Irene McMaster was an invited speaker at the 'Cool North' conference which celebrated the launch of the 2014-2020 Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (NPA). The NPA transnational cooperation programme aims to help peripheral and remote communities on the northern margins of Europe to develop their economic, social and environmental potential, through joint projects creating innovative products and services for the benefit of the programme partner countries and Europe as a whole. The Programme's 'Cool North' conference took place on 30 of September in Strathpeffer, Scotland. The conference was attended by over 150 delegates. In her presentation, Irene reflected on the findings of an analysis of past achievements and the lessons for the new Programme.