Many Founders were involved in the development and early stages of UArctic in various roles and capacities, but perhaps not so actively in the years that followed. The roundtable discussion therefore provided an opportunity for the eight Founders present in Iceland to learn more about what is currently going on with the network, and also gave them the chance to reconnect with UArctic and get to know one another.
The roundtable discussion was led by UArctic President Lars Kullerud, and Stephen Heal, son of Bill Heal; Bill was the Founder behind the idea of a “university of the Arctic” and the chair of the task force that helped bring UArctic into existence. After a look into the past through introductions from the Founders, and the present through an update from the President, the Founders were asked to share their thoughts on UArctic's future - how to build sustainability for the network, especially through the recently established UArctic Founders' Fund.
In the photo (left to right): Stephen Heal, Lars-Otto Reiersen, Paula Kankaanpää, Thorsteinn Gunnarsson, Outi Snellman, Asgeir Brekke, Tony Penikett, Lars Kullerud. Missing from the photo but in attendance: Leif Christoffersen