Our Leadership
staff
Ian Laing
executive director
Ian’s career has been dedicated to making Alaska a better place for all. Born and raised in Homer Alaska, he has served in various roles for the state legislature, Governor’s administration and as a private consultant. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and has been the Institute of the North’s Executive Director since 2018. Ian currently serves on the board of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP), and formerly on the boards of Alaska Common Ground and the ACLU Alaska. He is a founding member of the civic action group, Our Alaska. In his freetime, he enjoys the doors, reading and woodworking.
Hanna Eklund
program coordinator
Hanna Eklund was born and raised in Finland, and moved to Alaska in 2007. She studied Environmental Management and Engineering at the Tampere Polytechnic and has a Master’s in Human Geography from the University of Eastern Finland. She has been the Honorary Consul of Finland in Alaska since 2012 and she volunteers as the president of the Anchorage Suomi Finland Club and the Turnagain Elementary School PTA. She is a mother of two boys and enjoys outdoors and camping with her family and friends.
board of directors
Jon Isaacs
chair
ECOM
Chris Rose
secretary
Renewable Energy Alaska Project
Jack Hickel
Hickel Family, Southcentral Foundation
Tom Barrett
Formerly Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.
Scott Kendall
Lawyer, Independent
Amanda Moser
Alaskans for Better Elections
Yngvil Vatn Guttu
Artist