • Erik A. Jens, CEO & Founder, LuxuryFintech – by Dutch American Management B.V.

17:55 – 19:30
RECEPTION

23 FEBRUARY – DAY 2 FULL DAY CONFERENCE

08:00 – 09:00

NETWORKING BREAKFAST

09:00 – 09:30

OPENING REMARKS

9:30 – 10:30

SESSION I: HOW DO WE GET THERE FROM HERE?: TALKING CANADIAN STRATEGY ON MULTI-PURPOSE & MULTI-USER CRITICAL ARCTIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Moderator: Dr. Jessica Shadian, President and CEO, Arctic360

  • Jody Langelier, President & Controller, Nasittuq Corporation
  • Paul Barrett, Chief Communications Officer, Davie Shipbuilding
  • Brandon MacDonald, Vice President of Strategy and Growth, Pennecon
  • Alex Buchan, Director, Nunavut Affairs, Agnico Eagle Mines
  • Hon. David Collenette, Chair, NATO Association of Canada
  • MP John Nater, Perth-Wellington in Ontario
  • Agnico Eagle (TBC)

10:30 – 10:45

NETWORKING BREAK

10:45 – 12:00
SESSION II: PART TWO: MULTI-PURPOSE & MULTI-USER CRITICAL ARCTIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Moderator: Dr. Jessica Shadian, President and CEO, Arctic360

  • Alex Buchan, Director, Nunavut Affairs, Agnico Eagle Mines
  • Paul Barrett, Chief Communications Officer, Davie Shipbuilding
  • Hon. David Collenette, Chair, NATO Association of Canada
  • Jody Langelier, President & Controller, Nasittuq Corporation
  • Brandon MacDonald, Vice President of Strategy and Growth, Pennecon
  • MP John Nater, Perth-Wellington in Ontario

12:15-13:30

LUNCH AND FIRESIDE CHAT: Indigenous North: A Conversation Among Young Entrepreneurs

Moderator: Madeleine Redfern, Executive Director, Northern Branch, Arctic360

  • Max Schiller, Bachelor of Commerce student (Finance major), John Molson School of Business at Concordia University
  • in Montreal
  • Ayoe Kristiansen, Associate Community Engagement and Nuuk representative for Greenland Minerals & Senior Fellow, Arctic360
  • Blaine Mirasty, owner, Cree North Adventures
  • Jasmine Elisapi Redfern, J.D., SDG Advocate
  • Matthew Pike, PhD student, Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph (relationship between mining
  • and Inuit well-being) & Owner/Principal Consultant, Norlogics

13:30-15:00

SESSION III: CRITICAL MINERALS AND THE NET ZERO ECONOMY

Introductory Keyonte: Canada’s Critical Mineral Strategy and the North: Andrew Ghattas, Director, Natural Resources Canada

Moderator: Gabe Friedman, Financial Post

  • David Connelly, Vice President Strategy and Corporate Affairs, Cheetah Resources
  • Andrew Ghattas, Director, Natural Resources Canada
  • Darrell Beaulieu, CEO, Denendeh Investments, NWT
  • Dr. Ruben Shiffman, Executive Chairman, Greenland Resources
  • Vasileios Tsianos, Director of Corporate Development, Neo Performance Materials
  • Pamela Strand, Deputy Minister, Industry, Tourism and Investment, GNWT

15:00-15:15

NETWORKING BREAK

15:15-16:30

SESSION IV: STRENGTHENING THE NORTH AMERICAN ARCTIC: THE ROLE OF THINK TANKS IN ADVANCING ARCTIC COOPERATION

Moderators: Dr. Jessica M. Shadian, President and CEO, Arctic360 & Madeleine Redfern, Executive Director, Northern Branch, Arctic360

  • Maria Akrén, Nasiffik , Centre for Foreign & Security Policy, Greenland
  • Sherri Goodman, Vice Chair U. S. Secretary of State International Security Advisory Board; Senior Fellow, Environmental Change & Security Program & Polar Institute, Wilson
  • Kenneth Høegh Head of Representation to Canada and US, Greenland Representation

16:15-17:15

CLOSING REMARKS AND DISCUSSION