Regional Council
We at the the Regional Council of Southwest Finland work to create new possibilities for innovative business, infrastructure and digital connections, comfortable living and wellbeing, at the same time developing sustainable solutions for the environment and cherishing our unique Archipelago Sea. We make the region and its strengths known both regionally, nationally, and internationally.
The Regional Council of Southwest Finland is a regional authority, with the region’s 27 municipalities as members and owners. The decisions are made democratically by the Regional Assembly and the managing board. Our personnel of roughly 70 experts concentrates on core tasks such as regional development, land use planning, and promotion of interests. We have also an important role in managing and granting regional EU-funds. Our Council acts as the Managing Autority for Central Baltic Interreg -programme.
Do you want to know more? Contact us!
Sonja Palhus, Manager of Internationl Affairs
I maintain the region’s connections with international partners. On the behalf of Southwest Finland, I communicate within the Baltic Sea Cooperation and with the European Union. I support the operators of the region in their international affairs and welcome international guests to Southwest Finland.
Maritime Industry
Petteri Partanen, Business Manager
Electric Mobility
Petteri Partanen, Business Manager
Food Chains
Riikka Leskinen, Head of Department
Life Science and Health Tech
Salla-Maria Lauttamäki, Development Manager
Culture And Tourism
Erika Mäkeläinen, Planner, Cultural Affairs and Communications
Esa Högblom, Senior Planner, Tourism, Education, Foresight
Other themes
Open data
Antti Vasanen, Head of Information Services
Maiju Kähärä, Cooperation Coordinator
Education, Foresight
Esa Högblom, Senior Planner, Tourism, Education, Foresight
The Southwest Finland Foresight Academy
Recreation
Sami Heinonen, Agent for Archipelago and Rural Areas
Circular Economy
Riikka Leskinen, Head of Department
Traffic
Salla Murmann, Senior Planner, Transport Systems
Natural and Cultural Environments, Land Use Planning
Virpi Mamia, Regional Architect (Land Use Manager)
Archipelago
Sami Heinonen, Agent for Archipelago and Rural Areas
Malla Rannikko-Laine, Development Manager
Maritime Spatial Planning
Timo Juvonen, Senior Planner, Environment and Maritime Spatial Planning