Published: August 8, 2025
The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is deepening its commitment to Arctic activities through education, research, innovation, and science-based advisory services. As part of this strategic push, DTU has appointed two experienced leaders with strong backgrounds in Greenland to guide and expand the university’s Arctic initiative, known as Arctic DTU.
Arctic DTU operates both at the Lyngby Campus in Denmark and in Sisimiut, Greenland, serving as a cross-disciplinary platform to consolidate DTU’s Arctic efforts. The initiative will now be structured into two coordinated tracks: one focusing on the development and management of the Sisimiut Campus, and the other on political and strategic operations.
“We are excited to welcome Mie Hylstofte Sichlau Winding and Tanja Nielsen, both of whom bring strong leadership experience. This new structure will allow us to enhance our operational performance while also sharpening our strategic objectives in Arctic education, research, and innovation,” said Carsten Orth Gaarn-Larsen, Executive Vice President at DTU, responsible for Arctic operations including Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Strategic and Personnel Leadership
Effective October 1, Mie Hylstofte Sichlau Winding will step into the role of Chief Arctic Officer, overseeing Arctic DTU’s strategy. She brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as head of the Greenland Climate Research Centre and holds a PhD from DTU. Her background includes years of work in Greenland and a strong interest in Arctic strategic networks.
On September 1, Tanja Nielsen will assume the position of Chief Officer Arctic Campus. She will be responsible for personnel and day-to-day operations in Sisimiut. Previously, Nielsen served as Director of Det Grønlandske Hus in Aarhus and has held various advisory and leadership roles in Greenland, including as Environmental Coordinator and Environmental Manager at Nalunaq Gold Mine A/S. She has both Danish and Greenlandic educational backgrounds.
Organizationally, Winding will be anchored in DTU’s Department for Research, Advisory Services, and Innovation, while Nielsen will be based within DTU Sustain.
This leadership expansion is seen as a continuation of DTU’s close cooperation with the Greenlandic Self-Government to strengthen technical and natural sciences education in Greenland.
Source: Technical University of Denmark
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