Do you believe Helsinki could be a more inclusive city for internationals?

Are you frustrated by the barriers that make it hard for non-Finnish speakers to feel truly at home here? This is your chance to be part of the change.

I’m running for the Green Party in the upcoming municipal elections (April 2025) because, like you, I believe we can do better. My goal is to help build a more open, accessible Helsinki that genuinely welcomes all its residents – no matter where they come from or what language they speak.

With a growing multicultural support group, we are building a campaign focusing on:

International Helsinki
An international and welcoming Helsinki is a good place to live for everyone. It is also a key to a socially and economically thriving Finland.

We want to make it easier for internationals to find jobs that match their skills and qualifications.

We want the daycares, schools and family and services to be great for everyone and also cater for needs of intercultural and multilingual families.

Many people value Helsinki as a green and safe city – let’s keep it that way also for the future.

About Me

Why I’m Running

I am a proud father of a five-year-old, a dedicated advocate for an international and inclusive Finland, a year-round cyclist, and a lifelong resident of Helsinki.

Seventeen years ago, I chose the Greens out of frustration with Helsinki’s inadequate cycling infrastructure. What keeps me in the Greens is the party’s commitment to the environment and science-based policymaking. Now, I’m running in the upcoming municipal elections (April 2025) to help build a more open, accessible Helsinki that genuinely welcomes all its residents – no matter where they come from or what language they speak.

Municipalities have a crucial role in supporting newcomers, especially as responsibilities like employment and immigrant integration services shift from the state to local governments in 2025. While the national government moves backwards on immigration policies, cities like Helsinki can be inclusive and international. Our society benefits from diverse experiences and ideas, and I believe it’s time for politics to reflect the full diversity of the Finns of today.

My way of doing things is always with people and communities. Also, in politics, I work with people from different backgrounds and expertise to shape well-rounded positions on diverse matters. I have a good track record of building communities and making things happen in areas I am passionate about. I was a pioneer in promoting open public data in Finland and co-founded MyData Global, an international NGO advocating for human-centric personal data. Today, in my day job at Technology Industries of Finland, I help Finnish companies to benefit from data and AI.

As the chair of Green Sisu, the English-language branch of the Green Party, I put my effort into building bridges between political actors and the diverse international communities in Finland. I also deeply believe in collaborating across party lines to achieve meaningful change.

Outside of family, work, and politics, you might find me cycling around the city with my cargo bike or sweating at the box.

Join the Movement

Together, we’ll tackle the barriers preventing international residents from participating fully in Helsinki’s civic life. Many internationals in our city are eligible to vote but might not know it or feel distanced from Finnish politics. Let’s change that by reaching out to communities to show them their voices matter.

We’re looking for people ready to make an impact, whether through writing, design, social media, or simply spreading the word in their communities. The level of participation is flexible – whatever fits your schedule. Your moral support and ideas are just as important as hands-on work! You don’t need previous political experience – just life experience and a passion for change.

How You Can Help

  • Networkers and Campaigners – Bring more people in, help reach communities directly, and mobilise the international vote.

  • Substance Experts – Channel your knowledge on specific topics to the group so we can form solid ideas for making Helsinki better for all.

  • Writers and Content Creators – Tell our story and show others why their voices matter.

  • Designers – Create the visual image of the campaign and make our messages good-looking.

  • Social Media Experts – Make our message accessible and engaging to as many people as possible and know where to invest the social media marketing budget.

  • Organisers – Master practicalities, be it printing fliers, organising events, or handling other concrete tasks.

  • Community Builders – Onboard new people and maintain group spirit.

  • Information Diggers – Find out how many international voters live in Helsinki, the cost of advertising on the tram, and answers to many other questions like this.

  • Something Else – Every voice and helping hand matters!

Fill out the form today to join us, or reach out to me via SMS or WhatsApp at +358 44 337 5439 if you’d like to chat first.