Dr. Heini Utunen, Regional Mayor, South Savo Regional Council
Dr Heini Utunen is the Regional Mayor of the South Savo Region. She has 17 years of international background in various United Nations and European Union functions, including in crisis management, natural resources sustainability and programming. Prior the UN functions in Vietnam and Switzerland she functioned as the Communication Officer of the Minister of Social Services and Welfare in Finland and in various EU-funded regional development related employments. Mrs Utunen holds a PhD in Information Sciences from Tampere University and completed a Master School on Rural Studies in Mikkeli, Finland. Mrs Utunen is part of the Finnish military reserve force.
Stephen Mckenna, Director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Sales, Pipistrel
Steve Mckenna serves as the Director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Sales for Pipistrel Aircraft, a leading manufacturer of sustainably powered light aircraft and gliders. Pipistrel is renowned for pioneering the Velis Electro, the world’s first and only EASA certified electric aircraft in the world. Following Textron Inc.’s acquisition of Pipistrel in 2022, a new business segment, Textron eAviation, was established which Pipistrel is now part of. Steve is responsible for all EMEA product sales, special missions and business development
activities at Pipistrel. With over 24 years of aviation experience, Steve previously held roles at Textron Aviation, including regional sales director covering piston, turboprop and citation products where he developed strategic sales across many regions. Passionate about aviation, Steve holds an FAA-certified commercial pilots license and was an authorized demonstration pilot at Textron Aviation for piston aircraft. He started his career in 2000 when he joined CSE Aviation as an aircraft maintenance technician where he developed an interest in sales, joining CSE Aircraft Sales in 2005 as a sales executive for Cessna pistons
and Cessna Caravans for the UK. Steve holds a BA (Honors) Business Management degree from the Open University and studied aircraft maintenance at Northbrook Aviation College.
Tomi Oravasaari, Director of Research Unit, Xamk – South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences
Tomi Oravasaari is the director of the future aviation focused NELI research unit at the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk). Oravasaari has a Master of Theology degree, has completed commercial pilot training and drone pilot qualifications, and is currently working his Master’s degree in Sustainable Aviation Business at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. He is also the chairman of the Helsinki Electric Aviation Association.
Timo Kasurinen, Project Manager, Special research, Helsinki Electric Aviation Association
Timo Kasurinen received his M.S. (1989) in electrical and electronics engineering from Helsinki University of Technology. He is currently working on projects related to electrical aviation and drone operations in Oulu University of Applied Sciences. He has almost 40 years of experience in various fields of electrical and software engineering. He has been involved in aviation for the past 20 years and he is founding member of Helsinki Electric Aviation Association.
Janne Kinnunen, Mayor, City of Saint Michel
Janne Kinnunen is a seasoned municipal leader and reservist officer with a strong background in civil administration and strategic governance. He holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Jyväskylä and a Master of Laws from the University of Lapland. Since beginning his public administration career in 2004 as mayor of Taivalkoski, Kinnunen has held leadership positions in several Finnish municipalities, including Saarijärvi and Viitasaari. He currently serves as the mayor of Mikkeli. His experience includes strategic planning, crisis management, and participation in national-level steering groups, demonstrating a mission-oriented and results-driven leadership style. In addition to his civilian duties, Kinnunen is a First Lieutenant in the Finnish Defence Forces Reserve, specialized in reconnaissance.
Jesse Tolvanen, Safety Manager, Saimaan Drone Oy
Jesse Tolvanen is an experienced UAV pilot, Junior Researcher at LUT-University and an active reservist. In his professional career at LUT he has contributed to the EU’s harmonized drone standardisation through CEN/TC 471/WG1 “Unmanned Aircraft Systems”. He is also finishing his PhD research about the autonomous UAV standardisation and regulation. He is also the Safety Manager and UAV pilot at Saimaan Drone Oy, a nonprofit company which is training reservists and operating UAVs with various authorities in Finland in Search and Rescue type operations.
Raphael Giesecke, Head of Sales, Nordics, Elektra Solar GmbH
Dr. Raphael Giesecke offers the Elektra Trainer UL aircraft in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Iceland. Raphael has accumulated 33 years of experience in aeronautics, electric mobility and electric charging. His career started in Airbus, where he worked on the A380 structure, co-authored the Develop New Aircraft business process, and owned the Develop New Cabin & Cargo business process. In Finland, he focused on the e-mobility innovation ecosystem and set up his own e-aviation consulting company AirtaXYZ™ in 2020. (Photo by Timo Kari).
Jean-Baptiste Manchette, Head of Manage Energy & Propulsion of Tomorrow, Research & Technology, Airbus
Since 2022, Jean-Baptiste Manchette is Head of Manage Energy & Propulsion of Tomorrow within Airbus R&T. In this R&T role, Jean-Baptiste drives propulsion and electrical technology innovation for future aircraft supporting the Airbus ambition on sustainability and decarbonization. Prior to this, he managed the programme to develop hydrogen technologies. Joining Airbus in 2002, Jean-Baptiste mainly worked during program development of A380, A350XWB and Beluga XL. Along these programs, he has held roles within Chief Engineering, Engineering and Program Management. Jean-Baptiste holds a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard, and Diploma of Higher Specialized Studies in Industrial Design and Innovation Management from Faculty of Economics and Management of Strasbourg.
Organisers:
Janne Ropponen, Ph.D., CEO, MAF Finland
Dr. Janne Ropponen is the Chief Executive Officer at MAF Finland. MAF Finland sends aviation staff and funding for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) operations and flights in developing countries in areas where travelling otherwise is difficult or insecure. These flights respond to the needs of the world’s most vulnerable people who often suffer from the effects of the climate change.
Dr. Ropponen has graduated from the University of Jyväskylä with business administration and information technology as his majors. His doctoral thesis focused on software risk management in IT projects. Before his flight career he served as a Senior Process Development Engineer at Nokia Telecommunications in the software production of Nokia mobile networks.
Janne Ropponen also holds current air transport pilot license and flies Airbus 320 aircraft with Finland’s national flag carrier airline Finnair. Previously, he has also served as a MAF pilot in Uganda and Mongolia where he lived together with his wife and four children 7 years. Practical and effective help delivered to the most needy people by MAF flights is still motivating him as he continues to work in the background to raise funds and awareness for these flights in the developing countries. Fighting climate change is also close to his heart and he gladly serves as the chairman of the 6th International Ecological and Electric Aviation Conference in Finland. He enjoys outing and fishing in the fresh water lakes of Finland.
Janne Vasama, Helsinki Electric Aviation Association
Janne Vasama is Founding member and chairman of Helsinki Electric Aviation Association. The aim of the Helsinki Electric Aviation Association is to build an electric aviation ecosystem around Pipistrel Alpha Electro electric plane to support the development of electric aviation in Finland. New ecosystem will support training, research, and development.
Janne Vasama is also member of Finnish Aeronautical Association board, chairman of The board of Finnish Air Sports Institute and advisory board member of LYGG, the private aircraft platform for short-haul travel. Janne has been working in several roles in electronics components business and has been an entrepreneur from 2005. Janne started flying 1978 with gliders and has license for several difference airplane categories.
