Sara Olsvig to Join Opening Session at UArctic Congress 2026 and Ocean Connectivity Conference
The UArctic Congress 2026 and Ocean Connectivity Conference will open with a high-level programme bringing together political leaders, Indigenous representatives, researchers, and youth voices from across the Circumpolar North.
Among the keynote speakers is Sara Olsvig, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) for 2022–2026. An Inuk leader and strong advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and human rights, Olsvig brings extensive experience in politics, Arctic cooperation, and international advocacy. She has previously served in both the Parliament of Denmark and the Parliament of Greenland, and as Greenland’s Vice Premier and Minister for Social Affairs, Families, Gender Equality and Justice.
Olsvig will join Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, and Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland, on stage during the Opening Session on 26 May.
The Opening Session will also feature welcome addresses from Faroese ministers, representatives of UArctic and the Arctic Council, as well as a cultural performance by a Faroese artist.
A Resilient North Begins with Youth
The Opening Session will conclude with the youth panel discussion A Resilient North Begins with Youth, chaired by Annika Helgadóttir Davidsen, Associate Professor in Psychology.
Representatives from the Chairship Youth Committee – Mekhala Kollslíð representing the Faroe Islands, Per-Henning Mathisen representing the Saami Council, and Taylor Jobin representing Canada – will discuss the role of young people in shaping resilient Arctic societies and strengthening future cooperation across the North.
The organisers are very much looking forward to welcoming participants to an Opening Session that will combine political dialogue, Indigenous perspectives, youth engagement, and cultural experiences.