FEM 2025 Steering committee

Chair of the FEM 2025 Steering committee

Hannu Takkula, PhD, Regional Governor, Regional Council of Lapland

Dr Hannu Takkula is the regional governor of Lapland, Finland since 1 November 2024. In 2017 Dr Takkula was appointed by the Finnish government to be the Finnish Member of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) in Luxembourg from 01.03.2018 to 31.05.2024.

Prior to joining ECA, Dr Takkula was a longstanding politician, serving as one of the 13 elected Finnish Members of the European Parliament in Brussels, and Strasbourg, from 2004-2018; and as an elected member, representing Lapland, in the national Parliament of Finland (the Eduskunta) from 1995-2004.

In the European Parliament Dr Takkula worked in the fields of international trade, education and culture, agriculture and rural development. During his time in the Eduskunta, Dr Takkula’s attention focussed on foreign affairs, EU related issues, environment and culture. Dr Takkula holds a Doctorate Degree in Education from the University of Lapland.

Vice-chair of the FEM 2025 Steering committee

Hannu Lahtinen, Director of Availability of Raw Materials, Geological Survey of Finland

Hannu Lahtinen is Director of Availability of Raw Materials at the Geological Survey of Finland GTK. Over the last 20 years, Mr. Lahtinen has worked in the mining industry and in the field of geological research. Lahtinen received his M.Sc. in geology and mineralogy from the University of Oulu in 2006. He has broad expertise from exploration, mineral resource estimation, and engineering geology in various development and managerial positions. Previously Lahtinen worked at a major mining company in Finland as Geologist and Chief Geologist. Since 2013 he has worked at GTK in several managerial roles. Currently he manages GTK’s operations in Geophysical, Circular Economy, and Mineral Economy solutions, including GTK Mintec Pilot Plant and Laboratories.

Tobias Bauer, PhD, Professor, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden

Tobias E. Bauer is Professor in Ore Geology at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden. His research includes structural controls on ore deposits and the regional structural and tectonic evolution of mineralized belts. In addition, he is active in the field of 3-D and 4-D modeling applied to mineral belts, mineral deposits, and related structures.

He received an M.Sc. degree in geology from Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, in 2008 and a Ph.D. degree in ore geology from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, in 2013.

Pertti Lamberg, PhD, Professor, Sakatti Project Manager, Anglo American (AA Sakatti Mining Oy), represents FinnMin

Professor Pertti Lamberg (PhD, geology), Anglo Amercian’s Sakatti Project Manager and CEO of AA Sakatti Mining Oy, has more than 30 years’ experience in mining industry and academia.

He worked in different R&D positions in Outokumpu and Outotec between 1990 and 2010. In 2011-2016 Pertti worked as a Professor in Geometallurgy in Luleå University of Technology, and in 2016-2020 as CEO of Keliber Oy. He joined Anglo American in June 2020. Pertti has wide technical expertise from exploration, resource characterization, geometallurgy, process design and mining project development and management.

Kaj Lax, PhD, Head of Department (acting), Mineral Resources, Geological Survey of Sweden

Kaj Lax is Head of the Mineral Resources Department at the Geological Survey of Sweden, SGU, Uppsala.

He has a background in geochemistry, and as Head of the Mineral Information Office in Malå.

Saija Luukkanen, Professor, Head of Unit, Oulu Mining School, University of Oulu, Finland

Saija Luukkanen has worked as professor in mineral processing at Oulu Mining School, University of Oulu since 2015. To her current post she came from consulting company Pöyry where she worked in its Mining and Metals BU, both in Peru and Finland.

During her career she has also worked for Geological Survey of Finland (GTK Mintec) as a group leader and for Lafarge (France) as project leader. Her background is in physical chemistry.

Jani Lösönen, Managing Director, Agnico Eagle Finland Oy, represents FinnMin

Mr. Jani Lösönen is the Vice President, Europe, Agnico Eagle Mines LTD, and Managing Director of Agnico Eagle Finland Oy since 2017. As a board professional Mr. Lösönen holds several board member positions in various companies and organizations. Mr. Lösönen is the current Chair of the board of the Finnish Mining Association (FinnMin) and he has also been a member of Euromines Executive Committee since 2018. Prior joining Agnico Eagle, Mr. Lösönen was CEO at environmental management company Ekokem. He holds Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Lappeenranta University of Technology.

Riitta Muhojoki, FEM Project Manager, Regional Council of Lapland | FEM Conference

About questions concerning the overall conference organization e.g. programme, sponsoring, media relations, marketing and website, please contact Riitta: riitta.muhojoki at lapinliitto.fi

Riitta has been working with FEM conferences since 1999.

Tiina Rajala, Development Director, Council of Oulu Region

Tiina Rajala works as the development Director of the Council of the Oulu Region. She started in the post on 1.4.2014. Before she worked for five years as the Regional Director of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Oulu office (2008-2014). Her areas of responsibility included for example matters related to the mining sector such as work Safety and Occupational health. She was doing coordination between experts and authorities in mining operativies.

Mrs. Rajala has previously studied at the University of Vaasa, majoring in public law and administration.

Henrik Schiellerup, PhD, Director, Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Norway

Henrik Schiellerup is Director, Resources and Environment at the Geological Survey of Norway. He has a PhD from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and an MSc from the University of Aarhus in Denmark. His primary background is in igneous petrology and mineral resources. Since 2001 he has been working at the Geological Survey of Norway both as a researcher and in various managerial roles. He has been Division Director at the survey since 2019.

Maarit Siitonen, Business and innovation specialist, Regional Council of North Karelia

Maarit Siitonen works as a business and innovation specialist in Regional Council of North Karelia. His responsibilities include implementation of smart specialization strategy and research & innovation policies. In addition, Maarit is coordinating the national funding instrument for regional development and renewal.  Maarit has previously worked in the education sector in Universities and University of Applies Sciences. She holds Master’s Degree in Social Sciences from the University of Eastern Finland.

Eero Vilhu, Regional Development Specialist, Regional Council of Kainuu

Eero Vilhu has over 20 years of experience of regional planning. He works for the Regional Council of Kainuu where he is mainly responsible for project financing in the field of regional policy & development. His work is also related to EU communication issues concerning regional development and citizen participation.

Mr. Vilhu has been lately involved at some responsibilities in mining sector within the Regional Council of Kainuu. He holds a Master’s Degree of Social Sciences from the University of East Finland 1992, majoring in Planning Geography.