I was born in Helsinki in 1993. My childhood home was in Malminkartano, where we lived with my parents until my early twenties. We lived in a Helsinki city rental apartment, a small two-room flat. Over the years, playing and hanging out with neighborhood friends gradually expanded beyond our courtyard to neighboring yards, playgrounds, the Jättäri landfill hill, and the local shopping center—even as far as Myyrmäki.
My parents had moved to Finland a few years earlier as Ingrian Finnish returnees. The first member of my family to arrive was my grandmother, Hilma Kiiranen, who had already lived in Finland during the war when Ingrians were evacuated here. I was close to my grandmother, and her background, life experiences, and attitude left a strong mark on me.
I also started school in Malminkartano, attending Malminkartano Primary School for my first school years. Although, my educational path had already begun earlier at a nearby daycare, Päivänkakkara. Another important place for me was Leikkipuisto Piika, where we played and participated in various activities, but also took on responsibilities—helping serve summer meals, acting as assistant instructors for younger children, building a homemade traffic park, and caring for domestic animals. Yes, in the early 2000s, Helsinki’s playgrounds could still have horses, rabbits, and chickens!
In the third grade, I transferred to Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu (SYK). This broadened my world and social circles. I have always been curious about learning and taken school seriously, and SYK provided a great environment for that. Besides studying, my time was filled with school-related activities: SYK’s traditions include large theater productions, working on the school newspaper, clubs, lifeguarding jobs, international projects, and competitions.
At school, we were encouraged to express our opinions and be socially active. SYK played a major role in sparking my interest in civic engagement: I served as student council and student union president, participated in various committees, and was a member of the school board. And of course, as we got older, hanging out in the city and attending house parties became a part of life. I graduated from SYK in 2012.
Throughout my childhood and youth, I played tennis and occasionally tried other hobbies. My athletic accomplishments were slim. I did, however, dedicate a lot of time to another passion—Scouting. I joined the Huipunvaltaajat troop as a Cub Scout. At thirteen, I took the troop leader course and began leading a troop, organizing trips, and managing the local group’s day-to-day activities. Scouting also led me to attend a wilderness confirmation camp and become a young confirmed volunteer. Scouting has been my most important training ground for responsibility and leadership, and I still rely on the foundation built there.
After high school, I wasn’t sure which career path would be best for me. I started studying at the Faculty of Law at the University of Helsinki and at Aalto University’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. I was drawn to the broad scope of studies of both programs and the diverse opportunities they offered. I earned my Master of Laws degree in 2020. During my studies, I also worked for a few years in housing law at Suomen Vuokranantajat. On the other hand, it seems I am destined to become a forever Teekkari!
Alongside my studies, my civic and political involvement grew. I realized that the best way for me to make a difference in society was through politics. I served as the Chair of the Finnish Upper Secondary School Students’ Union in 2013 and as the Chair of the Youth of the National Coalition Party in 2016-2017. That role also took me into the party’s executive board and involved me in the work of the parliamentary and ministerial groups. From 2017 to 2019, I worked as a special advisor to the Minister of Education, and from 2020 to 2021, I served as the strategy director of the National Coalition Party.
I completed my military service in Santahamina at the Guard Jaeger Regiment. My service also included time at the Reserve Officer School in Hamina and some service at the Army Headquarters in Mikkeli. At the Reserve Officer School, I had the honor of serving as the chair of my course, Loisto. As a officer candidate, I worked in legal affairs.
I have been working on building a better Helsinki ever since 2015 when I joined the city’s education board. Since then, my passion and commitment have deepened, and my responsibilities have grown. In 2017, I was elected to the Helsinki City Council, and in 2018, I joined the City Board. During the last council term, I also served for two and a half years as the chair of the National Coalition Party’s council group. In 2021, I was elected Deputy Mayor responsible for social and health services, and with the healthcare reform, my portfolio expanded to include rescue services. I have also led the party’s City Board group in Helsinki’s weekly decision-making processes.
I share my daily life with my partner Anita. In addition to our home in Helsinki, we also have a place in Tammisaari, where Anita is from. Our everyday life involves two locations—and two languages. Thanks to our relationship, I have been immersed in a deep dive course of Swedish. To balance a hectic schedule, I enjoy reading and exercising. Running or cycling along Helsinki’s shores is the best way to clear my mind, and I have even revived my old tennis hobby. Cooking is also a way for me to relax. There you can see —and taste—the results immediately. My parents’ dog, Boss, has brought also us a lot of joy.
