Innovation Talks

Solja Sulkunen

Solja Sulkunen is a Project Manager at Finnish AI Region EDIH, a nationwide AI hub that connects various stakeholders in the field and provides multi-level development support for businesses and individuals. Solja’s expertise in innovation management, through cutting-edge AI and other technology solutions, has improved companies’ competitiveness both in Finland and globally. She is experienced in managing complex multinational projects related to innovation management, business development, and process optimization. At FAIR, Solja focuses on creating an environment where everyone can benefit from AI, augmented reality, and high-performance computing in a safe, transparent, and inclusive manner.

Tom Furness

Thomas A. Furness III is an American inventor, professor, and virtual reality pioneer based in Seattle, Washington. He is a Professor in the University of Washington Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, and the founder of the Human Interface Technology Lab at the University of Washington and its sister labs at the University of Canterbury (HIT Lab NZ) and University of Tasmania. Known for his contributions in developing human interface technology, he has earned the title, “Grandfather of Virtual Reality”.

Angelina Dayton

Dr. Angelina Dayton is the Executive Director for the Virtual World Society and Aspen Institute Tech Policy Fellow. She has previously been an XR user-experience designer, speaker, consultant and trainer. Angelina has degrees in Anthropology and Education from UC Berkeley and Stanford and a Human-Computer Interaction Professional Certification from MIT. Some of her current passion projects involve XR curriculum and training in rural Native communities. She is widely known as The VR Lady and has spent her career helping industry understand large-scale deployment and mass adoption of emerging technologies. She is the mother of seven and is a children’s magician in her free time.

Andrea Bravo

Andrea Bravo, Ph.D. is a specialist at the intersection of technology and ethics. She is the founder and editor at www.metaversethics.org, a newsletter where she democratizes complex scientific research in Extended Reality (XR) to a wider audience, emphasizing ethics, data privacy, and inclusion.

Over her career, Andrea has consulted and researched for MIT, the Technical University of Denmark, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Fraunhofer Institute, Nesta–UK Innovation Agency for Social Good, Cotec Foundation for Innovation, and the European Commission.

Leslie Shannon

Leslie Shannon is the Head of Trend and Innovation Scouting for Nokia.  A Silicon Valley-based futurist, she focuses on identifying connectivity-related tech disruptions and opportunities, including developments in robotics, drones, visual analytics, cloud gaming, generative AI, and especially augmented and virtual reality. 

Leslie is the author of the book Interconnected Realities, a look at the current and future development of XR and spatial computing, and, with Catherine D. Henry, Virtual Natives, an examination of how Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s use of digital technologies is revolutionizing how humans relate to both computers and each other.

Magnus Westerlund

Dr. Magnus Westerlund is a Principal Lecturer in Information Technology and Director of the Laboratory for Trustworthy AI at Arcada University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. 

He has an industry background from telecom and information management and earned his doctoral degree in Information Systems at Åbo Akademi University, Finland. Magnus has research publications in the fields of trustworthy AI, analytics, IT-security, cyber regulation, and distributed software. His current research topics are found in the development of trustworthy software, assessment of AI systems, and smart contract-based distributed security for IoT edge applications. He actively participates as a core member and technical expert in the Z-inspection® network that works for a Mindful Use of AI.

Kristina Knaving

Kristina Knaving is a senior researcher at RISE, and is responsible for the focus area “The Connected Individual”. She holds a MSc in engineering and her research background in is human-computer interaction, visualization, and decision support. Her research focuses on the opportunities, risks, and ethical issues surrounding personal data and AI, and how new technologies affect individuals and society. 

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Midjourney, has recently changed our view of what AI can do by entering a traditionally human domain – creativity. What can we truly expect from AI, and what do we want to expect? Kristina will be doing a contemporary and future outlook on generative AI, AI ethics, and the effects on individuals and society as a whole. There are many opportunities, but also concerns and questions about trust, democracy, and privacy.

Béatrice Schütte

Béatrice Schütte is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lapland, Faculty of Law, working on the regulation of AI and digital technologies. She is also a member of the Ethics Advisory Board of the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence FCAI. 

Karoliina Partanen

Karoliina Partanen is a bold leader of AI Finland, a network for Finnish organizations interested in AI. With a passion for innovation, she aims to propel Finland to the forefront of AI development. The mission of AI Finland is to empower every organization to uncover and implement their unique AI-driven business case. By fostering Nordic collaboration, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships, she’s shaping Finland’s destiny as the world’s AI powerhouse.

In the past, Karoliina has been working at Nokia and management consulting companies, as well as at a leading AI transformation consultancy, Sulava. In her previous role, she built Sulava’s AI Center of Excellence, which is now being upscaled as the AI CoE of the whole country.

Elina Tyynelä

Elina Tyynelä is a Coordinator at Neogames Finland Association, a pivotal hub in the Finnish Game Industry, dedicated to supporting the entire game industry ecosystem in Finland. With a background in environmental sciences, Elina is passionate about advancing sustainability within the industry, particularly in environmental matters. She has been actively developing guidelines to help studios measure and reduce their carbon footprints. Elina is always eager to engage in conversations about environmental sustainability in the gaming industry.

Jiri Kupiainen

Jiri Kupiainen is the Founder and Chairperson of the Sustainable Games Alliance, where he is dedicated to promoting sustainability in the gaming industry. He also held the role of the CEO of Matchmade, a leading platform that connects influencers and brands, and has a rich history of entrepreneurship in the gaming sector. 

With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, Jiri continues to shape the future of the gaming industry while advising and investing in other tech ventures.

Sanni Siltanen

Sanni Siltanen is the Mission Lead for Immersive Digital Life at Business Finland, where she drives the adoption and development of immersive digital technologies across various sectors. Her career has been marked by a strong focus on innovation and ecosystem building. Before joining Business Finland, Sanni served as the Senior Ecosystem Lead at DIMECC, where she played a key role in fostering collaboration among technology and industrial players to advance digital transformation.

Prior to that, she was a Senior Expert in Innovation Engineering at KONE, where she contributed significantly to advancements in urban mobility and smart building solutions through her expertise in robotics, automation, and extended reality (XR). Sanni’s work consistently bridges cutting-edge technology with practical industry applications, showcasing her commitment to driving progress and sustainability in the tech landscape.

Urho Konttori

Urho Konttori is the CEO of Distance, where he continues to drive technological innovation and market leadership. As a seasoned entrepreneur and inventor, Urho previously co-founded Varjo, where he played a crucial role in revolutionizing VR and XR technologies for professional markets. His leadership at Varjo earned global recognition for producing some of the most advanced mixed reality devices. Before Varjo, Urho honed his expertise at Microsoft and Nokia, where he was instrumental in developing groundbreaking hardware and software solutions that set the stage for his later successes.

Petri Rajahalme

Petri Rajahalme is a partner at FOV Ventures, based in Finland. He previously served as Managing Director at Nordic XR Startups, where he led investments in eight XR startups and successfully oversaw the exit of AR-cloud startup Immersal. Recognized as XR Investor of the Year in 2019, Petri has played a pivotal role in developing the Finnish XR ecosystem, notably through a €30 million program at Business Finland that significantly advanced the industry.

Damon Hernandez

Damon Hernandez is the Co-founder and CEO of Mixx Reality, with over 15 years of experience in the Web3D industry. A longtime resident of San Francisco, Damon has been a driving force in the evolution of virtual environments and the 3D web. His career spans roles as a 3D web designer, Web3D Consortium’s Student Director, tech startup founder, and product manager at Samsung Electronics. In 2013, he founded the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) Hackathon, the first event focused on enabling built environment professionals to collaborate with cutting-edge technology. Damon’s contributions were recognized with the Rising Star Award at AWE USA 2024. He continues to lead in the integration of 3D web technologies with IoT, GIS, CAD/BIM/CAM, AR/VR, and mobile platforms, building numerous mixed reality applications and leading research across multiple domains.

Tiina Vuorio

Tiina Vuorio is a leading force in shaping the future of XR and the metaverse in Finland and beyond. She is currently the Head of the Helsinki XR Center, a leading innovation hub dedicated to virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies, where she has been instrumental since November 2018. In addition to her role at HXRC, Tiina served as a Senior Advisor at the TURBIINI Growth & Start-up Accelerator, where she has been involved since April 2015, focusing on strategy, business development, and coaching with Lean Startup methods.

Tiina’s extensive experience spans technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on fostering innovation and building strategic partnerships within the XR ecosystem.

Medha Gupta

Medha Gupta is a Design Strategist and the MEFI Ecosystem Lead at DIMECC, based in Helsinki, Finland. With a background in entrepreneurship, innovation management, and industrial design, she combines design thinking with business acumen to drive strategic initiatives in metaverse technologies, sustainable investing, and brand development.

Medha also founded the Pawple app and has extensive experience in project management, marketing, and brand strategy across various industries, including startups, education, and consumer goods at companies like Herman Miller. Her work emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and storytelling.

Tomi Kankainen

Tomi Kankainen is the Chief Business Development Officer and Chief Operating Officer at DIMECC Oy, based in Espoo, Finland. With a rich background in leadership, and product and service development in various domains, e.g. Defence and Mission Critical, Design, Industrial Automation, and Research, he has over 20 years of experience across various organizational levels.

Tomi has been pivotal in driving digital transformation, innovation, and product development in companies like Fastems, where he served as Chief Digital Officer, and Savox Communications. Known for his dynamic leadership and vision, Tomi excels in creating and scaling new business opportunities in multidisciplinary environments.

Linda Ricci-Jacobs

Linda Ricci Jacobs is a seasoned executive, recognized for her strategic expertise at the crossroads of emerging technology (AI, VR, AR, MR, Blockchain, IOT) and innovation. With a foundation in business, technology and marketing strategy, she advises global companies on entering, marketing & commercializing transformative tech. Linda’s career spans a wide variety of industries and her strategic insights/go-to-market strategies have resulted in the development of multi-million-dollar products for Fortune 100 corporations and startups alike.

Career highlights include a pivotal role at Meta, leading Global Partnerships for the $150 million Immersive Learning Fund, and consulting for international brands such as TDK Electronics, Altria, Bacardi, Canon Professional, Technicolor, and Faith Popcorn. She has shaped digital strategies for top Madison Avenue ad agencies, integrating consumer insights with cutting-edge technology into impactful marketing campaigns.

A dynamic speaker, author and evangelist, Linda’s focus is on the transformative impact of the convergence of AI, XR (VR/ AR/MR), Blockchain, and IOT. She donates time to mentor and advise startups in the emerging tech space in both the US and The Netherlands and is the Vice Chair of the Virtual World Society, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring next generation tech is used for good & accessible to all.

Alina Kadlubsky

Alina is a co-founding member of XRSI Europe and works as a project manager and XR researcher at 3DInteractive, a Swedish company that creates XR and spatial computing content. She specializes in spatial computing and XR research, focusing on promoting a human-centered future in computing. Alina contributes to various publications and standards in her field.

In 2020, Alina was appointed managing director of Open AR Cloud Europe gUG, where she has been leading the organization’s EU activities. She manages EU-funded research projects including NGI Atlantic and the Horizon Europe-funded project XR4Human, where she leads the interoperability Work Package. Her efforts are aimed at enhancing collaboration and developing interconnected virtual and augmented realities within Europe.

Jussi Impiö

Jussi Impiö leads the strategic sustainability work at Aalto University, aiming to increase Aalto´s positive impact in the world and making real the Aalto´s solutions oriented strategy purpose “Shaping a sustainable future”. Before Aalto University Jussi worked at the think tank Demos Helsinki focusing on radical global corporate climate strategies and innovations for sustainable development. He has previously led Nokia’s research operations in Africa and has worked for the Red Cross as well as the founder and CEO of Fuzu Oy.

Wanda O Rly

Wanda O Rly (Valtteri Lahti) is a renowned science communicator, applied games professional and an authentic artist. Wanda is the Co-founder & COO at Psyon Games, Chairperson of the board at Expa Game Business Cooperative, Lead of IGDA Jyväskylä, Educator & Performer. Known for their pursuit for ecological and social sustainability and award-winning operations.