Europe Forum 2026 – Speakers

The 2026 Europe Forum will feature a wide range of Finnish and international experts, decision-makers, and influencers as speakers.

Henna Virkkunen

Executive Vice-President
European Commission

Petteri Orpo

Prime Minister of Finland

Li Andersson

Member of the European Parliament
(The Left, Left)

Maria Ohisalo

Member of the European Parliament
(Greens/EFA, The Greens)

Sirpa Pietikäinen

Member of the European Parliament
(EPP, NCP)

Ville Niinistö

Member of the European Parliament
(Greens/EFA, The Greens)

Aura Salla

Member of the European Parliament
(EPP, NCP)

Pekka Toveri

Member of the European Parliament
Major General (Ret.)
(EPP, NCP)

Mika Aaltola

Member of the European Parliament
(EPP, NCP)

Anna-Maja Henriksson

Member of the European Parliament
(Renew, SFP)

Eero Heinäluoma

Member of the European Parliament
(S&D, SDP)

Sebastian Tynkkynen

Member of the European Parliament
(ECR, Finnish Party)

Sari Multala

Minister of Climate and the Environment
Finnish Government

Kirsti Haimila

Ministerial Adviser
Finnish Government

Outi Holopainen

Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Security Policy
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Olga Kravets

Author, filmmaker, war reporter

Anni Pohto Huhtasaari

Singer-songwriter

Päivi Mattila

Chief Advisor
Turku University of Applied Sciences

Harri Mikkola

Acting Deputy Director
The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)

Mirva Levomäki

Managing Director
Turun seudun puhdistamo Oy

Jarkko Eloranta

President of the Central Organisation of
Finnish Trade Unions – SAK

Markku Jokisipilä

Professor & Director
University of Turku

Minna Arve

CEO
Business Turku

Hiski Haukkala

Director
Finnish Institute of International Affairs

Katariina Mustasilta

Senior Research Fellow
Finnish Institute of International Affairs

Alma Jokinen

EU Youth Delegate
The Finnish National Youth Council and Youth Sector (FYCS)

Jenni Halonen

Environmental Expert
Nuorten ilmasto- ja energiavisio 2040

Reijo Kemppinen

Former Director-General at the European Council

Laura Kestilä

Lead researcher, Adj. Prof.
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

Minttu Tikka

Research Manager
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

Tuomas Välimäki

Member of the Board
Bank of Finland

Panu Routila

President and CEO
Doctor of Business Administration
Patria

Henri Vogt

Professor of International Politics
University of Turku

Kimmo Elo

Research Director
University of Eastern Finland (UEF)

Sanna Salo

Senior Research Fellow
The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)

Ilari Sääksjärvi

Professor
University of Turku

Nora Fagerholm

Professor
University of Turku

Anne Quarshie

Assistant Professor
University of Turku

Tarja Haaranen

Director General
Ministry of the Environment

Erika Haakana

Development Manager
Valio

Mika Salminen

Director General
Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

Timo Vuori

Director
Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)

Heli Koski

Research Director
ETLA Economic Research (Etla)

Lassi Noponen

Director General
Business Finland

Ulla Müller

Director
Nordic Representation Office
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Marie Moran

Associate Professor in Equality Studies
University College Dublin

Justas Stasevskij

Foreign affairs journalist
YLE - The Finnish Broadcasting Company

Harri Moisio

Radio journalist

Kalle Kankaanpää

Ambassador for Arctic Affairs
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Marjaana Varmavuori

Acting President
The Union of Journalists in Finland

Timo Miettinen

PhD, Docent (Adjunct Professor)
Centre for European Studies, University of Helsinki

Anna Karismo

Europe Correspondent
YLE – the Finnish Broadcasting Company

Eero Salojärvi

Senior Specialist in Media Policy
Ministry of Transport and Communications

Rilli Lappalainen

Executive Director
Bridge47

Tuomas Pusa

President and Group CEO
Senate Properties

Kaius Niemi

Deputy CEO, MIltton
Chairperson, Reporters without borders Finland

Sami Tenkanen

Managing Director
Bauer Media

Veli-Pekka Luoma

Program Director
Nokia Solutions and Networks

Jan Erola

Publisher
Nordic Defence Review

Else-Mai Kirvesniemi

President of STTK
The Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK)

Inka Hopsu

Member of Parliament
Parliament of Finland

Miikka Korventausta

Project Researcher, Political Science
University of Turku

Pieta Päivänen

President
JEF Finland

Ada Jaakkola

President
JEF Turku

Piia Rekilä

Growth and Employment Director
Akava (the Confederation of Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland)

Jussi-Pekka Rantanen

News Presenter
Yle - The Finnish Broadcasting Company

Janica Ylikarjula

Vice President of International Affairs and Policy
VTT

Lilli Poussa

Specialist, Foresight and Training
Sitra

Iida Turpeinen

Author and Literary Scholar

Jani Erola

Professor and the director of INVEST Research Flagship Center
University of Turku

Johanna Peltoniemi

Senior Researcher
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)

Tuomas Tiilikainen

Commander of the Finnish Navy
Finnish Navy

Kimmo Grönlund

Professor, Political Science
Åbo Akademi University

Eveliina Lyytinen

Forced Migration Researcher, Docent in Geography
Institute of Migration

Risto Isomäki

Author and Environmental Threats Expert

Petteri Vuorimäki

Leading Specialist, Climate and Security
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Pasi Toivanen

SVP Strategic Government & Industry Initiatives
Nokia

Aleksi Grym

Head of Payment Systems Department
Bank of Finland

Pekka Simula

Partner
Innovestor Life Science

Claus Runge

Senior Vice President
Global Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability & Internal Engagement
Bayer AG – Division Pharmaceuticals

Tapani Mylly

Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing and Communications
Business Turku

Jari Eloranta

Professor
University of Helsinki

Meri Obstbaum

Adviser to the Board
Bank of Finland

Juha Kilponen

Head of Monetary Policy and Research Department
Bank of Finland

Kati Skippari

Environmental Director
The City of Tampere

Olli Voutilainen

Senior Specialist
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment

Johanna Särkijärvi

Director of Growth Services
City of Lahti

Hanna Wesslin

Climate Director
City of Helsinki

Huugo Wahalahti

President
Olea Think

Ilkka Räsänen

Environmental Manager
City of Lappeenranta

Paula Pessi

Deputy Secretary General
The Consumers’ Union of Finland

Masa Peura

SVP, everyday banking
OP Pohjola

Simon-Erik Ollus

Executive Vice President, Corporate Customers and Markets
Fortum Corporation

Oskar Wanat

Specialist for Trade and Secondary Raw Materials
Metkom

Milla Harju

Senior Specialist, EUSBSR Policy Area Ship Coordinator
Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom

Tomasz Laskowicz

PhD
University of Gdańsk

Markku Alahäme

Technical Director
Port of Turku Ltd

Stefan Breitenbach

Head of Project Department, Lead Partner of Circular Ports
Port of Hamburg Marketing

Minna Kuusisto

Chief Economist
Danske Bank

Jani Lösönen

Managing Director
Agnico Eagle Finland Oy

Robert Torvelainen

Chief Digital & Tech Policy Advisor
Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)

Aki Pihlaja

Chief Preparedness Specialist
National Emergency Supply Agency

Piia Elo

Mayor of Turku
City of Turku

Arto Satonen

Member of Parliament, Chair of the Employment and Equality Committee
Parliament of Finland

Marketta Henriksson

Head of Secretariat for EU and International Affairs
Ministry of Finance

Joakim Strand

Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering
Prime Minister's Office

Leevi Hietanen

Senior Advisor, Advocacy and External Relations
City of Espoo

Petra Järvimaa

Policy Advisor, Media Relations

Cristina Andersson

Strategic Advisor on Robotics, AI Governance & Cross-Border Cyberhealth

Johanna Kirjavainen

Deputy Mayor
City of Tampere

Martti Sassi

President – Business Area Ferrochrome
Outokumpu

Aleksi Randell

CEO
Confederation of the Finnish Construction industries, CFCI

Anna-Kaisa Itkonen

Spokesperson of the European Commission for energy, climate, transport, environment
European Commission

Juhani Kanpaanpää

EVP, Global Operations
Orion

Kati Kivinen

PhD, art historian and curator
Head of Exhibitions
Helsinki Art Museum (HAM)

Markku Sipi

Nature journalist
YLE - The Finnish Broadcasting Company

Elina Nieminen

Visiolainen
Youth Climate and Energy Vision 2040

Murat Bayram

Director, Non-Ferrous Activities
EMR Group - European Metal Recycling Ltd.

Kirsi Ahlman

Deputy Director
Centrum Balticum Foundation

Tobias Pettersson

Nordic correspondent
Hufvudstadsbladet

Sandra Bergqvist

Member of Parliament
Parliament of Finland

Albert Weckman

Postdoctoral researcher
Åbo Akademi University

Nina Marttila

Chief Human Resource Officer
Meyer Turku Oy

Jari Yli-Tolppa

Vice President, Shipowner Services
Elomatic Oy

Elina Andersson

CEO
Finnish Maritime Industries

Vesa Taatila

Rector and president
Turku University of Applied Sciences

Elina Laurinen

Head of Representation
European Commission Representation in Finland

Markku Korvenranta

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Neste Corporation

Timo Jaatinen

Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland

Nina Ekholm-Wenberg

Country Director, Johnson & Johnson
Chairperson, Pharma Industry Finland

Tarja Enala

Head of Health 360 Program
Business Finland

Sinuhe Wallinheimo

Member of Parliament
Chair of the Grand Committee
Parliament of Finland

Mikko Piispa

Youth Researcher

Olli Salmi

Director EU Affairs
Finnish Minerals Group

Milja Kalliosaari

Government Relations Manager
IQM

Akseli Koskela

Director, Foresight and Preparedness
Technology Industries of Finland

Tomi Kristeri

Research Fellow, Global Security and Governance research programme
Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)

Núria Renom

Senior Vice President, UPM Specialty Materials
UPM-Kymmene

Veli-Matti Uski

Director General, Department of Climate and Environmental Protection
Ministry of the Environment

Ilkka Räsänen

Head of EU Affairs
Sitra

Satu Penttinen

Lead Expert
Business Finland

Jussi Järvinen

Executive Vice President of Protected Mobility business area
Patria

Reima Kuutsa

Director of NATO Affairs of Patria's Strategic Programs

Timo Pesonen

Director-General
The Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, European Commission

Julia Jutila

Business Development Director
Arctial

Isto Mattila

Professor of Practice, University of Turku
Centre for Security Research Finland

Essi Lindberg

Member of Turku City Council

Marjo Nummelin

Chief negotiator for Climate Change, Environment Councellor
Ministry of the Environment

Antti Kaikkonen

Member of Parliament, Chair of Centre Party of Finland
Parliament of Finland

Satu Koskinen

CIO, YTK
Independent Expert Evaluator, European Commission

Merja Ylä-Anttila

President
KULTA ry

Katja Santala

Director, Packaging Development and Technology
Fazer Confectionery

Petri Salminen

Chair
Suomen Yrittäjät

Rosa Meriläinen

Secretary General
KULTA ry

Robert Sundman

Journalist
Suomen kuvalehti

Tuija Karanko

Secretary General
Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries - PIA

Totti Sivonen

Executive Director
European Movement Finland

Mikko Salo

Executive Director
Faktabaari

Jyri Arponen

Maakuntajohtaja
Varsinais-Suomen liitto

Anna Hakala

Head of Communications
Meyer Turku Oy

Anu Ahola

CTO, Meyer Turku
Vice Chair, Finnish Maritime Industry

Christophe Tytgat

Secretary General
Sea Europe

Daniel Sazonov

Mayor
City of Helsinki

Eetu Hakulinen

Chairperson
P-klubi

Emma Leino

Vice Chair
JEF Turku

Esko Poikela

Mayor
City of Rauma

Heikki Haaparanta

Vice President
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences

Jouni Ovaska

Chair of Transport and Communications Committee, Member of Parliament
Parliament of Finland

Jyrki Alkio

Senior Ministerial Adviser
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland

Kari Liuhto

Professor of Intelligence Studies
University of Turku

Laura Saarikoski

Chief Executive
Helsingin Sanomat Foundation

Magnus Gustafsson

Head of Research
Åbo Akademi

Mika Laurilehto

Executive Vice President
Rauma Marine Constructions Oy

Mika Nieminen

President and CEO
Rauma Marine Constructions Oy

Mikko Myllymäki

Director of Public Affairs
Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council

Minna Helle

Director General
Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)

Rami Nieminen

Editor-in-Chief
Turun Sanomat

Tom Degerman

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Meyer Turku

Tuuli-Maaria Aalto

EU-politiikkayksikön päällikkö
Valtioneuvoston kanslia

Ville Valkonen

Member of Parliament
Parliament of Finland

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