Chairship Youth Committee
Chairship Youth Committee © ACS

Kingdom of Denmark Chairship Youth Committee (CYC)

The Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship Youth Committee (CYC)

The Chairship Youth Committee comprising youth representatives from Permanent Participants, leading Arctic youth groups, and regional youth councils. This committee strategically oversees the planning and execution of the Arctic Youth Conference, choosing conference topics and themes and ensuring it remains a youth-driven initiative at its core.


© Mr. Niall Juval Janssen

Mr. Niall Juval Janssen

Position: Independent researcher
Representing: Arctic Youth Network

Key areas of interest in the Arctic: Arctic Ocean, Coastal Communities, Marine Resources, Emergency Preparedness, Right to Self-determination/IP rights law


© Ms. Mekhala Ounsa Kollslíð

Ms. Mekhala Ounsa Kollslíð

Position: Student
Representing: The Faroe Islands
Key areas of interest in the Arctic: Youth opportunities and education quality, ensuring that small countries like the Faroe Islands have equal access to strong education. Community development and well-being, bringing people together, improving local conditions, ensuring that young people feel they can thrive at home. Cross-cultural understanding and cooperation, using differences as strengths, building dialogue across Arctic countries.


© Mr. Per-Henning Mathisen

Mr. Per-Henning Mathisen

Position: Advisor in the Saami Council, Arctic and Environmental Unit
Representing: Saami Council

Key areas of interest in the Arctic:
The mental well-being of Sámi youth, safeguarding the climate and environment related to climate change, the preservation of Sámi culture and traditions, and intergenerational transfer of Indigenous knowledge.


© Ms. Najana Lyberth Kristensen

Ms. Najana Lyberth Kristensen

Position: Chemistry bachelor, SDU
Representing: Greenland

Key areas of interest in the Arctic: Climate change and environmental protection - impacts of pollution and global warming on Arctic ecosystems and communities. Sustainable development - exploring innovative solutions for energy, food, and resource that fit the Arctic conditions.
Pollution and chemical exposure - understanding how contaminants for example PFAS accumulate in the Arctic and affect human health and food security, what can we do?

Youth engagement and advocacy - empowering Arctic youth to contribute actively to decision-making and long-term strategies.

Indigenous and local knowledge - integrating traditional knowledge with scientific research to strengthen Arctic resilience.

Education and collaboration across borders - building networks that connect students and young professionals throughout the Arctic.


© Mr. Bárður Clementsen

Mr. Bárður Clementsen

Position: Student & Graduate Research Assistant, NordSpace Project
Representing: UArctic

Key areas of interest in the Arctic:

The Arctic as an international arena for peace, digital/space infrastructure, governance and sovereignty


© Ms. Priscilla Frankson

Ms. Priscilla Frankson

Position: recent MSc grad
Representing: Association of Polar Early Career Scientist (APECS)

Key areas of interest in the Arctic: governance and policy in the Alaskan Arctic; climate change adaptation; youth representation in policy spaces, specifically Indigenous youth


© Johannes Thernström

Johannes Thernström

Position: Student
Representing: Sweden

Key areas of interest in the Arctic: Sustainable growth and development. The environment and climate.


© Louis Ilik Papis Chemnitz

Mr. Louis Ilik Papis Chemnitz

Position: Master’s student at the Ilisimatusarfik - University of Greenland

Representing: Greenland
Key areas of interest in the Arctic: Social well-being; Indigeneity; Justice; Collaboration - political, economical, social, cultural; education - academic and Indigenous Knowledge; the climate; culture; nature and animals; sustainability; Youth, elders, and children; Unity in diversity.


© Taylor Jobin

Ms. Taylor Jobin

Position: Student and Researcher

Representing: Canada
Key areas of interest in the Arctic: Indigenous sovereignty, food security, sustainable development that prioritizes community-based decisions making, Indigenous governance in the Arctic, land-use planning, policy.