Agenda

Tuesday, June 13

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk 
Lobby, Crowne Plaza

6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Global Leaders’ Reception & Dinner  
Hesperia Ballroom, Crowne Plaza 

Closed Event (For registered forum presidents and IWF Global Board Directors and Former IWF and LF Board Presidents only)

Wednesday, June 14

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

IWF Board Breakfast 
Hagasund, Crowne Plaza

Closed Meeting (Board Directors only)
 

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

IWF Board Meeting 
Humleberg, Crowne Plaza 

Closed Meeting (Board Directors only)
 

9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk
Lobby, Crowne Plaza 

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

IWF Board and Forum President Lunch
Vision Ballroom, Scandic Park

Closed event (IWF Board and Forum Presidents only)
 

12:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Presidents’ Council Meeting 
Vision 1-3, Scandic Park Helsinki

Closed Meeting (For registered forum presidents only)
 

4:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

IWF Advanced Leadership Workshop in partnership with Russell Reynolds Associates
Vision 1-3, Scandic Park Helsinki

ESG goals have been a hot topic over the past year, with the definition of the term up for debate.  Leaders from Russell Reynolds Associates and IWF members experts from around the world will discuss what this means for leadership and corporate governance.  What is being measured?  What does ESG actually mean? Are S and G no longer a part of the equation?

Speakers:

• Anne Minto OBE, Board Director of EXL Services Holdings Inc. and Independent Governor on the Court of University of Aberdeen (IWK United Kingdom)

• Lori Collins, Owner and Principal, Collins Climate Consulting (IWF Carolinas) 

• Kristiina Helenius, CEO, Miltton USA (IWF Washington, D.C.)

Moderator:

• Sarah Galloway, Consultant, Russell Reynolds Associates

6:00 p.m.

Opening Reception Bus Departure 
Lobby, Crowne Plaza
 

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Opening Reception ALL ATTENDEES MUST PRESENT CONFERENCE BADGE AT DOOR
Helsinki City Hall 

We are delighted to begin our Cornerstone Conference with a celebratory reception at the beautiful and historic Helsinki City Hall. Always a joyful gathering, IWF Finland will warmly welcome you to Helsinki as you reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. 

Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served.  The City Hall is within walking distance of some of the best restaurants in the city, and this evening is an excellent opportunity for you to explore its culinary diversity.
 

Thursday, June 15

All sessions on Thursday, June 15 will take place at Pikku-Finlandia.

Please note that it is a 10-minute walk from your hotel to Pikku-Finlandia. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes. 
 

6:30 a.m. – 7:15 a.m.

Rise and Shine Walk – meet at 6:15 am
Lobby, Crowne Plaza 

Join your IWF sisters for an early morning walk around lovely Töölö bay, a lake located directly across from the conference hotels. You will be glad you did. The circumference is 1.3 mi./2.2 km.

7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk 
Lobby, Crowne Plaza
 

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast
Crowne Plaza and Scandic Park

Breakfast is included in the room rates at both hotel properties.
 

8:00 a.m.

Walk to Pikku-Finlandia

The walk is 10 minutes. Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
 

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Opening Remarks

• Carolyn Carter, IWF Global President

Welcome Remarks

• Annika Jyllila-Vertigans, Conference Chair and Past President, IWF Finland
• Maria Krajewska-Olkkonen, Conference Co-Chair and President, IWF Finland
• Peggy Bauer, Conference Co-Chair

Pikku-Finlandia 

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Plenary 1 – Acting Differently: The Imperative of Climate Change
Pikku-Finlandia 

Finland’s leaders not only think differently, they act differently – taking a lead and setting ambitious goals on what is considered by many to be the most pressing global issue:  climate change.  Finland is the first country to pass legislation committing to carbon neutrality by 2035, and to carbon negativity by 2040.   All 27 European Union member states followed suit and signed onto the EU Green New Deal, which has set 2050 as the target for a climate neutral continent.

Globally, the individuals, companies and countries who embrace this imperative have the greatest potential for long-term prosperity and stability.

How will individuals and companies change their behaviors to meet these goals?  Hear answers to these important questions from some of the women who are leading the way. 

Speaker: 

• Mari Pantsar, Founding Partner, Kari & Pantsar Co.
• Mikaela Loach, Climate Justice Activist, Author and Podcast Host 
• Anders Adlercreutz, Member of Parliament, Parliament of Finland

Moderator:  

• Kate Mason, CEO, Self Energy (IWF Australia)
   

9:45 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.

Coffee Break

10:05 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Plenary 2 – Finnish Design: Form, Function and the Culture of Thinking Differently
Pikku-Finlandia

The bold prints of Marimekko are recognizable worldwide as are Fiskars orange-handled scissors and the sleek iconic design of the Nokia phone. They are examples of Finland’s profound impact on design and part of the reason Helsinki is a UNESCO Creative City of Design. Finland’s artists and architects have used natural materials and organic forms to create a unique aesthetic that reflects quality, minimalism, and functionality.  They reflect Finnish values and how they live their lives. How can this help leaders think about their organizations? Why is this important as we think about sustainability? 
   
Speakers: 

• Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, President and CEO, Marimekko Corporation
• Kaarina Gould, CEO, Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design 
• Mirkku Kullberg, Founder and CEO, Glasshouse Helsinki 

Moderator:

• Annika Jyllila-Vertigans, 2023 Cornerstone Conference Co-Chair (IWF Finland)
   

10:50 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

Refreshment Break

11:10 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.

Plenary 3 – A View from the Border: The Changing Security Landscape 
Pikku-Finlandia 

Finland shares a 1,340 kilometer border with Russia, and for decades has carefully walked a tightrope.  But the war in Ukraine has changed Finland’s calculus.  Along with Sweden, Finland has applied for membership in the North American Treaty Organization, known as NATO.

How are Russia and China shifting the military and geopolitical landscape in Europe and beyond? What may the future hold? 

Speaker:

• Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes, Civilian Deputy to the Commander and Foreign Policy Advisor, U.S. European Command (IWF Florida Suncoast)
• Ambassador Piritta Asunmaa, Director General, Political Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Moderator

• Deborah McCarthy, U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania (2013-2016) (IWF Washington DC) 

12:40 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Lunch
Pikku-Finlandia

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Behind the Scenes Bus Departure 
Departure from Pikku-Finlandia 
 

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Behind The Scenes 

6:00 p.m.

Guest Dinner Bus Departure
Lobby, Crowne Plaza
 

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Dine Around Bus Departure

Buses will depart from lobby at the Crowne Plaza. 

Please refer to the back of your badge for your bus departure time

6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Guest Dinner - Registered Guests Only
Katajanokan Kasino

If you are joining the conference but are not an IWF Member, we invite you to join us for a special dinner.
 

7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Member Dine Arounds 

It would not be an IWF conference without our beloved Dine Arounds. You will have the opportunity to meet and connect with your IWF sisters from around the globe in small groups over a shared meal. The dinners will be hosted by Members of IWF Finland around the city.
 

Friday, June 16

7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.

Rise and Shine Walk – meet at 6:45 am
Lobby Crowne Plaza 

Join your IWF sisters for an early morning walk around lovely Töölö bay, a lake located directly across from the conference hotels. You will be glad you did.  The circumference is 1.3 mi./2.2 km.
 

7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk 
Lobby, Crowne Plaza
 

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast
Crowne Plaza and Scandic Park

Breakfast is included in the room rates at both hotel properties.
 

8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Walk to Pikku-Finlandia

The walk is 10 minutes. Please wear comfortable walking shoes.

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Plenary 4 – A Brave New World: The Transformation of the Global Diet 
Pikku-Finlandia

These days food doesn’t just come from the farm.  It may come from a lab.  There is a revolution underway that’s changing the very definition of food. Transformational technologies could make food more accessible, more sustainable and more nutritious.  It might even make food medicine, tailored to prevent, manage, treat and even reverse some health conditions.

How will our kitchens and tables change in the years ahead? Is there a downside to this revolution? What are the potential challenges that may arise as food is removed from its original sources?

Speaker: 

• Dr. Lauri Reuter, Founder and Partner, Nordic Foodtech VC
• Dr. L. Lloys Frates, President, Frutura (IWF Southern California) 

Moderator: 

• Karen B. Caplan, Former CEO & President, Frieda's Branded Produce (IWF Southern California)

9:45 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.

Coffee Break
​
 

10:05 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Plenary 5 – An Elegantly Modeled Future: Quantum Computing
Pikku-Finlandia

Quantum computing has been called the greatest technological revolution since the advent of the internet, and a global competition is underway to develop it, commercialize it, and put it to work.

What is quantum computing?  How might it be used to meet challenges in medicine, energy, climate and beyond?  Like any immensely powerful technology, quantum poses risks.  Some characterize it as even more dangerous than artificial intelligence, which has turbocharged bias and the spread of false information.  Can quantum computing address the biases built into these other technologies?

Speakers: 

• Dr. Inés de Vega, Head of Quantum Innovation, IQM Germany GmbH
• Dr. Mina Teicher, Professor of Mathematics and Neuroscience, Bar Ilan University; Director, WIMSA - Advancing Women in Mathematics across the Americas, University of Miami; Vice President, Arieli Capital; and former Chief Scientist of the Israeli Government (IWF Israel and IWF New York)

Moderator:

• Priscilla Douglas, President, PHDouglas & Associates (IWF Massachusetts)

10:50 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

Refreshment Break
 

11:10 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.

Plenary 6–The How and Why of Happiness
Pikku-Finlandia

For the sixth year in a row Finland has been ranked the world’s happiest country. What fosters feelings of wellbeing?  Is it the natural beauty of the landscape? The lifestyle? Effective governance?  All of the above? Or something else entirely?  

We’ll discuss what happiness is, how as a leader you can spread it, and whether we can change the way we think to have a more optimistic outlook.

Speakers: 

• Dr. Lara Aknin, Distinguished Professor, Simon Fraser University
• Dr. Frank Martela, University Lecturer, Aalto University, Co-Founder, Filosofian Akatemia  

Moderator

• Michelle Hutton, Vice Chair, Client Solutions, Edelman APAC (IWF Australia)

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch
Pikku-Finlandia
 

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Bus Departures to Design District & Crowne Plaza
Shuttle will drop participants off at the Design Musem
 

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Explore Design District Helsinki

Following the daytime sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to explore Design District Helsinki, home to 25 streets and 200 shops ranging from galleries and design studios to design hotels. Participants will be able to return to the hotel at their leisure before the evening celebration. Please use the conference mobile app to navigate the district.

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Pre-Dinner Reception
Lobby, Crowne Plaza
 

7:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Closing Dinner Celebration 
Hesperia Ballroom, Crowne Plaza