Senior Adviser on • Global Issues• Diplomacy• Policy and Strategy• Media & Communications• Stakeholder Engagement• Marketing and Campaigning• Change Management• Project managementMy strengths are:- Deep understanding of different global cultures, policies and realities.- An innovative, agile and energizing approach.- Fast and creative problem solver adding value to any given organization.- An inspiring team member and highly… Show more Senior Adviser on • Global Issues• Diplomacy• Policy and Strategy• Media & Communications• Stakeholder Engagement• Marketing and Campaigning• Change Management• Project managementMy strengths are:- Deep understanding of different global cultures, policies and realities.- An innovative, agile and energizing approach.- Fast and creative problem solver adding value to any given organization.- An inspiring team member and highly efficient as an individual.- Both deep and wide intellectual capacity with high ranking results in all actions.- Hard-working and flexible, a doer and creator inspired by challenges.- Capacity to network and interact from grassroots to the highest ranks of society. Show less

Strategic consulting in ethical international trade ie. trade with a conscience. We provide advise and hands-on assistance in export and international marketing, including business plan and sales strategy development.At Scandic Living Ltd we aim at supporting companies with finding and conquering new markets with an ethical approach. We believe in promoting fair and just trade with a conscience, and one of our key support areas is to assist companies in achieving a true and streamlined… Show more Strategic consulting in ethical international trade ie. trade with a conscience. We provide advise and hands-on assistance in export and international marketing, including business plan and sales strategy development.At Scandic Living Ltd we aim at supporting companies with finding and conquering new markets with an ethical approach. We believe in promoting fair and just trade with a conscience, and one of our key support areas is to assist companies in achieving a true and streamlined ethical approach in each aspect of their business.Scandic Living Ltd stems from the idea of a Nordic Universal Welfare State philosophy, where each citizen is equal and where high ethics, fairness and social cohesion are of utmost importance. Hence we strive for a just corporate culture and just ways of conducting business - with success! Show less

I am the creator and owner of Maison du Hammam. We are an ethically focussed company providing customers with organic hammam bath towels, handwoven under fair working conditions. Our mission is to promote peaceful dialogue between the East and the West as well as to generate revenue to support local, independent, empowering projects both at home and abroad.Maison du Hammam stemmed from the realisation that it has become ever more challenging for small, local actors to receive funding… Show more I am the creator and owner of Maison du Hammam. We are an ethically focussed company providing customers with organic hammam bath towels, handwoven under fair working conditions. Our mission is to promote peaceful dialogue between the East and the West as well as to generate revenue to support local, independent, empowering projects both at home and abroad.Maison du Hammam stemmed from the realisation that it has become ever more challenging for small, local actors to receive funding for good causes and projects. Hence new approaches are needed to contribute. Having worked for over 20 years with development issues, non-profit organisations and in the volunteering sector, both as an activist and in the leadership & management, I wanted to create Maison du Hammam to carve a path in that field.Maison du Hammam supplies genuine, Turkish hammam bath towels and gear, aimed to the ecologically and ethically aware customers, who want to engage in making the World a more just and equal place for us all. Our towels are traditionally woven with wooden looms of organic thread by local artisans, in the same way they have been woven ever since the Byzantine era, in the Bursa region of Turkey.We have adopted an ethical approach in each aspect of our business, and we hope to inspire other companies to embrace a thoroughly ethically streamlined path from the beginning to the end, and beyond: supporting the development and empowerment of people in need. This may, at its best, create a positive domino-effect where the currently oppressed and underprivileged can take control of their own lives, and start changing the world as well as their own world.At Maison du Hammam we believe in equality, high ethical standards, rational consumption without overspending resources and raw materials, mutual understanding between cultures, an active approach in development issues and the empowerment of consumers as well as the non-profit organisations involved. Show less

I functioned as the leadership's Senior Adviser on policy issues, organisational development, media & communications and stakeholder engagement at the Transport Workers' Union AKT ry in Finland. My role included tasks such as;- Drafting the Union's policy goals for the Finnish Government, the European Union decision making bodies and for other stakeholders. Drafting the Union's political manifesto for national elections.- Drafting speeches, speaking notes, memos, analyses… Show more I functioned as the leadership's Senior Adviser on policy issues, organisational development, media & communications and stakeholder engagement at the Transport Workers' Union AKT ry in Finland. My role included tasks such as;- Drafting the Union's policy goals for the Finnish Government, the European Union decision making bodies and for other stakeholders. Drafting the Union's political manifesto for national elections.- Drafting speeches, speaking notes, memos, analyses and strategies for the leadership. Preparing press releases, newspaper columns and other inputs for them. Following the media, social media and current affairs at home and abroad for the leadership.- Supporting the leadership in Media and stakeholder engagement, and in maintaining and creating new networks.- Advising the leadership on all international policy issues and activities of the Union.- Substituting the President in meetings and events when appointed, and engaging with the Union’s stakeholders, including senior level Government representatives and the Media.- Drafting improved ways of renewing the Union and its organisation, and on empowering and recruiting membership. Planning strategies and campaigns: on public's awareness on the Union's causes.- Educating and drawing election campaign plans for the union leadership and members participating in local and national elections.- Providing the Membership with campaign training in profiling, approaching people and giving speeches, writing one’s own texts, mobilising volunteers, embracing the media and social media as well as on how to handle the life-cycle and corner stones of a successful campaign. Show less

As a Senior Adviser I advised: - The Chief Whip in the Finnish Parliament- The Finnish Minister of Finance and the Deputy Prime Minister- The Minister of Education- The Social Democratic Group of Cabinet Ministers- The SDP Group and its Members in the ParliamentDuring the years my tasks were of those of any senior aide’s in any given country. Possessing strong expertise on the EU and its institutions, international affairs, security and foreign policy… Show more As a Senior Adviser I advised: - The Chief Whip in the Finnish Parliament- The Finnish Minister of Finance and the Deputy Prime Minister- The Minister of Education- The Social Democratic Group of Cabinet Ministers- The SDP Group and its Members in the ParliamentDuring the years my tasks were of those of any senior aide’s in any given country. Possessing strong expertise on the EU and its institutions, international affairs, security and foreign policy, strategy, conflict resolution and international institutions such as the UN, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and Neighbourhood Policy with Russia, I was first invited to work as the Special Adviser of the Chief Whip on those matters, as well as advising on Finance and Budget concerning Finland’s membership to the European Union and the international institutions. Subsequently I worked as a general senior political and strategic adviser within the SDP and its affiliates in Finland on policy fields comprising of but not limited to:Education, Social Policy, Migration and Social Cohesion, Inter-Cultural Dialogue, the special challenges of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Community Planning with Environment and Sustainability, Participation and Citizenship, Media Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Policy Campaigning and Awareness Raising, Election Campaigning at both local and national levels, Membership Recruitment and Empowering Current Membership.Amongst other things, I drafted speeches, speaking notes, columns, policy papers, memorandums, law-proposals and critiques on laws, parliamentary motions, press releases, social media inputs, strategies and analyses, coached my superiors for media encounters, managed their public image, enhanced their desired political profile, kept them up-to-date on all relevant matters, and managed their election campaigns with success. Show less

Elected member of the Vantaa Metropolitan City Council. The Vantaa City Council is the highest decision-making body of the Metropolitan City of Vantaa in Finland. The council is responsible for deciding the city’s strategy, operations and finances.-Having only recently moved to the city and as a first-time runner in the city's local municipal elections, with a foreign name, I knew I had to campaign hard to get elected. The campaign planning and execution with a next to nothing budget… Show more Elected member of the Vantaa Metropolitan City Council. The Vantaa City Council is the highest decision-making body of the Metropolitan City of Vantaa in Finland. The council is responsible for deciding the city’s strategy, operations and finances.-Having only recently moved to the city and as a first-time runner in the city's local municipal elections, with a foreign name, I knew I had to campaign hard to get elected. The campaign planning and execution with a next to nothing budget proved a success, as I received the 4th highest number of votes in the elections among Vantaa’s over 500 local candidates. Hence I became the first migrant background City Councillor in the City of Vantaa.Vantaa is a surrounding suburban city to Helsinki, the capital of the country. The population of Vantaa has traditionally been consisting of blue-collar workers to a large extent, and is also densely populated by migrants and asylum seekers. Low levels of education, unemployment, substance abuse, racism and economic deprivation are painfully present in Vantaa and as a City Councillor I contributed to tackling the social issues of the city's less well-off communities, as well as to promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding. Show less

As a Member of the City Planning Committee I was appointed by the City Council for a term of four years. At the Metropolitan City of Vantaa’s City Planning Committee we prepared the city’s actions on planning, housing, real estate, roads, rails and public transport, energy and water, environment and sustainability.As an elected City Councillor myself and the first migrant background member to the Planning Committee, I worked to agitate for higher volumes and better quality social… Show more As a Member of the City Planning Committee I was appointed by the City Council for a term of four years. At the Metropolitan City of Vantaa’s City Planning Committee we prepared the city’s actions on planning, housing, real estate, roads, rails and public transport, energy and water, environment and sustainability.As an elected City Councillor myself and the first migrant background member to the Planning Committee, I worked to agitate for higher volumes and better quality social housing, for mixed housing with no pockets of deprivation or seclusion, the renovation of council housing estates, for making the local communities' voice heard in decision making, and for raising local communities' concerns to the Committee's attention. I also campaigned for greener housing, life-cycle approach and recycling.At the Planning Committee we directed and supervised the activities of the City Planning Department consisting of civil servants. Among other things, the Committee defined the objectives for the Department’s operations for each year and monitored their attainment. We approved the plans concerning land use and traffic, during a period when grand scale enlargement of the city’s housing areas and public transport were on the agenda (Marja-rata and Kivistö). Show less

As an elected member of the City Council as well as the first migrant background member of the City Council, I was appointed for chairing the Vantaa Metropolitan City's Advisory Board of Ethnic and Multicultural Relations. The Board was responsible for - monitoring the current state of affairs in the city from the perspective of migrant and ethnic minority background residents in Vantaa.- presenting motions on matters concerning migrant and ethnic minority background residents. -… Show more As an elected member of the City Council as well as the first migrant background member of the City Council, I was appointed for chairing the Vantaa Metropolitan City's Advisory Board of Ethnic and Multicultural Relations. The Board was responsible for - monitoring the current state of affairs in the city from the perspective of migrant and ethnic minority background residents in Vantaa.- presenting motions on matters concerning migrant and ethnic minority background residents. - promoting dialogue and mutual activities between the ethnic Finnish majority of residents and the migrant and ethnic background minorities.At the Advisory Board we also prepared a multicultural and integration strategy for the Metropolitan City of Vantaa. The strategy was utilised by the Parliament of Finland as a best-practice example for integration legislation of Finland.The advisory board membership consisted of representatives of political parties, ethnic minority associations, migrant associations and other multicultural organisations in Vantaa. Show less

I served as a globally elected IUSY Vice-President for the maximum period of two terms. I was the first person from Finland to have held that role.IUSY - the International Union of Socialist Youth is the global umbrella organisation for social democratic and labour youth: the youth organisation of the Socialist International. IUSY is the biggest political youth NGO in the world, representing 150 member organisations from 100 countries. It is an international youth NGO with… Show more I served as a globally elected IUSY Vice-President for the maximum period of two terms. I was the first person from Finland to have held that role.IUSY - the International Union of Socialist Youth is the global umbrella organisation for social democratic and labour youth: the youth organisation of the Socialist International. IUSY is the biggest political youth NGO in the world, representing 150 member organisations from 100 countries. It is an international youth NGO with consultative status at the UN ECOSOC. IUSY is actively fighting for change all over the world for over 100 years now - founded in 1907, and re-organised after the Second World War in 1946.Within the IUSY Presidium, my responsibilities included: - the UN Affairs, I was IUSY's representative at ECOSOC.- Policies and Strategies on Sustainable Development.- Establishing and chairing the Wider Black Sea Area Round Table, which focussed on conflict Resolution around the Black Sea and the Caucasus Region.- Active participation in the IUSY Middle East Peace Task Force: Euro Arab Dialogue. We facilitated peace talks among the Fatah Youth, the Israeli Labour Party Youth and the Arab League Youth in various venues around the world and in the Middle East. We also met with senior politicians of the region, among them Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres and the late Yasser Arafat. The other three females participating actively in the Peace Task Force were Federica Mogherini, the current High Representative of the EU for Foreign and Security Policy, and Muna Duzdar, the Secretary of State in Austria. The leader of our Task Force was Enzo Amendola, currently Secretary of State representing Italy in the UN Security Council.- Responsible for Fact Finding Missions to the Black Sea Area and Former Soviet Republics.- I led the drafting of IUSY Policy Papers and Resolutions in the Presidium. Show less

I run as a candidate for the European Parliament in the 2004 elections in Finland and got over 10.000 votes from the Finnish electorate. That was a fantastic experience - we did it together with my lovely supporters and a minimal budget of some 10.000 euros. I began campaigning as a totally unknown, migrant-background young woman with an awkward name and ended up having elected the most popular young candidate of the entire country in the national newspaper's vote.The election result… Show more I run as a candidate for the European Parliament in the 2004 elections in Finland and got over 10.000 votes from the Finnish electorate. That was a fantastic experience - we did it together with my lovely supporters and a minimal budget of some 10.000 euros. I began campaigning as a totally unknown, migrant-background young woman with an awkward name and ended up having elected the most popular young candidate of the entire country in the national newspaper's vote.The election result was due to huge loads of positive energy materialised and channeled to innovative campaigning and motivating people to join to find their own prospective paths in politics. To my great joy and delight, many young idealists participating in that campaign have later on executed a successful political career themselves. That was the aim and goal I had from the start on. Show less

As Head of the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement team at the Social Democratic Party's Group in the Finnish Parliament, I managed and led a period of change for the Group's communications and stakeholder relations. We renewed the web presence entirely, introduced new inter-active means for the Public to engage with their MPs and trained our MPs on the use of social media. Each MP got their own personal homepage designed and materialised. We renewed the visual brand of the Group… Show more As Head of the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement team at the Social Democratic Party's Group in the Finnish Parliament, I managed and led a period of change for the Group's communications and stakeholder relations. We renewed the web presence entirely, introduced new inter-active means for the Public to engage with their MPs and trained our MPs on the use of social media. Each MP got their own personal homepage designed and materialised. We renewed the visual brand of the Group as well as all campaigning material. I liaised with representatives of the Media present in the Parliament and with the local and national Finnish Media outside the Parliament. My tasks included assisting and advising our MPs on how to get their message across to the local and national media. I prepared press releases and statements for our MPs, coached them for media appearences and interviews, and assisted them in strengthening their political profile and presence in their respective constituencies.I drafted a media and communications strategy, a crisis management strategy and a stakeholder engagement strategy for the SDP Group. We renewed our stakeholder engagement to be streamlined and focussed, to cover all interest groups and support our MPs with strong support in engaging. I organised events and conferences for our MPs to engage with the Media and stakeholders. I planned and managed the projects and their budgets. Show less

The City of Joensuu City Planning Committee supervises the city’s technical planning department. It is responsible for Joensuu city planning, housing, real estate, public transport, energy and water, environment and sustainability and all the infrastructure of the city.The Committee directs and supervises the activities of the technical planning department. Among other things, the committee defines the objectives for the department’s operations for each year and monitors their… Show more The City of Joensuu City Planning Committee supervises the city’s technical planning department. It is responsible for Joensuu city planning, housing, real estate, public transport, energy and water, environment and sustainability and all the infrastructure of the city.The Committee directs and supervises the activities of the technical planning department. Among other things, the committee defines the objectives for the department’s operations for each year and monitors their attainment. Additionally, it approves the plans concerning land use and traffic planning. The committee’s members are appointed by the Joensuu City Council. Show less

Elected member of the Joensuu City Council. The Joensuu City Council is the highest decision making body of the city. The council is responsible for deciding on the city’s strategy, operations and finances. In addition, the council promotes the residents’ direct participation in the city’s operations and decision making. The members of the city council and their deputies are elected at municipal elections that take place at four-year intervals.

I worked as the project manager to a co-operation project between Finnish NGOs and representatives of the civil society and the local governance in Sortavala, Russian Republic of Carelia. The Republic is very poor, issues related to social welfare and health are severe and the life expectancy is low.In the project we established two pioneering facilities in the Republic:1. A women's shelter home for victims of domestic violence and abuse; including a separately located… Show more I worked as the project manager to a co-operation project between Finnish NGOs and representatives of the civil society and the local governance in Sortavala, Russian Republic of Carelia. The Republic is very poor, issues related to social welfare and health are severe and the life expectancy is low.In the project we established two pioneering facilities in the Republic:1. A women's shelter home for victims of domestic violence and abuse; including a separately located rehabilitation centre for violent men to become violence-free, and2. A multi-functional care home for elderly people, introducing the concept of not only taking care of acute medical conditions in the elderly, but achieving the role of key local service centre having large amounts of outpatients and out-customers also, providing them with a multitude of services.Both these concepts were entirely unknown and at first strongly rejected as unnecessary by the local population and governance, but through two years' discussions, mutual study visits, mutual learning and co-operation, the ideas were fully embraced with enthusiasm and formats very well fitting to the then prevalent conditions were built.My role was a challenging multi-tasking management position. Managing the entirety of the project, including day-to-day issues, the personnel and volunteers involved, project planning and managing the budget. My inter-cultural and language skills were useful as I facilitated the building of mutual trust between the Finnish and Russian counterparts. I also did the fact-finding, the planning and materialising of various study visits, conferences, training and other events, wrote the project proposals and budget for various funding organisations, took care of the general management and looked after the 1.2 million euros budget and reported the project to funders. I was also responsible for the Media and stakeholder engagement. Show less

I planned, budgeted and co-ordinated the Baby Bag Project. I took care of the national Media and Communications relations and stakeholder engagement as well as of the inter-cultural relations and diplomacy between the Finnish and Russian counterparts.In the year 2000 a handful of people in Finland initiated a project where we collected essentials for families with Newborns living under extreme poverty in the Republic of Carelia, in Russia. The idea was to ask families with babies in… Show more I planned, budgeted and co-ordinated the Baby Bag Project. I took care of the national Media and Communications relations and stakeholder engagement as well as of the inter-cultural relations and diplomacy between the Finnish and Russian counterparts.In the year 2000 a handful of people in Finland initiated a project where we collected essentials for families with Newborns living under extreme poverty in the Republic of Carelia, in Russia. The idea was to ask families with babies in Finland to compile a bag with key pieces of clothing and toiletries for their peers in Carelia. In the Republic of Carelia poverty is a huge issue and a substantial amount of poorest families end up giving their babies to orphanages, as they cannot afford taking care of them. The Finnish Public welcomed the project with an overwhelming response and during the first year we collected and distributed over 6000 Baby Bags for families in need. The initial project then resulted in a NGO called Vaaka ry, which has since expanded the forms of aid and the composition of recipients, from families with children to the Elderly, in different parts of the Republic of Carelia where poverty continues to torment a considerable part of the population. Show less