Launch of the Polar Regions SIG

The new Polar Regions SIG of IMarEST has now been launched. It’s aim is to bring together and foster a vibrant community of professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts who are dedicated to our planet’s polar regions.

The SIG will be committed to providing a platform for Members to make a meaningful impact on the stewardship of the Arctic and Antarctic – addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by these remote environments – ensuring that the Arctic and Antarctic continue to be better understood, respected, and protected for generations to come.

So, why should Members join the Polar Regions SIG?

• Network with Peers – connect with a global network of polar specialists to share insights and collaborate on activities.
• Influence Policy – help shape international regulation and practices concerning polar-related activities through the creation of position papers, technical reports, and policy statements.
• Professional Development – engage in a range of workshops and webinars designed to enhance expertise in polar matters.

If you are interested in joining the group, sign into the MyIMarEST Member Portal, and select the Polar Regions SIG from the list.

The Chair of the new Polar Regions SIG is Conor Savage, a sustainable finance expert and early career polar and marine scientist from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Conor has valuable experience in environmental, social and governance (ESG) activity within the finance sector, covering key topics such as climate change, the biodiversity crisis, and human rights. He is an ESG Programme Manager with Sainsbury's, where he is responsible for the development and delivery of Sainsbury's Bank's ESG strategy. Before this, Conor was a Climate Reporting Manager with NatWest Group, where he provided advice and technical expertise on climate, nature, and other sustainability-related policy.

Conor has an academic background in Marine Biology, completing both a BSc and MSc at Bangor University, specialising in the impacts of climate change on the Arctic, and how it adversely affects the sea ice-reliant and sea ice-associated species that inhabit it, in particular, walruses!

Whilst Conor now works in the finance sector, he continues to volunteer with many organisations involved in the polar and marine fields. This includes but is not limited to the Association of Early Career Polar Scientists, Arctic PASSION, the UK Polar Network, and the United Nations Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development via the Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme.

These volunteer roles have taken Conor up into the Arctic and to partake in international conferences shaping the future of the world’s polar regions and oceans. He attended an ‘Arctic Sharing Circle’ where he stayed with Indigenous Saami people learning about their history, culture, and language in Inari and Sevettijärvi in far northern Finland last year. Conor was also selected for the 2024 Emerging Leaders Programme of Arctic Frontiers, where he engaged with stakeholders involved in/from across the Arctic in the high north of Norway in Tromsø earlier this year. Additionally, he spoke at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona last month about his extensive experience with capacity development, having a strong track record of delivering training to both academic and industry non-expert audiences.