Liisa Kallio

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

As been part of ECMH Organizing committee from it´s beginning I am delighted to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year. My role in ECMH is multiple and my main challenge is to find and build up good connections with conference venues and network in a country where conference is held. I work a lot with contracts and structure with ECMH but also with content together with my fellow organizers. I have got many friends around the world and am looking forward to get even more in future conferences. My professional background is in social sciences and I have worked a lot with addiction care as well as leadership and management. I believe in a power of communities and peer support as well as in recovery orientated practices. Nowadays I work as professional coach and supervisor and an event producer.

Virve Repo

PhD, Conference Coordinator, Finland, virve.repo(at)evipro.fi

I have been part of the ECMH family since 2011, when the conference was held in Turku, Finland. Since then I have changed my job, finished my MA in cultural history and PhD in human geography. My research interests are related to  study of institutions as well as aged people and spatial justice. In my thesis I studied Finnish nursing homes and gero-psychiatric wards. Currently I work at Tampere University as a post-doctoral research fellow studying ageing in place in suburbs.  Organizing the ECMH conference have been a joyous experience and an excellent opportunity to meet people and gain new friends from all over the world. On my free time I study classical singing, play ukulele, practice pilates and yoga and knit.

Lauri Kuosmanen

Adjunct Professor, PhD, RN, FEANS, Committee Member, Finland, lauri.kuosmanen(at)evipro.fi

I am one of the founders of ECMH and these 10 years have been a wonderful journey. I am very grateful for the possibility to work in different countries and cultures and getting new friends from all over the world. For me, ECMH is absolutely highlight of the year. My professional background is in mental health nursing and I have work experience from different positions in health care for 30 years now. I did my PhD in nursing science in 2009 and received title of docent (adjunct professor) in 2013. My research interests are related to bio-ethics, human rights, digitalisation and evaluation of health services. Besides ECMH, I am working at University of Eastern Finland. On my free time I play drums in a punk band, exercise in different ways and enjoy good food.

Susanna Jaakkola

Key Account Manager, Conference Coordinator, Finland

I have participated in a ECMH conference as a volunteer for several times already. My first time was in Belfast and after that two conference experiences as online and then again in Lisbon. Now I am actually a newcomer as conference coordinator this year in Ljublijana.
I have always been interested in the different cultures and with the conference I have been able to get to know and to work with many interesting people from the different countries. It makes me very happy and every year I have learned something new.
I work as key account manager in the social and health sector, in mental health and substance abuse. My educational background is in mental health nursing and in bachelor of business administration. On my free time I like to exercise and spend time with my children. I especially like horse riding, outdoor activities, travelling and the sea.

Frans Elias

Conference Coordinator, Sweden