Odd Jarl Borch is a Professor of Strategy and Management at the Nord University Business School, Bodo, Norway.  He received his M.Sc. from The Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration in Bergen, Norway in 1979, his PhD from Umeå University in Sweden in 1990, and post doc studies from Indiana university, USA.  He has a Master Mariner education from Bodin Maritime Academy.

Dr. Borch is conducting research within the field of organization and strategic management, with a special focus on societal safety and security management. He is teaching and leading several projects on security and emergency preparedness, with special emphasis on the Arctic.  Dr. Borch is the author of more than 120 scientific articles and reports. He has served at several government committees within industry development, safety and preparedness, most recently as a scientific advisor  for the Norwegian government Corona Commission, and as member of the Arctic Cruise Safety committee.  He was recently appointed as a member of the Norwegian Government Total preparedness commission.  He is the first leader of the University of the Arctic Thematic Network on Arctic Safety and Security including 24 universities and research institutions in nine countries.  Dr Borch has established and is the leader of NORDLAB – the Nord university Innovation centre within crisis management, working closely with governments, civilian and military emergency preparedness agencies, companies and communities in the High North.

“I am very much looking forward to working with and contribute to the extremely competent networks of the UArctic, and stimulate cooperation across borders, as well as between academia and the practice field”, says professor Odd Jarl Borch.

 

UArctic Chairs are highly qualified academics who serve as academic drivers in a broad area of relevance to the Arctic. They implement and drive collaborative actions in research and education among UArctic members and Thematic Networks and build partnerships with the broader Arctic community.