As past ICSB Director-at-large position I was involved in developing member activities between ICSB World Conferences (Inter-ICSB) and active in promoting new membership. I am currently VP of Marketing and would like to serve an additional term in that position in order to achieve the goals that the ICSB Board has set.

I have worked for various international organizations besides the university. I have done projects for numerous international bodies (UN/FAO, European Space Agency, European Union etc.), I have lived and worked a year in Dublin Ireland (Irish Management Institute, Dublin Business Innovation Centre) and studied an academic year in the US (Mississippi State Univ.).

I have carried out several international projects with partners from many countries. I feel that entrepreneurship and innovation are a strong combination in promoting the four pillars of ICSB. I am interested in using my experience and a big number of existing contacts in areas in the world where the size of existing affiliates are low or dormant/non-existing. These areas include for example Africa and Asia, where I have been involved in various research and development projects funded by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and European Union. I have conducted research in Kenya, Tanzania, and Vietnam (capital formation of farmer-owned co-operatives; management information system development, open source software development), and organized training in Kenya and in Finland for East-African delegates. I have organized entrepreneurship training courses in Vietnam for Ministry of Co-operative Development officials (training of trainers). It is my experience that international networking provides a strong support for the less advanced economies.

Another way to increase the ICSB membership is to develop existing affiliates to serve better their members. As a founder of Inter-ICSB program (+Inter-RENT) and other similar activities it would be my goal to find new ways of serving existing members and at the same time attract new members through innovative ways such as through the usage of digital media (Internet, mobile applications etc.), organising new types of activities (for example separate and joint workshops for all ICSB four pillar audiences; networking events of fast growth companies from various areas within affiliate area as well as similar international events where fast growth companies from all over the world could interact), and through activating especially younger population of researchers in various affiliates.

I have been in close collaboration with ECSB (ECSB Affiliate Office is in Turku at TSE/UTU) in participating conference organisation, scientific committees and also launched new types of initiatives for ECSB and more recently for ICSB, namely Inter-RENT/ICSB where a selected number of conference papers are developed between conferences. I also feel that even the best entrepreneurship institutions can benefit from international cooperation. Many more international players can be brought into ICSB. Modern digital technology enables us to develop synergistic activities within the ICSB web. Together we can also much more contribute to entrenpreneurial policy in various parts of the world.

Therefore, I have been involved with researchers, teachers, policy makers, and practitioners in various parts of the world. I have the needed experience, contacts, and networks to be able to serve ICSB in enlarging its activities (existing and new) in various parts of the world but especially in Africa and Asia. And not forgetting to serve the existing and new affiliates in their quest for additional members.

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