25.03.2026
the Board of the Regional Assembly appoints members to key working groups
At its meeting on 16 March 2026, the Government of Northern Ostrobothnia appointed members to three key working groups: the Advisory Board for Organisations, the Cooperation Group for Education and Research and the Advisory Board for Climate Work. The appointments concern the current term of office.
The Advisory Board for Organisations promotes Participation and Participation and Inclusion and cooperation
The task of the Advisory Board is to strengthen the role of organisations in the development of the region and to increase their visibility. The Advisory Board promotes the Participation and Participation and Inclusion of citizens and organisations, coserve ass in cooperation in cooperation with the wellbeing services county Pohde and develops cooperation between organisations and the public sector.
A large number of representatives of organisations, municipalities and expert organisations were appointed to the Advisory Board, including representatives of the Northern Ostrobothnia Village Regional Assembly, the Finnish Red Cross Oulu District, the City of Oulu and the Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia.
This is the fourth term of office of the Advisory Board. The Presidium shall be elected from in cooperation in cooperation within the Advisory Board.
Cooperation group for education and research brings together experts from the region
The cooperation group for education and research functions as a regional cooperation forum, the aim of which is to form an overall picture of education and research in the region and to outline competence development.
The group's tasks also include strengthening cooperation between education and research organisations, utilising foresight data, developing the regional competence ecosystem and advocacy for the county's interests.
The Cooperation Group shall be chaired by: Markus Erkkilä and as a secretary Mikko Väisänen Regional Assembly of Oulu Region. The group includes representatives from the University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Centria, secondary schools, businesses and labour market organisations.
The Climate Work Advisory Board steers the county's climate goals
The task of the Climate Work Advisory Board is to guide the preparation and monitoring of regional climate and energy targets. It promotes the realisation of strategic objectives and strengthens cooperation between different stakeholders.
The the Board of the Regional Assembly appointed the chairperson Lauri Nikulan and Vice-President Esa Aalto 's. The Advisory Board includes a wide range of experts from research, education, business, organisations and the public sector. Participants include representatives of the University of Oulu, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Metsähallitus, SYKE and municipalities and cities. The advisory board is now in its third term.
Composition of working groups
Advisory Board for Organisations
Esa Aunola from Northern Ostrobothnia Village Regional Assembly, Jussi Ylitalo from Northern Ostrobothnia Sports Regional Assembly, Virpi Kilpijärvi from Koillismaa Leader Regional Assembly, Jari Miettunen from Northern Ostrobothnia Youth Regional Assembly, Raija Näppä from Youth Friends Regional Assembly, Anna Katajala from Northern Ostrobothnia Social and Health Security Regional Assembly, Mirja Kaartinen from Oulu 4H Regional Assembly, Risto Örling from Central Union of Pensioners Oulu District Regional Assembly, Pertti Kukkonen from Auta Lasta Regional Assembly, Piritta Pietilä-Litendahl from Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr, Eija Tuomaala from Lions District 107-I ry, Miia Seppänen from the Finnish Red Cross Oulu District, Pasi Laukka from the City of Oulu, Eeva Vaskilampi from the City of Pyhäjärvi, Ilpo Tapaninen from the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, Auli Suorsa from the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, Kukka Kukkonen from the Regional Assembly of Northern Finland and Helena Liimatainen from the Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Area Pohte.
Cooperation group on education and research
Matti Väänänen from JEDU, Markku Oikarinen from the Bourgeois and Commercial School of Raahe, Hannele Keränen from Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Marianne Hirn from Centria, Matti Latva-aho from the University of Oulu, Eine Kela from the Northern Finland Vitality Centre, Mari Viirelä from the Oulu Chamber of Commerce, Santeri Palviainen from Akava, Marjo Kolehmainen from the Northern Ostrobothnia Entrepreneurs, Jarmo Paloniemi from OSAO, Tanja Vähäoja from STTK, Seija Norup Vocational College from Luovi, Reija Paananen from Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Mervi Mäkihonka from Ylivieska-Kalajoki-Nivala from the Employment Area, Teea Oja from the Raahe Employment Area, Päivi Jämsä from the Oulu Employment Area, Markus Erkki from the North Ostrobothia Regional Assembly, Ari Näpänkangas from the Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Assembly and Mikko Väisänen from the Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Assembly.
Advisory Board for Climate Work
Chair Lauri Nikula from the the Board of the Regional Assembly, Vice-Chair Esa Aalto from the the Board of the Regional Assembly, Teemu Aho from Centria University of Applied Sciences, (name to be announced) Jokilaaksot Educational Consortium from JEDU, Anna Kotamäki from Central Ostrobothnia Entrepreneurs, Sanna Matikainen from OSAO, Anne Tolvanen from the Natural Resources Institute Finland, Jari Ahlholm from MTK, Heidi Siira from Metsähallitus, Jere Viinamäki from the Regional Youth Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia, Anna Tyni from Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Esa Pellikainen from Oulu Chamber of Commerce, Eva Pongracz from the University of Oulu, Timo Lehtiniemi from the Northern Finland Vitality Centre, Jussi Rämet from the Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia, Markus Erkkilä from the Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia, Ritva Isomäki from the Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia, Marika Sohlo from ProAgria Oulu, Esko Saari from the Northern Ostrobothnia district of the Finnish Regional Assembly for Nature Conservation, Maria Isolahti from the Finnish Forest Centre, Teemu Ulvi from the Finnish Environment Institute, Matias Ojalehto from the municipality of Reisjärvi, Maarit Talvitie from the city of Oulu, Kaija Muraja from the municipality of Kempele and Jari Hentilä from Naturpolis Oy.
