International Cooperation in the Arctic: A Panel Discussion

Ambassador David Balton,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries

David A. Balton is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State. In March 2005, the President, with the consent of the Senate, accorded to Mr. Balton the rank of Ambassador during his tenure. Ambassador Balton previously served for 6 years as Director of the Office of Marine Conservation in the Department of State. In that capacity, he was responsible for coordinating the development of U.S. foreign policy concerning living marine resources and overseeing U.S. participation in international organizations dealing with the conservation and management of these resources. Ambassador Balton also worked for 12 years in the Office of the Legal Adviser in the Department of State. His international law practice covered such areas as the law of the sea, human rights and international claims. Ambassador Balton negotiated numerous treaties and other international agreements on fisheries, marine mammals and other matters pertaining to the marine environment. Ambassador Balton received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1981 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1985.

Anders Oskal,
Director of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry

Anders Oskal is Executive Director of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry and is project leader of the Arctic Council project EALAT Information and responsible for coordinating EALAT outreach activities.

Margaret Williams,
Managing Director of the U.S. Arctic Program, World Wildlife Fund

Ms. Williams has a special interest in Russian conservation.  Before joining WWF in 1997, she worked as a consultant to the World Bank on biodiversity projects in Russia and Central Asia.  Margaret is currently a board member of the Alaska Oceans Observing Program, and a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Alaska School of Fisheries and Ocean Science.  She is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds a Master’s degree from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

The panel will be moderated by:

Mike Sfraga,
Vice Chancellor for University and Student Advancement

Dr. Sfraga earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a Master degree from Bowling Green State University in 1986, and UAF’s first Ph.D. in Northern Studies and Geography in 1997. Dr. Sfraga has worked for UAF and the University of Alaska System since 1985 in a broad range of administrative, academic, and executive positions. Dr. Sfraga currently serves as Vice Chancellor for University and Student Advancement. In this capacity he oversees a broad range of programs and services as well as leading a number of Arctic-related initiatives, through which he serves as: the Co-Lead Scholar, Fulbright Arctic Initiative; the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Institute of the North; the Co-Director of the University of the Arctic’s Institute for Arctic Policy; the Director of the Center for Arctic Policy Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks; and a member, Alaska Arctic Council Host Committee.