Speakers
Aaja is Chair of the Arctic Parliamentarians and has been a member of the Danish Parliament since 2015 for Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA). She is a former member of Inatsisartut, Children’s Ombudsperson, Director in Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, and served as an Associate Expert at the United Nations in New York.
My name is Aia Lyberth Jeppson. I am 19 years old and graduated from GUX Nuuk in the summer of 2023.
I am currently working as a substitute teacher at Atuarfik Hans Lynge, and this fall I will continue my studies in Denmark. I participated in the Røst Speakers’ School in 2022 while studying at GUX.
I also represented Greenland at the Culture Meeting in Mors in 2023, where I delivered a speech in collaboration with Røst.
In my free time, I am very physically active and spend the rest of my time with my family. I am interested in communication and rhetoric, which is a field I hope to work in in the future.
Anette works as an initiator on projects that empower Greenlandic youth to speak up for themselves.
She runs the Traveling Writers’ School in Greenland together with author Niviaq Korneliussen and, in collaboration with RØST.dk, initiated Nordrøst, which teaches young people in the North Atlantic to give public speeches.
Anette helped organize UNLEASH Greenland in 2022 and continues to work on implementing UNLEASH innovation methods in Greenland.
In 2020, she founded Arctic Action to support youth in developing innovative solutions for a meaningful life through community-based projects, primarily in Greenland.
My name is Aviâja Korneliussen, and I am in my second year at GUX Nuuk, studying languages. I am interested in our culture and history, and in my free time, I enjoy engaging in art—whether drawing, writing, singing, or playing the drum. I participated in Nordrøst in 2023, and later applied what I learned there at the Arctic Winter Games 2024 in Alaska.
Aviaja Lyberth Hauptmann (she/her, Inuit from West Greenland) is an assistant professor at Ilisimatusarfik – University of Greenland, and at the University of Copenhagen. Aviaja works to promote understanding of the microbiological, cultural, and sociological significance of Indigenous foods in Greenland and leads the development of Greenland’s first university-level natural sciences program: the SILA bachelor’s degree in biology.
Bent Olsvig Jensen has over 25 years of leadership experience in Greenland, applied across education, the fishing industry in North Greenland, and most recently the mining sector throughout the country.
From 2011 to 2016, he served as director of companies such as True North Gems Greenland, which originally held the exploitation license for the ruby mine at Fiskenæsset, and subsequently Xploration Services, based in Nuuk, which provides services to active mining companies across Greenland. Since 2020, Bent has been the director of Lumina Sustainable Materials A/S, which holds the exploitation license for the anorthosite deposit at Qaqortorsuaq in Kangerlussuaq and operates the mine. Lumina is currently an active mine exporting products to international markets.
In addition, Bent Olsvig Jensen serves as chairman of the Mineral Resources Industry Committee under Greenland Business, representing the majority of active exploration companies and mining operations in Greenland.
In the spring of 2023, Miki Brøns and Bent Salling took over the leadership of Polar Seafood Greenland. Despite their relatively young ages, they bring many years of experience in both the industry and the company. Miki joined Polar Seafood in 1998, and Bent in 2013. At 45 and 34 years old respectively, they combine experience and fresh perspectives in their CEO roles, succeeding their fathers, Anders Brøns and Jens Salling.
Christian grew up in Nanortalik and was educated at the Business School in Nuuk, specializing in International Trade & Marketing. Since 2001, he has worked in the family business Atlantic Music, founded in 1990. Christian works broadly within the music industry and is responsible for the daily operations of Atlantic Music, which include the sale of musical instruments, physical and digital music, instrument rentals, music production, and managing musicians’ rights. Atlantic Music also organizes the annual Akisuanerit Festival, which has become a major event in Nuuk.
Christian is also known from the band Nanook, established in 2008, which has toured both in Greenland and abroad. During Nanook’s 15 years of success in the music industry, the band has released five albums, with Christian and his brother Frederik overseeing composition and production in collaboration with the band.
Christian Keldsen has been the Director of Greenland Business since November 1, 2020. He previously served as Commercial Director at Air Greenland and is a co-founder of the consulting firm Visiobox Consulting in Nuuk, which specializes in leadership and strategy development for the public and private sectors.
He holds a law degree (cand.jur.) and serves as Honorary Consul for England and Northern Ireland.
Christian Vintergaard is the CEO of the Foundation for Entrepreneurship and a board member of the Foundation for Entrepreneurship Kalaallit. He serves on several boards and advisory committees for private organizations, NGOs, and public institutions. His career has been dedicated to bringing together professionals across entrepreneurship, new technology, business strategy, economic growth, and policy in both private and public organizations. With extensive international experience, particularly in the U.S., he has a wide network and is recognized as an expert in entrepreneurship and technology for youth, both nationally and internationally.
Emma has been the British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark since 2020. Prior to her appointment in Denmark, she served as Ambassador to Bulgaria. She is a trained lawyer and has worked in areas including immigration and asylum, EU law and internal affairs, international criminal law, organized crime, and violence against women.
Frederik was born and raised in Nanortalik and educated at the Business School in Frederikshavn, specializing in Sales and Service. After completing his education, he stayed in Denmark for seven years working in the music industry before homesickness and his band Nanook brought him back to Greenland.
Frederik Elsner is known as a musician and has performed with many different artists in Greenland. He is currently the lead singer and guitarist for Nanook, as well as a guitarist for Kimmernaq and the children’s hero Hinnarik. Frederik was also an active athlete, competing at the elite level in badminton, where he won Greenlandic championships and the World Ø Championship at the Island Games. He also participated in numerous World and European Championships, ending his sports career in 2019 to focus on other priorities.
Today, Frederik is interested in composing music for films and documentaries and collaborating closely with other Nordic artists and artists in Greenland.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen is a current member of Inatsisartut, former minister for Demokraatit, and the party’s current leader.
He graduated in social sciences from Ilisimatusarfik – University of Greenland in 2016.
In June 2020, Nielsen was elected as the new leader of Demokraatit after the party had been without an acting leader for about a year. Shortly before his election as party leader, he had been appointed minister in Kim Kielsen’s seventh government, a position he held until 2021 when Demokraatit left the government. In the 2021 Inatsisartut election, he was re-elected despite significant losses for the party.
Lisa Murkowski is Alaska’s senior senator and a third-generation Alaskan. She is proud to be the first U.S. senator born in Alaska. Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has worked tirelessly for the people of Alaska and has earned a reputation in the Senate for collaborating across party lines to achieve practical solutions. She is known for her love of and commitment to her state, always putting Alaska first.
Lisa Murkowski is a leading authority on energy and public lands and believes that sound national policy not only creates jobs and economic growth but also higher living standards and greater global stability.
Michelle is a Program Manager at Inussuk A/S, the Base Maintenance Contractor at Pituffik Space Base.
She is educated in psychology and Human Resource Management and has worked in HR, leadership, organizational development, production management, Lean, and project management throughout her career.
In her current role as Program Manager at Inussuk, she focuses on maintaining the base while prioritizing Greenlandic influence and involvement in base operations, including recruiting local staff and creating more attractive internship opportunities at the base.
In the spring of 2023, Miki Brøns and Bent Salling took over the leadership of Polar Seafood Greenland. Despite their relatively young age, they have many years of experience both in the industry and within the company. Miki started at Polar Seafood in 1998, and Bent joined the company in 2013. At 45 and 34 years old respectively, they bring a combination of experience and fresh perspective to their CEO roles, which they inherited from their fathers, Anders Brøns and Jens Salling.
“The one who sleeps in a democracy wakes up in a dictatorship!” – the warning is clear. But what does this mean for youth and everyday life in Greenland today—and for the future? What is democracy, and what role does it play in a country’s future and development opportunities?
Be critical and take responsibility—for yourself, your generation, and your country.
Morten Nornild is Deputy Head and Chief Legal Officer at the Danish High Commissioner’s Office in Greenland and an adjunct lecturer at the University of Greenland’s Faculty of Law. As an educator and legal officer, it has long been part of his role to identify and develop Greenland’s future talented lawyers. Morten Nornild has authored several legal articles and teaching materials related to Greenland.
Mute Bourup Egede has been the Chairperson of Naalakkersuisut since April 23, 2021, and the Chairperson of the Inuit Ataqatigiit party since 2018. He has been a member of Inatsisartut since 2015.
He studied cultural and social history at Ilisimatusarfik, the University of Greenland.
I am in my third year at GU Nuuk, studying the General Academic Program. I am interested in technology, and in my free time, I create art. I participated in Nordrøst 2023. After graduation, I plan to either attend art school or take a gap year.
Pauli is a flight information operator at Naviair’s Flight Information Centre in Nuuk. In his role, he communicates with airplanes and helicopters throughout Greenlandic airspace. His task is to support safe aviation by providing information regarding traffic, weather, clearances, and flight plans to aircraft and air traffic service units across the country.
Pauli is 32 years old and was born and raised in Nuuk. He began his training at Naviair in 2019 and has been a flight information operator since 2020.
Qupanuk is Greenland’s largest content creator and influencer, with 1.3 million followers across her various social media platforms under the name Q’s Greenland. She is the only person in Greenland to have received a YouTube Silver Creator Award, which she was awarded in September 2023. In addition, Qupanuk runs her own business, Q’s Effect, where she offers courses on social media to help strengthen businesses across Greenland.
Yvonne Jones is a Canadian Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence).
She was first elected as a Member of Parliament for Labrador in 2013. She has previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Northern Affairs.
As an entrepreneur, she has owned and operated small businesses in both the transportation and tourism sectors in Labrador. Yvonne Jones has made significant contributions to improving the quality of life for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador through her volunteer work with the Battle Harbour Development Corporation, the Labrador Inuit Association, the NunatuKavut Community Council, and various literacy groups and councils.
