LUT University's collegium has decided on new external members for the university's board. The new members are Tiina Tuomela, chief financial officer at Fortum and member of the LUT Universities Advisory Board, Tuomas Syrjänen, founder and board chair of Futurice, and Ulla Heinonen, director of green growth and management group member at the Confederation of Finnish Industries.
Out of the current members, Teresa Kemppi-Vasama, co-owner of the Kemppi Group and board member in all of its companies, and Kimmo Rauma, international business executive, investor, entrepreneur, and professional board member, will continue on the LUT board.
LUT's board has nine members, five of whom are elected from outside of the university community and four from within the university. Professors elect two members from among their peers, and students elect one. The university’s other teaching and research staff and general staff elect one member from among their group. The internal members will be chosen in an election by the end of November 2025.
LUT University's new board will start its four-year term on 1 January 2026. The board will elect a chair and vice chair from among its external members.
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Strategic expertise
The new external members reinforce the board's expertise in LUT University’s strategic focus areas. The university launched its new strategy in June, focusing on planetary resources, the digital revolution, the energy transition, and business and society.
“As an advocate for sustainability and the green economy, I find it rewarding to join the LUT board and support the university’s new strategy, which focuses on creating sustainable growth,” Ulla Heinonen says with a smile.
Tuomas Syrjänen is especially interested in modern management and business culture and in challenging conventional business practices through technology. He appreciates LUT's open-mindedness in adopting new practices and considers it significant that LUT chose the digital revolution as one of its strategic focus areas.
Tiina Tuomela brings extensive international experience in large energy industry companies to the table. She is also an LUT alumna.
“LUT has a strong desire and ability to blaze trails in the energy transition, the sustainable use of planetary resources, and the renewal of businesses, industry, and society. It’s an honour to be involved in work that looks far into Finland’s and the world’s future and aims to build resilience and ensure well-being for both people and the environment in the long term,” Tuomela says.
Teresa Kemppi-Vasama will start her third term on the LUT board and represents entrepreneurship. Her role in the Kemppi Group has established her as an expert in the international technology industry, and she is well-versed of the industry’s future possibilities. Kemppi-Vasama has a social scientist's take on the world, and she is an influential figure in business, industry, and society.
Kimmo Rauma, also elected for a third term, is one of Finland's most ambitious startup entrepreneurs. Rauma is an electrical engineering graduate from LUT and is currently a board member and partner in several high-growth businesses in the technology industry. Previously, he has served as the CEO of Visedo, which was sold to Danfoss, as well as the vice president of a Danfoss division and a board member of Danfoss's local subsidiaries.
Gratitude to departing board members
LUT University’s Rector Juha-Matti Saksa thanks the departing board members – Pia Erkinheimo, Liisa Rohweder, and Olli Rehn – for their dedicated service during the current term.
“Your ambition and visions on sustainability and the economy have helped us at LUT University to build our reputation in the national and international academic arenas. Our collaboration has been stellar,” Saksa applauds.
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