Searching for a High North Hero
In 2018, the High North Hero Award was given to human rights advocate Mary Simon. To the right, Artur Wilczynski, the Canadian Ambassador to Norway. (Photo: High North Center).
The High North Center for Business and Governance has opened for nominations to the High North Hero Award, created to honor a person or an organization that has contributed to highlighting the importance of the Arctic.
The High North Center for Business and Governance announces in a press release that the nomination process for the 2019 High North Hero Award is open. The award was created in 2016 as an annual recognition of an individual, a company or an organization that has had a positive impact on business and economic development in the Arctic.
Business-minded award
Frode Mellemvik, Director of the High North Center for Business and Governance in Bodø, Norway, explains that the goal of the award is to highlight the value creation taking place in the Arctic region.
"The High North Hero Award is unique in its focus on Arctic business and governance," Mellemvik says.
Mellemvik hopes that the award will help raise awareness on the importance of Arctic business and regional development.
"We believe that innovation, new solutions and economic growth are key to a prosperous and sustainable future for the Arctic and its inhabitants, and this is our way of telling people to keep up the good work," he says.
Director Frode Mellemvik at The High North Center for Business and Governance, Nord University. (Photo: Nord University)
Open to everyone
In 2018, the award was given to the human rights advocate for Canadian inuits, Mary Simon, who said when he accepted the diploma and the NOK 50 000 prize money award (USD 6000 approx.), that she was honored to accept the award in Bodø.
Mellemvik says that everyone is welcome to nominate their favorite candidate for this year’s award, which will be announced during the High North Dialogue Conference in Bodø on April 4th. He stresses that it is no requirement that the nominee is from or resides in the Arctic.
"If you know someone who is making a difference in the Arctic or for the Arctic, we want to know about it! We are looking forward to hearing about these extraordinary men, women, organizations and businesses, and their contributions to Arctic development," says Mellemvik.
The deadline for nominations is February 15th.