Panelists

Aleksi Härkönen - Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Finland
Marie-Anne Coninsx - Ambassador at Large for the Arctic, European External Action Service
Donna Ann Welton - Chargé d’Affaires, United States Embassy in Finland
Åge B. Grutle - Norway’s Ambassador to Finland
Hanne Fugl Eskjaer - Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Kingdom of Denmark
Árni Þór Sigurðsson - Ambassador, Senior Arctic Official, Iceland
Maeve Collins - Ambassador of Ireland to Finland

Moderator

Markku Heikkilä - Head of Science Communications, Arctic Centre

Why this theme?

Directly after the opening speeches this high-level panel maps the international will to put words into action. All countries have committed to put the UN Sustainable Development Goals into action on the national level. How and why should they be implemented in the Arctic? What are the national perspectives?

Who are the panelists?

The panel collects a number of high level speakers and Arctic diplomats from different countries. Their discussion is moderated by Markku Heikkilä from the Arctic Centre who has keenly followed the Arctic developments since 90’s.

What can we expect?

The Conference is the first major event to focus on the connection between UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Arctic. The Panel is expected to highlight the national commitments to a sustainable Arctic. Thus, it sets the frame to the rest of the Conference and also paves the way to further international Arctic discussions on the theme.