É«É«À²

Petro Poutanen

CEO
Finnish Research Impact Foundation

Petro Poutanen is the CEO of the Finnish Research Impact Foundation (Vaikuttavuussäätiö), with a background as an academic researcher and entrepreneur. Before joining the foundation, Petro spent over a decade working in data-driven entrepreneurship, analytics, and strategic consulting. Since 2019, he has led the Finnish Research Impact Foundation, and in 2024 he joined the Board of the Association of Finnish Foundations.

Iina Koskinen

Science and Executive Director
Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation

Iina Koskinen is the Science and Executive Director at the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, where she leads the foundation’s work in advancing an ecologically sustainable future. The foundation supports research and research-based action that drives sustainability transformations across society. In her role, Iina works closely with researchers, practitioners, and partners to strengthen the impact and relevance of funded projects. She is particularly interested in how research can inform systemic change and contribute to addressing complex environmental challenges. Iina has extensive experience in science funding, impact and strategy, and stakeholder engagement between academia and society. 

Tuomas Olkku

Executive Director
Finnish Science Foundation for Economics and Technology (KAUTE Foundation)

Tuomas Olkku is an Executive Director of the Finnish Science Foundation for Economics and Technology (KAUTE Foundation). He joined the foundation in January 2020. Tuomas has a strong background in research funding, science communication and public engagement with science. He worked for several years in development and leadership positions in the science communication field prior to joining KAUTE.

The KAUTE Foundation supports academic research in business and technical sciences and the dissemination of research results, with an aim to advance the Finnish society in an economically, socially, and ecologically sustainable way. The foundation supports promising early-career researchers through working and mobility grants.

Jussi Nissilä

Platform Manager for Digitalisation & AI and Health & Wellbeing
Aalto University

Dr. Jussi Nissilä is an executive and RDI professional with extensive experience at the intersection of research, education, innovation, and public policy. He currently supports Aalto University in strengthening its impact by fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration between researchers and external partners. Jussi has previously served as CEO of two research funding foundations and brings understanding of how Finnish foundations enable high-impact research and contribute to societal wellbeing and renewal.

Dr. Claudia Dell'Era

Head of Pre-award Services
Aalto University

Dr. Claudia Dell’Era is the Head of Pre-award Services. She also serves as a Senior Grant Writer for the Aalto School of Engineering. She had more than 15 years of experience with grant applications. She holds a Dr.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Aalto and leads the Pre-award team in supporting high-quality, competitive research funding applications. Claudia is actively involved in capacity building through training sessions and conference presentations on research funding.

Dr. Katja Bargum

Grant writer, School of Science
Aalto University

Dr. Katja Bargum is a Grant Writer for the Aalto School of Science. She has previously worked in science communications at Yle and with research funding at the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation. Katja has a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Helsinki and continues to write nonfiction books on biological topics. As a Grant Writer, Katja provides co-writing services for researchers as well as training on research funding.