Sustaining Sustainability in a Rapidly Changing World
In 2023, founders, corporate leaders, and other innovators from the Nordic countries and the U.S. showcased projects that demonstrated opportunities to do well by doing good — even in challenging times.
Keynotes Included:
- Henrik Henriksson, CEO of H2 Green Steel, shared how his company is powering a new, clean industrial revolution by removing 95% of the carbon emissions from one of the world’s dirtiest industries.
- Stephen Elop (Digital.ai) discussed the Nordic approach to sustainable leadership
- Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Iceland's Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, led a special session on Iceland's fisheries on May 10 and spoke in the morning session on May 11.
- Frank Vang Jensen (Nordea) held a Fireside Chat on "The Preferred Financial Partner in the Nordics Has Sustainability at its Core."
- Chris Cooper, CEO of Neste US, made the case that investing in sustainability is more relevant than ever.
- Pippa Boothman, CEO of Playfinity, discussed how to make a more active future for happier, healthier kids.
- Gov. Jay Inslee (Washington) opened the afternoon session on May 11 with a talk about Washington State business opportunities and collaborations with Nordic companies.
Additional speakers and topics can be found below.
Agenda
Click on title of section to expand for full description of speakers and program.
May 10 (Wednesday)
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Location: Osberg Great Hall, First Floor, National Nordic Museum
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Eric Nelson (Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Nordic Museum)
- Chris Green (Assistant Director for the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, Washington State Department of Commerce)
- Birger Steen (Chair, Nordic Innovation Summit)
- How Economics Can Save the World: Simple Ideas to Solve Our Biggest Problems,
- Dr. Erik Angner (Professor of Practical Philosophy, Stockholm University)
- The Future of Electric Boats
- Jon Roskill (Chair, X Shore)
- Sustainable Opportunity in the US for Nordic Companies
- Aimee Meester (Chief Executive Officer, Madison Taylor Marketing)
Break
- Introduction
- Tuula Rytilä (fmr Corporate Vice President, Microsoft)
- How We’re Making Norway the World’s Most Attractive Travel Destination
- Torunn Tronsvang (Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Up Norway)
- Creating the Irresistible Sustainable Urban Future – by Nordic Principles
- Martine Kildeby (Head of Strategic Partnerships, BLOXHUB)
- Introduction to Sustainable Urban Spaces
- H. E. Christina Markus Lassen (Ambassador of Denmark to the US)
- Panel: Sustainable Strategies in Architecture: From Scandinavia to the US
- Kai-Uwe Bergmann (Partner, Bjarke Ingels Group: BIG)
- Aaron Dorf (Director, Snøhetta)
- Martine Kildeby (Head of Strategic Partnerships, BLOXHUB)
- Moderator: Peter Cohan (Owner, Peter Cohan Architect, and Associate Professor of Architecture, University of Washington)
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
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Location: Osberg Great Hall, Fisherman’s Sun Terrace, and Lobby, First Floor, National Nordic Museum
Refreshments included with ticket
Dr. Angner's book must be purchased separately from the Museum Store
May 11 (Thursday)
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Location: Lobby and Fisherman’s Sun Terrace, First Floor, National Nordic Museum
Light breakfast included with ticket
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Location: Osberg Great Hall, First Floor, National Nordic Museum
These sessions live streamed on the National Nordic Museum's YouTube channel.- Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Eric Nelson (Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Nordic Museum)
- Washington State Department of Commerce
- Mayor Bruce Harrell (City of Seattle)
- Introduction
- Tuula Rytilä (fmr Corporate Vice President, Microsoft)
- Birger Steen (Chair, Nordic Innovation Summit)
- Volta Zero, the Medium Duty Truck from the Future, Will Save Our Cities and x Ktons of CO2
- Kjell Walöen (Chief Manufacturing Officer and Co-Founder, Volta Trucks)
- Powering a New, Clean Industrial Revolution
- Henrik Henriksson (Chief Executive Officer, H2 Green Steel)
- Reducing Maritime Emissions from Bellingham
- Ole Jacob Irgens (President Americas, Corvus Energy)
- The World’s Most Environmentally Friendly Mineral Fertilizer
- Jakob Liedberg (Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Cinis)
- Panel: Scaling Symbiosis: Nordic-US Knowledge Transfer and the US Opportunity for Nordic Companies
- Rep. Beth Doglio (State of Washington)
- Robert Duff (Sustainable Business Development Director, Washington State Department of Commerce)
- Jacob Liedberg (Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Cinis)
- Lisbeth Randers (Head of Secretariat, Kalundborg Symbiosis)
- Carrie Song (Vice President Americas, Renewable Road Transportation)
- Moderator: Rhys Roth (Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Infrastructure)
Mid-morning Break
- Introduction
- Birger Steen (Chair, Nordic Innovation Summit)
- Sustainable Leadership–What Can We Learn from the Nordics
- Stephen Elop (Executive Chairman, Digital.ai)
- Tuula Rytilä (fmr Corporate Vice President, Microsoft)
- Cradle to Cradle: Long and Multiple Lives for the Most Beautiful Entertainment Products
- Juha Christensen (Chair, Bang & Olufsen and Vice Chair, Netcompany)
- Gamifying Sports to Make Kids Active, Happy and Healthy
- Pippa Boothman (Chief Executive Officer, Playfinity)
- Introduction to Datacenters, Sustainability, and Interconnectivity
- H. E. Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir (Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Iceland)
- Panel: Datacenters, Sustainability, and Interconnectivity
- Keynote: Einar Hansen Tómasson (Head of Energy and Green Solutions, Business Iceland)
- Ernest Popescu (Vice President, Iron Mountain)
- Thorvardur Sveinsson (Chief Executive Officer, Farice)
- Vala Valthorsdóttir (Business Development Manager, Landsvirkjun)
- Moderator: Isaac Kato (Investor-in-Residence, Techstars Seattle Accelerator)
- No Green Without Digital
- Nishant Batra (Chief Strategy and Technology Officer, Nokia)
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
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Location: Fisherman’s Sun Terrace, First Floor, National Nordic Museum
Lunch and beverages included with ticket
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Location: Osberg Great Hall, First Floor, National Nordic Museum
Sessions now available for viewing on YouTube and My Nordic.- Introduction to the Afternoon Session
- Tuula Rytilä (Master of Ceremonies, Nordic Innovation Summit)
- Washington State is Open for Sustainable Business
- Governor Jay Inslee (State of Washington)
- Panel: Bridging the EU Green Deal and the IRA for Maximum Mutual Impact and Benefit
- Governor Jay Inslee (State of Washington)
- Julie Johnson (Head of Market Development & Growth Strategy, North America)
- H. E. Christina Markus Lassen (Ambassador of Denmark to the US)
- Ole Jacob Irgens (President Americas, Corvus Energy)
- Donna Warndof (Head of Public Affairs, Americas, Neste)
- Moderator: Peter Rykman (Senior Business Development Manager, Rystad Energy)
- Introduction to Measuring Women’s Real Economic Impact in the Market
- H. E. Bergdís Ellertsdóttir (Ambassador of Iceland to the US)
- Measuring Women’s Real Economic Impact in the Market
- Freyja Thorarinsdottir (Founder & Chief Executive Officer, GEMMAQ)
- Fireside Chat: The Preferred Financial Partner in the Nordics Has Sustainability at its Core
- Frank Vang Jensen (Chief Executive Officer, Nordea)
- Dr. Robert Strand (Executive Director of the Center for Responsible Business)
- Infinite Clean Energy through Fusion Power
- Erik Odén (Executive Chair, Novatron Fusion Group)
Beer Break
- Introduction
- Birger Steen (Chair, Nordic Innovation Summit)
- Panel: Innovation in the Fisheries Sector and Sustainability
- Keynote and Moderator: Dr. Thor Sigfússon (Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Iceland Ocean Cluster)
- Keynote: Anna Kristin Pálsdóttir (Executive Vice President, Innovation, Marel)
- Elína Erlendsson (Director of Global Human Resources, Kerecis)
- Einar Gustafsson (Chief Executive Officer, American Seafoods)
- Lisa Jennerwein (Kerecis Owner at Physicians Medical Resources LLC)
- Thorsteinn Sigurdsson (Chief Executive Officer, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute)
- Thorvardur Kjerulf Sigurjónsson (Business Manager for Fisheries Management Solutions, TrackWell)
- Ingvar Vilhjálmsson (Chief Executive Officer, WiseFish)
- Sustaining Sustainability in the Energy Industry
- Chris Cooper (President, Neste US)
- Panel: Sustainable Aviation
- Reuven Carlyle (former Washington State Senator; Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer, Earth Finance)
- Chris Cooper (President, Neste US)
- Pasha Saleh (Head of Corporate Development, Alaska Air)
- Dale Smith (Regional Director, Enterprise Environmental Sustainability, Boeing)
- Moderator: Brian Young (Director of Economic Development, Clean Technology Sector, Washington State Department of Commerce)
- Closing Remarks, Birger Steen (Chair, Nordic Innovation Summit)
- Introduction to the Afternoon Session
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Location: Fisherman’s Sun Terrace, First Floor, National Nordic Museum
Included with ticket
2023 Speakers
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Juha Christensen
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Frank Vang Jensen
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Peter Cohan AIA
Peter Cohan is an associate professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Washington. Over the past 25 years and through numerous travel/study programs he has exposed students to the incredible richness and variety of architecture and design in Nordic countries.
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Ole Jacob Irgens
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