Ulla Ruuskanen

Ulla Ruuskanen is a senior advisor and manager for Avia Network, a co-creation platform for Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and the Airport City Aviapolis stakeholders. She is a marketing communications professional and has worked in advertisement agencies and international growth companies before moving to Lapland, where she focused on destination marketing, and brand strategy for Luosto ski resort, where she lived.  She loves cross-country skiing and downhill skiing and likes ice swimming without a sauna.

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Securing connectivity is key to the airport city Aviapolis

Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine have weakened the connectivity between Helsinki Airport and the airport city Aviapolis. Finland used to be a hub for Asia, but due to the Russian over-flight ban, it has lost air traffic and recovery has been slow. The rail tunnel to Europe is especially topical for ensuring Finland’s connectivity and the security of freight supply. By focusing on a multimodal approach that combines rail, sea, air, and infrastructure improvements, Finland can overcome its isolation and build more robust transportation connections to Europe. A multimodal approach is paramount.

The audience will learn:

• Collaboration and stakeholder management. Collaboration between governments and private companies expands connectivity to remote areas
• Infrastructure investments, integrated transportation connections and strengthening cross-border partnerships and collaboration within Nordic countries
• Advocacy and lobbying: how to promote planning of the tunnel and increase the possibilities of seeking national and EU support
• Economic and social impact for citizens and companies in the airport city Aviapolis and airport area
• Communications: how to build a narrative for multimodality and how to build media relations