keynote speaker

DAVID JP PHILLIPS (SWE)

International Author, Lecturer and Coach

SELF-MANAGMENT, BRANDING & COMMUNICATION

David JP Phillips is an internationally recognized Swedish lecturer whose TED Talks have had 10 million listeners to date, and whose social media posts have hundreds of millions of views. He specialises in communication and what he calls "self-management".

His first international breakthrough came 2015 when de delivered his TEDx-talk “How To Avoid Death By PowerPoint” which became a global sensation with millions of views.

His second TEDx talk ”The Magical Science of Storytelling” is the biggest talk on Storytelling and propelled him onto some of the largest stages in the world.

David’s very first book is launched 2023 and became an immediate massive hit. Within 3 months the rights had been sold to 30 countries/languages.

MAJA KRUUSE (DEN)

Project Manager ICE Kirkenes & GENGREEN

"Empowering Female Green Entrepreneurs: The GENGREEN project"

How to create Sustainable Cross-border Business, Gender Equality in Business and a Greener Tomorrow.

Meet Maja Kruuse, the dynamic force driving the Interreg Aurora project GENGREEN's initiatives in Norway. Maja channels her passion for regional development and entrepreneurship through her role as senior project manager at Sør-Varanger Development Company in the Arctic town of Kirkenes, Northern Norway.

With a  degree in business management from Copenhagen Business School and a background as a Certified Business and Life coach from The Life Coach School in USA, Maja brings a unique blend of expertise to the table, guiding aspiring entrepreneurs toward success. For her, GENGREEN is more than just a project; it's a platform to empower remarkable women in business to make a lasting impact on the world, one sustainable business at a time.

SABRINA SUIKKI (SWE)

International Business Manager

Norrbotten Chamber of Commerce

"The Green Sustainable Transition creates International Business Opportunities & Cross-Border Synergies within the Arctic Europe”

Sabrina Suikki has the role of International Business Manager at the Norrbotten Chamber of Commerce in Sweden. She has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, senior consultant & business developer, as well as business lawyer. Through her previous consulting and board assignments, with a focus on global growth companies and startups, she is skilled in international business, law, and management. She is also multilingual, and can switch between Finnish, Swedish, English, and French in a global context. She is born and raised in Finland but studied and worked abroad since ‘99.

We are looking forward to hearing Sabrina talk about the green sustainable transition and cross-border business opportunities in Norrbotten, Northern Sweden.

keynote speaker

HENRIK HUSMAN

VP, European Cash Equities, Nasdaq, Inc.

President of Nasdaq Helsinki

Henrik Husman is President of Nasdaq Helsinki since 2016 and Vice President, European Cash Equities of Nasdaq, since 2008. Husman served as Deputy CEO of Nasdaq Helsinki from 2008 to 2016. Prior to that, he worked in several executive positions at Nasdaq and its predecessors in Finland since 1997. He is a member of the ESMA Secondary Markets Standing Committee Consultative Working Group, Chairman of the Listing Committee of Nasdaq Helsinki, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Securities Markets Association in Finland. He has a bachelor’s degree from Aalto University Business School.

ONDREJ SPALA (CZE)

Project Manager ICE Arctic Youth Community

"Young leaders for the future"

Why are young people essential for future business success? How does international collaboration create competitive advantage for young entrepreneurs? What's in it for the olds?

Ondrej has always believed there is a leading role to take, regardless of age. He started his entrepreneurial activities around the age of 16, experimenting with various projects across industries. This hasn't created a unicorn yet, but has led to a tremendous business experience, through successes and failures.

In his current role, Ondrej helps develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the small Arctic town of Kirkenes in Northern Norway. This includes leading projects focused on creating new opportunities for youth from the North-Atlantic and Nordic regions.

He has been repeatedly recognised by others for innovative thinking and ability to connect people.

Being a very international person with passion for the travel industry, he has also built a practical expertise in loyalty and hospitality sectors. 

He sees international collaborations as the way to succeed, especially when including young people as change-makers.

MAIJU WELLING (FIN)

Medical Director, Quality at Mehiläinen

"Leading Sustainable Growth through the Power of Values and Stories – Case Mehiläinen"

Everyone has a need to belong. How to create a corporate culture where everyone can feel part of the same story? Why can't sustainable growth be led without values? How do sustainability and good business support each other?

Maiju is passionate about her work as the Medical Director, Quality at Mehiläinen. Mehiläinen is a well-known and highly valued private provider of social and healthcare services, offering comprehensive high-quality services in Finland and internationally. For 115 years, Mehiläinen's mission has been to create better health and well-being as part of the surrounding society.

In her medical education she has specialized in Public Health Medicine. She also holds a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Business Administration degrees. She gets excited about learning new things, adventuring in nature, and teamwork.