SpeakersSpeakers Speakers Speakers Speakers Speakers Speakers Speakers Speakers

Jóhanna has been CEO of Atlantic Airways since 2015. She is the first female CEO of a Nordic airline. Jóhanna has played a pivotal role in shaping Atlantic Airways's vision: "Connecting the Faroe Islands." Her strategic leadership has been instrumental in aligning the company's goals with this vision while also focusing on financial and environmental sustainability and continuous route development.

Jaspar Roos is a renowned authority in the field of innovation & transformation and a seasoned entrepreneur. Currently, he is cofounder of a venture on transformational change in organizations, Limpid & Co, with headquarters in Amsterdam. Prior to this, Jaspar had been the Chief Inspiration Officer for ABN AMRO Bank, and several other investment funds and accelerators, running the corporate and startup innovation efforts of those respective companies. During those years, Jaspar became one of the pioneers in (corporate) innovation culture.

With more than 16 years of data driven CX experience Beth has been working with some of the global leading companies throughout her career, including Unilever, Ford and IKEA. With her extensive experience in developing dialogue concepts and CX solutions today Beth is spearheading personalisation at Pandora, world’s largest jewellery brand. Her focus lays in creating a strong connection between the CX experience, content, technical implementation, operating model, and commercial requirements.

R. Michael Anderson, MBA, MA has a striking combination that creates truly impactful transformation in leaders – he has the real-life business success of founding, scaling and exiting three software companies, plus the educational background of a Masters Degree in Psychology.

Mia is an experienced Danish entrepreneur having co-founded several tech startups that she has scaled in and outside of Denmark. Her latest company, Canute, she sold to Thursday Consulting last Summer and has since become an angel investor. With Canute she has helped more than 250 Nordic startups scale to new markets and has through that work become quite an expert in what to do and what not do to when scaling a startup internationally.

Runar is CEO of leading freelance marketplace YunoJuno, based in London. Reistrup was part of the founding team that built the mobile social network ZYB which was successfully sold to Vodafone Group where he went on to hold several leadership positions including serving as Vodafone Group’s Global Head of Product.

Selah Rui Li is the CEO and Co-founder of Ellure, where her visionary leadership and passion for innovation drive the company's mission to make beauty circular. With a solid foundation in technology and business, she is committed to creating products and practices that not only embrace diversity but also prioritize the planet.

Mathilde is the co-founder of Sinful, which is the biggest sex toy company in Northern Europe. She is a visionary who has built her empire on a “cut-the-corporate-bullshit” mindset and direct and honest communication.

Heini is Vivino’s Founder, Board Member, and Chief Evangelist. Credited with bringing a technology revolution to the wine industry, Heini founded Vivino because he was frustrated by not knowing which wine to buy. It’s been his passion project ever since.During his tenure as CEO, Vivinogrew into a community of 60 million users, raised $221 million in funding, and rolled out a worldwide wine marketplace. Before starting Vivino, Heini co-founded several startups and was a part of buildingglobal internet and mobile security company BullGuard. Heini, who was named Entrepreneur of the Year by GP Bullhound in 2020. Heini and Vivino’s story is featured in an independent documentary,

Peter Vesterbacka is an entrepreneur from the Finest Bay Area at the Heart of Eurasia, Helsinki, Finland. Branded communities co-created and initiated by Peter include the HP Bazaar, Mobile Monday, Slush and Startup Sauna to name a few. He was the Mighty Eagle at Angry Birds for many years taking that brand to unprecedented heights. Peter is also currently adjunct professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Tongji University, one of the leading universities in China.

Maria Fagranes Clemmensen is a dynamic professional and Nordic Programme Manager at Tech Nordic Advocates, where she leads strategic programs and initiatives to strengthen the Nordic tech ecosystem. With a rich background in entrepreneurship, communication, and sustainability, Maria is a vocal advocate for innovation, diversity, and inclusion.

For the past 14 years I have spent my days as an Innovation Strategist and Business Coach at the 

Martin Tvede Zachariasen is Rector at the University of the Faroe Islands, and Professor of Computer Science. Prior to his present position, he held leadership positions at Danish universities, including as Rector at the IT University of Copenhagen. Martin is strongly committed to the digital education of the next generation, as well as debating the consequences of the use of digital technologies in society – including a gender and diversity perspective.

With a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering from the University of Reykjavik and a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management from KTH in Stockholm, Freyr has dedicated five years to working with KLAK Icelandic Startups, supporting over 80 startups annually through multiple business accelerators and workshops. Additionally, as partners in Venture Challenge, KLAK assists emerging fund managers with their challenges, driven by their passion for evolving the venture ecosystem in the Nordics. Freyr also serves on the board of Nordic Innovation, contributing to shaping the innovation landscape in the region.

Emil, with his background in sales and marketing, has over the last 4 years been instrumental in Canute's journey, a company that assists Nordic startups with scaling internationally. Joining as one of the initial employees as marketing responsible, he has significantly contributed to positioning Canute as a recognized force within the Danish and broader Nordic startup ecosystems through effective brand and community building. Currently, as the Head of Partnerships, Emil focuses on empowering early-stage startups, preparing them for successful international expansion, particularly into markets such as the UK, the US, and Germany. Emil's dedication to the Nordic startup ecosystem and expertise continues to drive Canute's commitment to nurturing startups for international growth.

Bárður is the co-founder of FarPay and has since its inception in 2014 held several different roles within the company. In his role as CTO, Bárður leads the Development and Operations department and drives future product development, product security, as well as strategic collaborations with third-party actors.

Introducing Jónhild Rasmussen, Chief Customer- and Marketing officer (CCO) at Betri Trygging, a dynamic leader in the insurance industry with a wealth of experience in the field of Management, Business Planning, Entrepreneurship, Business Developing and Strategic Planning.

Meet Heini Bendtsen, CIO at Betri Trygging, the accomplished leader of the IT department at Betri Trygging. Heini has been instrumental in developing the infrastructure of the only digital insurance customer service in the Faroe Islands – the app ”Mín Trygging”.

Peer is the CEO of Nemlia, a HealthTech SaaS company started in the Faroe Islands. Since taking the helm (2021), he has spearheaded the growth of its services and business to other Nordic Countries, Germany, UK and lately France. Nemlia is focused on taking on the massive change in demographics that we see today, with more and more elderly and less people to care for them. Using intelligent (AI) data analysis and collaborative understanding of the needs of caregivers enables Nemlia to build tools and services that empowers the caregivers and care providers to provide better care.

Founder of Valeria Prada Studio. Co-Founder of the clothing brand Cikkel Copenhagen, and partner of the Design Studio Klang!

Narve Hansen has a long career within entrepreneurship, product development and marketing, contributing to building strong Norwegian brands such as Skandiabanken, BankAxept and Vipps. Until recently, he held the position as Director Global Business Development and Collaboration in one of the worlds' leading startup accelerators Antler.

Ben Arabo has got an MSc in International Business Economics. He has 20+ years’ experience from industry and finance, both in the Faroes and abroad. He has been part of founding companies and has structured take-overs. He sits on numerous boards as a non-executive board member and chairman. Currently he is the CEO of the Faroese venture fund Framtak, that has got an active role in providing funding to Faroese businesses.

Ragnheiður has leadership and management experience in a broad basis, primarily in digital transformation and change management as a manager, consultant and mentor. She is highly influential in the Icelandic innovation ecosystem, has participated in shaping Iceland‘s Innovation strategy, and has also supported, mentored and sat on the boards of numerous startups.

In a career spanning 30 dynamic years, with over 20 years in the role of CEO, Vedat Öndas has donned various hats – from initiating 16 startups to navigating two successful IPOs and overseeing a billion-dollar portfolio. Vedat has seamlessly mastered the intricate balance between strategic vision and operational finesse.

A Principal at Maven Search, Tom Chambers partners with venture capital firms to support impactful emerging tech-focused leadership hires, and AI unit buildouts. Prior to joining Maven, Tom was an Associate Director at Robert Walters, where he built the technology business with teams covering Research Science, Applied Analytics, Product, and InfoSec. These teams focused on identifying initial functional hires and strategic leadership for early-stage, venture-backed startups. Tom has also worked in the Netherlands and Hong Kong. He values the collaborative relationships he has built with top universities and their alumni networks.

Ronny Eriksson embodies the essence of the New Nordic Way as a multifaceted Finnish entrepreneur, investor, ecosystem developer, community builder, and speaker. Transitioning from his early ambitions of becoming a professional basketball player and a medical student, Ronny's path took a pivot towards entrepreneurship, driven by his resilience and a deep-seated passion for solving problems. Presently, he holds significant roles including serving as the Head of Finland and an investor at VNTRS, and as a community builder at New Nordic Way. Furthermore, Ronny is in the process of completing his Ph.D. at Hanken School of Economics, underscoring his commitment to continuous learning and development within the startup ecosystem.

Co-founder at Nordic Ignite, angel investment firm. Program Manager and Expert consultant for Business Angels Norway and NABAN North Atlantic Business Angels.

35 years’ experience from investments and asset management; 5 years’ experience as an early-stage investor: 30+ investments in a.o. LegalDesk & Sky. Experience as the founder of Sirius Kapitalforvaltning and PP Capital Asset Management.

15 years’ experience as founder and early-stage investor: 25+ investments in companies as GoMore, November First, Pleo, Spiir, Tradeshift and Listen To News. Experience as executive director in Deloitte, PwC and Topdanmark. Holds masters in math and economics and actuarial science. Frank has been active in the secondary market for more than 15 years.

Guðrún is a seasoned professional with a rich background spanning over a decade in the dynamic realm of the travel sector. Her journey in the industry has been marked by impactful contributions and valuable experiences, showcasing her expertise and commitment to excellence.

Haukur Gudjonsson is a seasoned entrepreneur and the Co-Founder & CEO of Sundra, he has 20+ years experience starting and building up businesses. His entrepreneurial journey includes successful ventures such as Frumkvodlar, Bungalo (exit in 2017), EVO Ventures, and Hlutabref.is. Haukur is not only a proficient business leader but also an active community builder, event organizer, teacher, mentor, and angel investor within the startup ecosystem.