Speakers

Kai Mykkänen is the Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland since June 2023. Prior to this, he was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the National Coalition Party. Mykkänen has worked as the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development 2016-2018 and as the Minister of Interior 2018-2019. He was also in response of the National Coalition’s energy policy under the previous government. Mykkänen has also worked for instance at Sampo Bank in Russia, at the East Office of Finnish Industries in St. Petersburg and at the Confederation of Finnish Industries in Helsinki.

Mykkänen describes himself as a pro-market, pro-environment reformer. Finland has decided to ban the use of coal by 2030. Mykkänen took the initiative, and he was also in response of National Coalitions’ energy and climate issues.

I have a financial background, have been the CFO of TETRA Chemicals Europe for 17 years and since two years back I am the CEO of the same company. TETRA Chemicals Europe has the largest calcium chloride plant in Europe and we export our product to more than 30 countries around the world.

Jaana Koivumaa is the Manager of Hannukainen Mining. Jaana is a Civil Engineer with a M.Sc. in Water- and Environmental Management. She has strong experience within the Finnish Mining Sector as an consultant in EIA-, permission-, environmental monitoring and management issues. As a Manager, Jaana sets Environmental-  and Manager Policy. Working closely with local communities, people and government, Jaana manages here team, consultants and ensures that environmental criteria and companies policy are integrated into the design of the project.

Ulf-Erik is responsible for focus account customers relationship with Business Finland in the field of Energy, Process and Chemical industries. Ulf-Erik has extensive experience from senior leadership positions in these industries before joining Business Finland to accelerate customers growth and internationalization into innovative ecosystems for renewable energy and circular transition.

Jasmin works at the TE Office in Ostrobothnia where she produces and hosts an online recruitment live broadcast called TE-live. She has over ten years of experience working as a host from sport events to trade shows and shopping mall events. Her most important traits as a host are her natural set of skills in improvisation and quick reacting as well as the pure joy that stems for her passion towards hosting and the audience.

Klaus Bolving is a strong networker who matchmakes universities and research & technology organisations with high-tech industries within the defence, space, security, and dual-use sectors. He coordinates his activities in close collaboration with national and international governmental authorities and organizations. Klaus Bolving holds at position as Business Development Director of “Center for Defence, Space and Security” (CenSec) supported by The Ministry of Higher Education & Science and Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. Klaus Bolving has held several posts at different management levels within naval, military, intelligence, security, academia, trade, human resources and business development areas. These include high-ranking posts at the Danish Ministry of Defence and the Royal Danish Defence College, as well as Klaus Bolving participates in a number of international expert groups and networks.

Kehittämispäällikkönä (Senior Advisor) Luonnonvarakeskuksen Tuotantojärjestelmät – yksikössä. Yli 300 asiantuntijan tutkimusyksikkö joka kattaa biotalouden eri osa-alueita genetiikasta biomassan jalostusteknologioihin ja elintarvikkeiden prosessointiin. Pitkäaikainen kokemus tutkimusorganisaatioiden johtamis- ja kehittämistehtävistä. Nykyisessä tehtävässä vastuulla erityisesti yksikön talouden ja johtoryhmätyöskentelyn kehittäminen sekä matriisiorganisaation kehittämistehtävät. Luonnonvarakeskuksen laajennetun johtoryhmän jäsen

Jarmo has almost 15 years of experience in various environmental tasks. For the past three years, he has worked as the environmental manager of Boliden Kokkola and previously for more than ten years as an environmental consultant. Boliden Kokkola has decades of experience in zinc production. Thanks to our solid know-how, we are able to develop among the forerunners in the industry. Boliden’s vision is to be the world’s most climate-friendly and respected metal producer, and the circular economy is central to this vision.

Jouni was the national focal point in the negotiations on the new EU battery regulation. He works at the environment ministry in the material cycles unit. He has background in energy issues, mining waste, and EU product policies.

Työskentelen Luken Biotalous ja ympäristö -yksikön Hiilen kierron hallinta -ryhmässä. Tällä hetkellä työni painottuu joutoalueiden metsitykseen ja turvetuotannosta vapautuneiden alueiden jatkokäyttöön. Niissä tärkeätä on määrittää menettelytavat, joilla alueiden hiilensidontaa lisätään ja haitallisia ilmasto- ja ympäristövaikutuksia vähennetään.

General Manger Innovation and Sustainability and SHAPE Veturi Programme Manager, M.Sc Charlotta Risku is fascinated with the challenges and complexity of sustainability and inspired by the potential and opportunities still to be unveiled when harnessing these. Charlotta has long experience in product and process development, mainly in plastics and composites industries, and since 2018 leading research and development of surface finishing solutions at Mirka.

Johanna Hylkilä works as the executive director of KIP Association. Johanna is a cluster developer rich in ideas and with a marketing spirit. The KIP Association is Kokkola Industrial Park´s (KIP) own regional development organization, which is managed by Johanna. The association develops cooperation between several actors belonging to KIP’s ecosystem/cluster, creating different operating models. The association builds and strengthens the KIP brand, and promotes the recognition and visibility of the entire industrial area.

As Mayor of the City of Kokkola, Stina Mattila is responsible for the strategic management of the City Group. She manages, supervises and develops the city’s administration and economy under the City Board. Stina Mattila has led the City of Kokkola since 2016 and she has 20 years of experience from managing municipal administration.

Virve Heikkinen is an experienced environmental and sustainability professional with over twenty years of working career in environmental services industry. For the last 15 years, she has been working in the Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP), currently as an environmental manager in KIP Service Oy. She is also a chairwoman of the KIP association’s environmental working group, a key player in the development and promotion of the industrial circular economy in the KIP area and representing Kokkola Industrial Park in many collaborations both in Finland and internationally.

Nowadays responsible for strategic investment studies at Neste’s Porvoo oil refinery aiming to build the transformation into new era. Basis in organic chemistry from Helsinki University and then >25 years long career in Neste starting from R&D and technical support in lubricants and base oils. After that moving cross several business areas in business development roles through strategy development finally close to the strategic investments. Red threat during the whole career has been in more sustainable solutions even when part of fossil oil refining organisation, e.g. initiatives for co-processing of bio based and circular feedstocks as well as electrolysis based green hydrogen production.

PhD Paula Erkkilä works as a CEO at Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce. The mission of the Chamber of Commerce is to support the export-driven region and its companies to success by strengthening the region’s attraction and retaining, the availability of talented workforce, good transport connections and a functioning infrastructure. Right now in the western industrial zone is going on the “investment tornado”. A historically significant amount of investments are planned, and importance of clusters and co-operation is needed.

Development engineer at NordFuel Oy finding new solutions and applications for sidestreams of biorefinery process. Background in chemistry and PhD in process technology, applied chemistry. Work experience of circular economy in research, company and business development level.

Associate Professor of geometallurgy at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) in KTR, the Circular Economy Solutions Unit. Basic degree Bach App. Sc in Physics and Geology, Phd in Mining Engineering from JKMRC University of Queensland. Work experience 18 years in the Australian mining industry in research and development, 12 months at Ausenco in the private sector, 3 years in Belgium at the University of Liege researching Circular Economy and industrial recycling. Long term objectives include the development and transformation of the Circular Economy, into a more practical system for the industrial ecosystem to navigate the twin challenges of the scarcity of technology minerals and the transitioning away from fossil fuels.

I am Annastina Liedes and I work at Clewor Oy as a business manager. Clewor’s mission is to ensure the smoothness of the customer’s everyday working life with modern and environmentally friendly service solutions, with the aim of succeeding together with our customers and partners. We want to be the most wanted in our industry partner.

I am a circular economy researcher, especially interested in how companies can seize business opportunities from circular principles. In my work as a RDI specialist at Centria University of Applied Sciences, I get to tackle this question by helping companies with their sustainability journeys and developing their businesses. Additionally, I am also completing my PhD on this topic at the University of Turku. My previous experience centered around communications, social media and also an attempt at becoming a circular entrepreneur.

Hanna Lehtimäki is a Professor of Innovation Management in Business School and a Director of Research Center for Sustainable Circular Economy at the University of Eastern Finland. She is among the leading global academic researchers who study circular economy from the perspectives of business and management. She and her research team advance transdisciplinary business studies and social sciences research on sustainable innovation. The SunLab research team works in close collaboration with companies and public sector organizations to accelerate the implementation of sustainable circular economy in business and society.

Koulutukseltani olen molekyylibiologi. 10 vuoden kokemus proteiinikemiasta ja fermentoinnista. 10 vuoden kokemus LVI- alalta ja lämpöpumpuista. Eniferbion liiketoiminnan kehityspäällikkö.

Susanna Rokka toimii Luonnonvarakeskuksessa erikoistutkijana. Hänen erikoisalaansa ovat elintarvikkeet ja ruokajärjestelmä.

Toimin Centria-ammattikorkeakoululla Kemia ja Biotaloustiimissä asiantuntijana, erikoisalaani on epäorgaaninen kemia. Työssäni toimin pitkälti kiertotalouden parissa tiimimme Epäorgaanisten materiaalien sekä Vähähiilisen energian osaamisalueilla. Lannoitteet, maanparannusaineet ja ravinnekierto on ollut yksi työni painopisteistä Centrialla.

Elina Pylkkänen on työllisyysasioista vastaava alivaltiosihteeri Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriössä. Hän koulutukseltaan taloustieteen tohtori. Nykyistä tehtäväänsä ennen hän on toiminut kansainvälisissä ja kotimaisissa tehtävissä tutkijana, ekonomistina, asiantuntijana sekä tutkimuslaitoksen johtajana.

Johannes Malkamäki is a Master of Biotechnology, an entrepreneur and a professional performer who, in his more than 10 years of performing career, has become accustomed to act in a wide range of different interaction situations. As a host Johannes strives to create a warm atmosphere for guests and speakers. His mission is to engage the audience and let them enjoy themselves.
Johannes wants to inspire and create a meaning for the occasion, relying on his relaxed and engaging enthusiasm. An event host must also be able to improvise and be prepared for the unexpected – and he certainly is.