Programme

Programme Overview – Northern Power Business Forum

Hosts

Emma Kimiläinen – Presenter & Advocate for Sustainable Mobility

Emma Kimiläinen is a world champion in motorsport and a respected media personality who brings a unique perspective on the future of mobility and clean energy. Her career at the highest level of racing has given her deep insight into performance, technology, and the urgent need for sustainable solutions in transport.

As a presenter at Northern Power, Emma combines her competitive spirit with a human touch—creating an atmosphere of energy, optimism, and curiosity. She is passionate about connecting people and ideas, making complex topics accessible, and inspiring dialogue on how green hydrogen and renewable energy can transform mobility from road to air. Emma’s presence ensures that discussions are not only informative but also engaging and forward-looking.

Herkko Plit is a leading figure in Europe’s energy transition and CEO of P2X Solutions, a company at the forefront of green hydrogen and Power-to-X technologies. Under his leadership, P2X Solutions commissioned Finland’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen plant in Harjavalta and is now driving investments that enable the production of synthetic fuels in Joensuu and Oulu. Herkko has solid background of leading successfully energy projects over 30 years, and also experience from public sector like ministry and EU Commission.

As a presenter at Northern Power, Herkko brings not only deep expertise in energy megaprojects but also a collaborative spirit and a passion for building a sustainable future. His ability to combine strategic vision with human-centered dialogue ensures that discussions go beyond technology—fostering optimism, trust, and actionable ideas for accelerating the global shift toward clean energy.

Business Forum Programme

8:30 – 9:30	Morning Coffee & Expo
9:30 – 10:00	Event opening Event opening by BusinessOulu + Oulun Energia Event presenters Emma Kimiläinen & Herkko Plit Musical performance by Ida-Elina
10:00 – 11:00	PANEL DISCUSSION: GREEN STEEL Panel discussion, moderated by Heli Virkki / Gasgrid Stegra / Teemu Suursalmi LKAB / Jan Moström, CEO Andriz / Henrik Grönqvist, Director Verso Energy / Antoine Huard, CEO
11:00 – 12:00	PANEL DISCUSSION: MARITIME & LOGISTICS Moderated by Energi I Nord / Petter Björkli Hy2Gen / Hege Økland Wärtsilä / Kenneth Widell Meyer Turku / Ilkka Rytkölä
12:00 – 13:20	Lunch, B2B Networking & Expo
13:20 – 14:20	PANEL DISCUSSION: FUTURE AND TRANSITION OF AVIATION FUELS Moderated by IATA / Antti-Mikael Kaljunen and Airtouch / Pekka Mäkinen Air Baltic / Zita Baranova Boeing / Steven Gillard EIT Inno Energy / Jeremiah Dutton (CCUS) Finavia / Olli Väyrynen, VP Business Development Norwegian / Anders Fagernaes, VP Sustainablity
14:20 – 15:00	Nordic Flagship Projects Showcase Nordic Hydrogen Route and Hydrogen Valleys in Finland: Gasgrid, Heli Virkki & Jukka Hietanen
15:00 – 15:30	Coffee, networking & Expo
15:30 – 16:00	Deeptech Innovations ZUN- H / Veera Tapionkaski, CEO Hycamite / Matti Malkamäki, Chairman H2Fly / Ralph Muller, CEO
16:00 – 16:30	Signing Ceremonies + wrap-up
16:30 – 17:30	After Work & Expo

Ida Elina

Ida Elina is an internationally acclaimed Finnish singer-songwriter, pop kantele queen, and pioneer of Finland’s national instrument. With her innovative “slap style”- a percussive technique inspired by YouTube guitarists – she has revolutionised the way we understand kantele music. Helsingin Sanomat praised that “her pop covers have reinvented the instrument,” while Vorarlberger Nachrichten noted how she “made this traditionally gentle and melancholic instrument equally accessible to pop and folk music.” Known for her magnetic stage presence, Kronen Zeitung wrote that she “completely captivated the audience.”

Ida Elina’s artistry has earned her numerous awards, including Internationalizer of the Year 2023, Performer of the Year, Kantele of the Year, and victory at the 1st International Kantele Competition. She has performed in more than 20 countries, with highlights including the Bregenzer Festspiele, Taiwan World Music Festival, Beijing Arts Festival, and the World Expo in Dubai. As OPUS Kulturmagazin noted, she is not only a groundbreaking instrumentalist but also “a fantastic singer, whose vocal range ranges from high notes to deep, smoky tones.”

Panel Discussions

Panel Discussion: Green Steel

How can hydrogen transform the steel industry? Hear insights from Stegra, LKAB, Andritz, Verso Energy and other leading players.

Teemu Suursalmi, Stegra

Teemu Suursalmi has over 20 years of experience working with hydrogen in industrial environment. Joined Stegra on summer 2024 to enable the the safe and reliable green hydrogen production in Boden, Sweden.

,Niklas Johansson, LKAB

Niklas Johansson, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and External Relations joined LKAB’s executive management team in 2020. He has spent half his professional life in Government and half in Industry, going back and forth. Before joining LKAB he was State Secretary for Foreign Trade in Sweden and before that State Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Innovation responsible for Industrial Policy, Competition, and Innovation.

He is presently chairman of the nomination committee of steelmaker SSAB AB and sits on the Board of LKAB Norge AS and Luleå University of Technology.

He has a Master of Science in Business and Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics. Born 1970.

Antoine Huard, Verso Energy

Antoine Huard co-founded Verso Energy in 2021 together with Xavier Caitucoli. He was previously the Development Director of Générale du Solaire group since 2013, where he was also managing director of the international subsidiary since 2018. Antoine is administrator of the solar association Enerplan. He graduated from Ecole Polytechnique and the University of Cambridge.

Henrik Grönqvist, Andriz

Henrik Grönqvist is the Director of E-Methanol at ANDRITZ where he leads initiatives in renewable fuels and P2X technologies. He holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Industrial Economics, with over 20 years of experience in the industry.

Prior to his current role, Henrik had a distinguished career at ANDRITZ, where he held several leadership positions across Pulp and Paper business. His roles included Global Sales Director for White Liquor Plants, Project Director for EPC pulp mill deliveries, and Head of Process Engineering for both the Fiberline and White Liquor Plant product groups.

Henrik’s extensive experience and expertise in renewable energy and industrial processes make him a key figure in the advancement of sustainable fuel technologies.

Heli Virkki, Gasgrid

Heli Virkki works as Head of Hydrogen Valley and Customer Project Development at Gasgrid Vetyverkot Oy. She is responsible for regional stakeholder collaboration with municipalities along the planned route for the national hydrogen infrastructure as well as future hydrogen market participants, supporting the ongoing development of the Finnish and Baltic Sea region hydrogen market. Heli has over 20 years of experience within building new value chains as well as leading large consortia projects within chemicals industry and energy sector.

Panel Discussion: Maritime & Logistics

With shipping facing accelerating climate targets, Hy2Gen, Wärtsilä and leading shipowners dive into hydrogen and e-fuels as the next-generation solution.

Hege Økland, Hy2Gen

Hege Økland is the Managing Director of Hy2gen Nordic AS, developing and investing in projects to produce renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.

From 2011 to 2022, Hege Økland established, managed and developed the Norwegian Centre of Expertise, NCE Maritime CleanTech, which has gained global recognition as a premier cluster for clean maritime solutions.

Hege Økland holds a Cand. Merc., Master of Science in Business and Economics, with a focus on Strategic Business Development and Marketing from Copenhagen Business School (CBS).

Kenneth Widell, Wärtsilä

Kenneth Widell currently holds the position of General Manager for Research Coordination & Funding at Wärtsilä Research, Development & Engineering, based in Vaasa, Finland

25 years of experience in R&D, testing of industrial scale solutions and leading people and processes in Finland and abroad.

Kenneth is passionate about the future opportunities, as reaching a carbon neutral society will not happen overnight, nor is there “one silver bullet”. It can only be reached by working together an putting “we” ahead of “me” – a sustainable world with sustainable business.

Ilkka Rytkölä, Meyer Turku

Panel Discussion: Future and Transition of Aviation Fuels

Leading voices from IATA, Norwegian, EIT InnoEnergy and Finavia unpack how hydrogen could transform an industry racing to meet EU 2030 emission targets.

Jeremiah Dutton, Inno Energy

Jeremiah Dutton leads InnoEnergy’s latest newco Midstrom – the first midstream player in the CO2 value chain dedicated to building, owning, and operating carbon capture systems at European pulp mills. He brings a robust commercial background from large corporates like GE Capital and Siemens Wind Power and a proven track record in growth and scaling with over a decade in the start-up space working with sustainable plastics.

Anders Fagernæs, Norwegian

Anders Fagernæs is Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs at Norwegian, where he leads Norwegian’s transition toward more sustainable aviation. With a strong background in aviation and sustainability, Anders plays a key role in shaping the future of low-emission air travel in Europe.

Steven Gillard, Boeing

Steve is Boeing’s Regional Director – Europe and METACA Sustainability. In this role he leads a team supporting Boeing’s customers and partners to achieve their sustainability goals across Europe, the Middle East, Türkiye, Africa and Central Asia.

Prior to this role, Steve was Boeing’s NATO Director and UK Head of Government Affairs.

Steve joined Boeing from Rolls-Royce, and the Ministry of Defence. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and chairs the UK Jet Zero Task Force’s SAF Start and Finish Group. In 2024 Steve was appointed an honorary Professor of Sustainable Aerospace at the University of Sheffield and was an Industry Associate Member of the Royal College of Defence Studies for Global Strategy Programme 25. Steve has lived and worked in Belgium, India, the USA and China.

Zita Baranova, Air Baltic

Zita Baranova is Head of Sustainability at airBaltic, the flag carrier airline of Latvia headquartered in Riga. With a strong background in business and environmental matters, she leads the development of initiatives that accelerate the shift toward cleaner air travel.

Zita advocates for a balanced approach to sustainability, combining the use of alternative fuels, operational efficiency, and the need to maintain regional connectivity. She emphasizes the importance of realistic, feasible, step-by-step progress toward aviation’s decarbonization.

Olli Väyrynen, Finavia

Antti Mikael Kaljunen, IATA

Antti-Mikael Kaljunen is Assistant Manager, Sustainable Aviation Fuel in IATA’s Net Zero Research and Programs team. In this role, he focuses on accelerating global SAF deployment by analyzing global supply and demand and contributing to SAF initiatives and aviation energy transition position papers. Previously, Antti-Mikael worked for several years at Neste in renewable fuels production and supply chain planning.

Showcases

Nordic Flagship Projects Showcase

Discover the Nordics’ most ambitious hydrogen initiatives — from large-scale e-fuel production and hydrogen-powered public transport to pioneering cross-border transmission infrastructure.

Together, these projects show how show how Finland and the other Nordic countries are building a world-leading hydrogen ecosystem through real, on-the-ground implementation.