Keynote Speakers

Ian Cousins is Professor of Environmental Organic Chemistry at Stockholm University. With 36 years of experience in academia and industry across England, Canada and Sweden, he is internationally recognised for his research on per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). His work has shaped global understanding of their environmental behaviour, human exposure pathways and the scientific basis for regulation. He has published more than 220 peer‑reviewed journal articles and 10 book chapters, and serves as an Associate Editor for the American Chemical Society journals Environmental Science & Technology and Environmental Au.

Lotta Ruokanen works since 2021 as a Professional Secretary and since 2025 as the Deputy Executive Secretary at the Secretariat of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, or HELCOM. HELCOM is an intergovernmental environmental policy organization supporting implementation of the Helsinki Convention. Some of her main responsibilities are to coordinate, support implementation and develop the regional policy work on management of nutrients and hazardous substances and sustainable agricultural practices as well as coherent and ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning. The tasks include also e.g. linking HELCOM processes to other international frameworks and marine environment protection policies in the EU, among the regional seas conventions and globally. Lotta has 25 years of experience in water protection and marine policy work from local to national to international levels and within both public and private sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in limnology and another one in environmental engineering (processing industry).

Hans Peter Arp is an environmental chemist interested in diverse aspects preventing, managing and remediating chemical pollution, particularly persistent substances, such as PFAS as microplastics. He holds a dual appointment as a Technical Expert at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) and a Full Professor (Professor II) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).He was elected to the Management Board of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as one of two independent representatives appointed by the European Parliament. He is the primary coordinator for the ZeroPM project, a major Horizon Europe initiative focused on preventing and removing persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) substances from the environment. Scientific Impact: Arp has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Science and Nature, focusing on the intersection of fundamental pollutant behaviour and the science-policy interface related to the Circular Economy, Chemicals Strategy, Soil Resilience and Water Resilience.

Kristín specializes in contaminated land. She has 15 years’ experience as an environmental compliance inspector both in Sweden and Iceland. Kristín is the leading specialist in contaminated land in the public sector of Iceland. She is leading the work of the Icelandic Environment and Energy Agency on the topic, including development of the national database for contaminated soil, writing manuals and handbooks, and courses for stakeholders and public sector about contaminated land.

Jussi Reinikainen serves as a Senior Adviser at the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), bringing more than 25 years of experience in environmental contamination and risk assessment. He has played a leading role in shaping Finland’s national policies for contaminated site management and represents the country in EU networks and working groups such as the Common Forum on Contaminated Land in Europe. His current work focuses on advancing sustainable, risk-based decision-making, most recently in the context of implementing the Soil Monitoring Law and managing environmental PFAS.

Steffen Foss Hansen is an associate professor in regulatory engineering at the Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark. He holds a master’s degree in Technological and Socio-Economic Planning (Roskilde University, 2005), a master’s degree in environmental law (Aarhus University, 2022), a PhD in Regulation of Nanomaterials (DTU, 2009), and a Dr. techn. degree (DTU, 2018).

His research focuses on risk analysis and governance of nanotechnologies, emerging materials and technologies, and the applicability of decision-making tools under conditions of scientific uncertainty. In recent years, his work has expanded to include the development and critical assessment of AI-based decision support and AI assistants for regulatory science, policy analysis, and sustainability governance. This includes the use of AI tools to support evidence synthesis, regulatory impact assessment, scenario analysis, stakeholder engagement, and translation of complex scientific knowledge into policy-relevant insights, with particular attention to transparency, robustness, and responsible use under uncertainty.

Dr. Hansen is an internationally recognised expert in the regulation of emerging technologies and materials and has served on several expert groups advising organisations such as ECHA, the EEA, OECD, WHO, and national environmental protection agencies. He is a member of the advisory panel of Nature Nanotechnology on matters related to nanotechnology and society.