Arctic360 2nd Annual Conference

A few short weeks before the world went into lockdown, Arctic360 convened its Second Annual Conference: ‘The Emerging Economy Of The North American Arctic: Investing In 21st Century Critical Infrastructure And Transportation Corridors’. Our annual conference brings together leaders from around the North American Arctic from Indigenous development corporations, to Northern governments, the investment community, the Government of Canada, mining, IT, telecommunications executives, and other stakeholders. Our February 2020 conference focused on the challenges and opportunities to invest in the world’s northernmost emerging economy.

Despite the cold dreary weather outside, inside the University Club our group of Alaskans, Canadians, and Greenlanders, alongside financial institutions from Bay Street to London, took part in a marathon of conversations that delved deep into the challenges and opportunities for the North American Arctic.

Arctic360 does not intend for its annual meetings to be a forum for institutional self-promotion. Instead, they are for those with an earnest interest in listening and learning from one another. It is a conference meant for those willing to roll up their sleeves, stay for the duration, work to help advance the conversation on growing a sustainable and prosperous North American Arctic, and how to find the capital investments to do so.

Yes, Arctic geopolitics and climate change make great newspaper headlines. Yet, at the heart of those articles is the critical infrastructure deficit in the North American Arctic.

This infrastructure gap makes it more difficult for communities to adapt to climate change and take advantage of the opportunities of a more accessible Arctic region. Further, it is impeding the ability of the region’s states to protect their Arctic security and sovereignty.

While there has been some positive momentum, the fact remains that there is a long way to go in filling that gap, knowing who will finance it, and finding precise components of the public-private partnerships required to bring global capital north successfully. To arrive at these answers insightful circumpolar Arctic thinking is required alongside new theoretical and applied economic approaches to harness the necessary investment into the region. The objective of Arctic360’s annual conference is to help advance that conversation.

Though COVID has stopped us from meeting in person for February 2021, we have continued to keep the conversation moving forward online through our podcast series, Breaking the Ice and other virtual events with our partners. We also continue to fundraise so we can carry out our initiatives, including our Annual Infrastructure Investment Opportunities Report, our Interactive 2040 Infrastructure Map, and accompanying projects.

The continued spirit of being Canada’s principal Arctic think tank for convening, building new networks and partnerships, and creating new knowledge to advance sustainable economic development in the North American Arctic – onward we go.

We look forward to seeing you all again in person.

Membership and Conference Sponsorship Opportunities

4 FEBRUARY 2020 – DAY 1 FULL-DAY CONFERENCE

08:00 – 09:00
NETWORKING BREAKFAST

09:00 – 09:20
OPENING REMARKS

09:20 – 09:45
FIRESIDE CHAT: Strengthening Canada-Greenland Bi-lateral Relations

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

  • Yvonne Jones, M.P., Labrador
  • The Hon. Vittus Qujaukitsoq, Minister for Finance and Mineral Resources, Government of Greenland

09:45- 12:00
SESSION: Northern Transportation Corridors and Routes: Building Project North

Moderator: Andrew Macklin, Managing Editor, Renew Canada I The Infrastructure Magazine

  • Stanley Anablak, Grays Bay Port and Road, Nunavut, President, Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA)
  • Sonya Saunders, NWT Strategic Infrastructure Corridors, Director, Strategic Infrastructure, Department of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories
  • Mead Treadwell, COO, A2A Railway Joe Coccimiglio, Churchill Port and Rail, Fairfax Financial
  • Philip Duguay, Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, Vice President Canada, Anbaric Development Partners

12:00-14:00
Lunch and Fireside Chat

  • Keith Martell, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Nations Bank of Canada
  • Shirley Ong, Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian International Arctic Centre, Global Affairs Canada

14:00-15:20
Paying for Infrastructure: Public/Private Partnerships and Attracting Global Capital: Building the Business Case

Moderator: Gabe Friedman, Staff Writer, Financial Post

  • Rick Doman, Chairman and CEO, Abell Corporation; Member of Board, Arctic Gateway, Executive Chairman, AMIRA Medical Technologies
  • Russell Read, Group Managing Partner, The C Change Group
  • Scott Northey, COO, Nunavut Resources Corporation
  • Andrew Macklin, Managing Editor, Renew Canada I The Infrastructure Magazine

15:20-16:25
Infrastructure Banks, Infrastructure Bonds, Indigenous Funds, Indigenous Bonds, and Other Mechanisms For Attracting Private Capital Investments in Arctic Infrastructure

Moderator: Drew Fagan, Professor, University of Toronto and former Ontario Deputy Minister of Infrastructure

  • Jake Dockstator, VP, Business Development, Bridging Finance Inc.
  • John Casola, Chief Investment Officer, Canada Infrastructure Bank
  • Max Skudra, Director, Research & Government Relations, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)
  • Keith Martell, Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer of First Nations Bank of Canada

16:25-17:30
Financing the Infrastructure Gap: Shipping in the North American Arctic Ocean

Moderator: Lisa Mitchell, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) (Confirmed)

  • Mead Treadwell, Chair, Arctic Circle’s Mission Council on Shipping and Ports;Co-chair Polar Institute, Wilson Center
  • Matthew Lewis, VP, Marine Manager for Canada, CNA
  • Neil O’Rourke, Assistant Commissioner, Arctic Region, Canadian Coast Guard
  • Peter Garapick, Director, Industry Relations, Quark Expedition

17:30 – 19:30
OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION & NETWORKING

5 FEBRUARY 2020 – DAY 2 FULL-DAY CONFERENCE

08:00 – 09:00
NETWORKING BREAKFAST

09:00 – 09:20
OPENING REMARKS

09:20 – 09:45
Morning Fireside Chat

  • Dr. Ruben Shiffman, Executive Chairman, Greenland Resources
  • Dr. Jessica Shadian, President and CEO, Arctic360

09:45- 12:00
Innovation in Infrastructure for the Arctic

Moderator: Dr. David Scott, CEO, Polar Knowledge Canada

  • Stephen Mooney, Interim Dean Applied Science and Management Division Director, Northern Housing Innovation
  • Cdr/Capf Meiz Majdoub, Technology Manager, DGMEPM, Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Armed Forces
  • Sandeep Taxali, Director, Public-Private Partnerships, OneWeb
  • Dr. Paul Barrette, Project manager, Ice Mechanics and Hydraulics, National Research Council Canada

12:00-14:00
Fostering and Supporting an Investment Climate in the North: An Indigenous Development Corporation Conversation with Invest in Canada

Moderator: Naomi Powell, Financial Post

  • Greg Da Re, Regional Director, Ontario, Invest in Canada
  • Darrell Beaulieu, CEO, Denendeh Investment Corporation, NWT Indigenous Coalition on the Economy
  • Albert Drapeau, Albert Drapeau, Executive Director, Yukon First Nation Chamber Of Commerce
  • Sheldon Nimchuk, Director of Project Development and Partnerships, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (QC) and Inuit Development Corporation Association

14:00-15:20
Keynote Address

  • Sean Boyd, Vice Chairman, President and CEO, Agnico Eagle Mines
  • Danielle Bochove, Bloomberg News

15:20 – 17:30
RECEPTION & NETWORKING