Tourism events

Signe Jungersted
Signe Jungersted is the CEO and founding partner of the innovation and strategy agency Group NAO. She is formerly the Development Director of Wonderful Copenhagen, where she was responsible for the strategic shift towards “localhood” and a focus on balancing livability and visitability. Signe holds a Master’s Degree in political science, studied Mandarin in Shanghai and has since pursued management education at MIT Boston, Hyper Island Stockholm and is currently completing an MBA in Creative Leadership in Berlin.

Jaakko Sorsa
Jaakko Sorsa began his culinary career nearly three decades ago as a kitchen intern at Palace Gourmet Restaurant in Helsinki. Since then, he has cooked around the world, from the Middle East to Bermuda, from the Fiji Islands to Japan. For the last 19 years, Jaakko has been based in Hong Kong and since recently shares his time with homeland Finland.

Teemu Arina
Teemu Arina is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and biohacker specializing in the future of digitalization. Arina specializes particularly in key questions concerning the future of learning, work, leadership, housing, and health. He explores the relationship between humans and machines and what it means for the future of humanity.

Laura Sinisalo
Laura, the CXO of Solar Foods, brings a rich background in brand, design, and creative management, cultivated through leadership roles at companies like Marimekko and collaborations with global giants like Ferrari. Her expertise extends to nurturing small businesses, aiding in the development and establishment of their brand identities. Thriving in environments fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation, she plays a pivotal role at Solar Foods, shaping brand development and communication strategies to reflect the company's pioneering efforts in sustainable food technology.

Mari Sandell
Mari is a professor of sensory quality research in the Department of Food and Nutrition in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Helsinki. She is also a professor of sensory perception at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Turku and an adjunct professor of flavor chemistry and sensory perception. She is also Vice Dean responsible for societal interaction, innovations and communication.

Laura Styyra
Laura Styyra is a Helsinki-based restaurateur who runs Finland's only organic fruit and vegetable shop along-side restaurant Kuurna, which after 18 years of existing still stands strong in the forefront of the Finnish seasonal bistro scene. Laura is dedicated to modernizing the restaurant industry's employee experience in order for Helsinki to achieve a sustainable and lively restaurant scene in the future. She is enthusiastic about the topic of discovering what hospitality can be in its most authentic form.

Valtter Vuori
Valtter Vuori has previous background in domestic and global purchasing operations in the supply chain. Since his graduation in 2022 (Msc in Food Science, University of Helsinki), he has worked in sustainability related expert positions in largest foodservice wholesaler Kespro. In his current position he focuses on development projects related to responsibility legislation and supporting customers in more responsible choices, sustainability management and communication.

Ville Relander
Ville Relander is the restaurateur of Restaurant Kirsikka and Italian Restaurant Madonna in Hakaniemi Market Hall. This international ambassador of food and restaurant culture has credentials from both the city's ranks and the forefront of the street food revolution, as well as projects uniting the restaurant industry.

Mikko Mykkänen
The Helsinki Distilling Company’s Mikko Mykkänen is the most successful Master Distiller in Finland. His superior-quality distillates have won multiple gold medals in international competitions. Mykkänen himself has won the highly distinguished Outstanding Innovation award at Europe’s largest craft spirits event, Berlin Destille. He is also one of the rare non-UK members of the Gin Guild in London.
 

Samuil Angelov
Samuil Angelov is one of Finland's most distinguished sommeliers, who has been working in the well-known restaurants of central Helsinki since the late 90s. For the last more than ten years he has been running Muru Restaurants which includes 7 restaurants and a wine bar. Samuil is also involved in the board of the International Sommelier Association ASI for the third term.