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Lasse Niemi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting at Aalto University. He leads the Audit Research Group, which focuses on four key research teams: the value of auditing, social networks in auditing and corporate governance, digitalization in auditing, and the impact of auditors' cognitive abilities on audit quality. His work bridges traditional accounting practices with modern technological and social dynamics. Research Pillars: Voluntary Audit Demand Network Analysis in Auditing Digital Transformation Audit Quality Determinants Scientific Recognition: BEST PAPER AWARD EARNet Symposium 2001 Recent publications explore intersections of gender dynamics in auditing careers, digitalization expertise impacts on fees, and climate risk disclosures. His email is lasse.niemi@aalto.fi .

• Auditing
• Corporate Governance
• Digitalization in Auditing
• +3 more

Magnus Westerlund is a Senior Lecturer in Information Technology and Director of the Laboratory for Trustworthy AI at Arcada University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. His industry background spans telecom and information management, and he holds a doctoral degree in Information Systems from Åbo Akademi University. He actively contributes to the Z-Inspection® network, focusing on ethical AI implementation and governance. Westerlund’s research emphasizes trustworthy AI, cybersecurity, and distributed systems. Key areas include AI regulatory compliance (e.g., EU AI Act), healthcare AI applications, blockchain security, and IoT edge solutions. His work bridges academia and industry, such as the Valohai-CSC collaboration for machine learning infrastructure in Finnish academia. His publications highlight practical AI assessment methods, ethical AI integration, and decentralized technologies. Notable contributions include frameworks for sustainable AI development, privacy-preserving autonomous systems, and smart contract-based IoT security protocols. Westerlund also explores educational innovations, such as integrating large language models (LLMs) into coding education. His research consistently addresses real-world challenges like pandemic-era healthcare AI, edge computing for IoT, and cybersecurity in autonomous systems.

• Trustworthy AI
• Cybersecurity
• IT Security
• +6 more

Elisa Maarit Lähde serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at Aalto University, where she advances sustainable urban design through interdisciplinary research at the intersection of landscape architecture, ecology, and planning. Her work focuses on transforming urban environments through biodiversity integration and socio-ecological innovation. Dr. Lähde's research centers on urban biodiversity mainstreaming, regenerative design frameworks, and landscape architectural storytelling. She pioneers approaches for integrating ecosystem services into urban planning, with particular emphasis on climate adaptation, green-blue infrastructure, and human-nature connection building. Her methodologies frequently employ co-creative processes with stakeholders to develop context-specific socio-ecological solutions. Recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a cohesive research trajectory examining practical applications of biodiversity principles across diverse urban contexts. Key thematic clusters include: (1) ecological assessment frameworks for built environments; (2) regenerative design strategies for Anthropocene challenges; (3) maritime spatial planning innovations; and (4) narrative techniques for enhancing ecological literacy. Her work bridges theoretical rigor with Finnish and international case studies, reflecting strong commitment to both scholarly contribution and real-world implementation. Dr. Lähde's scholarly contributions have been recognized through significant professional accolades: First prize in the Elielinaukio architectural competition (December 2021) for Helsinki Central Railway Station surroundings renewal Finalist in Ericsson Innovation Awards for FoodGrid project (June 2017) addressing Future of Food challenges First prize in International Stormwater Innovation Competition (November 2014) for urban furniture with water detention Honorary mention in Hiedanranta ideas competition (January 2017) for "There’s a New Town in the City" proposal While specific advising relationships and grant funding details aren't documented in available materials, her research portfolio demonstrates substantial collaborative engagement through multi-institutional publications and competition participations that likely involve student mentorship and research team leadership.

• Urban Planning
• Landscape Architecture
• Biodiversity in Urban Environments
• +5 more

Jari Huikku serves as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Accounting at Aalto University School of Business, where he has been a faculty member since 2003. His academic journey includes a Doctoral degree in Accounting from Helsinki School of Economics (2009) and a Master's in Finance from Turku School of Economics. Prior to academia, Huikku accumulated 15 years of industry experience in multinational corporations such as Wärtsilä and Sanitec, holding financial director and general management positions. His educational qualifications are: Doctor of Philosophy (Accounting), Helsinki School of Economics, 2009 Master of Science (Finance), Turku School of Economics and Business Administration, University of Turku Huikku's research centers on Strategic Investment Decision-Making, Management Control Systems, Goodwill, and Post-Completion Auditing. He examines how organizations implement risk analysis in investment decisions and the motivational factors influencing management control practices. His work also extends to accounting education, investigating student learning approaches and gender differences in performance. This dual focus bridges theoretical accounting research with practical educational applications. Analysis of his recent publications (2021-2025) reveals consistent exploration of strategic investment processes, budgetary control systems, and accounting education methodologies. His work increasingly incorporates organizational theory perspectives like strong structuration theory and embedded agency, while maintaining empirical grounding through case studies and qualitative analysis. The interdisciplinary nature of his research connects accounting with organizational behavior, healthcare management, and educational psychology. Huikku has earned multiple scholarly accolades: Best Paper Award, Management Accounting Research Group Conference (2024) Best Paper Award, Massey University (2022) Huugo Raninen Prize, Finnish Journal of Business Economics (2008) Best Qualitative Paper Award, Massey University (2012) Best Paper Award, Massey University (2012) Best Paper Award, Lincoln University (2015) In his academic role, Huikku supervises master's and doctoral students in strategic investment and management control topics. He directs a capstone management consultancy course where students address real corporate challenges. His international scholarly engagements include visiting positions at Copenhagen Business School, University of Auckland, and Stockholm School of Economics, reflecting his global research network. While specific grant details aren't provided, his extensive publication record in top journals indicates sustained research funding. Though not explicitly stated, Huikku's leadership as Department Head and collaborative research across institutions suggests active involvement in academic communities and research groups focused on accounting and management control systems.

• Strategic Investment Decision-Making
• Management Control Systems
• Goodwill
• +3 more

Ali Nickpour is a Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Accounting at Aalto University. His research focuses on behavioral economics within archival auditing, integrating topics such as political finance, openness to experience, and compensation systems. His work bridges psychology and social sciences with auditing practices. Education: Doctoral degree in Business and Economics from Aalto University (Completed March 2025). Research Interests: Nickpour explores intersections between behavioral economics and auditing, particularly in political finance dynamics and materials control mechanisms. His recent thesis investigates how psychological factors like openness to experience influence auditing practices in politically charged financial environments. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided information. No advising roles or lab affiliations are detailed here.

• Behavioral Economics
• Political Finance
• Auditing
• +3 more

Eija Vinnari is a Professor at the Faculty of Management and Business , Tampere University. Her work bridges Accounting , Financial Management , and Sustainability , with a unique focus on non-human animals in corporate and public contexts. Research Interests: Critical accounting, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, actor-network theory applications, and animal ethics in accounting systems. Key Collaborations: EU Horizon 2020 projects, Agenda2030 implementation in Finland, and Nordic CSR research networks. Article Trends span nonprofit accountability , cultural sustainability , animal inclusion in CSR , Finnish public sector performance , and critical theory in accounting . Her work often integrates ORCID profiles with interdisciplinary approaches. Grants & Projects include contributions to the EU Horizon 2020 MULTI-ACT initiative and Agenda2030 sustainability frameworks. She co-leads the Research Group on Sustainability and Critical Accounting and the Research Group on Public Financial Management .

• Accounting
• Financial Management
• Sustainability
• +5 more

Kim Ittonen is a Researcher at the Department of Accounting, Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki, Finland. They hold a Doctorate in Business Administration (Econ. dr) from the University of Vaasa (2009). Their research focuses on audit practices, corporate governance, financial reporting quality, and organizational resilience in the auditing sector. Key areas of interest include audit firm adaptation to crises (e.g., COVID-19), remote auditing challenges, auditor skill development, and ethical implications of AI in accounting. Ittonen has authored/co-authored over 35 publications since 2009, with notable work on distracted auditors' impact on earnings quality (2024), audit firms' resilience during pandemics (2024), and the evolving role of accountants as consultants (2022). They actively engage in international academic collaborations, visiting institutions like Università Bocconi in 2025. Their work has been cited 546 times, reflecting significant scholarly impact. Professional activities include serving as a reviewer for journals like Accounting Forum and International Journal of Auditing , supervising doctoral dissertations, and participating in policy discussions on audit regulation and sustainability reporting (CSRD). Recent research highlights the transformative role of technology and remote work in auditing practices while emphasizing the need for auditor skill diversification in a rapidly changing market.

• Audit
• Corporate Governance
• Financial Reporting
• +3 more

Matti Minkkinen is a Docent at the Turku School of Economics (University of Turku) and a Postdoctoral Researcher in Information Systems Science at the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship. His work bridges futures studies with ethics, privacy, and socio-technical systems in digital transformation. Recent roles focus on responsible AI governance and foresight methodologies. University: University of Turku School: Turku School of Economics Department: Department of Management and Entrepreneurship His research explores how digital technologies reshape organizational practices, emphasizing Futures Consciousness as a human capacity. Key themes include responsible AI , privacy protection , and causal layered analysis in scenario planning. Publications highlight ethical governance frameworks and EU policy debates. Recent articles address generative AI ethics , ML system integration , and AI auditing across journals like Communications of the Association for Information Systems and Information and Management . Topics cluster around socio-technical systems, digital ethics, and institutional adaptation to AI. Teaching and editorial roles include co-curating student research collections at Finland Futures Research Centre. No explicit scientific awards are listed, but his work contributes to foresight theory and practice.

• Digital Transformation
• Responsible Artificial Intelligence
• Foresight Methods
• +4 more

Jukka Sihvonen is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Accounting, Aalto University School of Business. His expertise spans financial accounting, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence in finance. He teaches and supervises master’s and doctoral programs in financial accounting, Big Data, and business technologies, and contributes to executive education. PhD in Finance (University of Vaasa, 2013) Visiting scholar at Norwegian School of Economics, Copenhagen Business School, Umeå University, Goethe University, European Central Bank, and Bank of Finland His research interests focus on digital transformation in accounting, AI applications, climate risk disclosures, cybersecurity, and servitization in business models. Recent publications address rare earth investments, LGBTQ+ policies, audit digitalization, and supply chain leadership. His 15 most recent articles highlight interdisciplinary trends in AI-driven finance, ESG compliance, and digital risk management. Key journals include European Accounting Review, International Review of Financial Analysis, and Industrial Marketing Management. Scientific Awards: Researcher of the Year (2021) Teacher of the Year (2022) AFAANZ Best Paper Award (2022) EFA Outstanding Paper Award (2011)

• Digital Transformation
• Financial Accounting
• Big Data Analytics
• +4 more

Hannu Ojala is a Professor at the Business School, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies , with affiliations at both the University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio) and Aalto University School of Business (Espoo) . His research focuses on Auditing , Corporate Governance , and Tax Aggressiveness , particularly in small private companies. Audit Market Dynamics Tax-Regulation Interplay Country-Level Audit Determinants XBRL and Digital Reporting Ojala's publications (2019-2025) analyze audit fee variations across 27 countries, tax compliance in Finland, and the role of Big4 auditors in shaping global practices. He has collaborated with researchers in Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden on institutional factors affecting audit pricing and quality. Research Trends: His work reveals that economic development and regulatory environments explain 84% of audit fee differences globally. Sociological factors like generalized trust and corporate culture also influence auditing standards. Key Collaborations: Ojala has co-authored studies with Juha Kinnunen , Lasse Niemi , and Markus Mättö , examining how audit quality correlates with tax return adjustments in small businesses.

• Accounting
• Auditing
• Corporate Governance
• +2 more

Thomas Olsson is a **Professor in Human-Centered Design** at Tampere University, affiliated with the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences and the Computing Sciences department. He leads the *Technology x Social Interaction Research Group* and the *Digital and Sustainability Transitions in Society* research platform. His work focuses on designing ICT systems that prioritize digital ethics, social sustainability, and environmental responsibility. **Research Interests**: Social technologies, sustainable design of ICT, AI-driven recruitment systems, cultural integration through technology, and the ethical implications of digital media. He employs qualitative methods and design-through-research approaches, often collaborating across disciplines like computer science and behavioral/social sciences. Current roles: Academic Director of Digital/Sustainability Transitions Platform; Head of Master's Program in Computing Sciences and Electrical Engineering Key projects: AIdience (AI in Journalism), Trust-M (Migrant Services), Big Match (Team Assembly), Emotions in Digital Media Teaching: Coordinates Human-Technology Interaction studies and develops courses like *Sustainable Design* and *Ethics of Technology* **Lab/Team**: Leads the *Technology x Social Interaction* group (collaboration opportunities available). Active in the *Rajapinta* interdisciplinary research community.

• Human-Centered Design
• Digital Ethics
• Social Technology
• +6 more

Abu Shohel Ahmed is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Computer Science , Aalto University . His research focuses on information security , mobile network authentication , and cloud computing . He collaborates with Professor Tuomas Aura and has published extensively on security protocols for SIM provisioning and cellular networks. Current role: Visiting Professor Institution: Aalto University Department: Computer Science His work spans security analysis , trust modeling , and authentication frameworks in mobile and cloud environments. Publications highlight his contributions to SIM provisioning protocols , OpenStack authentication , and trust verification systems .

• Computer Science
• Information Security
• Mobile Networks
• +3 more

Professor Seppo Ikäheimo is affiliated with Aalto University in the Department of Accounting . His research focuses on Corporate Governance , Compensation Systems , and Banking Regulation , utilizing both quantitative statistical analysis and qualitative interpretive interviews . He works extensively with Finnish private firm data , including executive interviews and firm-specific datasets. Board of Directors Dynamics Auditing Practices Ownership Structures Financial Management Education His recent publications analyze EU banking regulation , group-based incentives , and executive compensation trends. He has received multiple accolades including the Jaakko Honko Medal and the Order of the White Rose of Finland . His work bridges academic research with practical corporate governance challenges. Scientific Awards : The Best Developed Course Material Award (2018) Jaakko Honko Medal (2017) Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (2015) Professor Ikäheimo has also contributed to digital education innovations, including a fully digitalized course on financial management recognized by Aalto University School of Business.

• Corporate Governance
• Compensation Systems
• Auditing
• +5 more

Ly Pham is a visiting faculty member in the Department of Accounting at Aalto University, specializing in climate risk disclosures, corporate governance, and financial regulation. She earned her Doctorate in Economics (Kauppat. toht.) and focuses on the intersection of sustainability reporting, auditing practices, and regulatory frameworks. Education: Doctorate in Economics, Aalto University. Her research addresses climate risk management, corporate disclosure strategies, and auditor expertise. Recent work includes analyzing how auditor specialization impacts client climate risk reporting quality and exploring regulatory changes affecting financial discipline. Ly Pham's publications in British Accounting Review and her doctoral thesis highlight her contributions to climate risk accounting and compliance. Key themes include greenhouse gas emissions, intangible asset valuation, and legislative impacts on financial reporting. Awards: Best Paper Award, 2022 AFAANZ Conference She has collaborated with researchers like David Hay, Anna Miihkinen, and Elli Myllymäki, with her work covered by 3 news outlets and attracting 45 social media mentions. Her research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education and climate action.

• Accounting
• Climate Risk Management
• Corporate Governance
• +3 more

Anna-Maija Nisula is an Associate Professor in Business Studies at LUT Business School, Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), Finland. She holds a D.Sc. in Economics and Business Administration and conducts post-doctoral research in Knowledge Management and Leadership. Her work is centered on innovation, organizational creativity, and knowledge dynamics in contemporary organizations. Her research interests focus on knowledge management , organizational creativity , and innovation , particularly examining how knowledge workers develop entrepreneurial intentions and how knowledge co-creation is organized in temporary or project-based settings. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates leadership, human resource practices, and digital transformation to understand modern organizational challenges. The recent articles reflect a strong trend in studying knowledge processes in dynamic environments, with increasing attention to digital platforms, cross-functional integration, and leadership’s role in enabling knowledge flows. The research spans fields such as management, organizational behavior, and information systems, emphasizing both theoretical and practical implications for innovation-driven organizations. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in the provided text. Advising and Grants: No formal advisees or grant information is mentioned in the available content. Labs and Research Teams: Anna-Maija Nisula is affiliated with the School of Business and Management at LUT, where she contributes to research in knowledge-intensive organizations. While no specific lab or center is named, her work aligns with research groups focused on innovation, leadership, and knowledge management within the LUT Business School.

• Knowledge Management
• Organizational Creativity
• Innovation
• +5 more