Holdmann Attends the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland

ACEP Director Gwen Holdmann is one of many Alaska leaders attending the Arctic Circle Assembly this week in Iceland.

The assembly is held every October in Reykjavík, Iceland. As the largest annual international gathering focused on the Arctic, it’s attended by heads of state, ministers, parliament members, officials, experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, indigenous representatives, environmentalists, students, activists and others.

Holdmann sat on a panel chaired by Alaska’s U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski titled “Alaska Showcase: Energy Innovation, Community Adaptation, Scientific Cooperation.” Fellow panelists included: UAF Vice Chancellor for Research Larry Hinzman; Cordova Mayor Clay Koplin; Brian Holst, director of the Juneau Economic Development Council; and Eric Utraq Billingsley, vice president of operations at NANA Regional Corp..

Holdmann also introduced a panel discussion titled “Wind Power Projects in the Arctic: Development, Financing and System Integration.” Presenters included Rob Bensin, of Bering Straits Native Corp., and Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy graduate Mogens Nielsen, of Nukissiorfiit, Greenland’s energy, water, and heat utility company.

Holdmann also chaired the session, “Alaska Showcase: Energy Innovation in Alaska,” with panelists Janet Weiss, president of BP Exploration Alaska Inc.; Natalie Hanson, executive director of Nuvista Light and Electric Coop; Janet Reiser, executive director of the Alaska Energy Authority; and Ethan Schutt, chief of staff at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

 

UAF photo by JR Ancheta.