In this episode of Breaking the Ice, we explore one of the most urgent but least discussed dimensions of Arctic nation-building: the digital, energy, and data infrastructure required to secure Canada’s North for the next 50 years.

To unpack how Canada can build a smart Arctic, Co-hosts Jessica Shadian, Mishal Khan, and Jaiden Stevens are joined by:

• Madeleine Redfern, COO, CanArctic Inuit Networks; CEO, SednaLink Marine Systems; Executive Director, Arctic360 Northern Branch

• Lyle Fabian, CEO, KatloTech Communications

• Captain Satinder Singh, Vice President Marine, PortsToronto

Greenland’s diplomatic presence has grown steadily over the past three decades—from Brussels to Washington, Iceland, Beijing, and a soon to come dedicated representation to Canada in Ottawa.

In this episode of Breaking the Ice, Arctic360 co-hosts co-hosts Jessica Shadian and Sofie Poggendorf speak with Inuuteq Holm Olsen, former Greenlandic Representative to the US and Canada, and Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland’s current Representative to both countries, about Greenland’s evolving role in international affairs and what may be on the horizon for Greenland-Canada diplomatic cooperation.

As NATO’s turns its focus to strengthening its Northern Flank including preparedness for cold weather operations and the cold weather innovations to do so, could Canada's path to being strong on defence and the economy be innovating out of the Arctic?

We spoke with Glenn Cowan, CEO, One9; Kevin Reed, President and COO, Defence, Security & Resilience Bank; Dr. Jackie Dawson, University of Ottawa /Researcher in Residence, Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Government of Canada; and Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Partner, NATO Innovation Fund to find out.

On the heels of the NATO’s June Summit, Arctic360’s ‘Breaking the Ice’ summer podcast series launches with a discussion on NATO, Europe, and collaboration with Canada on Arctic Defence and Security.

Co-hosts Jessica Shadian, President & CEO of Arctic360, Sofie Poggendorf, and Alexandra Paul were fortunate and grateful to be joined by the EU Ambassador to Canada, Geneviève Tuts; German Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg; and UK High Commissioner to Canada, Robert Tinline.

Welcome back to Breaking the Ice!

As we do each summer, we’re bringing together the brightest minds from the North, working in the North, or on the North, from across the circumpolar world and beyond. Our theme for 2025, “The Summer of Arctic Security, Infrastructure & Innovation,” gives us the extraordinary opportunity to Discuss both the issues we know best and the big issues on the table when it comes to Canada’s North and the Arctic region at large.

🎙️This year’s co-hosts are:

Jaiden Stevens – Carleton University Journalism student from Norman Wells, specializing in Northern storytelling, media, and community voices

Asma Awan – Munk School MGA student and civil servant with expertise in policy innovation

Mishal Khan – Munk School MGA candidate with experience in global development and SDGs

Alexandra Paul – Master of International Security (Sciences Po Paris), specializing in global risk analysis and environment and sustainability

Sofie Poggendorf – Dual MGA candidate (Hertie & Munk), with a background in climate and Indigenous community research

📡Follow Arctic360 on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest podcast episodes and Arctic360 content.

🔗You can find us on all streaming platforms, LinkedIn, and Twitter, or you can visit our website at arctic360.org.

#BreakingTheIce #Arctic360 #ArcticSecurity #SmartInfrastructure #ArcticInnovation #CircumpolarNorth #InfrastructureDevelopment #ArcticResearch #ColdWeatherTech #ArcticPolicy

In this episode of Breaking the Ice, we were joined by two leading experts on Arctic governance and defence: Dr. Rebecca Pincus, Director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, and Dr. Andrea Charron, Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba. We discussed the complex dynamics shaping Canada-US Arctic relations, particularly around UNCLOS, maritime boundaries, and growing geopolitical competition in the region.

In an engaging discussion on Canada's pressing infrastructure needs, we welcomed two distinguished guests: David Thompson and Charles McNeely. David brings a wealth of experience from his role managing real property infrastructure investments for Canada’s Department of National Defence and Charles, who is the Chairperson for Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, offers valuable insights on its mandate and the crucial decision-making processes that impact Arctic communities. Together, their expertise lays a solid foundation for exploring the vital infrastructure challenges facing the North.

This past week we spoke with Mead Treadwell, former Lieutenant Governor of Alaska and former chairman of the US Arctic Research Commission from 2001 to 2006, and Jackie Dawson, Canada’s Research Chair in Environmental Change and Arctic Shipping at the University of Ottawa.

Both are prominent figures in Arctic research and policy. Despite their different backgrounds, Treadwell and Dawson share a common passion: advocating for an Arctic strategy that truly taps into the immense opportunities this region offers for Canada. With their extensive expertise and unique perspectives, they stand out as leading voices in the crucial conversations surrounding Arctic maritime defense and security.