The Arctic Circle Podcast

What is Finland's perspective and role amidst the evolving security dynamics in the Arctic? And how is Finland approaching the twin challenges of climate change and the pursuit of sustainable solutions in the region?

Joining the conversation is Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The Session is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and Former President of Iceland.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

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@_Arctic_Circle

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In what ways is connectivity fundamental for development and prosperity in the Arctic region?

Joining the conversation are:

• Sanni N. Breining, Chief Economist at Ramboll Consulting, Denmark
• Tómas Ingason, Chief Commercial Officer at Icelandair
• Jóhanna á Bergi, CEO of Atlantic Airways
• Nauja Bianco, Member of the Board of Directors of Greenland Resources Inc., Canada, and Director of Isuma Consulting, Greenland

The Session is moderated by Ásdís Pétursdottir, Director Communications & Sustainability at Icelandair.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Business Forum, held October 16th to 17th during the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

How can we effectively foster international cooperation in studying the ice-covered parts of the world, from the Arctic and Antarctic to the glaciers of the Himalayas?

Joining the conversation is Senator Musadik Masood Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination of Pakistan.

The Session is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and Former President of Iceland.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

How do we chart a way forward to tackle the defining challenges facing the Arctic Ocean, one of the most fragile and contested regions on Earth?

Joining the conversation are:

• Ambassador Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean
• Ambassador Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, Special Envoy of French President Emmanuel Macron for Oceans and Poles
• Louie Porta, Director of the Arctic Ocean Initiative at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
• Dr. Mere Takoko, CEO of the Pacific Whale Fund, New Zealand, and Executive Board Member of the Moananui Sanctuary Trust, New Zealand

The Session is moderated by Ambassador David Balton, Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative, and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries at the US Department of State.

This discussion was recorded live during the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

What are the positions of Canada, Norway, and Greenland in the Arctic? And how are each navigating the region's rapidly changing political, strategic, and environmental dynamics?

Joining the conversation are:

• Vivian Motzfeldt, then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research of Greenland
• Mona Fortier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
• Eivind Vad Petersson, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway

The Session is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and Former President of Iceland.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum -  Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

How can we innovate in the Arctic? Why is this region uniquely positioned to drive innovation? And what does the future hold for Arctic entrepreneurship and technology?

Joining the conversation are:

• Vince Payne, Vice President of Business Development at C-Core, Canada
• William Tasney, CEO of Scale42, UK
• Andrey Mineev, Project Leader at the Arctic Business Index and Researcher at Nord University, Norway
• Miki Jensen, CEO of Innovation South Greenland
• Sindre Stemshaug Bornstein, CEO of Nordic Innovation

The Session is moderated by Friðrika Geirsdóttir, Director of the Arctic Circle Business Forum.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Business Forum, held October 16th to 17th during the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

What is the role of Greenland in the Arctic and the world? And how are the region’s rapidly shifting dynamics creating both new opportunities and new responsibilities for Greenland and its partners?

Joining the conversation is Vivian Motzfeldt, then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research of Greenland.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

What is the role and responsibility of Indigenous knowledge in Arctic research? And how can platforms and frameworks foster genuine, respectful collaboration between Indigenous and Western knowledge systems?

Joining the conversation are:

• Malene Simon Hegelund, Senior Scientist at the Greenland Climate Research Centre
• Qillaq Danielsen, Indigenous Hunter from Qaanaaq, Greenland
• Olennguaq Kristensen, Indigenous Hunter from Savissivik, Greenland
• Sara Olsvig, International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)

The Session is moderated by Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Chair of the Arctic Circle Polar Dialogue; and former Prime Minister of Iceland.

This discussion was recorded live at the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík, Iceland, from October 16th to 18th.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

What is the United States’ vision in and for the Arctic and why has the region become central to U.S. security in recent years?

Joining the conversation are:

• Thomas E. Dans, Chair, United States Arctic Research Commission (USARC); and
• David Balton, Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative, and Former U.S. Ambassador.

The Session is moderated by Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Chair of the Arctic Circle Polar Dialogue and Former Prime Minister of Iceland.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd and 4th, 2026, and organized in association with the Ministry of University and Research and the National Research Council of Italy, and in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

How can science and business work together to bring meaningful solutions to the challenges facing the Arctic and the world?

The conversation is introduced by H.E. Mariam Almheiri, Chair of the Emirates Polar Program Steering Committee and Head of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, and continues with a panel discussion featuring:

• Aisha Al Suwaidi, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences and member of the Polar Research Center at Khalifa University;
• Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Executive Director of the Arctic Economic Council;
• Edmund Truell, Executive Chairman of Global Interconnection Group, UK.

The Session is moderated by Wassim Said, Steering Committee Member of the Emirates Polar Program.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Business Forum, held October 16th to 17th during the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org