A Rocha Finland National Committee

Annika Parantainen, Chair (Biologist, PhD)

Annika graduated in Plant Systematics and Ecology at Turku University and later wrote a forestry-related doctoral dissertation. She works at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. African agroforestry and activities with children are her main interests in A Rocha. Annika lives in Turku with her 5-year-old son.

Lennart Saari, Vice-chair (Dr Sc. Agr. & For.)

Lennart teaches ornithology at the University of Helsinki. For many years he has undertaken long-term monitoring of bird populations in Finnish Lapland and the South-western Archipelago. He lives on the island of Aasla with his wife Ritva and their teenage children.

Juhana Markkula (MSc Econ, Mdiv)

Juhana was born in Helsinki and studied economics in Vaasa and theology in Regent College, Vancouver, Canada. Juhana lives with his family on the Komonen farm, where A Rocha Finland organizes different events.

Hannele Siltala (MSc, MSc Agr. & For.)

Hannele is a teacher in natural sciences and she also has a degree in environmental science, majoring in environmental education. She has worked as a teacher, researcher and project leader. Hannele is responsible for the coordination of environmental education in A Rocha Finland. She is now on maternity leave at home with baby Matteus and 3-year-old Kaisla-Maria.

Marja-Liisa Leinonen (MSc)

Marja-Liisa lives in Masku in SW Finland. She has been involved with the planning and developing of the Environmental Diploma system in the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church right from the very beginning. Marja-Liisa is originally from Mikkeli, and has studied Biology at the University of Turku. She has three student-aged sons.

Hannu Hatanpää

Eija Kemppi, vice-member (MA, Mth.)

Eija's involvement with A Rocha Finland began when she met Lennart through arranging birdwatching and other nature courses at the Christian adult education centre of which she is Director. Eija's academic studies include the English, French and German languages, Adult and Special Education and Gerontology. She has two daughters in their twenties.

Eero Suomalainen, vice-member

Eero works as a telecommunications specialist for Nokia Siemens Networks. He has been involved with A Rocha Finland since its beginning in 2002. His love for nature has led him to lead boys' camps and arrange birdwatching trips.