Mads Qvist Frederiksen is the Director of the Arctic Economic Council (AEC) that is located in Tromsø, Norway. The AEC is an independent business organization established in 2014. It facilitates Arctic business-to-business activities and sustainable economic development. The AEC provides advice and a business perspective to the work of the Arctic Council.

Prior to joining the AEC in March 2021, Mr. Frederiksen worked as a Senior Advisor in the Global Trade and Investment unit at the Confederation of Danish Industry. Here he was responsible for Arctic business development and policy. Before that he worked as a communication advisor for MADE – Manufacturing Academy of Denmark, was a journalism trainer in Kabul, Afghanistan and worked as a journalist in the Danish department of Defense.

In addition to Arctic policy and trade promotion, his previous work as been within sanctions and export control, development work, foreign investments, communication strategy, journalism, training and capacity building.

Mr. Frederiksen is originally from Denmark. He has a Master degree in Middle East Studies from the University of Southern Denmark and a Bachelor degree in Journalism and Contemporary history from City University and Queen Mary, University of London.