1. Tell us briefly about yourself
By education, I hold a doctorate in automation technology. In addition, I have completed, among other things, the Certified Board Member (HHJ) programme and various other courses/degrees.
I have built my career in both large international companies and small and medium-sized enterprises. I have also been involved in founding a few companies of my own, so entrepreneurship is familiar to me. I have gained international experience from working in, among other countries, the Netherlands, the United States, Sweden and Germany. Today, I work as a Senior Adviser at an engineering consultancy called Coresbond Oy. I also share my expertise as a member of Hallituspartnerit ry and Business Mentors Pirkanmaa.
I have been a member of TEK since my very first year of studies. I am now beginning my sixth term as a Council representative at TEK. Previously, I also served one term as a deputy member of the Board. During the term now coming to an end, I have served as Chair of the Board since the previous Chair, Mari-Leena Talvitie, became Minister of Science and Culture. I have also been a member of TEK’s Entrepreneurship Committee for several terms.
2. In what direction would you like to take TEK?
I want to develop TEK for the benefit of its members so that TEK offers services that members feel are relevant to them and that make them want to belong to our organisation. TEK is an organisation owned by its members and always works in their best interests. At the same time, I would also like to see TEK as an important influencer in our society.
3. What are the three most important priorities in TEK’s activities for you personally?
- Improving representativeness so that as many people as possible in our field who meet the membership criteria belong to TEK.
- Developing the appeal of TEK’s services so that our membership grows and exceeds the milestone of 100,000 members.
- Increasing the significance of TEK’s societal impact and, in connection with this, ensuring that our national expertise is internationally competitive.
4. What is going well at TEK at the moment? What could be improved?
TEK is a versatile, financially stable and trustworthy association that more than 85,000 members want to belong to. According to external studies, TEK’s reputation is very strong. TEK’s services are widely used by our members. Representativeness among professionals in our field could, of course, be even better. There are still challenges in internationalisation.
5. What kind of society will we be operating in five years from now, and what will TEK’s role be in it?
Predicting the future is always difficult, but in the current global situation it is almost impossible. I hope that we will be able to live in a stable society and an independent state. And I hope that TEK will have a significant role as a representative and advocate for our field, as well as a societal influencer.
6. Describe in three words what kind of Chair you would be.
Attentive, professional and fair.
7. Why should every member follow the constitutive meeting on Friday, 11 September?
By following the constitutive meeting, every member gets a glimpse of how our organisation will be led over the next three years, and by whom.
8. Many new student members are currently joining TEK. What message would you like to send to students who are now starting their studies?
It is worth joining TEK right at the beginning of your studies, because: TEK looks after your interests, offers broad-based training at all stages of life, helps you network with people in the field, and supports you from the start of your studies throughout your entire career — and even after that. TEK is a community for all of us in the field — together, we are TEK!
All TEK Council groups were informed of the opportunity to have a candidate for Chair introduced, if they announced their candidate by 21 August. It is also possible to stand as a candidate for Chair during the organisational meeting.