André Kvernhaug is festival director of Varangerfestivalen and managing director of Kooperativet Kulturscene in eastern Finnmark. After two decades running a creative agency, he now works to bring people together through music, collaboration and cultural life in Northern Norway.
Aleksander Motturi is the founder and artistic director of Gothenburg’s Clandestino Festival. Since 2003, he has championed adventurous international music and created a space for artistic discovery, cultural exchange and conversations across borders.
André Marmot is a London-based agent at Earth Agency, specialising in African, jazz and global electronic music. He is also the author of Unapologetic Expression, a book exploring the new UK jazz movement, and a percussionist with Afriquoi.
Benjamin Sarralié is a radio producer and music programmer behind RFI’s BPM – Bonnes Pulsations du Monde. Working across international music, documentary and immersive audio, he also advises RFI on innovative sound and video formats.
Bodil Kjelstrup has been director of Hålogaland Teater since 2022. Her experience spans cultural leadership, museum work and film festivals, including roles at Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, Anchorage Museum and Tromsø International Film Festival. She is passionate about the arts’ role in society.
Christian Hyld leads Tvibit, Tromsø’s youth culture and creative hub. With a background in music, technology and organisational leadership, he has spent years supporting young artists, cultural entrepreneurs and international creative partnerships across the Nordic and Arctic regions.
Christopher Angiolini is an Italian promoter, producer and artistic director based in Ravenna. Founder of Bronson Produzioni, he is behind venues and festivals including Bronson Club, Beaches Brew and Transmissions, and continues to champion adventurous underground music.
Darek Mazzone is a broadcaster, producer and cultural connector with decades of experience bringing global music to new audiences. Known for his work with KEXP, he also leads SAMA: Music + Art, supporting underrepresented voices and international cultural exchange.
David Arias is an international booker at Primavera Sound, working across the festival’s editions in Barcelona, Porto and Latin America. With nearly two decades in music and creative industries, his experience spans artist curation, promotion, brand strategy and international partnerships.
Duygu Mühürdar is an independent music curator, consultant and ethnomusicologist with experience in booking, festival programming, radio and music journalism. Based in Türkiye, she explores the connections between music, culture and politics while supporting international exchange and artist discovery.
Eirik Losnegaard Mevik is Deputy County Mayor of Troms. Previously mayor of Kvænangen and chair of the county’s culture and health committee, he brings extensive experience in regional politics and community development across Northern Norway.
Ellen Zahl Jonassen is a performing arts professional from Finnmark with more than 30 years of experience as an actor, director, producer and cultural leader. Trained at the Jacques Lecoq theatre school in Paris, she now leads Rådstua Teaterhus in Tromsø.
Fredrik Forssman is project manager at Musikkontoret Nord, supporting artists and music businesses across Northern Norway. Previously involved in developing Tvibit and its music programme, he works to strengthen networks, knowledge and opportunities in the regional music sector.
Gabriela Garrubo is a Norwegian-Brazilian singer and composer whose music draws on jazz and Brazilian traditions. A graduate of the Grieg Academy, she released her acclaimed debut album Rodando in 2023 and performs across several collaborative projects.
Gelareh Pour is an Iranian-Australian musician, composer and interdisciplinary artist blending Persian traditions with experimental sound and improvisation. A Sidney Myer Creative Fellow, she co-founded the award-winning duo ZÖJ and explores memory, migration and identity through music.
Guro Furunes Pettersen is managing director of Trondheim Calling, one of Norway’s key showcase festivals. Her experience includes festival leadership and booking at Vinjerock, as well as work with Kulturrom and Norske Kulturarrangører.
Hortense Volle is a French music journalist and broadcaster with two decades of experience telling stories about artists and the worlds around them. She presents RFI’s BPM – Bonnes Pulsations du Monde, featuring music, interviews and immersive audio portraits.
Ingrid Døssland works at Musikkontoret Brak, developing initiatives that strengthen the music industry in Western Norway, including Bergen Songs, Grønn Festival and Bedre Rom. She is also the artist døssi and a partner in music company Lun Music.
Isak Harbitz is head of programme at Buktafestivalen and an agent and promoter at FKP Scorpio Norway. Based in his hometown of Tromsø, he has been active in the local music scene since 2011, including booking for Blårock and Bastard.
Jan Polák works across booking and production at Colours of Ostrava, one of the Czech Republic’s leading international festivals. He coordinates artists, agents and managers through the full process, from booking and contracts to hospitality and live production.
Jane Cornwell is an award-winning journalist, author and critic specialising in jazz and global music. A contributing editor at Songlines, she also interviews artists and hosts events for major festivals, including WOMAD and EFG London Jazz Festival.
Jehnny Beth is a French singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the commanding frontwoman of post-punk band Savages. Her solo work crosses rock, electronic music and performance, while her acting career includes roles in film and television.
Joar Nango is a Sámi artist and architect based in Tromsø. His practice explores Indigenous architecture, material culture and local knowledge through installations, sculpture and collaborative projects, including Girjegumpi, a travelling library dedicated to Sámi and Indigenous architecture.
John Bell is Senior Content Editor at Ticketmaster UK and a freelance music journalist with a particular interest in festivals and emerging artists. His writing has appeared in The Line of Best Fit, Noisey, Apple Music and other outlets.
John Fitzgerald is an Ireland-based booking agent at Vagabond Booking, working with an adventurous roster spanning psychedelic rock, experimental music and global sounds. His artists include Gaye Su Akyol, Les Filles de Illighadad, Moon Duo and Ammar 808.
Jonathan Crossen is an associate professor at UiT’s Centre for Sámi Studies. Based in Tromsø since 2020, his research focuses on the history of Indigenous internationalism and connections between Indigenous movements across borders.
Julie Forchhammer works with the Norwegian non-profit Klimakultur at the intersection of culture and climate action. With a broad music industry background, she focuses on climate disinformation and how the arts can respond to harmful industry influence.
Julie Runge is Sustainability Manager at Iceland Airwaves and Country Manager for Green Producers Club across Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. With a background in Reykjavík’s music scene since 2015, she specialises in environmental sustainability, grassroots initiatives and the unique challenges facing artists and cultural organisers in the North Atlantic.
Karstein Grønnesby is project coordinator at Samspill International Music Network, which supports professional musicians working across musical traditions. He is also a musician and maker of traditional Norwegian wind instruments.
Kine Olsen is a senior adviser at the United Nations Association of Norway, promoting knowledge and engagement around the UN and global issues. Originally from Hammerfest, she has a background in social economics, education and Save the Children.
Kjersti Feldt Anfinnsen is an award-winning Norwegian-Kven author, performance artist and DJ. Her acclaimed novels have been translated into 15 languages, and she received the 2026 Stig Sæterbakken Memorial Prize. Named Kven of the Year in 2022, she explores identity, ageing and belonging through literature and artistic expression.
Kirsti Lervoll is director of NANU – Sámi Arts International, supporting Sámi artists in international markets. A former director of Riddu Riđđu and chair of Lásságámmi, she has extensive experience in Indigenous cultural leadership and international collaboration.
Koen ter Heegde is an independent promoter, agent, label manager and lecturer. Through Yugofuturism, he connects emerging artists from Central and Eastern Europe with new audiences, while also managing Rotterdam post-punk band Tramhaus and supporting grassroots music networks.
Kristina Junttila is a Tromsø-based performance artist, director and educator, and co-artistic director of Ferske Scener. Her work explores participation, place and the relationship between audiences and live performance.
Lasse André Mellingsæther is a music producer at Festspillene i Nord-Norge, as well as a drummer and chair of Harstad Jazzklubb. His background spans festival production, music education and concert programming across Northern Norway.
Lisa Hoen is the Festival and Programme Director of Tromsø International Film Festival (TIFF), one of Norway’s leading film festivals. With extensive experience in film programming and cultural management, she plays a key role in shaping the festival’s artistic direction and connecting international cinema with audiences in Northern Norway.
Login Kochishki is a North Macedonian music promoter, booking professional and festival entrepreneur. He is behind major events including Taksirat, D Festival and PIN Music Conference, building connections between Balkan artists and the international music industry.
María Rut Reynisdóttir is director of Iceland Music and a leading figure in Iceland’s cultural sector. Her previous roles include Reykjavík Music City, Iceland Airwaves and the Reykjavík cultural office, alongside artist management and music industry development.
Marianne Saus is festival director of Tromsø’s Buktafestivalen. With a background in design, communication, culture and service design, she brings experience in festival leadership, audience development and creative community building.
Marta Hofsøy is a lawyer and local politician in Tromsø. She serves as the Labour Party’s group leader and chairs the municipality’s health and welfare committee, bringing a public policy perspective to conversations about local communities.
Martine Lødding is one of the lead project managers of True North 2026, Tromsø’s European Youth Capital programme. She brings experience from festivals, business networks and youth politics, alongside a master’s degree in leadership, innovation and marketing.
Martha Jensine Hansen Møkkelgjerd is director of Tromsø Jazzfestival and a producer for cultural projects including Kulturnatta Tromsø and Rimfrost Produksjoner. Trained as a lawyer, she has worked professionally in arts and culture since 2015.
Martha Otte is a long-standing figure in Tromsø’s cultural scene and former director of Tromsø International Film Festival, which she led from 2004 to 2020. She is now co-owner of Backbeat Kaffe & Vinyl, combining music, conversation and community.
Martin Hjelle is co-founder and co-owner of Trevarefabrikken, a cultural meeting place in Henningsvær, Lofoten. Since 2023, he has also served as managing director of Trevarefest, bringing together music, people and place.
Mayssa Issa is a Franco-Lebanese journalist, podcaster and media trainer with more than 20 years in international broadcasting. Her work spans music and culture across the Arab world, Africa and the Mediterranean, including her podcast Mayssa’s Caravan.
Mia M. Eriksen is Head of Music at Tvibit, Tromsø’s creative hub for young people. With a background in the music industry, festivals and event production, she works to develop emerging talent, strengthen the local music scene and create new opportunities for young artists and music professionals in Northern Norway.
Michael Wold has run Amtmandens Eftf. since 2019, helping make it a lively meeting place for music, film, literature and other creative expression in Tromsø. His background spans hospitality, live venues and festival culture.
Miguel Ángel García Garrido is founder of Charco Música and Radar Madrid, working to connect Spanish and Latin American artists with international markets. With more than two decades in the industry, he has developed tours, festivals and cross-continental music partnerships.
Mona Steffensen is a producer at Riddu Riđđu Festivála, the international Indigenous festival held in northern Troms. She previously worked in production management at Festspillene i Nord-Norge and brings extensive experience in large-scale cultural events.
Oskar Strajn is Head of Music at Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) and a programmer at Motel Mozaïque. He supports emerging European talent through showcase platforms and international exchange, drawing on experience in radio, journalism, promotion and artist management.
Ragnhild Dalheim Eriksen leads Samfunnsløftet, SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge’s community investment initiative. Through her work, she supports projects that strengthen culture, creativity and local communities across Northern Norway, helping turn ideas into opportunities and contributing to a vibrant and sustainable region.
Ragnhild Furebotten is a fiddler and cultural organiser with more than two decades in Northern Norway’s music scene. A founding member of Hekla Stålstrenga and incoming director of Troms Musikkråd, she champions vibrant local music communities.
Roar Dons is a Tromsø-based musician and entrepreneur whose career bridges business and the arts. He brings a cross-sector perspective to discussions about culture, creative industries and the development of Northern Norway.
Salum Ageze Kashafali is a Norwegian Paralympic champion and world-record-holding sprinter who competes in the T12 visual impairment category. Originally from DR Congo, he has become a powerful voice for inclusion, ambition and breaking barriers in sport.
Sandeep Singh is a Norwegian journalist, TV and radio presenter, DJ and musician. A familiar voice in Norwegian media, he has worked across broadcasting, music journalism and cultural events, bringing a passion for music, diversity and popular culture to his work. He is known for connecting audiences with artists, stories and new perspectives.
Sigbjørn Skåden is a Sámi author from Troms who writes in both Northern Sámi and Norwegian. His poetry, fiction and interdisciplinary work explore language, identity and history, and his books have received major literary nominations and awards.
Siri Arntzen-Ratnarajan leads Fabric+, a multidisciplinary team working on place development across the Arctic. Combining design, economics, planning and architecture, she focuses on how spaces can create more inclusive communities and sustainable local economies.
Siri Kvambe is part of Samspill International Music Network, an organisation championing musical diversity and supporting professional musicians from around the world living in Norway. Through its work, Samspill creates opportunities for artistic collaboration, cultural exchange and greater representation of diverse musical traditions in the Norwegian music scene.
Siri Therese Lier runs the much-loved Rakettkiosken in central Tromsø. With a background in culture and northern lights tourism, she has helped turn the small kiosk into a lively meeting point and a unique window into the city’s changing visitor economy.
Sofie Lødding is an experienced festival professional who has worked across music, film and arts festivals since the age of 14. She is currently Project Manager at Bukta Festival, where she previously served as Deputy Chair, and has worked with Tromsø International Film Festival, the Arctic Philharmonic and various cultural projects across Northern Norway.
Solvei Stenslie is a Norwegian-American musician, songwriter and music educator based in Tromsø. Her work crosses genres and cultures, from collaborations with international artists to the band Gypsy Chicken, alongside music education and community projects.
Stian Johansen is Festival Director of Rakettnatt, one of Northern Norway’s major music festivals, held annually in the heart of Tromsø. With extensive experience in festival management, event production and the live music industry, he works to bring leading national and international artists to the Arctic while contributing to Tromsø’s vibrant music and cultural scene.
Stine Mari Røverdatter is associated with Broadcast, a Nordic platform focused on helping people discover events and connecting organisers with audiences. She brings a perspective on digital tools, event visibility and the future of cultural discovery.
Susi Castelo is co-artistic director and booker at ALICE in Copenhagen, a venue dedicated to adventurous music from across cultures. A former Roskilde Festival booker and international agent, she champions musical diversity and cross-border exchange.
Sverre Vik is booking manager for Trevarefabrikken and Trevarefest in Henningsvær. A musician, sound engineer, agent and concert promoter, he has also run the independent record label Tik Records since 2016.
Tatiana Lehocká is conference director and music booker at Bratislava’s SHARPE Festival, a platform for emerging artists and music industry exchange. She also works as a booking agent and has extensive experience in artist management, promotion and festival production.
Terje Halsvik is a producer and project manager at Tromsø’s youth culture hub Tvibit. He leads the international exchange project Beyond North/South, supporting collaboration and creative opportunities across communities and borders.
Trond Øverås is CEO of Arctic Norway Tourist Board, a position he has held since 2016. With senior experience across Arctic tourism, destination development and marketing, he brings a regional perspective on sustainable tourism and local identity.
Trude Storheim is State Secretary at Norway’s Ministry of Culture and Equality. Previously director of Vossa Jazz and Norske Kulturarrangører, she brings extensive experience in festivals, cultural policy and arts leadership.
Yara Mrad is artistic and programme director of Beirut & Beyond. Her career spans music journalism, cultural research, programming and project management, and she works to create connections for artists and music communities in Lebanon and internationally.
Yohan Shanmugaratnam is a journalist at Klassekampen and an award-winning nonfiction author. His books explore racism, identity, politics and music, including Hjertet i to, an inside look at Norwegian rap duo Karpe.
