Speakers

Aaja is chairman of the Arctic Parliamentarians and a member of the Danish Parliament since 2015 on behalf of Inuit Ataqatigiit. She is a former member of Inatsisartut, Children’s Spokesperson, director of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq and Associate Expert at the UN in New York.

My name is Aia Lyberth Jeppson. I’m 19 years old and graduated from GUX Nuuk in the summer of 2023.

I am currently a substitute teacher at the Hans Lynge School, and starting this fall, I will study in Denmark. I participated in the Røst speech school in 2022 when I studied at GUX.

I also represented Greenland at the cultural meeting on the island of Mors in Denmark in 2023, where I gave a speech in collaboration with Røst.

In my spare time, I am very physically active, and I spend the rest of my time with my family. I’m interested in communications and rhetoric, which is something I would like to work with in the future.

Anette works as initiator of projects which has the aim of empowering Greenlandic Youth in speaking up for themselves.

She runs Den Rejsende Forfatterskole/the Travelling Writers School in Greenland with author, Niviaq Korneliussen and has initiated Nordrøst in collaboration with RØST.dk Nordrøst teaches youth in the North Atlantic to give speaches in the public.

Anette was a part of organizing UNLEASH Greenland in 2022 and still works with establishing UNLEASH innovation methods in Greenland.

Anette created Arctic Action in 2020 to work for supporting young people in building innovative solutions to dignified lives in community-based projects, mainly in Greenland.

My name is Aviâja Korneliussen, and I’m a second-year linguistics student at GUX Nuuk. I am interested in our culture and history, and in my spare time, I do art projects, be they drawing, writing, singing, or playing the drums. I participated in Nordrøst in 2023, and I later used my experiences at the Arctic Winter Games 2024, held in Alaska.

Aviaja Lyberth Hauptmann (she/her, West Greenland Inuit) is an assistant professor at Ilisimatusarfik – The University of Greenland, and the University of Copenhagen. Aviaja works to understand the microbiological, cultural, and societal importance of Indigenous foods in Greenland and is leading the process to develop Greenland’s first university education within the natural sciences: SILA bachelor in biology.

Bent Olsvig Jensen has more than 25 years of management experience in Greenland, which has been used in education, the fishing industry in North Greenland, and, most recently, the mineral resources industry throughout Greenland.

From 2011 to 2016, Bent Olsvig Jensen was the CEO of companies such as True North Gems Greenland, which originally obtained the exploitation license for the Ruby Mine at Qeqertarsuatsiaat (Fiskenæsset), and subsequently, Xploration Services, based in Nuuk, which services active mineral resource companies throughout Greenland. Since 2020, Bent has been CEO of Lumina Sustainable Materials A/S, which holds the exploitation license for the Anorthosit deposit at Qaqortorsuaq in Kangerlussuaq where the company operates the mine. Today, Lumina is an active mine that exports products to international markets.

Bent Olsvig Jensen is also chairman of the Industry Committee for Mineral Resources under Greenland Business Association, representing most of Greenland’s active exploration and mining companies.

Miki Brøns and Bent Salling took over the management of Polar Seafood Greenland in the spring of 2023. Despite their relatively young age, they have many years of experience both in the industry and in the company. Miki started at Polar Seafood back in 1998, and Bent joined the company in 2013. With 45 and 34 years respectively, they thus bring a combination of experience and freshness to their directorial roles, which they have taken over from their fathers Anders Brøns and Jens Salling.

Christian grew up in Nanortalik, and is educated at the business school in Nuuk, majoring in International Trade & Marketing. Since 2001, he has worked in the family business Atlantic Music, which was established in 1990. Christians works widely within the music industry, and is, among other things, responsible for the day-to-day operations of Atlantic Music. The work includes the sale of musical instruments,  physical and digital records, rental of musical instruments, production of music and custody of the musicians intellectual rights. Atlantic Music is also behind the annual Akisuanerit Festival which has become a big event in Nuuk. Christian is, among other things, known from the band Nanook, which has existed since 2008, and toured both in Greenland and abroad. In the 15 years Nanook has been a success in the music industry, the band has released 5 albums that Christian and his brother, Frederik, have been responsible for in terms of writing and performance together with the band.

Director of Greenland Business Association since 1 November 2020. Former commercial director of Air Greenland. Co-founder of the consulting company Visiobox Consulting in Nuuk, which works with management and strategy development in the public and private sector.

Christian Keldsen has a master’s degree in law. and is Honorary Consul for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Christian Vintergaard is CEO of the Foundation for Entrepreneurship and board member of the Foundation for Entrepreneurship Kalaallit. He is part of several boards and advisory committees for private organisations, NGOs and public institutions. His career has been dedicated to bringing together diverse professionals in entrepreneurship, new technology, business strategy, economic growth and policy in both private and public organizations. With extensive international experience, especially from the USA, he has a large network and is recognized as an expert in entrepreneurship and technology for young people, both nationally and internationally.

Emma has been the British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark since 2020. She was previously Ambassador in Bulgaria and has a long-standing career in the British government at senior level. She holds a legal degree and has worked on immigration and asylum, human rights, EU justice and home affairs, international criminal law, organised crime, as well as violence against women to name just a few.

Frederik was born and raised in Nanortalik, and educated at the Business School in Frederikshavn with a specialisation in Sales and Service. After graduating, Frederik stayed in Denmark for 7 years and worked in the music industry, before homesickness and the band Nanook brought him home to Greenland.

Frederik Elsner is well known as a musician and has played with many different artists in Greenland. Today he is the lead singer and guitarist for Nanook as well as guitarist for Kimmernaq and guitarist for children’s hero Hinnarik. Frederik has also been an active sportsman and played badminton on elite level, and has won the Greenland Championships and the World Island Games Championship. He has also participated in all WC and EC. Frederik stopped his sports career in 2019 as his priorities now lie elsewhere.

Today, Frederik is interested in writing music for films and documentaries as well as working closely with other Nordic artists and artists in Greenland.

Chairman, Demokraatit and Member of Inatsisartut

Lisa Murkowski, Alaska’s senior U.S. Senator, is a third-generation Alaskan proudly serving as the first Alaskan-born senator. Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has worked tirelessly for Alaskans and earned a reputation in the Senate for her ability to work collaboratively and across the aisle to reach common sense solutions. Murkowski is well-known for her love and dedication to her state, which means putting Alaska first.
A leader on energy and public lands issues, Senator Murkowski recognizes that sound national policy will promote not only job creation and economic growth but also higher standards of living and greater global stability.

Program Manager at Inussuk A/S, Base Maintenance Contractor at Pituffik Space Base

Michelle has a degree in Psychology and Human Resource Management. She has worked professionally in HR, leadership, organizational development, production management, Lean, and project management. 

In her current role as Program Manager at Inussuk, she focuses on maintaining the base while prioritizing Greenland’s influence and involvement in base operations, recruiting local labor, and creating more attractive internships.

Miki Brøns and Bent Salling took over the management of Polar Seafood Greenland in the spring of 2023. Despite their relatively young age, they have many years of experience both in the industry and in the company. Miki started at Polar Seafood back in 1998, and Bent joined the company in 2013. With 45 and 34 years respectively, they thus bring a combination of experience and freshness to their directorial roles, which they have taken over from their fathers Anders Brøns and Jens Salling.

”He who sleeps in a democracy, wakes up in a dictatorship!”, reads the warning. But what does this mean for the youth and everyday life in Greenland today – and for the future? What is democracy and what role does democracy play in a country’s future and development opportunities?

Be critical and take responsibility – for yourself, your generation and your country. Morten Nornild, deputy head and chief legal officer at Rigsombudsmanden in Greenland, external lecturer at the University of Greenland’s department of law. As a lecturer and chief legal officer, it has been part of Morten Nornild’s task for years to spot and develop the talented lawyers of the future. Morten Nornild has written several legal articles and educational collections for and about Greenland.

Chairman of Naalakkersuisut since 23 April 2021. Chairman of the Inuit Ataqatigiit party since 2018. Member of Inatsisartut since 2015. Mute Bourup Egede studied cultural and social history at Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland.

I am a third-year student at GU Nuuk. I’m interested in technology, and in my spare time, I make art. I participated in Nordrøst 2023. After I graduate from high school, I will start art school or take a year off.

Pauli is a flight information operator at Naviair’s flight information center in Nuuk. In his job, Pauli talks to airplanes and helicopters throughout Greenlandic airspace. He supports safe aviation by providing information regarding traffic, weather, clearances, and flight plans to aircraft and air traffic service points nationwide.

Pauli is 32 years old and was born and raised in Nuuk. He started training at Naviair in 2019 and has been a Flight Information Operator since 2020.

Qupanuk is Greenland’s biggest content creator and influencer with 1.3 million followers on her different social media platforms under Q’s Greenland. She received the first and only YouTube Silver Creator Award in Greenland in September 2023. Next to this, she has her own company called Q’s Effect, where she next to many other things has courses in social media to empower businesses across Greenland.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence)

Yvonne Jones was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Labrador in 2013.

Ms. Jones previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

An entrepreneur, she has owned and operated small businesses in both the transportation and tourism sectors in Labrador.

Ms. Jones has played a significant role in improving the quality of life of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador through her volunteer work with the Battle Harbour Development Corporation, the Combined Councils of Labrador, the NunatuKavut Community Council, and various literacy groups and councils.