KIRKENES CONFERENCE
ARCTIC REGIONS IN TIMES OF CHANGE – From analysis to Action
KIRKENES, NORWAY
October 6.-7. 2026
The Invitation only conference convenes regional and EU leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders to exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
Day 1: Understanding the Change
10:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks held by Magnus Mæland, East Finnmark Regional Council
and mayor of Sør-Varanger municipality and Kenneth Stålsett, director of
the Norwegian Barents Secretariat
10:15 Keynote: The Arctic in Times of Change
Alexander Johansen – Representative Finnmark Youth Council
Lieutenant Colonel Audun Jørstad – Chief of the Ranger Battalion GSV
10:55 Dialogue: Global to Local Perspectives
Magnus Mæland – Mayor of Sør-Varanger
Ville Tiuraniemi – University of Lapland
Solveig Ballo – Sápmi Business Association
Erkki Parkkinen- Mayor of Salla
11:40 Family photo (outside Thon Hotel)
11.50 Lunch break
13:00 Workshop Introduction
Introduction to workshop objectives and methods by the ACCESS-Team
13:05 PESTE Thematic Workshops
Join us to discuss the key drivers of change that may affect regional
development and resilience. Share your expertise and get inspired by your
peers. The discussion will pave the way for the cross-border strategy.
14:35 Coffee Break
14:50 ACCESS Ecosystems Feasibility Analysis: First Results
Presentation of preliminary findings led by ACCESS team
Eivind Reibo Jentoft – Plenum
16:05 Keynote: Ecosystems Building Resilient Societies
Anne-Cathrine Larsen – Finnmark County Council
16:25 Sharing Best Practices: How Ecosystems Enable Transformation
Case examples from Finland and Norway.
Tuomas Pussila – Kemi Circular Economy Centre
Juha Antti Törmikoski – Orinor
16:55 Closing Remarks
Ketil Steigen, director of the East Finnmark Regional Council
18:30 Aperitif and Networking
19:00 Dinner
Day 2: Creating Futures
08:45 Opening Remarks
09:00 Short presentation of the workshop findings
ACCESS TEAM
09:15 Short interventions: Key Drivers of Change – The Changing Arctic
Kenneth Stålsett – Norwegian Barents Secretariat
Hanna Lakkala – Arctic Futurist
09:45 Coffee Break
10:00 Keynote: How Futures Are Created?
Hanna Lakkala – Arctic Futurist
10:00 Presenting the Workshop Methods
Introduction to workshop objectives and methods by the ACCESS-Team
Participants will be introduced to the workshop process and the objectives
of the collaborative sessions.
10:30 Scenario Workshops
ACCESS Team Facilitators.
12:30 Information on Frontier Congress 2027
ACCESS Congress Coordinator
12:40 Closing Remarks
12:50 Lunch
CONGRESS & DECLARATION
November 2027
KUUSAMO, FINLAND
Welcome to a high-level gathering on the future of Europe’s northern and eastern border regions. Join us as we chart new routes through a shifting geopolitical landscape. The Frontier Congress will bring together regional and EU leaders, decision-makers and key stakeholders. The event will culminate in a shared declaration.
