Organizing Committee

Liisa Kallio

Chair of the Organizing Committee, M.Soc.Sc, Finland, liisa.kallio(at)evipro.fi

Bio

I have been part of the ECMH Organising Committee since its inception. My role involves building connections with conference venues and networking in host countries, managing contracts, and collaborating on content with fellow organisers. I’ve made many friends globally and look forward to meeting more at future conferences. My professional background is in social sciences, with extensive experience in addiction care, leadership, and management. I believe in the power of communities, peer support, and recovery-oriented practices. Currently, I work as a professional coach, supervisor, and event producer.

Lauri Kuosmanen

Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee, Adjunct Professor, PhD, RN, FEANS, Finland, lauri.kuosmanen(at)evipro.fi

Bio

I am one of the founders of the European Conference on Mental Health (ECMH), and I deeply value the opportunity the conference provides to work across diverse countries and cultures while building lasting friendships around the world. ECMH is truly the highlight of my year. During my career, I have worked as a nurse and nurse manager in specialised mental health services, contributed to service development projects in primary health care, and been actively involved in numerous societal and professional initiatives related to health care ethics, human rights, and health systems evaluation. In addition to my work with ECMH, I am employed at the University of Eastern Finland. Outside of work, I enjoy physical exercise and good food.

Susanna Jaakkola

Conference Coordinator, Bachelor of Business Administration, Psychiatric Nurse, Finland

Bio

I have volunteered at ECMH conferences multiple times, starting in Belfast in 2018. I love learning about different cultures and meeting interesting people from various countries through the conference. I work as a key account manager in the social and health sector, focusing on mental health and substance abuse. My educational background includes mental health nursing and a bachelor’s in business administration. In my free time, I enjoy exercising, spending time with my children, horse riding, outdoor activities, travelling, and the sea.

Aaro Tiensuu

Conference Coordinator, Bachelor of Business Administration, Finland

Bio

I began my involvement in the ECMH as a bag distributor at the age of 15 during the Tallinn event. Since then, I have worked as a general assistant for over ten years and currently serve as a conference coordinator, responsible for tasks such as invoicing.

Frans Elias

Conference Coordinator, Sweden

Bio

I was coming along from the first conference in Turku, Finland. I have enjoyed working with the event because the structure is clear, and people seem to feel safe with the rhythm at the conference. After 14 years´ experience, everything goes smoothly. As a coordinator, I have felt that it is easy to work with participants who are committed to the ECMH.