Programme 2023

Follow live stream from City of Kouvola YouTube or Yle Areena.

10.00
Opening of the Conference
Journalist and host, Tommy Fränti, Yle

10.05
Welcome
Mayor, Marita Toikka, City of Kouvola

10.15
Keynote: European nations’ role in NATO
General (retired) Curtis Scaparrotti, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR

10.45
Finland’s defence policy in NATO
Director General Janne Kuusela, Ministry of Defence

11.15
The Finnish Defence Forces and NATO
Chief of Strategy Lieutenant General Janne Jaakkola, Defence Command

11.45 Pause

12.45
Keynote speech by Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Finland

13.00  
Nordic Defence cooperation in NATO

• Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Finland
• General (retired) Curtis Scaparrotti, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR
• H.E. Wegger Christian Strømmen, Ambassador of Norway to Finland

Moderator: Editor Elina Kervinen, Helsingin Sanomat

14.00 Panel discussion
Panel 1: Lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and the future of Finland’s relationship with Russia
• Deputy Head of Mission, counselor Maksym Kravchuk, Embassy of Ukraine in Finland
• Ambassador Hannu Himanen, former Ambassador of Finland to Russia
• Professor Kari Liuhto, University of Turku
• Lieutenant Colonel Simo Pesu, Russia Group, National Defence University

Moderator: Member of Parliament Ville Kaunisto, First Vice Chair of Kouvola City Council

14.00 Panel discussion (Follow live stream)
Panel 2: Media Literacy, Information Influencing and Societal Resilience
• Ekaterina Glikman, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe
• Veli-Pekka Kivimäki, Specialist, SUPO
• Senior Specialist, Pauli Kopu, KLOK
• Matti Posio, Chief Editor, Lännen Media

Moderator: Specialist of international affairs, Salla Nazarenko, The union of journalists in Finland

15.00 Pause

15.15 Panel discussion
Panel 1: Security challenges of the Baltic Sea in the future (in Finnish)
• Chair of Defence Committee, MP Jukka Kopra
• Head of Unit for Security Policy and Crisis Management, Minna Laajava, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• Senior Research Fellow, Doctor Iro Särkkä, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
• Director of Department of Warfare, Colonel Pekka Turunen, National Defence University

Moderator: Editor-in-chief Petri Korhonen, Demokraatti

15.15 Panel discussion (Follow live stream)
Panel 2: How the Finnish defence industry can take advantage of Finland’s NATO membership

• Director, Lieutenant General (Retired) Mary A. Legere, Accenture Defence Global
• Manacing Director Juha Moisio, Conlog
• Executive Vice President Strategic programs, Major General (retired) Kari Renko, Patria Group
• Chief Defence Business Development Officer Kristian Tornivaara, DA-Group

Moderator: Secretary General Tuija Karanko, PIA ry

16.15
The future of the security and defence in EuropePolitical youth organisations (in Finnish)
• Vice Chairperson Maria Miala, National Coalition Party Youth
• Chairperson Lauri Laitinen, Finns Party Youth
• Vice Chairperson Kimi Uosukainen, SDP Youth
• Chairperson Aleksi Sandroos, Centre Party Youth
• Chairperson Jami Haavisto, Greens Youth
• Chairperson Pinja Vuorinen, Left Youth
• Chairperson Julia Ståhle, Swedish People’s Party Youth
• Member of Board Eemil Silventoinen, Christian Democrats Youth

Moderator: Chairman Esa Suominen, Rud Pedersen Public Affairs

17.15
Summary and closing remarks
Member of Parliament Ville Kaunisto, First Vice Chair of Kouvola City Council