Alaska Dialogue

Since 2001 the Institute of the North has convened the Alaska Dialogue, a policy focused gathering where 90-120 Alaskans leaders gather for a 2 ½-day in-depth discussion of the key and often sensitive issues facing the state and our commons. The Alaska Dialogue uses an Alaska derivation of the Aspen Institute Model with briefing books, panel discussions and problem-solving techniques that generate fresh approaches to difficult problems while building trust among diverse stakeholders. Each year, the dialogue focuses on new, challenging topics. Through these dialogues we believe ‘One Alaska’ is possible, where the reality, richness, and responsibility of the North is understood and appreciated.

2014 Alaska Dialogue – LESSONS OF ALASKA LEADERSHIP

The lessons of leadership – decision-making that changed Alaska’s history – must not be lost. Dialogue attendees worked to understand where we’ve been as a state, and how we can address an uncertain future.

  • What critical leadership moments and key figures created the Alaska we know today?
  • What kinds of leaders do we need to navigate Alaska through the complex issues of the future?
  • How does this help us understand our role as Alaskans in working toward individual and common prosperity?

The outcome was to develop a plan to identify, preserve and deliver to future generations a multi-media catalog of Alaska leaders, portrayed though a timeline that references crucial leadership moments in the state’s history as well as the characteristics of leadership that were demanded. Ultimately we hope that the leaders of yesterday – through their words, ideas and actions – can help today’s leaders, and shape those of the next generation, as together we work toward a tomorrow to be proud of.

2012 Alaska Dialogue – THE CHANGING NATURE OF THE STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP

With declining oil production and reduced federal spending, Alaskans need to be looking for new ways to reverse current trends. At this Alaska Dialogue, presentations and small group discussions focused on five areas where Alaskans can have an impact, relative to the state-federal relationship:

  • Offshore Revenue Sharing and Development – Alaska’s share
  • Education Standards – state and federal benchmarks
  • Land Issues – federal regulation of state and federal lands; ANWR and ANILCA update
  • Fiscal Policy and Spending – State responsibilities and savings mechanisms
  • Export Laws – federal laws including the Jones Act

Both public and private sectors in Alaska are dependent on federal resources, often in unseen ways. Alaska Dialogue attendees deepened their understanding of the relationship between the state and federal government, which will inform future decision-making.

2010 Alaska Dialogue – FEARLESSNESS, INVESTMENT AND ENTREPRENEURISM IN ALASKA

Throughout its history, Alaska has faced crossroads, cliffs and precipices. Every time Alaskans round a corner, they are faced with a new challenge. Alaskans have heard before that making the right decisions today means a brighter future for tomorrow. More often than not, those decisions have been put off.

Today, many speak of Alaska as an entitlement state, where ownership equals expectation rather than responsibility. At the same time, the state can claim a wealth of resources – both natural and human. How can Alaskans cultivate a culture of giving, leadership and innovation? Alaska cannot afford avoided decisions, complacency or a civic divisiveness that contributes to a toxic environment of blame, territorialism or risk aversion.

2008 Alaska Dialogue – BLUEPRINT FOR THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS

Looking at energy, transportation and resource development in new and proactive ways, this year’s theme resonated with attendees as the three-day event provided moments of intense deliberation mixed with lighthearted mirth and dynamic conversations.

The format for this year’s Dialogue was somewhat different from past years. Participants have consistently called for more action –Let’s do something! Within the program, the recommendations of a study group, which met prior to the Dialogue, offered participants a look at the idea of an infrastructure corridor from the current connected road system to Nome.

2006 Alaska Dialogue – BRAINSTORMING IDEAS FOR WHOMEVER WE ELECT AS GOVERNOR

Alaskans of all regions and political persuasions came together to discuss some of Alaska’s greatest opportunities and challenges, and presented a report to the major gubernatorial candidates on the final day of the Dialogue.

2013 Alaska Dialogue – DEVELOPING CRITERIA FOR ENERGY DECISION-MAKING

Imagine that energy projects in Alaska were evaluated consistent with the state’s energy policy and a strategy in place for reducing the cost of energy.

  • What are the criteria used to determine an effective use of State of Alaska resources to achieve stated (or potential) energy policy goals?

Dialogue attendees prioritized and worked on actionable products that:

  • Review and reflect on historic and current energy policy
  • Evaluate current expenditures relative to potential cost
  • Highlight energy decisions as part of an overall fiscal picture
  • Identify values, positions, and interests
  • Define a scope of work for a domestic energy conversation
  • Develop criteria for testing solutions and addressing interests

2011 Alaska Dialogue – THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN OUR DREAM FOR ALASKA AND TODAY’S REALITY

This Dialogue developed – and made accessible – an understanding of the influence that today’s decisions have on creating long-term security and making prosperity a reality for the people of Alaska. Many of today’s challenges share significant similarities with those of the past.

  • What have we learned from previous attempts to address them?
  • What have been – and what accounts for – our past successes in actively managing the future of the state?
  • What have been our failures?
  • How do we use these lessons to move forward?

Small group discussions focused on five relationships that Alaskans must develop, maintain and strengthen to create win-win solutions:

  • Alaskans’ relationships with one another – How should we manage the accumulation of resource wealth and prioritize its investment? How do we as Alaskans develop a consensus view on Alaska’s objectives, and identify and enable leaders to carry out those objectives?
  • Alaska’s relationship with industry and the private sector – What makes Alaska competitive and what does corporate citizenship look like?
  • Alaska’s relationship with the federal government – How does Alaska fit into the national interest and what can we do to leverage that?
  • Alaska’s relationships in the Arctic – What is our relationship with our neighbors in the North, and how are they (and we) moving forward to develop resources, consistent with the physical and technological challenges posed by Arctic conditions?
  • Alaska’s relationship to the rest of the world – How can we market Alaska energy and other resources? How can we foster cross-Pacific or cross-border trade?

2009 Alaska Dialogue – RESPONDING TO ISSUES LOCALLY BY THINKING GLOBALLY

Building on the work done at this year’s Emerging Leaders Dialogue, we framed the discussion of Alaska as a Global Citizen around the triple bottom line– enabling us to examine our global/local connections from an economic, social and environmental perspective. Within that framework, this Dialogue explored how Alaska interacts on a global level.

  • Where do we find best practices in with, economic development strategies; civic responsibility; energy efficiency, conservation, and development; and wise use of the commons?
  • What ideas or processes can Alaska export, or could we be exporting? For instance, could we serve as a model in fisheries management/CDQs; emergency response; and construction and weatherization?

2007 Alaska Dialogue – EMERGING LEADERSHIP IN AN EXCEPTIONAL STATE

The seventh Alaska Dialogue built on the comments from participants from 2006, as well as from others during preliminary brainstorming meetings in 2007. All called for greater inclusion of young leaders and minority groups. Taking into account the themes that resonated with young people, we tried to capture past enthusiasm while addressing the leadership challenge facing the state.

2005 Alaska Dialogue – GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT BOOM!

Can a mobilized Alaska provide a sustainable economy, or will the next boom lead to another bust?was one of the questions raised during the sixth annual Alaska Dialogue. One hundred and seventeen Alaskans, both Democrats and Republicans, discussed public policy issues surrounding the next potential oil and gas boom in the state and what Alaskans can do to prepare for it. Topics included impacts on the economy, workforce development and education.