Event

Arctic Competition, Crisis, and Conflict: Contemplating Scenarios

Workshop hosted by the North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN) and Loughborough University

Thursday, 4 June 2026

9:30am-4:30pm

Loughborough University London

LDN401 – LU London

Held under Chatham House Rule of Non-Attribution.

Photo ID required to enter campus.

In analyzing the competition, crisis, and conflict continuum across the Circumpolar Arctic, participants in this workshop will compare and contrast six identified Arctic sub-regions across multiple domains and traditional and non-traditional issues. We will look at the intersection points, identify commonalities, and areas of future alignment by determining scenarios, structural domain weaknesses, and distinct and potential risks per sub-region. Participants will examine the most likely and unlikely scenarios to occur, along with what status quo looks like, in each sub-region over a 2-5 year time horizon. Our goal is to break down the many different Arctics by informing, conversing, establishing common knowledge, and bringing conceptions together.

Panelists are encouraged to provide 3-4 minutes of opening, rapid-fire remarks to elucidate and encourage discussion.

0930 – 1000 – Light Breakfast, Group Introductions, and Workshop Concept

Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Tim Oliver

Director, Loughborough London Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs

1000 – 1030 – Opening Keynote

Dr. Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv

Professor of Security and Geopolitics, UiT: The Arctic University of Norway

1030 – 1145 – Panel #1: Canadian Arctic and the Alaskan/Bering Arctic

Chair: Whitney Lackenbauer

Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Study of the Canadian North, Trent University; Lead, NAADSN

Sgt. Jackie Jacobson

1 Canadian Rangers Patrol Group, Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories

MCPl. Jenny Jacobson

1 Canadian Rangers Patrol Group, Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories

John Jensen

CEO, Alpha-El Inc.

1145 – 1245 – Lunchtime Keynote and Q&A

Dr. Klaus Dodds

Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University

1245 – 1300 – Health Break

1300 – 1415 – Panel #3: Greenland and Iceland

Chair: Caroline Kennedy-Pipe

Professor of War Studies, Loughborough University

Duncan Depledge

Senior Lecturer in Geopolitics & Security, Loughborough University

Harry Macnamara

PhD Researcher, Loughborough University

Marisol Maddox

Senior Arctic Fellow, Institute of Arctic Studies, Dickey Center, Dartmouth College

1415 – 1430 – Health Break

1430 – 1545 – Panel #4: Svalbard and Barents Sea

Chair: Caroline Kennedy-Pipe

Professor of War Studies, Loughborough University

Cordelia Buchanan Ponczek

Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs

Gabriella Gricius

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Konstanz

Kari Roberts

Professor and Chair, Mount Royal University; NAADSN Co-Lead

1545 – 1630 – Open Remarks and Final Discussion

Dr. Caroline Kennedy-Pipe and Dr. P. Whitney Lackenbauer

Rapporteurs: Nicholas Glesby, Zachary Zimmermann, Christopher Murphy