The staff of UBC Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat
Currently the staff of UBC Environment and Sustainable Development Secretariat consists of 11 professionals who provide assistance with networking and connecting people, produce sufficient documents and publications, as well as initiate and run the projects.
The Secretariat
Mr. Björn Grönholm, Head of Secretariat
Master of Political Science, Head of Secretariat at the Union of the Baltic Cities Commission of Environment since 2006.
- 17 years of experience in designing, co-ordination and leading several international co-operation projects
- Experience in fitting together research, capacity building and dissemination activities.
- Research activities (doctoral studies in Political Science and Public Administration) and development projects within both the public and private sector. Has in earlier scientific work produced more than 15 articles on environmental politics and sustainable development with specific emphasis on diffusion patters for innovations in the Baltic Sea Region.
Language skills: Swedish, Finnish, English, German
Mob: +358 44 907 5987
Skype: ubc.bjorn.gronholm
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Ms. Stella Aaltonen, Network Manager, Organizer of Solutions local, together Conference
Special expertise:
- Strategic management, human resources, tourism and communication
- Experience in working with third sector and local governments
- Expertise in stakeholder involvement, training and running events
Language skills: Finnish, English, Russian, Swedish, French
Tel: +358 2 262 3171
Mob: +358 44 9075 983
Skype: ubc.stella
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Mr. Sakari Saarinen, Project Coordinator NEW BRIDGES project
Special expertise:
- Seven years of experience working with local authorities and sustainable development
- Experience in urban and transport planning
- Experience in planning, training and conducting Peer reviews
Language skills: Finnish, English, Swedish
Mob: +358 44 9075 994
Skype: ubc.sakari
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Mr. Lauri Hooli, Communication Coordinator NEW BRIDGES project
Special expertice:
- Special interest: regional development, urban planning and innovation systems in peripheral regions
- Experience: working in research institutes and Less Developed Countries
Language skills: Finnish, English, Swedish
Mob: +358 40 7640 683
Skype: ubc.lauri.hooli
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Ms. Eija Eloranta, Project Coordinator PURE project
Special expertise:
- Experience in working in 3rd sector, strategic planning and policy making at local level
- Special interests: water protection cooperation in BSR, regional development and planning
Language skills: Finnish, English, Swedish
Mob: +358 44 9075 993
Skype: ubc.eija.eloranta
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Ms. Zivile Karvonen, Project Assistant PURE project
Special expertise:
- Bachelor’s qualification degree in applied ecology, Lithuanian Agricultural University, The Faculty of Forestry
- Master’s studies, International Business programme, Management and Business Administration Master’s qualification degree, University of Vilna
- Master Thesis “Integration of the Lithuanian Agriculture into the EU from the point of view of ecological, economic and social aspects.”
Language skills: Lithuanian, Finnish, English, Russian, Ukrainian (basics of Italian, German, can read and understand Polish)
Mob.: +358 40 7298 501
E-mail: firstname.familyname@turku.fi
Mr. Pekka Salminen, Project Manager CHAMP project
Special expertise:
- Local sustainable development management and reporting
- Eight years experience of working with local sustainability issues and international projects
- Expertise also in Less Developed Country issues and Geographical Information Systems
Language skills: Finnish, English, Spanish, Swedish
Mob: +358 44 9075 999
Skype: ubc.pekka
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Ms. Esther Kreutz, Project Coordinator CHAMP project
Special expertise:
- Environmental Science (major environmental politics and law + sustainability communications), University of Luneburg, Germany
- Experience in working with stakeholder involvement and in different sustainable development-related contexts
Language skills: German, English, Swedish, French
Mob: +358 44 9075 980
Skype: ubc.esther
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Ms. Kirsi-Marja Lonkila, Trainee for CHAMP project
- Master of Social Sciences (M.Soc.Sc) Political Science
- Student of Environmental Policy
Language skills: Finnish, English, German, Swedish
Mob: +358 40 1439 798
Skype: ubc.kirsi.marja
E-mail: firstname.familyname@turku.fi
Mr. Jussi Välimäki, Financial Manager
Special expertise:
- Handling the daily financial routines in the office, foreign and domestic invoices
- Expertise in INTERREG IIIB projects, reporting, auditing and budgeting
- Expertise in projects funded directly by EC, reporting, auditing and budgeting
Language skills: Finnish, English
Mob: +358 44 9075 989
Skype: ubc.jussi
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Ms. Sanna Erkko, Controller
Special expertise:
- Financial management and reporting of EU-projects
- Communication in multicultural context
- Project development
- Organising events
Language skills: Finnish, English, Swedish, German
Mob: +358 44 9075 981
Skype: ubc.sanna.erkko
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Ms. Maarit Leino, Financial officer
Special expertise:
- Financial management
- Organising events
Language skills: Finnish, English
Tel: +358 2 262 3172
E-mail: firstname.familyname@turku.fi
Ms. Sari Bowie, Publications Officer
Special expertise:
- Experience working with planning, designing and making layouts for print and web
Language skills: Finnish, English
Tel: +358 2 262 3171
Mob: +358 50 5948 330
Skype: ubc.sari
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Mr. Kaj-Michael Lang, IT expert
Special expertise:
- Over ten years of experience with web technologies
- Experience with different sustainable development projects with web presence
Language skills: Swedish, Finnish, English
Skype: ubc.kaj.michael.lang
E-mail: firstname.familyname@ubc.net
Ms. Anna Koreneva, Project Officer
- Master's degree in Baltic Sea Region Studies, University of Turku
Language skills: Russian, English, Finnish
Mob: +358 40 1439 878
Skype: ubc-annakoreneva
E-mail: firstname.familyname@turku.fi
General
Members of the staff can also be reached via e-mail: environment(at)ubc.net
Fax: +358 2 262 3425




