The speakers of the event will be introduced here soon!
Timo Ritonummi
Currently, Mr. Ritonummi is the Deputy Director General in the Energy Department of Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Finland. Ritonummi is Energy Engineer, having graduated 1990 from the Lappeenranta University of Technology with a M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering. He has worked for the Energy Department of Ministry since 1996 (Until 2008 Ministry of Trade and Industry). In the Ministry over the years has worked with Electricity Markets, Power Production, Demand Side Management, Security of Supply, Emission Trading, Energy Efficiency, Energy and Climate Strategies and lately with Clean Energy Technologies. He is Finnish representative for the SET Plan Steering Group and Finnish National Contact Point in EU Innovation Fund.
Jukka Ruusunen
Jukka Ruusunen is an Industry Professor at LUT University. He served as the CEO of Fingrid Plc from 2007 to 2023. Prior to his tenure at Fingrid, he worked for ten years as Senior Vice President, Development at Fortum. The first fifteen years of his career were spent at Helsinki University of Technology and Helsinki School of Economics. Jukka Ruusunen holds a Doctor of Science (Technology).
Xavier Cipriano
Senior energy and digital engagement innovation professional with over 20 years of experience in energy efficiency, data-driven energy services, and urban energy systems, and energy community projects. Founder and CEO of two scale-up companies specialized in data driven services for user engagement (Beedata), energy management systems (Inergy), with proven leadership in strategy, business development, Community and users engegament, and technology transfer. Strong background as a senior applied researcher at CIMNE research center, in European and national R&D projects, combining scientific excellence with, social and market-oriented innovation. Extensive experience working with public institutions, energy companies, energy communities, and international consortia across Europe and beyond.
Minna Mentzer
Minna Mentzer leads Metsä Group’s biogenic carbon capture development project, focusing on this initiative full-time since the beginning of 2025. Prior to this role, she worked in business development at Neste, focusing on renewable fuels and chemical recycling of plastics. Earlier in her career, she held a range of technical and commercial positions at Borealis. Minna holds a Master of Science degree in Process Engineering from the University of Oulu.
Sari Kola
Doctor of innovation Sari Kola is passionate about ecosystems ecosystems as a driver of growth. As the EnergySampo innovation ecosystem orchestrator, Sari works in close cooperation with partner companies ABB, Danfoss, Hitachi Energy, Wärtsilä, Vaasan Sähkö, VEO and VNT Management to achieve the ecosystem’s shared goals, the development of systemic energy systems and the promotion of their export. Collaboration is also a central theme in Sari’s second doctoral thesis “The Power of We”, published in 2025, as well as in her brand new book “Yhteistyöjohtaminen – kasvun työkalupakki yli toimialarajojen” (“Collaborative Leadership – a Growth Toolkit Across Industry Boundaries”).
Kristjan Mihhels
Kristjan Mihhels is a Senior Analyst at Steady Energy, a Finnish SMR technology company which develops the LDR-50 reactor for district heating. Kristjan has a strong background working in high-technology environments such as space technology in addition to nuclear technology both in business development and sales roles. He honed his analytical skills at EY-Parthenon conducing commercial due diligence projects for multiple Nordic PE funds. At Steady Energy he works both in new market entries and in researching additional use cases besides district heating for the LDR-50.