Olga is Komi (one of the Indigenous peoples of Russia) from the Komi Republic. Currently she is working as a PhD researcher at the Arctic Centre of Groningen University. Her research, devoted to regulation of Indigenous subsistence harvest in the Arctic, is a part of the TRACES project. The study explores the complex interactions of Indigenous communities, scientists, policymakers, and the environment. Olga sets a goal to promote youth participation in the process of Arctic cooperation through assuring information accessibility, inclusion equity and transparency of the framework.

Niall is a scholarly jurist specialising in the law of the sea and the participation of Arctic Indigenous peoples in public international law at the University of Akureyri in Northern Iceland. Besides pursuing his studies and research, Niall has been a passionate educator and teacher for multiple years both in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. He cares deeply about the oceans and their ecosystems, as he – from a young age on – learnt to value the seas as a source of immense inspiration, wonder, and personal
relaxation. With his research and engagement with Arctic peoples, he would like to play his part in conserving the Arctic ocean and seas for future generations. Niall’s goal for his work at the AYN is to raise awareness for the contribution that these fragile Arctic marine systems make to keeping the Earth habitable. He additionally seeks to improve existing governance frameworks by collective action. Niall is
well-posed to advance this by educational outreach initiatives to, for example, make complex issues of international marine governance accessible and understandable to a wide variety of people.

Eve, a 2023 Udall Scholar is from Sterling, Alaska, and is currently in her final year pursuing a dual degree in Environmental Policy & Culture and International Studies at Northwestern University. Her journey has been shaped by a robust background in grassroots environmental organizing, which she actively contributed to as an Arctic Youth Ambassador from 2020 to 2021. Eve’s passion lies in the realms of energy sovereignty and enhancing community engagement across the Arctic region. Committed to fostering an equitable transition from fossil fuels to green energy, she focuses on fortifying energy and food security in the Arctic. Contributing her insights as a member of the Ørsted Youth Advisory Panel, she actively participates in shaping sustainable practices. Additionally, Eve sits on the board of Cook Inlet Keeper, where she champions environmental stewardship and community resilience. Eve envisions connecting youth across the Arctic, aspiring to build coalitions that unite young minds working towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Keeya is a Métis Canadian scholar currently completing her MSc at the University of Idaho, studying subglacial hydrology using seismology. Her research brings an Indigenous and feminist critical lens to glaciology, aiming to deepen our understanding of how science and local knowledge can together support community resiliency to changing landscapes. Her fieldwork has taken her across the globe, studying glaciers in Alaska, British Columbia, and even Svalbard. Beyond the field, Keeya is committed to community leadership, volunteering with initiatives such as WISEST, Palouse Roots, and the McNair Mentorship Program both in Idaho and back in Canada. She is passionate about fostering diversity within the scientific community and mentoring future Earth advocates.
In her free time, Keeya can often be found ski touring, rock climbing, and hiking. She is always seeking new adventures and finding ways to connect with the land. She finds the most joy in using glaciers as a lens to understand the relationship between humans and our environment, sharing narratives of the cryosphere to inspire and empower the next generation.

Anastasia-Svenia Körner is a master’s graduate in environmental and climate change law from the University of Eastern Finland. She previously did her bachelor’s in environmental sciences at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, with a major in environmental policy and economics. Her particular research interest lies in the field of Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ cultural rights and international climate change law and policy. Throughout the years, she has volunteered for several national and international organizations, including Amnesty International and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature GARN.
During her time at the Arctic Youth Network, she hopes to be able to use her knowledge and experience to help connect Arctic youth in meaningful and impactful ways, to create spaces and facilitate conversations, especially among and by Indigenous Youth across the Arctic, and to make tools and funding available to the leaders of tomorrow.

Nina is a French scholar who specialised in Small States and Arctic Affairs (more precisely in Arctic governance, resilience strategies, and security challenges) at the University of Iceland. Today, she aspires to further the involvement of Youth and Indigenous knowledge in environmental protection, from the oceans to outer space. She has participated in various conferences to share her knowledge, learn from experts, and connect with, empower, and elevate the voices of Youth and Indigenous communities. Nina’s goals at the AYN include the development of crisis response and adaptability, and include technology and innovation to explore new ways to connect and engage Youth globally. In this, she hopes to gather more easily and find these “golden nuggets” for better active Youth engagement and increased expertise.

Residing in the Yukon, Canada, Mitchell supports educational equity initiatives as an experiential educator. He has led youth expeditions with National Geographic across much of the circumpolar world, as well as in Fiji and Nepal, working to bridge international youth with Indigenous voices. Mitchell holds a Master’s in Polar Law from the University of Akureyri, Iceland, where he focused particularly on Arctic Indigenous rights. His inspiration stems from his extensive work with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities across Canada’s remote regions, co-developing and co-facilitating educational programs grounded in local knowledge systems.

Maël Manuel Bueno is a PhD fellow at the Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, working on fisheries management. His research focuses on digital transitions in natural resource management, through the case of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) technologies in fisheries.

Lauryn is Inupiaq from Unalakleet, Alaska. She is currently double majoring in Environmental Policy and Environmental Science at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. She started her advocacy work for climate change and Indigenous rights when she was working for Sitka Conservation Society in 2021. Now, she is currently a part of the 2023-24 Arctic Youth Ambassador Program. Through the Arctic Youth Network, she wants to bridge the gap between Indigenous science/knowledge and Western science when it comes to policymaking and decision-making in the Arctic. A goal of hers is also to promote more indigenous youth voices and presence when it comes to discussing Arctic issues.

Katharina is a junior researcher at the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland mainly focusing on Arctic Ocean Governance and Marine Management, as well as the impacts of climate change on governance and management approaches. I became a member of the Arctic Youth Ocean (AYO) Group in 2019 and has served as a co-lead for the last few years. It is important to me that youth engagement across the Arctic is strengthened, through and with a sustainable platform. This should be a safe space to share experiences and knowledge, identify common concerns, difficulties and opportunities, to find ways to ensure that Youth voices are heard when they are needed to. Also, I am aiming to ensure that Ocean topics will find a space within the AYN.

Julia is a Latina Canadian cryosphere scientist living in Tromsø, northern Norway where she currently works as an adviser at Arctic Frontiers. Julia holds a BSc in physics and geophysics, and an MSc in Earth and Planetary sciences from McGill University where she conducted research on glacial earthquakes to improve our understanding of the relationship between ice loss in Greenland and climate, and explore associated hazards. Julia is committed to science outreach and communication in relation to climate change, sustainability and JEDI. She enjoys working with students and other young professionals to bolster their voices and encourage them to lead with knowledge and empathy. Julia has experience in program and event management, and alpine and backcountry expeditions. She speaks English, French, Spanish and is steadily improving her Norwegian.

Heleen, hailing from the Netherlands, boasts a diverse background in marine mammal science. She specialized in the impact of noise pollution on cetaceans during her master’s in Industrial Ecology in Norway. With hands-on experience studying humpback whales in Alaska and killer whales in Iceland, Heleen’s passion for the Arctic runs deep. As the Scientific Secretary for the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, Heleen collaborated on marine conservation issues in the Arctic. As Science Coordinator and guide on expedition ships in the Arctic and Antarctic, she now bridges ecotourism with science. Heleen’s Arctic Youth Network goals encompass ocean-themed solutions, integrating traditional ecological knowledge, and science communication, drawn from her immersive polar experiences. Heleen is based in Tromsø, Norway, where she enjoys hiking, freediving, skiing, and sailing.

Nivi Rosing is a 20 year old Inuk from Nuuk, Greenland. She is currently studying Inuit Studies in Ottawa Canada which she will finish in May of 2023. She is passionate about cross-border knowledge sharing in the Pan-Arctic and she has now spent 3 years in Canada exploring the similarities between colonialism in Canada and Greenland. Nivi advocates for implementing Indigenous knowledge within climate action and wildlife management. Alongside these roles, Nivi is a fellow of the Arctic Resilient Communities Fellowship.

Daria Makhotina Gudnason holds a Master’s degree in Nordic Urban Planning Studies and brings extensive expertise in organizational development, strategic fundraising, and youth engagement. Her work has focused on strengthening and scaling youth organizations, with a particular emphasis on long-term sustainability and capacity building.

She currently serves as an advisory member of the Arctic Youth Network, where she contributes to the development of strategic frameworks, programmatic expansion, and a clearly articulated vision for the organization’s future.

Daria’s professional interests lie at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and policy, with a strong commitment to advancing equitable opportunities for Indigenous and Arctic youth, and advocating for youth interests within institutional and policy-making spaces.

Elena is a PhD Researcher at the School of Law, University College Cork, Ireland. Her research focuses on Arctic governance, indigenous rights, and the role of indigenous peoples in the Arctic. She is enthusiastic about sharing the knowledge and experience she gained through her PhD research on indigenous rights in the Arctic. In her role as an Advisory Member of the Board of Directors, she aims to raise awareness and advocate for issues that she is passionate about, such as indigenous rights and environmental policies in the region. With her academic background, she wants to influence policy-makers by providing research-based insights and recommendations regarding Arctic youth policy and legislation.

Pernille is the founder of Kisserup International Trade Roots Canada Inc., Kisserup Europe and Kisserup Arctic. She provides advisory services, project management, trade training and consulting services to International Financial Institutions, public and private sector organizations worldwide. She has worked on projects in over 90 countries, on 6 continents and in 25 sectors. She is frequently retained as a keynote speaker on international trade, investment and entrepreneurship by both private and public sector and she is an internationally recognised Subject Matter Expert on SME development and UN SDGs. Pernille is a Certified International Trade Professional, by the Forum for International Trade Training in Ottawa, Canada, holds a Certificate in Leadership and Innovation from INSEAD, France, she is a Certified facilitator in the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method, holds a Certificate in Project Management from Saint Mary’s University, Nova Scotia, Canada and Master of Business from the Copenhagen School of Business.