THE 7TH ARCTIC BUSINESS FORUM, APRIL 6-7, 2016 IN KORUNDI, ROVANIEMI

InnoBarentsLab – student union aiming at innovative entrepreneurship, operating in Lapin AMK – had the honor to assist in organizing the biggest business event in Rovaniemi – the Arctic Business Forum 2016!  ABF project manager Petra Karvonen was excited to work with us again this year. 

In the main hall Laura Ukkola took care of giving the microphones and changing the presentation when new speaker was called out to stage. Nikita Litvinchik was at the mixer in control room and he was in charge of changing the slides and screen, also in between the presentations. Meanwhile in the restaurant Nina Niskala took care of the technical side - changing presentation and giving out microphone to new speaker. Introduction for these tasks was done by Janne Konttaniemi, main tech person in Arctic Business Forum.

Hanna Kattilakoski was assigned to mostly take care of the cloak room, while still helping in main hall whenever needed. Roni Mäläskä worked as driver for the whole ABF. Meanwhile Katherine Rubtsova and Anna Romozian worked at the registration desk, in cooperation with some members from ELSA Rovaniemi, the European law students’ association operating in Lapland University.

Like mentioned, this year’s theme was global and local developments affecting the business possibilities in the Arctic, attracted many influential and important speakers from Finland and around the world! On the first day of Arctic Business Forum 2016 Charles C. Adams Jr, US ambassador to Finland, mentioned the interest from governmental level to the Arctic – mostly due to Alaska.

Mikå Mered, Managing  Partner of Polarisk (UK) pointed out that Arctic has a lot of potential, which has not all been yet explored. He also introduced the various ongoing projects of Polarisk, which are all aiming towards the same goal – utilizing the possibilities of the Arctic!

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of the Environment of Finland, Hannele Pokka inspected the opportunities of the Arctic from green economy’s perspective. Zhang Bin, Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Finland, talked about what the Arctic can offer to China.

On the second day of ABF Ted Lennox, Vice President of Aviation WSP in Canada, discussed about what is aviation in Arctic 2016.

7^th Arctic Business Forum organized in Rovaniemi had lot to offer, even more than mentioned here! As students of Lapin AMK and members of InnoBarentsLab we are proud to be given this opportunity to work in event like this! It offered all of us valuable experiences and chance to develop our personal skills aswell.  Special thanks go to ABF project manager Petra Karvonen for having us!

Author – Nina Niskala/InnoBarentsLab

Photos – Taru Mäkimartti/Lapland Chamber of Commerce

Nikita Litvinchik/InnoBarentsLab