Outi Kuittinen appointed first CEO of RELEX Foundation for a Better Future
Helsinki – June 7, 2023. RELEX Foundation for a Better Future announced the appointment of Outi Kuittinen as the new foundation’s first CEO. She began serving in the role on May 29, 2023.
Kuittinen was one of the early members of the Finnish think tank Demos Helsinki, where she has conducted research and consulting aimed at the mitigation of climate change, sustainable innovation, and 1.5 degree lifestyles, in partnership with leading companies, universities, and the public and private sector for more than 15 years. She served as the leader of Demos Helsinki Untitled initiative and alliance where she provided expertise in building communities of collective imagination and partnerships of action that create the momentum to elicit meaningful change. She has a master’s degree in social sciences from the University of Helsinki.
"It is a pleasure and an honor to join RELEX Foundation for a Better Future, where we will work to fight climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and social inequality," says Kuittinen. "The board and I will work to create a long-term strategy along with agile practices for the foundation. We will do this in active dialogue with stakeholders as cooperation is the cornerstone of our approach to create positive change," says Kuittinen. "I hope RELEX Foundation for a Better Future will be able to show ways to a more positive future, which is especially important today as we live in a world that highlights crises over hope."
Outi Kuittinen has actively advanced social change through non-governmental organizations and cross-sectoral networks. She has been a member of the Climate Communications Steering group of the Finnish government and an Alumni Fellow of the University of Helsinki. She is also a co-author of the first Finnish non-fiction book on climate change and food. She was a Fulbright Scholar at the New School and Harvard Universities in 2016–2017.
"The appointment of Outi Kuittinen as CEO of RELEX Foundation for a Better Future is an important first milestone in the foundation's development," says Marko Nikula, chairman of the board of the RELEX Foundation. "Kuittinen brings valuable expertise and vision to the foundation through her strong commitment to combating climate change, creating sustainable development, and social change. We look forward to working with Outi and strongly believe that under her leadership, the foundation will successfully build a better future."
About RELEX Foundation
The RELEX Foundation for a Better Future aims to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss and further equality and inclusion of children and youth. It funds organizations and initiatives taking action toward a better future for generations to come. The RELEX Foundation was founded in 2022 by Michael Falck, Mikko Kärkkäinen, and Johanna Småros, the three co-founders of Finnish tech unicorn RELEX Solutions, together with one of RELEX Solutions’ first employees, Marko Nikula. Besides its name, RELEX Foundation is independent from RELEX Solutions.
Media inquiries:
Outi Kuittinen
CEO
RELEX Foundation for a better future
outi.kuittinen@relexfoundation.org
@outikookoo
Photo: Heli Blåfield
