Niina Honkasalo, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Transport and Communications
Ministerial Advisor Niina Honkasalo is responsible for policies to reduce GHG emissions from aviation and maritime transport in the Climate and Environment Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Niina has previously worked on climate, energy and transport policy and legislation in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Economy and the Employment and the energy sector in Helsinki and Brussels. Niina holds a MSc Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Tampere and a MSc Degree in Environmental Management and Policy from the University of Lund.
Dr. Petri Mononen, Research Team leader and Principal Scientist, VTT Research
Dr. Petri Mononen is a Research Team leader and Principal Scientist at VTT and has a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management. His current activity mostly covers unmanned aviation and innovative air mobility. He is leading the Innovative Air Mobility team and the Unmanned Aviation Excellence Node at VTT, consisting of dozens of VTT experts involved in unmanned and electric aviation related research. He is currently coordinating three major scale research initiatives in unmanned aviation, namely AiRMOUR, Drolo and Drolo II. He holds several positions in the SESAR 3 JU Single European Skies Air Traffic Management Joint Undertaking 2021-2030, namely member of SESAR JU Program Committee, SESAR JU Delivery Management Committee, and SESAR JU Governing Board (vice). He is also a member of JARUS ISB – Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems Industry Stakeholder Group.
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.
Riku Aho, Vice President, Strategy, Finnair
Riku Aho is a sourcing professional who joined Finnair in 2011 and acts currently as VP Strategy and Managing Director of Finnair Aircraft Finance Oy. In this role Riku leads the creation of Finnair’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) strategy. In his previous role in Fleet Management Riku looked after aircraft trading, leasing and asset management. During this time he has engaged in simplifying, modernizing and restructuring Finnair’s fleet by the phase-out of several aircraft fleets including MD11s, B757s, A340s and E170s, and introduction of the A321 sharklet and A350. Riku has also overseen Finnair’s aircraft financing transactions including sale and leaseback and ECA financing. He has a background in engineering and physics and has held various positions in sourcing and quality management in Australia and Finland. Riku’s interests lie in sustainability, energy transition, fleet planning, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management and future technologies enabling zero emission flight. Riku holds an M.Sc (Eng) degree from Tampere University of Technology.
Dr. Karim Mokaddem, Airbus Group Hybrid Electric Strategy and Fast Track Electrification Leader
Karim Mokaddem is Airbus Group Hybrid Electric Strategy and Fast Track Electrification Leader. In this role, he is responsible for establishing and overseeing Airbus’ electrification technology roadmap and strategy, which is mainly focused on all-electric and hybrid-electric architectures for propulsive and non-propulsive use.
Karim has held a variety of engineering, project leadership and management positions since starting his career in 1996. During his 14-year tenure at PSA Peugeot Citroen, he held several high-level roles, including Executive Chief Engineer of Technoboost, a joint-venture between PSA Peugeot Citroen and the French government.
In 2014, he was named General Manager of AALPS Capital, an asset management company in low-carbon, hydrogen and fuel cell mobility. Prior to joining Airbus in 2020, he was Chief Technology Officer of Balyo, a company that develops, markets and instals fully autonomous material-handling robots.
Karim holds a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering, a PhD in Physics, and an MBA from London Business School. He is the author and co-author of several technical papers and patents, and has been internationally awarded for his work in mobility innovation.
Anselm Eisentraut, Head of Market Intelligence & Pricing, Neste Aviation
Anselm Eisentraut joined Neste in 2015 and has been working in different market intelligence roles, most recently in Neste’s corporate strategy team. Since February 2022 he is Head of SAF Market Intelligence & Pricing in Neste’s Renewable Products business unit.
Prior to joining Neste, Anselm spent 6 years in different analyst roles at the International Energy Agency in Paris, focusing on biofuels and renewable heat a.o.. He holds a MSc in landscape Ecology from the University of Muenster.
While Anselm is closely following developments in the renewable fuel markets, he is keeping his own fuel consumption low by moving around Helsinki on his bicycle, all year round.
Jussi Leponiemi, Key Account Director for the ICT sector at BusinessOulu, City of Oulu
Jussi Leponiemi serves as the Key Account Director for the ICT sector at BusinessOulu, where he plays a central role in advancing the industrial landscape of the Oulu region. In this capacity, he develops collaboration with a diverse range of corporate clients, ranging from small enterprises to large corporations. Jussi is deeply involved in steering company-specific projects with a keen focus on high-tech domains, many building on the theme of smart and connected cities. One focus of his professional pursuits is the cultivation of a stakeholder network, aimed at facilitating innovative advancements and piloting transformative projects at the community level. Prior to his current role at BusinessOulu, he contributed to the field of business development and knowledge enhancement within the administration.
Juhani Pakari, CEO & Accountable Manager, Scanwings
Juhani Pakari has long and active history in Finnish commercial aviation, over 36 years. He was founding member and Managing Director of Air Botnia (established 27.12.1987), company was later known as Blue1. Juhani was also founding member and CEO of Finnish Commuter Airlines until late 2011 when Finnair and Flybe bought the company. Now airline is known as Nordic Regional Airlines, Norra. He has also been chairman in several companies in aviation, ea. Finnish Aircraft Maintenance, Inter Handling Oy and Seinäjoen Lentoasema Oy. Today he is the CEO and the Accountable Manager of Scanwings Oy, Executive Business Flight operator with very modern fleet of 7 aircraft. Juhani has also been pilot since 1984 and he holds fixed wing ATPL license and PPL helicopter license.
Suell Mües, CTO, EVIA AERO
Suell Mües is the CTO of EVIA AERO – a Bremen, Germany based startup that strives to be the first 100% sustainable European regional airline. He has an aerospace engineering degree for ecofriendly aircraft design and aircraft systems from the University of Stuttgart. In his current role he leads EVIA’s engineering efforts in creating an aircraft charging and hydrogen re-fueling infrastructure for multiple airports across Europe while coordinating with airframers to ensure compatibility with tomorrow’s aircraft. Prior to his engagement at EVIA AERO he worked on Airbus system engineering projects and led a hydrogen electric aircraft research project at one of Europe’s largest engineering service providers.
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, Chairman of 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.
