33 speakers
Minister of Energy and the Environment of Estonia
Erkki Keldo has served as Estonia’s Minister of Energy and the Environment since September 2026, responsible for energy, climate and environmental policy. Previously Minister of Economy and Industry and a member of parliament, he brings experience across economic development and government to discussions on delivering national climate priorities.
Member Of The Management Board at R-S OSA Service, part of Ragn-Sells Group, (Estonia)
Alar Saluste works on industrial resource recovery within the Ragn-Sells Group. He has been closely involved with Estonia’s Oil Shale Ash project, which explores turning legacy ash and captured carbon dioxide into useful materials. His expertise connects industrial by-products, circular processes and the potential for lower-carbon material production.
President and CEO, Nordic Investment Bank (Estonia/Finland)
André Küüsvek has served as President and CEO of the Nordic Investment Bank since 2021. He brings more than 25 years of international finance experience from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, including leadership in Central Asia. His work focuses on investment that strengthens productivity and environmental sustainability across the Nordic-Baltic region.
CEO, Environmental Investment Centre (KIK) (Estonia)
Andrus Treier has led Estonia’s Environmental Investment Centre since 2019, working at the intersection of financing, public investment and environmental solutions. Earlier, he headed KredEx for more than a decade and held executive, financial and consulting roles. He brings practical experience in turning policy objectives into funded programmes.
CEO, Timbeter (Estonia)
Anna-Greta Tsahkna founded and leads Timbeter, which applies digital image analysis and artificial intelligence to timber measurement and data management. The technology is designed to improve traceability and transparency in forestry supply chains. Her background in technology and international business connects Estonian innovation with more accountable use of forest resources.
Architect of the Balanced Economy 2040 Concept (Estonia)
Ardo Reinsalu developed the Balanced Economy 2040 concept for Estonia’s Green Tiger initiative. The vision brings together roadmaps from energy, transport, construction, land use and industry to explore an economy that combines prosperity with environmental responsibility. His work focuses on turning cross-sector collaboration into a shared long-term direction.
Focal Point, ICOMOS Climate Action Working Group; President, ICOMOS Estonia; Heritage Homes Project Coordinator (Estonia)
Ave Paulus coordinates international work on cultural heritage and climate action for ICOMOS and leads ICOMOS Estonia. With more than two decades of experience in heritage management, she has connected communities, researchers and public institutions across numerous projects. Her work explores how traditional knowledge and historic places can support climate resilience.
Head of Department, Estonian Environmental Board (Estonia)
Elina Leiner works on water management and river basin planning at Estonia’s Environmental Board. She has contributed to cooperation on catchment-based management, including the LIFE WetEST initiative and discussions about supporting farmers and water-quality objectives. Her perspective links environmental regulation, local implementation and cross-border water governance.
Head of Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Tartu (Estonia)
Hans Orru studies how environmental pressures affect human health, with research covering air pollution, climate change and noise exposure. A professor of environmental health at the University of Tartu, he has contributed to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report. His work brings evidence on health impacts into environmental and climate policy.
Co-founder, President and Head of Global Network, Let's Do It World (Estonia)
Heidi Solba helped build the international Let’s Do It World network that mobilises communities for World Cleanup Day and action against waste. She serves as the organisation’s President and Head of Global Network and is a European Climate Pact Ambassador. Her experience focuses on civic participation, cross-border collaboration and social change.
Head of Development and Partnerships, KIK Environmental Investment Centre, (Estonia)
Helen Sulg leads development and partnerships at Estonia’s Environmental Investment Centre, an institution supporting environmental and climate solutions. Her work centres on building cooperation among organisations, experts and public-sector partners. At COP31, she moderates a discussion linking forest research and digital innovation with practical applications in climate action.
Co-founder, Soyl Food (Pakistan)
Hira Wajahat Malik co-founded Soyl Food, an Estonia-registered venture developing algae-based inputs for more resilient agriculture. She works on the company’s strategy and expansion and has researched circular economy and innovation at the Estonian Business School. Her experience connects climate technology entrepreneurship with farming challenges in emerging markets.
Acting Director, Institute of Ecology, School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University (Estonia)
Jaanus Terasmaa is an ecohydrology researcher at Tallinn University whose work spans water management, lakes, ecosystem services and climate change. He has also developed digital tools and citizen-science initiatives supporting environmental education and monitoring. His research connects catchment-level evidence with community participation and practical water governance.
Group Head of Sustainability (Estonia)
Kadri Vunder Fontana is a sustainability and business transformation leader whose public professional profile identifies Luminor Group as her employer. Her work centres on ESG, governance and the integration of sustainability into corporate strategy. She contributes a financial-sector perspective to discussions about funding large-scale green transitions.
CEO, Ragn-Sells Estonia (Estonia)
Kai Realo leads Ragn-Sells Estonia, a waste-management and resource-recovery business developing circular-economy solutions. Before joining Ragn-Sells, she spent many years in senior leadership at Statoil and Circle K. She contributes to public discussions about the regulatory and business conditions needed to make resource circularity work.
Vice-Chair, The Polar Research Committee of the Estonian Academy of Sciences (Estonia)
Kati Lindström researches environmental history, polar heritage and how societies understand changing landscapes. Her work has explored Antarctica, Japan and Estonia, and she participates in international networks connecting science, heritage and environmental governance. She brings a humanities perspective to debates about the role of scientific evidence in climate diplomacy.
Professor in Sociology of Risk and Resilience, University of Tartu, Institute of Social Studies
Kati Orru researches how individuals and communities understand and respond to risks, crises and sustainability challenges. As a professor at the University of Tartu, she studies social vulnerability and preparedness. Her work supports approaches to disaster planning that account for people’s differing needs and capacities, rather than assuming uniform resilience.
Sunly (Estonia)
Katre Savi is a professional at Sunly, an Estonian renewable energy company. Her publicly available commentary addresses sustainability and the role of ESG principles in the growth of investment-backed clean energy businesses. At COP31, she moderates a discussion on how to mobilise finance for energy efficiency.
Research Fellow, FinEst Centre for Smart Cities, TalTech (Estonia)
Kristiina Kupper researches urban greenery, public-space management and data-driven planning. Her doctoral work at TalTech examines how digital tools and better information can support decisions about urban green infrastructure. At COP31, she explores the use of AI and three-dimensional modelling to create healthier, more resilient city landscapes.
Head of Innovation, FinEst Centre for Smart Cities, TalTech (Estonia)
Külle Tärnov leads innovation activities at the FinEst Centre for Smart Cities, connecting municipal challenges with research and scalable technology solutions. She coordinates the Smart City Challenge process and has more than 15 years of experience supporting innovation. Her work helps cities test and adopt practical approaches to urban sustainability.
Director of the Department of Climate and Environmentally Sustainable Economy, Ministry of Climate (Estonia)
Laura Remmelgas works on Estonia’s climate policy and the transition to an environmentally sustainable economy. She has been involved in the preparation of Estonia’s climate legislation and the coordination of cross-sector discussions on emissions reduction. Her policy experience connects national climate targets with practical economic transformation.
Professor of Water Protection and Waste Management, Estonian University of Life Sciences (Estonia)
Mait Kriipsalu researches water and wastewater treatment, waste management and the remediation of polluted soils and sediments. His academic work at the Estonian University of Life Sciences explores how waste streams can be treated and reused. At COP31, he presents circular aquaponics systems using reclaimed water.
Youth Climate Delegate (Estonia)
Marie Johanna Univer represents Estonian young people in international climate discussions as Estonia’s Youth Climate Delegate for 2026. She is also a junior research fellow in science education at the University of Tartu. Her work brings together youth participation, scientific literacy and the challenge of communicating climate evidence.
Founder and Partner, Sustinere (Estonia)
Maris Ojamuru is a founder and partner of Sustinere, a sustainability advisory company working with businesses on environmental and social transformation. Her professional background includes strategic advisory work and business transformation. She brings a practical perspective on how companies can integrate sustainability into decisions, operating models and long-term competitiveness.
Co-founder and CEO, WasteLocker; PhD Researcher in Environmental Engineering; EU Climate Pact Ambassador (Estonia)
Mark Skljarov co-founded WasteLocker, an Estonian company using digital technology to support more responsible waste management. His work combines entrepreneurship with environmental engineering research and data-driven approaches to urban sustainability. He is also a European Climate Pact Ambassador, bringing practical technology and policy perspectives to climate implementation.
Head of Forestry & Carbon Domain, KappaZeta (Estonia)
Meelis Seedre leads forestry and carbon-related work at KappaZeta, an Estonian company specialising in satellite remote sensing. Its technology helps monitor forest change, assess timber and carbon stocks, and support land-use decisions. He brings an applied technology perspective to measuring forests more consistently and making climate-related information usable.
Professor of Soil Science, Estonian University of Life Sciences (Estonia)
Merrit Shanskiy specialises in soil science and research into healthier, more resilient agricultural systems. At the Estonian University of Life Sciences, she has worked on soil biodiversity and projects exploring valuable uses for biological waste. At COP31, she presents university research on reclaimed-water aquaponics and circular food production.
Chairman of the Management Board, RMK (Estonia)
Mikk Marran heads Estonia’s State Forest Management Centre, which manages state forests and has responsibilities for forest use and biodiversity. Before joining RMK, he led Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service. His leadership brings together public governance, stakeholder engagement and the challenge of balancing forestry, nature conservation and climate priorities.
CEO, Utilitas Group (Estonia)
Priit Koit has led the Utilitas Group since 2013, overseeing energy services and investment in more efficient, lower-carbon infrastructure. Before joining the company, he spent more than 15 years in senior investment-banking roles focused on utilities. He also serves on the supervisory board of Tallinn’s water utility.
Utilitas Wind CEO, Estonia
Rene Tammist heads Utilitas Wind, which develops wind power and energy storage projects across the Baltic region. His work covers the expansion of renewable electricity and the infrastructure needed to support it. At COP31, he presents a practical example of responsible wind turbine decommissioning and materials recovery.
Leader, ICOMOS EPBD Working Group; Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia)
Riin Alatalu is a heritage conservation scholar at the Estonian Academy of Arts and a senior figure in ICOMOS. She contributes to international work on how Europe’s building energy-performance rules affect historic buildings. Her research and public work explore how conservation, reuse and energy efficiency can be combined.
CEO, Utilitas Tallinna Soojus (Estonia)
Robert Kitt leads Utilitas Tallinna Soojus, helping oversee the transformation of Tallinn’s district heating system. Before joining Utilitas, he held senior leadership roles in banking and business. A PhD graduate in technical physics from TalTech, he combines financial and technical perspectives on resilient energy infrastructure.
EEEFC National Hub project manager, Environmental Investment Centre (KIK); Former Director, Estonian Islands Energy Agency (Estonia)
Sulev Alajõe works on energy-efficiency financing initiatives at Estonia’s Environmental Investment Centre, including the national hub associated with the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition. His background also includes leadership of the Estonian Islands Energy Agency, connecting local energy-system challenges with European cooperation and investment approaches.
Interested in connecting with one of our speakers, exploring a collaboration or inviting them to participate in a discussion? Contact the Estonia Pavilion Programme Lead.
Anneli Ohvril
Programme Lead, Estonia Pavilion at COP31
anneli.ohvril@kik.ee · +372 5297 557