Veera Kivivirta appointed as Aalto University Student Union’s new Chief Financial Officer

Veera Kivivirta has been appointed as Aalto University Student Union’s new Chief Financial Officer, starting in her position on 20 Jan 2025.

Veera Kivivirta currently serves as the Director of Business Control at Fortum Recycling & Waste, where she is extensively responsible for managing finances and business operations.  In addition to Fortum, she has held various controller positions throughout her career, including Intrum, Metsä Group, and Fiskars. Although Kivivirta has diverse experience in the field, she considers the most important factors to be continuous enthusiasm for learning and combining new knowledge with her previous expertise.

Kivivirta graduated from Aalto University in the spring of 2010. During her student years, she was deeply involved in the world of KY (Aalto University Business Students).  She closely followed student organisation activities through her friends, participated in KY’s clubs, and enjoyed the opportunities provided by student life at KY. During her time as a student, she primarily focused on board work within the Sail Trainees of Finland, where she served as chair for several years. 

What are the current challenges and opportunities in the student union’s finances? Which specific goals or areas for improvement do you consider important in terms of finances? 

‘Possible legislative changes can naturally affect finances and create a need to critically review current policies and evaluate new operating models. For me, it is of utmost importance to develop a comprehensive understanding of all the AYY’s functions and their financial impacts. The most important priority is ensuring that AYY remains capable of acting for the benefit of its members and providing the best student life in the world in line with the policies established by its decision-makers’, says Kivivirta.

‘Student years are a unique phase of life, the true value of which I only came to fully understand after they were over. I’m taking on this position with an open mind and particularly hope to gain new insights and skills in my role that can be integrated with my previous experience. I hope that, step by step, we can create something meaningful that will bring value to the student community for years to come’, says Kivivirta.

Further information:

Fanni Mattsson 
Chair of the Board, Aalto University Student Union
+358 45 114 3451 

Antti Ilmavirta
Executive Director, Aalto University Student Union
+358 50 329 1165