Administration

Janette started her UArctic career in spring 2018 as an intern at the UArctic International Secretariat, and continued as project manager at the UArctic Thematic Network Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity. After three years, she returned to the Secretariat in a new role. She holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences, including studies on management and Russian language and culture, and Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She spends her free time knitting, taking care of her balcony garden and going for forest walks in the beautiful Arctic nature.

Prior to her work at the UArctic International Secretariat, Pirkko worked as a coordinator of the Arctic Studies Program at the University of Lapland and as a project planner at the Santasport Institute. She holds a Master’s degree in Sport Science from the University of Jyväskylä (major in Sport Sociology) and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico with concentration on Communications, Sociology and Professional Physical Education. Pirkko loves the Arctic nature especially in winter. Every occasion she gets is spent outdoors and on weekend escapes: biking, hiking, rafting, skiing or running in the wilderness.

After graduating in late 2012, Hannele moved from Central Finland to Lapland to start her UArctic career as an intern and has been working in UArctic communications ever since. With a Master’s degree in English, she also acts as the unofficial grammar police of the Secretariat. In her free time, she explores the world through books and challenges herself in aerial silk classes and on bouldering walls.

After completing a Bachelor's degree in linguistics and philology at the Saint Petersburg State University, Natalia moved to Finland in 2016 to pursue a Master's degree in Media Education with the University of Lapland. Before joining the UArctic team, she worked as a media marketing manager and a news reporter while occasionally collaborating with the University of Lapland for marketing projects. In her free time, Natalia enjoys cooking, watching the Criterion Collection movies, propagating plants, and working on her PhD dissertation.

Heli has been working in UArctic Thematic Networks office since 2018, and is based at the University of Oulu, Finland. She holds Master’s degree in Italian language and culture and after her studies she lived in Italy and worked in tourism sector for several years. After she moved back to Finland, she worked as tourist information officer and as project manager at the Oulu Convention Bureau. In her free time, Heli enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog and her horse, and has also studied related to her hobbies, qualifying as a nature guide and an equine facilitated learning coach.

Prior to joining UArctic in 2023, Dustin Bawcom served as the Administrative Specialist for the University of Alaska System executive office, a role he had for 11 years. In 2023 he received the highest honor bestowed on staff members at the University of Alaska, the Staff Make Students Count Award. Bawcom holds a Bachelors in Japanese Studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and studied abroad at Nagoya Gakuin Daigaku in Nagoya, Japan. He has lived in Alaska since 2005. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, gaming with friends, metalsmithing, and spending time with his 2 lazy cats.

Lisa has been the Canadian Membership Engagement Coordinator for UArctic since May 2023 and is based at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Originally from Ontario, Lisa graduated from the University of Guelph-Humber with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies degree and a diploma in Public Relations and obtained a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Ryerson University. Lisa has a background in community engagement, marketing, and user research. Her interests include playing guitar and ukulele, yoga, writing, and learning new hobbies and crafts.

Originally from Metro Detroit, Bryce is a bridge builder and settler of mixed ancestry with an interdisciplinary background and experience (Indigenous Nations, environmental non-profits, local government, strategic planning) driven to assist settler organizations in realigning with living systems worldviews, support Indigenous planning efforts, and enable genuine collaboration across knowledge systems & communities. To conduct his work, he draws upon living systems/regenerative thinking, interdisciplinary academic and work experience, continued relationship learning from/with Indigenous communities, and spiritual practice.

Kristmundur holds a B.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Iceland, as well as an IPMA project management certification. He works as a Programme Manager at the Institute of International Affairs and the Centre for Arctic Studies at the University of Iceland. He joined the Institute in April 2023 but has worked at the University since 2019, managing European research projects and research proposal development. Kristmundur has worked on international relations for over a decade, as a Senior Advisor at the Icelandic Centre for Research from 2013-2019 and from 2011-2013 at the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Iceland’s accession negotiations with the European Union. In his free time, Kristmundur enjoys cooking, reading, playing chess and walking his Havanese dog Týra.

Heiða Ragney holds a B.A. in Sociology with emphasis on Women and Gender Studies, and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Iceland. She has worked as a research assistant at the University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri Research Center. Heiða joined the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland in September 2023 after working the summer months as a research assistant to the faculty of Political Science at the University of Iceland.