AURORA FORUM
Connecting countries in dialogue
DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, ICELAND, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, NORWAY, SWEDEN
AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
AURORA FORUM
Connecting countries in dialogue
DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, ICELAND, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, NORWAY, SWEDEN
AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
“The Aurora Forum fosters dialogue on the big international economic and security challenges and opportunities among the political, diplomatic, academic and business communities from the UK, Nordic and Baltic countries. This like-minded community will be even more important to the UK post-Brexit.”
Lord Sedwill (Mark)
“The Aurora Forum is a one-stop-shop for informed perspectives from around the region. Although the recent two-day event was by necessity virtual and so lacked the usual face-to-face networking element, it was still a feast of high-level thinking on today's (and tomorrow's) big issues.”
Daniel Franklin
Executive Editor, The Economist
"The Aurora Forum has already established itself as a key part of the relationship between the UK and Nordic and Baltic countries. There is an excellent atmosphere of trust and mutual respect which makes it possible to share analysis of tricky issues and exchange ideas on how to tackle them."
Lord Willetts
President of the Resolution Foundation
“This is a forum that is continuing to bring the UK, Nordic and Baltic countries together in dialogue. Building on 900 years of free trade and shared security whilst bringing together a cross section of high level attendees discussing key issues of the day.”
Mr Helge Lund
Chairman, BP p.l.c.
“The Aurora Forum is of great value as an official and structured dialogue between the UK and the Nordic-Baltic states. The Forum focuses on our shared values, common goals and challenges as it brings together the public and private sectors in an excellent way.”
H.E. Ambassador Wegger Chr. Strommen
Norwegian Ambassador to London
“It was a pleasure to participate for the first time in the Aurora Forum, as a panellist. Our relations with Scandinavia and the Baltic States are particularly important at this time, now we have left the European Union. We need bodies like the Aurora Forum to keep these strong and friendly links. We have exceptionally strong common values and interests. I hope to remain a supporter going forward.”
Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minister of State, Department for International Trade
“The Aurora Forum bringing the UK, Nordic and Baltic countries together is an exceptional space in which the big issues of the day are debated with the most insightful minds. It’s a forum where new thinking is developed and where change happens.”
Ms Seema Malhotra MP, Labour Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Department of Works & Pension
“The political events of recent years and extreme political fragmentation pose multiple challenges to our societies, while the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation. This Forum provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the complex security challenges faced by Northern Europe's region and leverage leaders and experts' perspectives from various sectors: business, government, and academia. Participating at the Forum also provided new valuable insights on security and defence issues that are of particular concern to the Baltic countries’ audience.”
Ms Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, Director General, Member of EBU Executive Board, Latvia
“A highlight for me was the ability of the organizers to create online the same cosy and intimate atmosphere that we have been accustomed to in these last years at Hopetoun House. Although I felt sorry not to be able to meet face to face, I immensely enjoyed the intellectual power of the discussions, the scope of analyses and the chats online. Content-wise, I eagerly followed the discussions about the future of the UK identity, how it would be created and what it would consist of after Brexit. I very much enjoyed listening to Minister Artis Pabriks, whose contribution was very insightful and thought provoking. So, for a while the vibe of Hopetoun House could be felt in my own kitchen at home. Thank you for that!”
Ms Eeva Eek-Pajuste,
Director of the Lennart Meri Conference, Estonia
"The recent Aurora Forum event in which I participated, did a superb job at creating a safe space to discuss difficult and sensitive issues despite being run virtually. The calibre of the discussants was excellent, generating new ideas and providing a rich environment to build understanding of the topics at hand. And the moderators did a superb job of bringing in other participants and other views to create a high quality of conversation and debate. Thank you."
Ms Xenia Wickett
Vice President Political Analysis
Equinor UK Ltd
“The Aurora Forum fosters dialogue on the big international economic and security challenges and opportunities among the political, diplomatic, academic and business communities from the UK, Nordic and Baltic countries. This like-minded community will be even more important to the UK post-Brexit.”
Lord Sedwill (Mark)
“The Aurora Forum is a one-stop-shop for informed perspectives from around the region. Although the recent two-day event was by necessity virtual and so lacked the usual face-to-face networking element, it was still a feast of high-level thinking on today's (and tomorrow's) big issues.”
Daniel Franklin
Executive Editor, The Economist
"The Aurora Forum has already established itself as a key part of the relationship between the UK and Nordic and Baltic countries. There is an excellent atmosphere of trust and mutual respect which makes it possible to share analysis of tricky issues and exchange ideas on how to tackle them."
Lord Willetts
President of the Resolution Foundation
“This is a forum that is continuing to bring the UK, Nordic and Baltic countries together in dialogue. Building on 900 years of free trade and shared security whilst bringing together a cross section of high level attendees discussing key issues of the day.”
Mr Helge Lund
Chairman, BP p.l.c.
“The Aurora Forum is of great value as an official and structured dialogue between the UK and the Nordic-Baltic states. The Forum focuses on our shared values, common goals and challenges as it brings together the public and private sectors in an excellent way.”
H.E. Ambassador Wegger Chr. Strommen
Norwegian Ambassador to London
“It was a pleasure to participate for the first time in the Aurora Forum, as a panellist. Our relations with Scandinavia and the Baltic States are particularly important at this time, now we have left the European Union. We need bodies like the Aurora Forum to keep these strong and friendly links. We have exceptionally strong common values and interests. I hope to remain a supporter going forward.”
Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minister of State, Department for International Trade
“The Aurora Forum bringing the UK, Nordic and Baltic countries together is an exceptional space in which the big issues of the day are debated with the most insightful minds. It’s a forum where new thinking is developed and where change happens.”
Ms Seema Malhotra MP, Labour Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Department of Works & Pension
“The political events of recent years and extreme political fragmentation pose multiple challenges to our societies, while the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation. This Forum provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the complex security challenges faced by Northern Europe's region and leverage leaders and experts' perspectives from various sectors: business, government, and academia. Participating at the Forum also provided new valuable insights on security and defence issues that are of particular concern to the Baltic countries’ audience.”
Ms Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, Director General, Member of EBU Executive Board, Latvia
“A highlight for me was the ability of the organizers to create online the same cosy and intimate atmosphere that we have been accustomed to in these last years at Hopetoun House. Although I felt sorry not to be able to meet face to face, I immensely enjoyed the intellectual power of the discussions, the scope of analyses and the chats online. Content-wise, I eagerly followed the discussions about the future of the UK identity, how it would be created and what it would consist of after Brexit. I very much enjoyed listening to Minister Artis Pabriks, whose contribution was very insightful and thought provoking. So, for a while the vibe of Hopetoun House could be felt in my own kitchen at home. Thank you for that!”
Ms Eeva Eek-Pajuste,
Director of the Lennart Meri Conference, Estonia
"The recent Aurora Forum event in which I participated, did a superb job at creating a safe space to discuss difficult and sensitive issues despite being run virtually. The calibre of the discussants was excellent, generating new ideas and providing a rich environment to build understanding of the topics at hand. And the moderators did a superb job of bringing in other participants and other views to create a high quality of conversation and debate. Thank you."
Ms Xenia Wickett
Vice President Political Analysis
Equinor UK Ltd
