Nine members have been appointed to the new senate of Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), five of whom are from outside the university. The outside members are Tapio Kuula, President and CEO of Fortum, Tuomo Rönkkö, CEO of MaintPartner, Seppo Miettinen, Mayor of Lappeenranta, Laura Lares, CEO of Kalevala Koru, and Arja Suominen, Senior Vice President, Communications, Nokia.
”The outside members have exactly the kind of expertise that supports and strengthens the areas of strategic importance to us. The university’s own expertise is complemented aptly by that of industries. We highly value the fact that these people in particular are now involved in the development of our university,” states Rector Ilkka Pöyhönen.
Prior to Fortum, Tapio Kuula was employed as, for instance, the executive vice president of Imatran Voima. Kuula’s other key positions of trust include vice chairman of the board of Teollisuuden Voima, and membership in the supervisory board of the Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company.
”I’m glad to join the Lappeenranta University of Technology senate. I have come to know the university for its strong expertise in energy technology, its good cooperation with industries, and especially its close collaboration with Russian partners,” mentions Tapio Kuula.
Laura Lares, Doctor of Science (Technology), has worked before Kalevala Koru in development positions within the forest industry, as a professor of engineering and technology management, and as the director of a centre of expertise.
”I am grateful to my Alma Mater for the technological and business thinking that I have adopted, for my ability to combine theory and practice, and for my open-minded approach to management. The further my career has taken me, the clearer the role of these issues has become in business and in society,” relates CEO Lares.
Seppo Miettinen, Master of Laws with court training, has been building the international university city of Lappeenranta since the year 1977 as a city counsel and in other roles as a legal professional. Miettinen was also a member of the previous LUT senate.
Tuomo Rönkkö has previously worked as the CEO of Andritz-Ahlstrom, for example. He is currently a member of the board of the Confederation of Finnish Industries, the chair of Palvelualat ry, and the chairman of the board of the Society for Viipuri School of Economics. He, also, is an LUT graduate.
Arja Suominen is in charge of Nokia’s global communication. She has worked for Nokia in a number of capacities since 1986.
The members appointed from within LUT are Professor Jarmo Partanen, D.Sc. (Tech.), Professor Kaisu Puumalainen, D.Sc. (Tech.), Lecturer Ritva Tuunila, D.Sc. (Tech.) and Technology Student Joonas Grönlund.
The senate was appointed on 26 August 2009 in accordance with the new Universities Act. The term of LUT’s previous senate ends at the end of this year. The new senate starts its work immediately.
Further information:
Rector Ilkka Pöyhönen, 040 571 8970, ilkka.poyhonen(at)lut.fi