Nordic Innovation Summit 2025

Past NIS Speakers Include...

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  Jay Inslee

  Governor, Washington State
  

  Jay Inslee

  Governor, Washington State

  Jay Inslee is a fifth-generation Washingtonian who has lived and worked on both sides of the state. He grew up in the Seattle area where his father, Frank, was a high school teacher and coach. His mother, Adele, worked as a sales clerk at Sears & Roebuck. Jay worked his way through college and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in economics before earning his law degree at Willamette University. He and his wife, Trudi, then moved to Selah, a small town near Yakima where they raised their three sons. Jay worked as an attorney and prosecutor.

  Jay and Trudi are now proud grandparents to six active little Inslees. Besides writing and illustrating books for his grandchildren and sketching scenes from around Washington, Jay is an avid cyclist and charter member of Hoopaholics, a youth basketball academy.

  Jay first became involved in public service in 1985 when he and Trudi helped lead the effort to build a new public high school in Selah. Motivated to fight against proposed funding cuts for rural schools, Jay went on to represent the 14th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives. He was then elected to Congress in 1992. The Inslees later moved back to Kitsap County where Jay was elected to Congress in 1998, serving until 2012 when he was elected governor.

  He is currently the longest serving governor in the United States.

  During his time in Congress, Jay became known as a forward-thinking leader, especially on issues of clean energy and climate change. He co-wrote a book, "Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean-Energy Economy," about fighting climate change through clean energy innovation and job-creation. As governor, he has helped put Washington state at the forefront of climate action and is helping lead numerous subnational partnerships. Since 2013, the state has passed nation-leading policies to transition to 100% clean electricity, cap carbon pollution, electrify transportation, and more.

  Over the past decade, Washington has consistently been among the few states to rank as one of the best states for business and one of the best states for workers. From commercial space and sustainable maritime to advanced agriculture and forest products, the growth of Washington’s key sectors is helping attract new companies and create jobs in communities all across the state. Washington has one of the nation’s highest minimum wages, paid sick leave for all workers, a best-in-the-nation paid family leave program, and one of the highest union membership rates.

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  Karin Ekdahl Wästberg

  Director of Innovation, City of Stockholm
  

  Karin Ekdahl Wästberg

  Director of Innovation, City of Stockholm

  Karin Ekdahl Wästberg, director of innovation, has a long career in the City of Stockholm, and has held numerous positions in the city. For six years, Karin Ekdahl Wästberg served as Head of the Vice Mayor’s Office. Before being appointed Chief Innovation Officer, Mrs Ekdahl Wästberg served as Head of the Elderly Services Administration. For three years (2016-2019), Karin Ekdahl Wästberg worked for the Swedish government on trust-based governance and management for the public sector.

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  Chris Levesque

  President & CEO, TerraPower
  

  Chris Levesque

  President & CEO, TerraPower

  Chris Levesque is president and chief executive officer of TerraPower, and also serves as a member of the TerraPower Board. He was appointed to that position in November 2018 after having served as president of TerraPower since 2015. Levesque leads this nuclear innovation company in the pursuit of next-generation nuclear energy solutions and also oversees TerraPower’s new venture into therapeutic medical isotopes. His proven track record in scoping, planning and implementing complex projects began with his service in the U.S. Nuclear Navy and features more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear field. 

  Levesque holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Master of Science in mechanical engineering and a Naval Engineer degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also serves on the Board of the Nuclear Energy Institute.

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  Mikko Hautala

  Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the United States of America

  
  
  

  Mikko Hautala

  Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the United States of America

  
  

  Mikko Hautala became Ambassador of Finland to the United States in September 2020. Prior to that (2016-2020), he served as Ambassador of Finland to Russia. 

  In 2012-2016 Ambassador Hautala worked as Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of the Republic of Finland. In 2011, he was appointed Deputy Head of Mission to Embassy of Finland to Russia, located in Moscow.

  Ambassador Hautala has also served as the Diplomatic Advisor the to Minister for Foreign Affairs (2007-2011) as well as the First Secretary at the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU in Brussels (2002-2007).

  In the beginning of his career, he has served as Attaché at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki (2001-2002) and as Attaché at the Embassy of Finland in Kyiv, Ukraine (1998-2001). He joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 2001.

  In August 2020, Hautala was awarded (“Ambassador Prize”) by the Confederation of Finnish Industries for his excellent work in promoting the interests of Finnish companies in Russia. During his career, he has received several civil and military decorations both nationally and internationally.

  Ambassador Hautala was born in 1972 in Seinäjoki, Finland. He holds degrees in Master of Political Science (M.Pol.Sc) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil), both from Helsinki University. He currently holds the military rank of Captain (RESVT).

  Ambassador Hautala is, in addition to the native Finnish, fluent in English, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian and Polish. He likes to read and think.

  He is married to Heli Hautala, who is also a career diplomat. They have two sons.

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  Jessyn Farrell, J.D.

  Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), City of Seattle
  

  Jessyn Farrell, J.D.

  Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), City of Seattle

  Jessyn Farrell, J.D., is a leader in building public consensus on difficult issues related to the environment, housing, transportation, and the economy.   A long-time environmental advocate, Jessyn’s career has spanned the public, private, non-profit, and philanthropic sectors as a state legislator from the 46th District, Executive Director of Transportation Choices and most recently as the Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) for the City of Seattle.  As a legislator, Jessyn passed ground-breaking legislation on oil-by-rail safety, affordable housing near transit centers, education supports for low-income and homeless youth, protections for pregnant workers and restrictions to cell-phone use while driving.  As Director of OSE, Jessyn leads efforts to reduce climate pollution and ensure a clean and healthy environment for all residents of Seattle.  She has three kids, a dog, two cats and is working on her first book.

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  Tony Pan

  Co-Founder & CEO, Modern Hydrogen
  

  Tony Pan

  Co-Founder & CEO, Modern Hydrogen

  Modern produces clean hydrogen at the point of use by decarbonizing gas, and also sells and sequesters the captured carbon as a clean material to decarbonize the built environment.  Prior experiences: Member of Global Future Council on Energy, World Economic Forum. Strategist, Goldman Sachs. Pro bono consultant on global health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Global Good Fund. Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations. PhD in Physics, Harvard. Named to Forbes 30 under 30, MIT Technology Review Innovators under 35, Business Journal 40 under 40.  Inventor of 250+ patents pending.

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  Markus Paulsson

  Energy Strategist, City of Lund
  

  Markus Paulsson

  Energy Strategist, City of Lund

  Markus Paulsson is energy strategist at the city of Lund and project manager for CoAction Lund, a system demonstrator for how a city can become climate neutral. Markus has many years of experience of leading innovative project where the city cooperates with companies to master new solutions. With a PhD in biology, experiences from companies and working for a city he has a holistic view of the society.

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  Peter Zonneveld

  President, Neste US
  

  Peter Zonneveld

  President, Neste US

  Peter Zonneveld is the President of Neste US. Neste is the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, and renewable feedstock solutions for various polymers and chemicals industry uses. Peter assumed his current role in April 2024. Based in Houston, he is responsible for navigating direction and aligning strategy for Neste’s operations in the Americas region, and he acts as Neste’s primary representative for the external community in the US.

  Prior to his current role, Peter joined Neste’s Geneva, Switzerland office in 2016 and served as the Vice President, Renewable Road Transport for the company’s Europe and Asia Pacific regions, where he led a team to increase the distribution and accessibility of renewable diesel.

  Peter has a track record of success in driving business growth for major energy companies including BP and Castrol. Peter is a strong enthusiast of Neste’s vision to create a healthier planet for our children – by promoting immediate action on climate change through renewable and circular solutions. He received his Master's degree in Business Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

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  Linda Andrén

  Executive Director, Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative
  

  Linda Andrén

  Executive Director, Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative

  Linda Andrén is the Executive Director of the Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative. With over 20 years in global management, she excels at embedding sustainability within strategic business growth. Linda's past leadership roles include heading business units and acting as the Vice President of Business Development & Sustainability. She champions the green transition, striving to turn strategies into reality, and firmly believes in sustainability as both a vital responsibility and a vector for business innovation through digital and eco-friendly solutions. Currently, she is focused on propelling this transition through transatlantic partnerships from her base in Washington, D.C.