DREAM+PLAN Kick-Off Meeting
EU-FOCUSED.
14 - 16 October 2025, Paasitorni Event Centre, Helsinki.
3-Day jam-packed agenda with ~70 DREAM+PLAM Community Participants, including newly recruited Doctoral Candidates, EU-Supervisors, Industry Representatives, Management Team.
DREAM+PLAN Kick Off Meeting - Agenda.
Professor Anne-Laure Mention, Director, Global Business Innovation Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University | DREAM+PLAN Chief Investigator & Academic Lead was delighted to bring together ~70 attendees from the DREAM+PLAN Community to Helsinki for the EU-Focused DREAM+PLAN Kick-Off Meeting.
An exciting 3-day program also offered ample opportunities for networking, Community-Building, rich discussion, and solidification of shared vision, and passion to nurture the next generation of visionary changemakers to collaboratively creating societal impact.
After a formal opening by Professor Mention, we were privileged to hear from inspiring speakers, including Saija Vuola, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry, Environment of Finland; Eeva Hellström, Senior Lead, Foresight and Training, The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Finland; Ms Helena Sarén, Head of Zero Carbon Footprint Mission, Business Finland; Krista Virtanen, Founder & CEO, Krista Virtanen Design; Katri Einola, Lead of Regenerative Approach at Ramboll; Ville Naumanen, Director, EMRC (Kempower Electric Mobility Research Centre), LUT School of Business and Management, Lappeenranta; Annu Huotari, CEO and co-owner of Hawkhill. From these incredible speakers, we were left with much to be inspired by and to think about. Annu's quote, "Change begins when we choose to move together in the same direction" is a motto that so very much resonates with the entire DREAM+PLAN Community.
Eco-emotions researcher Panu Pihkala, Ph.D., and psychologist Sammi Saarimäki, a long-term leader in Tunne ry (a DREAM+PLAN Associated Partner), session emphasised environmental issues and various dynamics of "eco-anxiety", in particular, why it is important to pay attention to emotional regulation. We together explored many possibilities in emotions and how they make us alive but also sometimes require special consideration and care.
Dr. Sophie Altrock and Dr. Kateryna Kryzhanivska brilliantly introduced two new training initiatives for DREAM+PLAN Doctoral Candidates: Article Adventures, and a Peer Mentoring Program.
This gives a snapshot of the Agenda and these photos represent some of the great many brilliant experiences across the 3-Day Event.
DREAM+PLAN is Co-Funded by the European Union.
