Systems Analysis Laboratory 40 Years

Building Solutions for an Uncertain Future

Systems Analysis Laboratory 40 Years Anniversary Seminar 

The Systems Analysis Laboratory was founded 40 years ago as a key education and research unit in its field.

We are celebrating our anniversary by organizing an inspiring and forward-looking seminar for SAL alumni members, students, staff and collaborators.

This seminar takes stock of what systems analysis and operations research have offered in terms of valued education, enduring scientific contributions, and positive impacts on society. It also explores what competencies and scientific advances are needed to navigate successfully in the face of future uncertainties. 

The seminar provides unique opportunities for networking before and after succinct speeches by influential experts and executives.  

Programme of the SAL 40 Years Anniversary Seminar

14:00 Networking over coffee and sandwiches 
14:30 Doors open
14:45 Seminar 

• Welcoming words
  Jyri Hämäläinen, Vice-President for Research
  Aalto University
• Climate change mitigation – multi-objective solutions
  Jyri Seppälä, Professor, Chair of the Finnish Climate Panel
  Finnish Environment Institute
• More operations research graduates are needed in the financial sector
  Jyri Helenius, Deputy Director General
  Financial Supervisory Authority
• Systems Analysis Laboratory in support to the Finnish Air Force
  Kari Renko, Executive Vice President
  Patria 
• Systems analysis for strategic foresight
  Eeva Vilkkumaa, Assistant Professor of Management Science
  Aalto School of Business
• Political systems analysis
  Ville Brummer, Director of Peace Mediation
  Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Finland
   

16:15 Networking over cocktails
18:00 Seminar ends

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Invited Speakers
 

• Jyri Seppälä works as research professor at the climate solutions unit of the Finnish Environment Institute. His specialty is various lifecycle-based climate and environmental impact analyses of consumption an­­­­­­­­­­­­d production. He has acted as the leader of numerous research and development projects and as a producer and member of various working groups dealing with environmental issues. He is also the national director of the municipalities' climate network, HINKU. He has been a member of the Finnish climate panel since 2011 and is currently the panel's chairman.
   
• Jyri Helenius holds an M.Sc. in Technology with a major in System and Operations Research. He has been the Deputy Director General at the Financial Supervisory Authority since 2017 and has previously held various leadership roles within the same organization. 
  Jyri’s career also includes 15 years at some of the largest banks in Finland. For example, he led the risk modelling unit of OP Financial Group and worked with risk modelling at Nordea Group. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors at the European Banking Authority and served on the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank.
   
• Kari Renko is an Executive Vice President for Strategic Programs at the defence and technology company Patria. He retired in 2022 as a Major General (Eng.) from the position of Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, with responsibilities for procuring, sustaining, and supporting all defence materials and providing logistic services to the Defence Forces. Previously, he held management positions at the Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Headquarters and Karelia Air Command. He has served as an Assistant Defence Attaché in Washington, D.C. He holds a Master of Science in aeronautical engineering and has been honoured with a Doctor of Science in Technology from Aalto University.
   

• Eeva Vilkkumaa is an Assistant Professor of Management Science at the Department of Information and Service Management at Aalto School of Business. She received her doctoral degree in 2014 at the Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis at Aalto School of Science. Her research interests include multicriteria decision analysis, portfolio decision analysis, scenario methods, and applications to healthcare and strategy development. Vilkkumaa has published in leading scientific journals such as Operations Research and European Journal of Operational Research. She has 17 years of experience of teaching operations research courses at Aalto University and Aalto Executive Education and Professional Development.

• Ville Brummer is a Director of Peace Mediation and Member of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Finland. Prior to his current role he was the Programme Director (2013 - 2024) and the Head of the Research & Development unit (2010 – 2013) in CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, a private organization which aims to prevent and resolve violent political conflict. Dr. Brummer have extensive knowledge on geopolitics, multilateral cooperation and peace processes in Africa, the Middle East, Post-soviet space and Asia. He holds a degree of Doctor of Science (Tech) from Aalto University.

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Registration 

Please sign up now to reserve your seat to this memorable seminar 
(deadline for registrations 6 January 2025): Registration link

Programme changes are possible, so please check this event page for up-to-date information. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

The seminar is supported by the Aalto Networking Platform.

We wish you warmly welcome to our anniversary seminar!

SAL Faculty
Ahti Salo, Fabricio Oliveira, Philine Schiewe, 
Risto Lahdelma, Kai Virtanen, Fernado Dias, 
Tuomas Raivio, Harri Ehtamo, Raimo Hämäläinen, 
Helmi Hankimaa, Leevi Olander, Minna Westerlund
Event support by Mary-Ann Alfthan