Sessions

The Finnish Defence Forces’ Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (FDFAICoE) was established in 2026 to strengthen the organisation’s ability to operate in a rapidly evolving data and AI technology environment. The Centre works closely with companies, universities and other partners to develop capabilities and expertise in data and artificial intelligence, supporting the Finnish Defence Forces as AI becomes an increasingly important part of the operating environment.

Bittium is a Finnish technology company specialising in reliable and secure communications and connectivity. Its Defence & Security business develops tactical and secure communication solutions for defence, government and other critical environments, building on decades of expertise in advanced radio technologies, security and close cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces.

As part of its current strategy, Bittium is strengthening its software and AI capabilities to support the next generation of defence and security solutions

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) is NATO’s technology and cyber security hub, providing secure digital infrastructure, communications and advanced technology solutions to support Allied operations and decision-making. The Agency plays a key role in NATO’s digital transformation, developing capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, data science and cyber defence. Its work includes deploying AI solutions in secure environments to strengthen operational effectiveness and support informed decision-making across the Alliance.

Erik Ahnger is Vice President Business Development and a member of the Group Management Team at Bittium, a listed Finnish defense technology company. He also serves as Chairman of the Board at MarshallAI, a Bittium´s co-ownership company.

Erik has spent over a decade at the intersection of strategy and execution, with a strong track record in M&A, Strategy development and Business development.

Petteri Hemminki is the founder of the Finnish Defence Forces’ Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (FDF AI CoE), where he is responsible for coordinating and developing the use of data and AI across the organisation. The AI CoE works closely with industry and academia to build AI capabilities and assess where AI can bring value in defence.

Previously, Hemminki served as a Senior Lecturer at the Finnish National Defence University’s Department of Military Technology, where he focused on emerging technologies, AI and their implications for future warfare and military decision-making.

Anna Metsäranta is Senior AI Advisor at Sofigate and a founding member of its Disruptive AI team, helping organisations create sustainable business value with AI. She has over 20 years of experience in digital and data-driven transformation, with the past nine years focused on AI and machine learning.

Metsäranta specialises in responsible use of AI, particularly in high-risk domains such as defence, healthcare, and public services. She has contributed to NATO’s von Karman Horizon Scanning on Artificial Intelligence and served on the Nordic Ethical AI Expert Group. Previously, she has held leadership roles in AI and digitalisation for example at Nordea.

Street established the Data Science & AI Team at the NATO Communications and Information Agency, leading the development and deployment of AI solutions across NATO. His team’s work includes secure AI chatbots, models trained on operational data, AI-powered cyber security solutions, and NATO’s first security-accredited AI testbed.

Previously, Michael held several technical roles within NATO, delivering innovative technologies for military operations. He holds a PhD in autonomous military systems, has authored over 50 scientific papers, and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. His distinctions include the NATO Meritorious Service Medal.

Founded in 1829, King’s College London is one of the world’s leading research universities, recognised for excellence in education, research and innovation. With a diverse international community and strong connections across academia and industry, King’s operates in a complex global environment where technology plays an increasingly important role in enabling its core mission.

Nick Leake has been the Chief Information Officer of King’s College London since 2012.  King’s College London is one of the top 40 universities in the world with strengths in health and life sciences.  

Before joining King’s Nick worked in the media industry for 25 years working for major UK and international broadcasters and newspapers.  He also worked for Bell Canada for 3 years in their start-up UK cable TV and telephony business.  He started his career working for PriceWaterhouse management consultants and has also worked for Ernst & Young management consultants. 

He has a BSc (Hons) in Computational Science from the University of St Andrews in Scotland and has professional qualifications in COBIT, ITIL, PRINCE2, MSP and the Business Technology Standard.

Katri Kolesnik is responsible for capability development in Sofigate’s Business Renewal team. She has built and led Sofigate’s training business and has also worked for many years with the Business Technology Forum. Kolesnik is especially interested in how people and companies can renew themselves through AI.

Neste is the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, helping customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally. With approximately 5,000 employees, operating in 16 countries, the company combines industrial innovation with one of the world’s most ambitious sustainability transformations.

Neil Kirk is Head of IT Outsourcing at Neste, bringing more than 20 years of experience in IT delivery and leadership. His roles at Neste have spanned business-driven technology change, IT development and value creation, including Head of IT Value in Business and Head of Department. Before joining Neste, he managed strategic projects at Fidelity International and CRM initiatives at Credit Suisse.

His experience across strategy, delivery and leadership gives him a broad perspective on how technology decisions and partnerships can create business value.

Jessica Börjel is a senior transformation leader and advisor with more than 20 years of experience across technology companies and management consulting. Her background combines leadership roles within organisations with advising executives on business and IT transformations in large, international environments.

As a Business Technology Senior Manager at Sofigate, she works with leaders to shape how organisations operate and change. Her expertise spans operating models, governance and change leadership, connecting strategic decisions with clear responsibilities and ways of working that hold up in practice.

Jawahir Ahmed works in Sofigate’s Salesforce business, where she is responsible for the Salesforce OSP partnership and works across commercial development, customer accounts and partnerships. She joined Sofigate through the Impossible? Possible initiative, developing AI agents for youth employment and leading AI workshops for young people.

Jawahir studies automation and robotics at Aalto University, and her background spans technology, entrepreneurship, project leadership and community building. Combining technical understanding with commercial and human perspectives, she brings an emerging professional’s view of how AI is reshaping the future of work.

Olivia Krekula works with change and project management at Sofigate. Her experience spans project leadership, AI, FMCG, training and facilitation, with a consistent focus on creating clarity and effective ways of working in changing environments.

She holds a master’s degree in people management and organisational development from Aalto University. Combining a human-centred mindset with structured execution and clear communication, Olivia brings a people and performance perspective to the future of work: how organisations can design work, change and culture so that people can thrive while the business performs better.

Samuel Nousiainen works as a Junior AI Architect at Sofigate, focusing on the development of Sofigate’s AI architecture. His work spans AI agent architectures, technology evaluation, prototyping, and the standards and guardrails that enable AI solutions to be built and scaled across the organisation. He joined Sofigate through the Impossible? Possible initiative, developing agentic AI solutions for youth employment.

Samuel studies machine learning engineering, bringing a technical perspective to how AI is moving from experimentation into everyday business. Working at the intersection of machine learning, AI architecture and practical implementation, he offers a next-generation perspective on the future of work: how organisations can build the technological foundations needed to make AI agents a meaningful part of how people work.

Eemil Saari works as a Customer Executive in Sofigate’s Salesforce business stream. He joined Sofigate through the Impossible? Possible initiative, working closely with Sofigate’s AI Factory.

Eemil’s background combines studies in business information technology with B2B sales experience serving SME customers in the fintech and telecommunications sectors. Building on this experience, his transition from the youth employment initiative to customer-focused work in the Salesforce business stream was a natural next step. Bringing together commercial insight, technology and a fresh perspective on business transformation, Eemil explores how AI is reshaping the future of work – and how companies can turn that change into meaningful business value.

Vera Väänänen works on Sofigate’s go-to-market strategy in Central Europe. She joined Sofigate through a social innovation project developing agentic AI solutions for youth employment.

Vera holds a master’s degree in design management from Aalto University, and her background combines ecosystem development, startup accelerators and international experience spanning Tokyo, Berlin and Australia. Bringing together human-centred design and commercial strategy, Vera offers a next-generation perspective on the future of work: how AI is reshaping access to opportunity, and how organisations can translate that change into competitiveness.

Keusote (Wellbeing Services County of Central Uusimaa) organises social and healthcare services, rescue services and specialised healthcare across six municipalities in Southern Finland. Serving around 200,000 residents, Keusote employs more than 4,200 professionals across the region.

Elina Vikman works with public sector organisations to turn digital transformation and technology into better services and measurable impact. Her perspective combines around 20 years of experience in consulting, IT services and large-scale transformation, with a strong understanding of social and healthcare services, customers, and complex, multi-vendor environments.

At Sofigate, she focuses on how AI and technology can improve public services, support new ways of working and create lasting value. She helps organisations move from ideas to practical solutions by connecting strategy, service development and responsible implementation.

Plan International Finland is part of Plan International, one of the world’s largest children’s rights and humanitarian organisations, operating in more than 80 countries. The organisation works to advance children’s rights, gender equality and sustainable development worldwide.

Mikko Hupli is responsible for Sofigate’s Salesforce business. He has more than 25 years of experience in digital development, customer relationships and technology projects in large companies. Hupli looks at the adoption of AI particularly from the perspectives of leadership, scalability and business value.

Orion is a globally operating Finnish pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and marketing medicines. With approximately 4000 employees and operations in more than 100 countries, Orion is committed to building better health and long-term innovation.

Matti Haario is a digitalization leader with a career spanning from technical IT, cybersecurity, information management and strategic portfolio leadership at Orion. He is passionate about automating the routines, using AI to amplify human capabilities and creating tangible business outcomes through digital solutions. At the heart of his approach is a simple principle: in a rapidly changing world, self-development never ends.

Eerik Heijari is COO at Sofigate, focused on turning Enterprise AI and technology transformation into measurable business value. He works with organizations to scale AI and intelligent agents from individual use cases into enterprise-wide capabilities.

With a background in business technology, ERP and large-scale transformation, Eerik combines strategic leadership with a strong focus on practical execution and commercial impact. His international experience includes project leadership in Chicago and advisory roles across complex transformation programs.

DNA, part of the Telenor Group, is one of Finland’s leading telecommunications companies, serving millions of consumer and business customers. The company continuously invests in digital services, connectivity and technology to improve customer experience and operational excellence.

Tommi Mattila leads Service Management & Production in DNA’s Technology organisation, with a focus on bringing people, processes and technology together to create increasingly automated and seamless services.

With a career spanning technology strategy, business transformation, product development and service leadership, Tommi has extensive experience in turning technological change into practical business value. Before joining DNA, he held senior leadership roles at Telia and worked in strategy, business development and product management at Nokia Siemens Networks.

Aleksi Tuominen leads sales and Enterprise customer growth at Sofigate. Throughout his 15+ year career, he has helped organisations accelerate growth, improve performance and execute large-scale business and technology transformations. Working closely with some of the Nordics’ largest enterprises, he combines commercial leadership with a strong focus on creating long-term customer value.At Sofigate, Aleksi works with customers to turn AI, technology and new operating models into practical business outcomes.

At Sofigate, Aleksi works with customers to turn AI, technology and new operating models into practical business outcomes. He is passionate about strengthening collaboration between business and technology leaders and helping organisations scale transformation initiatives into lasting impact and growth.

Securitas is a global safety and security solutions company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with around 322,000 employees and operations in 44 markets. Combining people, technology and data, Securitas provides services ranging from on-site and remote security to technology-enabled solutions, intelligence and risk management, helping organisations protect their people, operations and assets.

Jacob Stark is Digitalisation Manager for Global Clients at Securitas, where he works with the digital transformation of global, people-intensive security operations. His focus is on frontline adoption, operational data and how AI and digital solutions can create immediate value for the people doing the work.

With a background in engineering, industrial design and digital transformation, Jacob brings a practical perspective on how technology moves from concept to everyday use in complex operational environments.