Arctic360 2024 Annual Conference

PROSPERITY • COMMUNITY • SECURITY
It’s time to meet the challenge

6 – 8 February 2024

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.

Annual Conference Graphic

Arctic on the World Stage
Placed squarely on the global geopolitical stage, Arctic politics is definitively part of world politics and no longer apart from it. While the shift has created renewed challenges for the region it is also forging new paths of political, economic, community, and security cooperation.

Arctic Geopolitics
In the face of great geopolitical uncertainty, the Arctic is experiencing efforts towards greater North American Arctic cooperation, Nordic-North American Arctic cooperation, and interest for enhanced Arctic cooperation among allies outside the Arctic region.

Smart, Connected, Public-Private-Indigenous Infrastructure
The opportunities for a prosperous and sustainable region are abundant. Public-Private-Indigenous owned and operated green, connected, smart, and climate resilient trade and supply chains North of 60 will support Northern economic growth and well-being in Northern regions domestically, connect the Arctic, and the Arctic to global markets.

Prosperity, Innovation and the Net Zero Economy
The proof of concept has arrived. We can and we are innovating out of the Arctic and with technologies that have the potential for global scale. From the emergence of new technologies for the critical minerals economy to the innovations in supply chain logistics the Arctic is becoming a global bell weather for innovations to come.

Securing Canada’s North
For Canada, its North is a microcosm of the ascending role of the Arctic region in global affairs. Canada’s North is no longer apart from rest of Canada but central to Canada’s well-being, potential economic prosperity, and domestic security. It is also the key to Canada’s leadership within the Arctic neighbourhood and on the world stage.

Session Topics:

  • ANNUAL ARCTIC AMBASSADORS’ ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
  • ASIA STATES AND THE ARCTIC
  • THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
  • THE WORLD FROM THE NORTH: TERRITORIAL PREMIERS
  • INNOVATION OUT OF THE ARCTIC
  • MULTI-PURPOSE & MULTI-USER CRITICAL ARCTIC INFRASTRUCTURE
  • GLOBAL CAPITAL, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE-INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS
  • CRITICAL MINERALS: BUILDING SUPPLY CHAINS & CONNECTING CANADA
  • THE NORTH AMERICAN ARCTIC: OPEN FOR BUSINESS
  • STRENGTHENING TRADE NORTH OF 60: A CONVERSATION WITH ARCTIC TRADE COUNSELLORS TO CANADA
  • LONG-TERM ARCTIC STRATEGY: THE ROAD TO ALL PARTY CONSENSUS
  • NORTH AMERICAN ARCTIC SECURITY AND CONTINENTAL DEFENCE

06 FEBRUARY 2024

10:00 – 15:00
Pre-Conference Workshop: CLOSING THE GAP TO SECURITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE CANADIAN NORTH (Invitation Only)

16:00 – 17:00
Speaker Ralph J. Begleiter, Rosenberg Professor of Communication Emeritus, University of Delaware and award-winning former CNN world affairs correspondent

This event is co-sponsored by the Canadian International Council and the Toronto Branch of the Canadian International Council

17:00 – 18:00
COCKTAIL RECEPTION

18:00 – 21:00
DINNER & FIRESIDE CHAT (Invitation Only)

Fireside Discussion:

  • Ralph J. Begleiter, Rosenberg Professor of Communication Emeritus, University of Delaware and award-winning former CNN world affairs correspondent
  • Jeremy Kinsman, Distinguished Fellow, CIC; Former Canadian Ambassador to Moscow, Rome, EU and High Commissioner in London.
The Faculty Club

41 Willcocks Street
Toronto, ON M5S 1C7

07 FEBRUARY 2024 – DAY 1 FULL DAY CONFERENCE

08:00 – 08:45
NETWORKING BREAKFAST

08:45 – 09:15
OPENING REMARKS

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

9:15 – 10:45
SESSION I: ANNUAL ARCTIC AMBASSADORS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

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

  • Signe Burgstaller, Sweden Ambassador to Canada
  • Hanne Fugl Eskjær, Kingdom of Denmark Ambassador to Canada
  • Trine Jøranli Eskedal, Norway Ambassador to Canada
  • Hlynur Guðjónsson, Iceland Ambassador to Canada
  • Kenneth Høegh, Head of Representation to Canada and US, Government of Greenland
  • Robert Sinclair, Senior Arctic Official and Director General, Arctic, Eurasian, and European Affairs, Global Affairs Canada
  • Ms. Sari Uusi-Rauva, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland to Canada
  • David Cohen, U.S. Ambassador

10:45 – 11:00
STRENGTHENING CANADA / US ARCTIC COOPERATION

  • Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence)
  • Lisa Murkowski, United States Senator, Alaska

11:00 – 12:15
SESSION II: ARCTIC SECURITY AND DEFENCE CAPABILITY

Moderator: Danielle Bochove, Toronto Bureau Chief & Senior Reporter for the Arctic for Bloomberg News

  • Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence)
  • Dr. David Perry, President, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
  • Dr. Robert Huebert, Associate Director of the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies, U. of Calgary; Senior Fellow, Arctic360
  • Greg MacNeil, Partner, Northstar

12:15 – 13:30
LUNCH AND FIRESIDE CHAT: Talking Arctic with Jim Balsillie: From Franklin To The Future. Moderator, Honourable Erin O’Toole.

Jim Balsillie, Chair, Council of Canadian Innovators; Founder Centre for Digital Rights
Honourable Erin O’Toole, Managing Director of ADIT North America; former MP, Durham and leader of Conservative Party

13:30 – 13:40
BREAK

13:40 – 14:55
SESSION III: THE NORTH AMERICAN ARCTIC: OPEN FOR BUSINESS

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

  • Paul Barrett, Chief Communications Officer, Davie Shipbuilding
  • Kenneth Høegh Head of Representation to Canada and US, Greenland Representation
  • John Rasmussen, CEO, Sikuki Nuuk Harbour A/S
  • Jens R. Lauridsen, Chief Executive Officer, Kalaallit Airports Group
  • Peter Garapick, Head of External Relations, Quark Expedition; Executive Committee, Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO)
  • Brandon MacDonald, Vice President of Strategy and Growth, Pennecon

14:55 – 15:05 BREAK

15:05 – 16:25
SESSION IV: THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD

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

  • Dave Prodger, UK Deputy High Commissioner to Canada
  • Dr. Melita Gabrič, Ambassador of the European Union to Canada
  • Sabine Sparwasser, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Canada

16:25 – 17:55
SESSION V: GLOBAL CAPITAL, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE-INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS

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

  • Derron Bain, CEO, Concert Infrastructure
  • Tim Brown, Assistant Director, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI)
  • Darrell Beaulieu, CEO, Denendeh Investment Corporation, NWT
  • Paul Gruner, CEO, Tłı̨chǫ Investment Corporation & Group of Companies, NWT
  • Shahir Guindi, Ad. E., Former National Co-Chair, Partner, Corporate, Osler
  • Alison Loat, Managing Director, Sustainable Investing and Innovation, OP Trust
  • Hillary Thatcher, Managing Director, Investments, Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)
  • Tiffany Eckert Maret, Secretary/Treasurer, YFNCC; COO, Da Daghay Development Corporation

17:55 – 19:30
RECEPTION

08 FEBRUARY 2024 – DAY 2 FULL DAY CONFERENCE

08:00 – 09:00
NETWORKING BREAKFAST

09:00 – 09:30
OPENING REMARKS

9:30 – 10:50
SESSION I: LONG-TERM ARCTIC STRATEGY: THE ROAD TO ALL PARTY CONSENSUS

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

  • Honourable Erin O’Toole, Managing Director of ADIT North America; former MP, Durham and leader of Conservative Party
  • Daniel Blaikie, MP Elmwood—Transcona, Manitoba
  • Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence)
  • Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, MP Beaches—East York

10:50 – 11:05
NETWORKING BREAK

11:05 – 12:00
SESSION II: ASIA STATES AND THE ARCTIC

Moderator: Danielle Bochove, Toronto Bureau Chief & Senior Reporter for the Arctic for Bloomberg News

  • Yamanouchi Kanji, Ambassador of Japan to Canada
  • Deputy Head of Mission, Minister Woonan Kam, Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada
  • Dr. Hema Nadarajah, Senior Fellow, Arctic360; Program Manager, Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

12:15 – 13:30
LUNCH AND FIRESIDE CHAT: A CONVERSATION WITH NORTHERN INDIGENOUS YOUTH

  • Max Schiller, Bachelor of Commerce, Boom, Finance Student, Concordia University
  • Jasmine Redfern, CEO, Arctic Inspiration Prize
  • Allana Nakashook, U of T Indigenous Student
  • Victoria McMahon, Kinesiology Student, University of British Columbia

13:30 – 15:00
SESSION III: CRITICAL MINERALS IN THE (TERRITORIAL) NORTH: BUILDING SUPPLY CHAINS & CONNECTING CANADA

Moderator: Anita Balakrishnan, Reporter, The Logic

  • Rebecca Connelly, Vice President, Strategy and Engagement, Det’onCho Corporation
  • Paul Gruner, CEO, Tłı̨chǫ Investment Corporation & Group of Companies, NWT
  • Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs & Northern Development, Ontario
  • Menzie McEachern, ADM Minerals and Petroleum Resources, GNWT
  • Yamanouchi Kanji, Ambassador of Japan to Canada
  • Dr. April Hayward, Chief Sustainability Officer, Li-FT Power

15:00 – 15:15
NETWORKING BREAK

15:15 – 16:15
SESSION IV: INNOVATION OUT OF THE ARCTIC

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

  • Philip Burns-O’Brien, Chief Revenue Officer, AT2 Aerospace
  • Christine Burow, Chief Marketing Officer, Torngat Metals, Ltd.
  • Barry Prentice, Airships
  • Kimberley Van Vliet, Founder and CEO, WaVv/ConvergX; Deputy Chair, Community of Interest, NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG)-Allied Command Transformation Unit (ACT)
  • Tom Henheffer, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Arctic Research Foundation

16:30 – 17:45
SESSION V: STRENGTHENING TRADE NORTH OF 60: A CONVERSATION WITH ARCTIC TRADE COUNSELLORS TO CANADA

Moderator: Jake Edmiston, Reporter, Toronto Star

  • Helene Scherling Olsen, Deputy Head of Trade, Sr. Advisor, Arctic, Danish Trade Council, Canada
  • Rebecca Lynge, Deputy Head of the Greenland Representation to the US and Canada
  • John Fleming, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Trade Consulate
  • Patricia Boeg-Jensen, Business Sweden, Swedish Trade Commission, Toronto
  • Adam Kalbfleisch, Partner, Bennett Jones LLP
  • Stein Oddvar Sægrov, Commercial Counsellor / Handelsråd, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa
  • Jean-Sébastien Fabry, A/Director, Multilateral Engagement, International and Intergovernmental Affairs Branch, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

17:45 – 18:30
SESSION VI: MULTI-PURPOSE & MULTI-USER CRITICAL ARCTIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Moderator: Honourable Erin O’Toole, Managing Director of ADIT North America; former MP, Durham and leader of Conservative Party

  • David Thompson, Director General, Infrastructure, Portfolio Requirements, DND
  • Sean Boyd FCPA, FCA, Chair of the Board, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
  • Madeleine Redfern, COO, CanArctic Inuit Networks; Executive Director, Northern Branch, Arctic360
  • Brandon MacDonald, Vice President of Strategy and Growth, Pennecon
  • Jimi Onalik, President, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)
  • Paul Barrett, Chief Communications Officer, Davie Shipbuilding

2024 Conference Gallery