Kirkenes Conference 2025 Dag 1

Kirkenes Conference 2025 Dag 1 Kirkeneskonferansen 2025 PROGRAM Navigating in a geopolitical hotspot We are proud to represent a program with talented contributors and interesting discussions led by Siri Lill Mannes and Eirik Bergesen! Wednesday, May 21 09:00 - Registration opens 11:00 - Lunch 12:30 - Opening session In Norwegian only. Music by Julie Alapnes Opening by Hilde Bjørkli, head of Orinor Welcome to Sør-Varanger - Magnus Mæland • Mayor Sør-Varanger Municipality Welcome to Finnmark - Hans-Jacob Bønå • County Mayor of Finnmark Life in Finnmark? - Caroline Otelie Halvorsen • Orinor Cross-border regional cooperation in a changing world - Kenneth Stålsett • Barents Secretariat Two stories - Evgeny Goman • The Girls on the Bridge 13:00 - Navigating in a geopolitical hot spot In Norwegian only. The High North, changes and shifts in power relations that characterize the world today Introduction by Gøril Johansen • Chair of the program committee Keynote: Jonas Gahr Støhre • Prime Minister Oleg Orlov • Memorial Peace Prize Winner Panel discussion In Norwegian only. Jonas Gahr Støhre • Prime Minister Gudrun Gulldahl • Bank Manager SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge Magnus Mæland • Mayor of Sør-Varanger Municipality Hans-Jacob Bønå • County Mayor of Finnmark Andreas Haugen • Avju Solutions 2:00 PM - Break 14:20 - Geopolitics and people in the North In Norwegian only. Industrial and social development in Northern Norway, in light of geopolitics and the climate crisis Introduction: Policy for sustainable development in the North: Marianne Sivertsen Næss • Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Climate change in the North: Rolf Anker Ims • UiT The Arctic University of Norway COAT Is the High North policy a national issue? Harald Stanghelle • Commentator Aftenposten Panel discussion Marianne Sivertsen Næss • Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Sigrid Ina Simonsen • NHO Arctic Hanne Hauge • Sápmi Business Incubator Maja Sojtaric • Political editor Nordlys Jonas Stein • UiT The Arctic University of Norway Raymond Robertsen • Finnmark County Council 15:20 - Break 15:50 - Deep dive into geopolitics English What geopolitical drivers are apparent in the Arctic today? Introduction A geopolitical overview: Eivind Vad Petersson • Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ukraine – situation overview Oleksiy Gavrysh • Ambassador of Ukraine to Norway Anastasiia Lapatina • Lawfare media, Ukraine Panel discussion Eivind Vad Petersson • Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide • The Storting's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Anastasiia Lapatina • Lawfare media, Ukraine Eirik Bergesen • Political commentator Minna Ålander • Associate Fellow, Chatham House Europe Programme 17:00 - End of conference day 1