Speakers and panelists
Kai Mykkänen
Minister of Climate and the Environment
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- Director of the Confederation of Finnish Industries 2013-2015
- Special Ministerial Adviser at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment 2011-2013
- Economist at East office of Finnish Industries Oy 2009-2011
- Senior Consultant at Bearing Point Finland Oy 2008-2009
- Financial Manager at Sampo Pankki 2006-2008
Mervi Airaksinen
Managing Director, Microsoft Oy
Mervi Airaksinen (MSc Econ.) serves as the Managing Director for Microsoft Finland. Prior to joining Microsoft, she held the position of Managing Director at IBM. Mervi has also held leadership roles in Finland and the Baltics for Cisco Systems. With a strong background in ICT, she has guided leading companies on their growth paths and is passionate about the positive impact technology can have on our daily lives. Mervi’s leadership at Microsoft Finland includes overseeing the development of advanced, nonpolluting datacenters that align with the nation’s sustainability goals. Mervi actively contributes as a board member to Vaasa University, the National Emergency Supply Agency, and Ficom ry. These organizations contribute to supporting Finnish society, education, and critical safety matters, as well as the overall well-being of Finland.
Edu Albuquerque
Data Center Portfolio Manager, Energy and Location Strategy, Google
Eduardo is a Portfolio Manager at Google leading Energy and Location Strategy. He is responsible for land procurement, permitting and the development of Google’s Data Center offsite infrastructure in Finland. An architect and urban planner, with 12 years of experience in Data Center business and infrastructure development, he joined Google in 2019, after a successful tenure as an Associate Director at CBRE, where he led projects across LATAM and EMEA for colocation providers and hyperscalers.
Dr. Eren Çam
Electricity Analyst, International Energy Agency (IEA)
Electricity Analyst, Gas, Coal and Power Markets Division
Project Manager, Electricity Report Series
Directorate of Energy Markets and Security
International Energy Agency (IEA)
In November 2022, Dr. Eren Çam was appointed Electricity Analyst in the Gas, Coal and Power Markets Division at the International Energy Agency (IEA) and is the project manager and lead author of the IEA’s Electricity Report series.
Prior to joining the IEA, Eren was Manager and Head of Energy Commodities at the Institute of Energy Economics (EWI) at the University of Cologne where he was responsible for leading a team of researchers and the management of consulting projects in energy markets for a wide range of stakeholders ranging from ministries, private sector and industry associations. Eren holds a PhD in energy economics from the University of Cologne and continues his teaching
activities there in the field of energy economics. He also has a MSc in Energy Science and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering.
Milla Keller
Head of Tech & Regulatory Legal, Terveystalo
Milla is one of the leading experts in Finland when it comes to understanding regulation in the digital age. She is currently working in the healthcare sector at Terveystalo as Head of Tech & Regulatory Legal, where she is responsible for legal issues related to privacy and data protection, AI and responsible use of data. Previously Milla has worked in the telco industry at Telia, and at an international law firm. Milla has written so far two books around the topics of privacy, AI and other tech-related regulations. She is also a host of the weekly podcast show PrivacyPod and is quoted regularly in the media in matters related to digital rights.
Drew Turner
Director of Global Sector Coupling, Danfoss
Drew Turner is currently Director of Global Sector Coupling at Danfoss, focused primarily on the electrification of heating and heat recovery / heat pump systems in symbiosis heating and cooling applications. He has been in the HVAC industry for twenty-six years and with Danfoss for the last nine, holding a variety of roles over the career, including Product Support, Marketing Manager, Product Planning Manager and Business Development / Market Research Director, in addition to the current position. He is a Certified Energy Manager, current chair of the ASHRAE centrifugal compressor and chiller committee and a contributing member of various heat pump and district energy organizations. He has published several papers and trade journal articles. He holds a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering from Oklahoma State and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Colorado.
Ulla Heinonen
Director of Green Growth, the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)
Ulla Heinonen is the Director of Green Growth at the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) and a member of the Executive Board. She has long experience in business management, digitalisation, education and consulting. Sustainable development and competence and business development have been key themes in her career. After a career in research, Heinonen has worked as a manager in the ICT sector at CGI and for the last few years at Gaia Consulting, a sustainable business consultancy.
Mike Hughes
Zone President Nordics and Baltics, Schneider Electric
Mike Hughes is a distinguished leader at Schneider Electric, where he has held several key positions, internationally, for over 20 years. In 2023, he took on the role of leading the company’s rapidly growing business across the Nordics and Baltics.
Before his current role, Mike held various commercial leadership positions at Schneider Electric, such as leading the business in the UK & Ireland, building the global segments organization, and spending several years in China as the leader of the Industrial Automation Business Unit.
Throughout his career, Mike has been a prominent voice in the new energy landscape, energy efficiency, cybersecurity, the digital revolution, and the drive towards net-zero emissions conversations. He has emphasized the importance of smart technology and sustainable practices within the industry and discussed how digital transformation and increased connectivity bring both benefits and challenges to the energy sector. During his time in the UK, Mike was also involved in expanding manufacturing facilities to support the transition to renewable energy, highlighting the potential for enhancing competencies and production capabilities within the country.
Mike originates from Ireland, enjoys history and travels, and speaks English, German, French and Chinese with various levels of proficiency. He currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden.
Kalle Koski
Operations Director, Equinix Finland Oy
Kalle Koski is a known leader in the Finnish data center industry, with over 20 years of experience in critical facility infrastructure and the IT sector. As Operations Director at Equinix, a leading digital platform company, Kalle is deeply committed to sustainability, which has been a central focus throughout his career. His team developed the first data center in Helsinki to reutilize the heat recovery in 2009. Kalle’s expertise is in building and leading highly talented teams to manage sustainable critical facilities. A client focused and result oriented leader, his talented team at Equinix ensures the delivery of resilient and environmentally responsible data center services to global users of digital services.
Matti Lajunen
Partner, Hannes Snellman
Matti Lajunen (LL.M, MSc Econ) is a partner with Hannes Snellman Attorneys Ltd. As a part of Hannes Snellman’s 40 strong Real Assets Team Matti advises clients on all matters relating to real estate. Prior to joining Hannes Snellman Matti was a partner co-heading the real estate practice at another major Finnish law firm. In addition, Matti has in-house experience from KONE Corporation, and he has worked for a top-tier law firm in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In the past years Matti has advised multiple data center developers and operators acting as the client’s key contact person coordinating the multi-faceted aspects of data center developments ranging from negotiations with municipalities and private landowners to discussions with permitting authorities and other stakeholders as well as advice on electricity market regulation, heat offtake agreements and PPAs.
Joonas Terhivuo
CEO, Hetzner Finland Oy
Joonas Terhivuo is currently serving as the CEO of Hetzner Finland Oy, part of the Hetzner group. With hundreds of thousands of servers in operation, Hetzner is one of the largest data center operators in Europe.
Hetzner Finland operates Hetzner’s Data Center Park Helsinki in Finland.
Joonas has several years of work experience in the data center industry. He also serves as the Chairman of the Data Center Division of the National Emergency Supply Agency.
Taika Tamminen
Business Consultant & Cloud Architect, CGI
Taika Tamminen is a seasoned Cloud Architect and Business Consultant with over 20 years of experience, currently working in the insurance sector. While deeply rooted in technology, Taika brings a pragmatic, business-driven perspective to the ethical and regulatory challenges of AI. Passionate about how AI can be leveraged responsibly, she’s focused on transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI design and implementation.
Having engaged in critical discussions around AI bias and the evolving regulatory landscape, including the EU AI Act, Taika advocates for solutions that balance ethical considerations with real-world business needs. She believes that ethical AI isn’t just a regulatory necessity but a competitive advantage for forward-thinking companies.
Taika is dedicated to ensuring that AI fosters innovation while remaining transparent and sustainable. With a unique view on AI ethics from both a business and technical standpoint, she is committed to exploring how companies can harness AI to benefit society and business alike.
Anna Savonen
Doctor of Theology (social ethics), CoHumans
Anna Savonen (PhD) is an ethicist and CEO. She is a pioneer in organizational and business ethics both as a researcher and developer. Savonen received her doctorate in theology in 2022 in social ethics. Since 2019, she has been leading a research-based consultancy CoHumans. Savonen has also become one of Finland’s leading experts in ethics of AI. She helps both companies and public sector organizations to build ethical capacity to support the responsible use of AI.
Karoliina Partanen
Director AI Finland, Technology Industries of Finland
Karoliina Partanen is the innovative and energetic leader of AI Finland, an artificial intelligence network. Karoliina’s goal is to elevate Finland to the forefront of global AI development by accelerating the application and development of AI in Finnish organizations. AI Finland aims to help every organization find and implement their own AI solutions that provide competitive advantage. Previously, Karoliina has worked at Nokia, management consulting firms, and at Sulava, a leading AI transformation consulting company.
Annina Alasaari
Senior Advisor, Finnish Energy
Annina Alasaari works as a Senior Advisor at Finnish Energy, which represents companies that produce, transmit and sell electricity, district heat and gas. The goal of Finnish Energy is climate-neutral Finland. Annina Alasaari works with wind power and nuclear energy topics. Previously she has worked as an EU Advisor at Finnish Energy’s Brussels office.
Janne Liuko
Nuclear Program Manager, Helen
Janne Liuko is an accomplished professional in the nuclear industry, dedicated to advancing nuclear power for the benefit of our planet. With over a decade of experience in challenging leadership roles, including significant tenure in the management team of Fennovoima and more recently as an advisor for new build projects in the Nordics, Janne brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to any nuclear project. His career spans also regulatory, utility, and supplier roles, providing him with diverse perspectives that he effectively utilizes to drive progress.
Janne Liuko holds both technical and economic degrees, allowing him to strike a balance between the different viewpoints and lead organizations with a focus on essentials. His commitment to innovation and excellence ensures that he remains at the forefront of the nuclear industry, pushing for advancements that promote sustainability.
Antonio Calò
PhD, University Lecturer, University of Oulu
Antonio Calò, PhD (Physics) MSc (Technology), is a university lecturer and senior researcher at the Water, Energy and Environmental Research Unit at the Faculty of Technology of the University of Oulu. His research and educational work are dedicated to smart and distributed energy systems, especially within the context of the northern environmental and climatic conditions. Taking full advantage of his multidisciplinary background, his current research interests focus on the role nuclear energy could play within a sustainable energy system, in relation to the potential socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the so-called fourth generation nuclear reactors (e.g. SMRs).
Jenny-Li Holmström
Director & Head of ESG, Taaleri Energia
Jenny-Li started at Taaleri in 2014. She is the Head of Legal Affairs at Taaleri Energia. She has been in charge of risk management and has worked as a project manager in the establishment of several private equity funds. Jenny-Li has extensive experience in the Finnish wind energy sector, including licensing and financing, corporate governance, structuring and transactions. She is Vice President of the Finnish Wind Energy Association and has been involved since 2013 in promoting legislation and practices in the wind energy sector. Prior to joining Taaler, he worked as a lawyer in the environmental team of HPP Attorneys Ltd.
David McAuley
CEO, Bitpower Ireland
David is a specialist in infrastructure for data centres. He established Bitpower in 2017. Bitpower offers insights and services to clients in the data industry. David’s extensive background in energy technology and sustainability with Irish and EU policymakers provides a unique position from which to advise data centre developers and operators. David previously worked with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.