Join us for a coffee chat with three distinguished Arctic leaders: Ambassador Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs (Iceland); Ambassador Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Arctic Council (Denmark/Greenland); and Mr. Torsten K. Nielsen, Senior Arctic Official, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). This conversation will explore how Iceland, Greenland, and Denmark navigate their unique and interconnected roles in shaping Arctic policy and governance within the Arctic Council and on the global stage.
We are proud to partner with Arctic Encounter Symposium on this program.
The Arctic Encounter Symposium (AES) is the largest annual Arctic policy and business event in the United States. AES aims to confront the shared interests and concerns of the United States and the global community as we look north to the last emerging frontier – the Arctic. Policymakers, diplomats, indigenous leaders, industry innovators, diverse stakeholders, national security officials, and leading experts from the science, technology, maritime, research, startup, investment, health, and energy sectors come together at AES to challenge the status quo dialogue, critically address challenges, and collaborate on solutions. AES also features major cultural productions, including live performances, the Far North Fashion Show, northern and traditional artist vendors, and more.
The Arctic Encounter is a 501(c)3 NGO based in Alaska.
About the speakers
Ambassador Bergdís Ellertsdóttir has extensive experience and has worked on international trade as well as security issues, multilateral, and bilateral issues in her long career within the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Bergdís has served as the Ambassador of Iceland to the United States since September 2019. She is the first woman to be appointed Ambassador of Iceland to the United States. The aim of the Embassy of Iceland is to enhance ties and cooperation with the United States in various fields, including trade and investment, security and defense, Arctic issues including climate change. Green energy, gender equality, and human rights issues are important aspects of the bilateral relations between Iceland and the United States of America. The Embassy also values establishing and enriching ties between Iceland and individual states, especially in areas of culture, energy, trade, and investment.
Before taking up the position in Washington DC, Bergdís was the Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations. Previously she headed the Mission of Iceland to the European Union and was the Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. In 2012 she was the Chief negotiator and finalized one of the first European Free Trade Agreements with China. Between 2007 and 2012 Bergdís was Deputy Secretary General of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Other positions include Director General for International Security and Development Co-operation Affairs and Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of Iceland.
Ambassador Kenneth Høegh was born and raised in Greenland and has been deeply connected to Arctic issues his entire life. A proud “child of the Arctic,” he brings a personal and professional perspective to his work as Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials during Denmark/Greenland’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Since first engaging with Arctic diplomacy in 2018, he has supported Greenlandic ministers and advanced key priorities in regional cooperation.
Under his leadership, the Arctic Council is focusing on the human dimension of Arctic policy, emphasizing sustainable development, Indigenous Peoples’ participation, and the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge. Areas of focus include mental health, youth engagement, the ocean, and climate and energy transition—critical themes for the future of the region. Ambassador Høegh draws inspiration from Greenland’s vast landscapes and moments of profound Arctic silence, which remind him of the resilience and vitality of Arctic communities.
Torsten Kjølby Nielsen is the Senior Arctic Official for the Kingdom of Denmark. Since 2016, he has worked on Arctic affairs multilaterally (through the Arctic Council) and in the bilateral relations of the Kingdom of Denmark with both Arctic and non-Arctic actors. His work includes managing relations with the United States and Canada, and advancing the foreign and security policy interests of Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Earlier in his diplomatic career, Torsten held several positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen addressing a variety of Danish foreign policy priorities. He has also served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Danish embassies in Prague (2004–2007) and Madrid (2012–2016). He holds an MSc in Political Science from Aarhus University, Denmark (1999).
Event Details
- Check-in will begin at 8:30 AM with seating available on a first-come first-serve basis. The program will begin at 9:00 AM.
- Those with online reservations do not need to present ticket confirmation at the door, we will have all confirmed attendees on a list at check-in.
- Online registration closes at 4:00 PM on July 30. Tickets will be available at the door on a first come first served basis.