Jamie Johnston is an Associate Professor at OsloMet University in Norway and a lecturer at the University of Iceland. Her research centers on the role of libraries and cultural institutions in promoting social inclusion, civic engagement, and democratic participation. A key focus of her work is evaluating library services, particularly user participation and collaborative programming, as essential tools for addressing societal challenges and strengthening democratic processes.
Mia Høj Mathiasson
Mia Mathiasson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Denmark, the Department of Media, Design, Education and Cognition. She has been involved in the international research projects UPSCALE: Upscaling sustainable collaborative consumption using public libraries, and ALMPUB: Archives, Libraries and Museums, Digitalization and the Public Sphere, both funded by the Norwegian Research Council. Currently a member of the PubLIB for Refugees Research Group.
Tapani Sainio
Tapani Sainio works as Senior Ministerial Advisor at the Ministry of Education and Culture. His special areas of interest are digitisation and culture in general, but cover also digital services of public libraries, sustainability and civil preparedeness. In his speech Tapani will introduce the roles and tasks of public libraries precented in some recent Government strategies.
Isto Turpeinen
Isto Turpeinen, Doctor of Arts (Dance), is dance expert, researcher, and pedagogue. Currently he is working as Senior Specialist at Art, Health and Wellbeing Advisory Service in Art Promotion Centre Finland. One of the recent focus areas of his work has been the project ‘Wellbeing and Culture for Aging,’ part of the National Program of Aging 2030 – For an age-competent Finland.
Ida Udovic
Ida Udovic works as a Director for the five libraries in Järva in Stockholm: Kista, Rinkeby, Tensta, Husby and Spånga. Ida has previously worked as a director in other areas of Stockholm. The entire Stockholm City Library has around 40 libraries around the city. She has also experience with international issues and aid, especially with Africa, the Middle East and former Yugoslavia.
Hannele Valkeeniemi
Hannele Valkeeniemi is the the Director of Finnish Institute in Tallinn, Estonia. Previously she worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the press counsellor in the Embassy of Finland in Tallinn. Before that Valkeeniemi worked more than twenty years as a Current Affairs journalist and producer in Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE).
