After the main Secretariat of the Northern Forum was opened in Anchorage, Alaska, USA), branches of the Secretariat were opened; in Bodo (Norway), in Rovaniemi (Lapland, Finland), in Yakutsk (Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia) and in St. Petersburg (Russia). In recent years, there have been two innovations in the structure of the organization concerning former presidents of the Northern Forum. Thus, in 1994 the post of General Secretary of the Northern Forum was introduced and in 2001 an Advisory Council was established.

The Advisory Board automatically includes the former Chairmen of the Northern Forum.