Who is your High North Hero?
Vi har kunnskapen til å utvikle Arktis, og kanskje er vi kloke nok til å bruke den, skriver Christin Kristoffersen.
Someone who has contributed to an increased focus on the High North, or contributed to development in the north. Does anyone come to mind?
Someone who has contributed to an increased focus on the High North, or contributed to development in the north. Does anyone come to mind?
Norwegian version here.
The High North Hero award will be announced for the first time in May 2016, during the conference High North Dialogue. The honour includes a cash prize of 50,000 Norwegian kroner, and will be awarded to a person who has made a significant contribution to putting a spotlight on the north.
The jury is searching for more candidates.
International jury and award
"It’s a great way to honour someone who has made a contribution to the place I call home," says Anu Fredrikson, Director of the Arctic Economic Secretariat and jury member.
Other jury members are Indra Øverland (NUPI), Finn Roar Aamodt (Statoil), Hege Thurmann (DNV GL), Arne O. Holm (High North News), Laurence Smith (UCLA) and Sergey Vasiliev (MGIMO).
The award is as international as the jury, with this year’s High North Hero as likely to hail from Alaska as from Svalbard or France.
"The criteria are quite broad, and it is clear that no-one meets them all, but we are looking for a person who has contributed to development in the High North, business and industry in the north, drawn international attention to the High North, or contributed to innovation that has had significance for the High North," says Fredrikson.
Need to increase knowledge internationally
"But do we need to crown a High North Hero? Does the High North have any use for this award?"
"Yes, I think so. It is a good opportunity to demonstrate the opportunities that exist in the north, at the same as we show that a lot is happening here already."
Fredrikson is concerned with increasing international focus on the High North, and with increasing international knowledge about the north and the possibilities it contains.
"We see, for example, that attracting investment to certain sectors within the High North is a challenge, and we believe more knowledge and attention will have a positive effect."
It is difficult to say whether lack of knowledge about the possibilities in the north is the underlying factor, but it is clear that we need an increased focus on the High North, not just in our own northerly country, but also in other parts of the world.
"One example is the mining industry in Norway, which Norwegian investors do not know enough about," says Fredrikson.
Setting a good example
The conference High North Dialogue provides the backdrop for the award of the honour High North Hero. High North Dialogue will be held in Bodø May 25-26, and has future leaders as its target group.
"It is important to provide good examples of leadership and development for our future leaders," says Fredrikson.
As the award is being announced for the first time this year, the jury needs a little extra help to promote the award and to encourage nominations.
"We have already received nominations for many good candidates, but we would like even more names," says Fredrikson.
If you think you know a High North hero, send their name to the jury secretary Line K. Haug at line.k.haug@nord.no. The deadline for nominations is May 1. Read more about the award and the criteria here .
Anu Fredriksson is member of the jury of High North Hero 2016. She is also he director of Arctic Economic Council Secretariat located in Tromso. (Photo: Karoliina Huhtanen)