Previous Alumni of the Year
Suggest the School of Electrical Engineering Alum of the Year 2025!
Submit your suggestion by 31 August 2025.
The theme of the School of Business Homecoming Day was “International Finland in 2030?”
The biennial event featured keynote speaker Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs and School of Business alum
Propose the School of Business Alum of the Year 2024!
Please, make a suggestion by 30 September 2024
Mariana Salgado is the Alumn of the Year of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Service design expert speaks for the designers’ role in public policy creation and in helping strengthen participation.
Johanna Småros, Michael Falck and Mikko Kärkkäinen are School of Science’s alumni of the year 2023
The trio have grown software company Relex into a billion-dollar unicorn in just under two decades
Antti Valkonen honoured as School of Engineering Alumni of the Year 2023
”I hope that my example can encourage students to go abroad after graduation. The competition can get tough, but it should not scare you off. Technology graduates from Aalto have a lot to give to the world,” says Antti Valkonen.
Food out of thin air and green electricity – School of Chemical Engineering Alum of the Year Juha-Pekka Pitkänen
Alum of the Year Juha-Pekka Pitkänen draws on everything he has learned at Otaniemi when he does his work.
Heikki Holmberg, School of Electrical Engineering Alumnus of the Year 2023: The semiconductor industry is a sector of the future
The Alumnus of the Year appreciates his institute and has only noticed the value of the know-how acquired during the studies in working life.
The MBA Alum of the Year Found Meaning Challenges in the Humanitarian Field – “I Have a Talent for Managing Crises”
The MBA Alum of the Year 2023 award has been granted to Päivi Hurttia who has pursued a career in journalism and communications, among other things. Hurttia recently returned from Ethiopia where she spent a year working at the International Committee of the Red Cross, ensuring the safety of humanitarian assistance to all regions.
Katja Soini is the Alumna of the Year of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
The design professional is Senior Advisor at AFRY working with the built environment. She's also Chair of the design professionals’ association Ornamo. Soini is delighted that design is now recognised as a key factor in business management.
Kristo Ovaska is the Alumnus of the Year 2022 of the School of Business
‘There is a great deal of demand for wide-ranging competence in the labour market,’ says Kristo Ovaska
School of Electrical Engineering Alumnus of the Year 2022 Pekka Tiitinen: Electricity sector training opens up diverse career opportunities
Managing Director of ABB Finland encourages students to acquire broad experience of business life already during their studies – because experiencing a range of different work duties can teach you a lot.
Alum Maija Jokela’s work is displayed around town
The construction industry is more diverse than its reputation, realised Ramboll Finland’s Managing Director Maija Jokela during her first summer job.
Construction industry influencer Maija Jokela has been named School of Engineering Alumna of the Year 2022
’Sustainable development and energy efficiency are at the heart of planning in construction projects. Together with Aalto University, we are working to make strides in these themes as well.’
Propose the School of Business Alumnus/a of the Year 2022!
The nomination has been made every second year since 2012
Suggest the next Electrical Engineering Alumna or Alumnus of the Year
Submit your suggestion by 27 September 2022.
Alumnus of the Year 2021 Petteri Koponen: a never-ending interest in studying new things has served me well as a start-up entrepreneur and investor
Petteri Koponen, a venture capitalist at Lifeline Ventures, has been named the Alumnus of the Year for 2021 at the Aalto University School of Science. He has established four companies, including Jaiku and First Hop, and he is currently the Chair of the Board at Wolt and Varjo.
Alumna of the Year 2021 Reetta Kaila has built a career that lives up to her values
Reetta Kaila, D.Sc. (Tech.), has been selected as the Alumna of the Year 2021 of the School of Chemical Engineering. Kaila, who is the Director of Sustainable Fuels and Environment at Wärtsilä Energy, is on a mission to reduce emissions and create a sustainable society.
Alumnus of the Year Mikko J. Salminen encourages multidisciplinary studies
Mikko J. Salminen was selected as Alumnus of the Year for 2021 at Aalto University's School of Electrical Engineering. The selection was made public at the SIK100 seminar of the Guild of Electrical Engineering on Saturday, 23 October.