Liisa joined Kind Atom in 2023 after retiring from the ministry where she was responsible for nuclear energy. Before that, she worked on both the power company and research side.

Liisa acts as the policy advisor at Kind Atom, supporting customers in setting up their strategic direction. She is especially active in the Nordic nuclear build, the EU commission activities, as well as the Finnish nuclear society.

Liisa has an MSc degree in mechanical engineering and a DrTech degree in material sciences. She was born in Helsinki and lives in Espoo (Finland).

Career and experience

Liisa (LinkedIn) carries over 40 years of experience in the nuclear branch, first in expert and then in management positions. She understands the perspectives of key parties after working for nuclear research, power company, and ministry organizations:

• Director of nuclear energy and fuels (Energy Department, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Finland, 2017-2023):

  • Leading national-level activities related to the use of nuclear energy as well as international cooperation and legal commitments;

  • Renewing and issuing nuclear licenses for power generation, nuclear waste, decommissioning, and uranium recovery;

  • Chairing the national nuclear waste management working group and the related program notification to the EU;

  • Renewing nuclear legislation, nuclear energy and liability acts, and waste management fund and security paragraphs;

  • Organizing IAEA peer reviews for the Loviisa and Olkiluoto plants (national IRRS, ARTEMIS, IPPAS, and OSART);

  • Chairing the EC Working Group for Nuclear Issues and the IAEA WG on Climate Change and Role of Nuclear Power;

  • Reviewing the EU Joint Research Center activities and the EU Horizon program implementation (Euratom);

• Leading the R&D and nuclear waste administration at TVO (R&D manager, Teollisuuden Voima Oy, 2009-2016);

• Leading the materials research area, with more than 80 researchers (Head of materials for power engineering, VTT, 2002-2008);

• Scientific career with a main focus on the aging of materials and components in nuclear power plants (VTT, 1982-2002).