Current location

Helsinki, Finland

Current position

• Dean, Dubai Future Academy, Dubai Future Foundation

• Professor of Futures Research, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Business/University of Turku

• Unesco Chair of Learning for Transformation and Planetary Futures. UNESCO/University of Turku

Degrees

• 17 December 1997, Doctor Of Political Science, University of Helsinki, Department of Social Policy

• 19 January 1995, Licentiate of Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Social Sciences

• 19 March 1992, Studies in Social Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Department of Social Policy. Master of Social Sciences 19.3.1992

• 20 August 1988, Master of Gardening,  Överby Gardening School, Espoo, Finland

Adjunct Professorships

• Adjunct Professor in Environmental Policy, Department of Social Policy, University of Helsinki, 2001

Recent positions              

• Sept 2020-UNESCO Chair Unesco Chair of Learning for Transformation and Planetary Futures. UNESCO/University of Turku

• Feb 2020- Dean, Dubai Future Academy at Dubai Future Foundation

• May 2016- May 2020, UNESCO Chair in Learning Society and Futures of Education. UNESCO/University of Turku

• Jan 2016 – Co-founder, Turku Complex Systems Institute, University of Turku

• Nov 2014- Professor of Futures Research, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Business/University of Turku

• Aug 2012 - Senior Advisor, Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku 1.8.2012-

• Jan 2004 – Aug 2012 Professor of Futures Research, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Business/University of Turku  

Other important posts and full-time positions

• Jan 2011- Aug 2012, Nov 2014- Principal teacher, Master Program for Futures Studies, Turku School of Economics

• Dec 2009 - Jan 2011 Senior advisor, Allianz SE

• Jan 2009 - Nov 2009 Director, Trend assessment & strategy unit, Allianz SE

• Dec 2007 - Dec 2008 Director, strategic research, Allianz SE

• Jan 2004 - Aug 2012 Professor in Futures Research, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration

• Aug 2003 - March 2007 Director, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration

• Jan 2002 - July 2003 Research Director, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration

• Jan 1999 - Dec 2001 Director, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration

• Nov 1996 – July 1999 Coordinator, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration

• Sept 1996 - Oct 1996 Lecturer, University of Helsinki, Dept of Social Policy

• Jan 1995 - Aug 1996 Research associate, University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Social Sciences (Jyväskylä, Finland)

• Feb 1992- Dec 1994, Researcher, Research Institute for Social Sciences, University of Tampere (Tampere, Finland) 

Building curriculum/Teaching experience

• Feb 2020- Dubai Future Academy at Dubai Future Foundation. Teaching following courses: Foundations of foresight, Foundations of futures literacy, Strategic foresight, Systems & Long-term thinking, Applying horizon scanning. 

• Jan 1999- Finland Futures Research Centre at Turku School of Economics/University of Turku. Building master program for futures studies and teaching the following courses in the program: Foundations of futures studies, Strategic foresight, Systems thinking, Scenario building, Master class programs. Countless lectures at Finland Future Academy on various futures-related topics. Teaching foresight classes for MBA students in Business school.

Research and Development Projects

• Jan 2018- Dec 2023 Co-director of WISE (Creative adaptation to Wicked Socio-Environmental Disruptions). Academy of Finland.

• Nov 2017- Director of the project “Towards a Greener Urban Future”. City of Turku.

• Dec 2016 –Dec 2020. Co-director of Bioeconomy and Justice research project. Academy of Finland.

• Oct 2016- Chairman, Turku Center Vision2050 project. City of Turku.

• Jan 2015 –. Director of the project Bastu, Sixth Wave Entrepreneurship. Sitra and University of Turku. 

• Jan 2015 – Dec 2016. Director of the project “Human Being and Value in the Sixth Wave (HUVA). How to transfer best practices of the new digital businesses into industrial companies. Funded by TEKES, National Technology Agency of Finland

• Dec 2011 – Dec 2013.  Director of the project “6th Wave and Systemic Innovations for Finland: Success Factors for the Years 2010-2050 (6th Wave)”, funded by TEKES, National Technology Agency of Finland

• Jan 2011 - June 2011. Senior researcher of the project “X-events” funded by various national and international entities

• Aug 2010 - March 2011.  Evaluator of Finland’s Strategic Climate and Energy Policy, Office of Prime Minister, Finland

• Jan 2007- Dec 2010.  Director of “Postgraduate school for futures studies”, funded by Academy of Finland/Ministry of education

• Aug 2006 - Nov 2007.  Co-director of the project “Future of Responsible Communication” funded by Helsingin Sanomat Foundation

• May 2005 - March 2007 Director of the project "Managing Creative Knowledge Capital: Exploring innovation capacity and foresight methodologies in building future competitiveness for Finnish companies" funded by TEKES, National Technology Agency of Finland

• May 2005 - May 2007. Director of the project “Agora 2020 - Qualitative and Quantitative needs for future environmental education”, funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education.

• April 2005 - Dec 2005. Director of the project “Social dimensions as future resources”. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

• Sept 2003 – Dec 2005 Director of  project “Ecological Efficiency Now and in the Future - ETU project”. TEKES, National Technology Agency of Finland

• May 2002 – Sept 2003 Director of the project “Cultural Competence as a Component of National Competitiveness (KULTA)”, funded by SITRA

• July, 2001 - June 2004 Director of project “Collisions of Nature and Culture in Transport Policy” (TRAPO). Academy of Finland

• Aug 2002 - Dec 2003 Director of the project Social structure; Terra 2000 –EU DG research, Academy of Finland

• Sept 2001 - Dec 2002 Technical coordinator of the project “Future of the Food Industry” - ETU 2030 –project, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

• Jan 2001- Dec 2003 Director of the project (Finnish part) of the TERRA2000 – The Future of European Environment -EU project, funded by European Commission.

• Jan 2001- Sept 2002 Director of the project (Finnish part) of the “Ecostat – Future Tools for Environmental Statistics” EU project.  European Commission.

• Sept 2000 - Dec 2002 Director of the project “Eco-information society: the criteria and operational possibilities” (E-knowledge) -project. Environmental Cluster research programme of the Finnish Ministry of Environment

• March 2000 - July 2000 Post-doctoral researcher in the Research Council on Environment and Natural Resources, Academy of Finland

• Nov 1999 - Dec 2002 Group leader of the project “Climate Change and Decision Making in International and National Level (ClLIDEC). Academy of Finland/the Finnish Global Change Research Programme FIGARE

• Aug 1999 - June 2001 Director of the project “Municipalities' Environmental Barometer. An indicator system for a successful environmental policy in Finland’s municipalities and regions –project”, Environmental Cluster Research Programme/Ministry of Environment/The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

• Jan 1998 - Dec 1998 Leading Consultant for Finnish Academic Biodiversity Research Programme (FIBRE) in the project “Attitudes and Interaction between Decision-makers and Researchers” (SOVELLA). Academy of Finland

• Nov 1996 - June 1999 Coordinator of the project “Citizenship and Ecomodernization in the Information Society. Futures Approach.”. Funded by the Academy of Finland (Programme for the Research of Information).

• Several hundred speaking engagements and consulting projects with Finnish and international organizations

• Supervised Doctoral and Licentiate Thesis; Assessments for Professorships

• Currently supervising several students at post-graduate program of futures studies, University of Turku

• Supervisor and kustos: Sofi Kurki ”Foresight and Transformation. Observing Pioneers in Our Changing Societies”. University of Turku. Aug 20, 2020

• Examiner to doctoral dissertation: Olli Ruokolainen “Suunniteltu luovuus? Kulttuuritoiminnot ja strateginen aluekehittäminen” , October 14, 2016

• Opponent to doctoral dissertation: Petro Poutanen “Complexity and Collaboration in Creative Group Work”, University of Helsinki, August 17, 2016

• Examiner to doctoral dissertation: Petro Poutanen “Complexity and Collaboration in Creative Group Work”, University of Helsinki, March 14, 2016

• Examiner to doctoral dissertation: Pekka Harju-Autti “Global cross-national indicator on Environmental Awareness and Environmental Worldviews in individuals, Organizations and Political Parties”, University of Oulu, 
Sept 18, 2015

• Opponent to doctoral dissertation: Roger Pineda, “Technology in culture – a theoretical discourse on convergence in human-technology interaction” University of Jyväskylä. Aug 29, 2014

• Statement of qualification / Dr. Lauri Hetemäki, for the partime  position of Professor for forestry foresight at Eastern University of Finland. Statement dated December 11, 2011

• External Examiner of Doctoral Dissertation manuscript: Ela Krawczyk, Dublin Institute of Technology. Request by Professor John Ratcliffe on April 20, 2005. Dissertation date: March 31, 2006

• Statement of qualification / Adjunct Professor: Dr. Eva Heiskanen, for the position of Adjunct Professor at Helsinki School of Economics, department of Management and Organisations, in the specified field of Science and Technology Research, Environment and Consumer Research. Letter dated February 7, 2005

• Inspector of Licenciate manuscript: Marko Ahteensuu: "Ennaltavarautumisen periaate ja sen tulkinnat: käsitteellisiä kysymyksiä". Letter dated 10.1.2005

• Inspector of the doctoral manuscript: Marja Toivonen, “Expertise as Business: ” Long-term development and future prospects of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). Autumn 2004

• Supervisor of the doctoral dissertation: Petri Tapio, “The Limits to Traffic Volume Growth. The Content and Procedure of Administrative Futures Studies on Finnish Transport CO2 Policy”. Winter 2002

• Supervisor of the doctoral dissertation: Juhani Tirkkonen, “Ilmastopolitiikka ja ekologinen modernisaatio” Autumn 2000

• Advisor of the doctoral dissertation: Sirkka Heinonen, "Prometheus Revisited - Human Interaction with Nature through Technology in Seneca". Autumn 2000

• Advisor of the doctoral dissertation: Marja-Liisa Viherä, “Ihminen tietoyhteiskunnassa – kansalaisten viestintävalmiudet kansalaisyhteiskunnan mahdollistajana” [People and information society. The citizens’ communication skills and the opening of new prospects for the civil society]. Winter 1999

• Inspector of the Doctoral Manuscript: Juha Kaskinen, “From Turku to St. Petersburg as Fast as You Can. Road Planning of E18 Road as Practise of Environmental Impact Assessment”. Autumn 1998

• The opponent of the Doctoral Dissertation: Juha Kaskinen, “From Turku to St. Petersburg as Fast as You Can. Road Planning of E18 Road as Practise of Environmental Impact Assessment”.5.12.1998

Most important visits

• Academic dean, Dubai Future Foundation, 2020-

• Visiting fellow, University of California Santa Barbara, 2019

• Visiting professor, University of Technology Sydney, 2017-2018

• Visiting Scholar, Institute for the Future, Palo Alto USA 2012- 2013

• Visiting Lecturer, St Gallen University, Switzerland 2010-2011

• Visiting senior scientific executive, Allianz Economic Research & Strategy unit, Munich, Germany 2007-2010

• Visiting lecturer, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland 2005-2007

• Visiting scholar, Maastricht University Netherlands 2001

Academic and high expert positions

• Member of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Finnish working Group, 2018-

• Member of LUOTSI, the strategic committee for foresight in the Prime Minister's Office, 2016-2020

• Member of the editorial board, Global Challenges -journal 2016-

• Member, Scientific advisory committee, National Audit Office of Finland, 2015-

• Advisory board member, European commission Recreate project, 2013-2018

• Member of the expert board, European commission FP7 evaluation project 2013-2014

• Member of the advisory board, World Resources Forum 2009-

• Chairman, Runar Bäckström foundation 2009-

• Chairman, Walter Ahlström Foundation, 2008-

• Chairman, Woima-foundation, 2006-

• Vice member of the board, Turku School of Economics, 2004-2007

• Member of the executive committee of Club of Rome 2004-2008

• Member of the board: Foundation for Advancing the Research of Cultural Policy / University of Jyväskylä for the period of Jan 1, 2006 - Dec 31, 2008.

• Vice-Chairman of the advisory board of the European Futurists Conference held in Lucerne, Switzerland (2007-).

• Vice Chairman of the Board of Finnish Consumer Agency & Ombudsman Jan 2004 –Oct 2007.

• Member of the Club of Rome 2002-

• 2004 - Member of the Helsinki Process follow-up group / Ministry for  Foreign Affairs.

• 2002-2004 Member of the board. International Sociological Association, Research Committee for Society and Environment.

• Chairman of Finnish preparation committee, nominated by Finnish Committee for Sustainable Development, for Rio 10+, follow up summit meeting in Johannesburg, In September 2002.

• Member of the National Consumer Administration Board, Ministry of Trade and Industry, 1.11.2000-31.10.2004

• Invited guest editor of Futures-journal for the special theme issue of “Information Society and Sustainable Development”, 1999

• Invited guest editor of International Sociology –journal for the special theme issue “Futures Studies and Sociology”, 1999

• Nominee of the Finnish IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) author for IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR 2000), 1999

• Member of the Sustainable Development committee appointed by Government, 1.2.1998- 31.12 2003

• Member of the Finnish WWF report committee, 1998-2001

• Consultant for the Environment and Natural Resources committee appointed by Parliament, Winter 1997-1998

Awards and honorariums

• Lauri Jäntti Foundation: Award for notable non-fiction book of the year 2015.

• Emerald Literary Network: The most outstanding article of the year, 2009

• International Aurelio Peccei –prize by L’eta Verde organisation, based in Rome, 2001