Chasing A High North Hero
Felix Tschudi (center) was awarded High North Hero 2020 during the High North Dialogue conference in Bodø, Norway in the fall of 2021. Here pictures with Director of the High North Center for Business and Governance Frode Mellemvik and Director of Arctic Frontiers Anu Fredrikson. (Photo: Hogne Bø Pettersen, High North Center)
Every year, the High North Center presents the High North Hero Award to honor someone who leave their trace in the North. “We are looking for someone who can add nuance to the image of the Arctic”, says Arctic Frontiers Director and Jury Chair Anu Fredrikson.
The High North Center for Business and Governance at Nord University in Bodø, Norway has opened up for nominations to the international award High North Hero and hopes for many proposals from around the world.
Jury Chair and Director of Arctic Frontiers Anu Fredrikson says they are looking for someone who has had a positive effect on development in the High North.
What is, really, a High North Hero?
“If we look back at previous award winners, we find social entrepreneurs, industry representatives, as well as indigenous people”, Anu Fredrikson says.
Positive effect
The award was established in 2016 as an annual recognition of a person, a company or an organization that has had positive effects on business and economic development in the High North.
Former winners include Norwegian shipowner Felix Tschudi, Climate Researcher Robert Correll from the USA, Canadian indigenous peoples’ rights activist Mary Simon, American investor Scott Minert, as well as former Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen.
Who are you looking for this year?
“We look for those who create opportunities in the Arctic and paint us a different picture from the one we normally see. One that is about people, activity, and development. We look for those who contribute with new knowledge”, Fredrikson says.
No age limit
She says the High North is a region known for good cooperation.
“In the North, we live from co-operation and we are looking for a person who can show this. There is no age limit as far as candidates are concerned and we want nominations of people who have contributed to and in the North”, says the jury chair and asks people to nominate candidates.
“Please give us a hard time choosing!”
Nuancing the picture
Why do you hand out this award?
“This award is handed out to show what the Arctic really is, and to nuance the image of the High North. There is a lot of international interest in the High North and we want to show the diversity through someone contributing to business- and societal development and create jobs”, says the Arctic Frontiers director.
She adds that the jury consists of a group of broad competences and extensive geographical spread.
Th High North Hero Award is presented annually at the High North Dialogue, an annual conference taking place in Bodø, Norway. It is organized by the High North Center.
In order to qualify for nomination, the following criteria apply:
- Shall have contributed considerably to business development, societal development, growth, or employment in the High Nort
- Shall have contributed considerably to new knowledge about the High North
- Is innovative and uses innovative methods to create multi-lateral cooperation in the High North
- The nominee’s contribution is internationally oriented while also having significant local impact
- Contributes considerably to promote the HIgh North, nationally as well as internatonally.
The deadline for nominating candidates is 20 February. Read more here.
More about the High North Hero Award
This article was originally published in Norwegian and has been translated by HNN's Elisabeth Bergquist