Henna Määttä

I am a second term City Councilor and  a Chair of the Green City Council group in the City of Oulu. I am also the 1st Vice Chair of the City Board and an actual member of the City Group Division. In my day job I work as a Development Manager at the University of Oulu, specifically Unit for Strategy and Science Policy. Above all, I am a bold advocate and a driver of positive change with a proven track record of making a difference.

I spend my spare time largely in politics, hobbies, cultural and outdoor activities. In everyday life, I try to make environmentally friendly choices and  support local entrepreneurship. I usually choose cycling or bus instead of a car, and when looking for a place to dine, I prefer small family owned restaurants. 

I have participated in different types of voluntary work since primary school and I have a strong background in the student union and its societies. As a person I am cooperative, enthusiastic and empathetic teamplayer and and in my actions I emphasize consistency and justice. I am passionate about everything I do, but above all I value knowledge- and research-based decision-making.

If you want more information about my resume and my work background check-out my profile in LinkedIn.

Below you can get familiar with my major themes in municipal and regional elections 2025.

 

Did you know that Henna…

… was born in Kuusamo in 1984 and moved to Oulu  when she was 8 years old.

… has graduated from the International Baccalaureate high school of Oulun Lyseo and was an exchange student in Brazil.

… is a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Oulu. She studied Early Childhood Education as a major and drama education and natural sciences as a minors.

… worked for 12 years in different types of restaurants and has studied for a specialist degree in business administration.

… loves theater and gigs.

… relaxes in the woods and on hiking trips.

… is passionate about good food, quality wines and craft beers.

 

Building a Society of Well-Being

I want to build a society of well-being—one that empowers people to pursue their dreams and acts as a safety net when needed. In such a society, mental health and overall well-being are strengthened proactively across all municipal sectors, not just within the social and healthcare services of the wellbeing county.

A society of well-being creates attractive and livable modern cities with functional services, high-quality education and early childhood education, and a vibrant cultural scene. In a well-being-focused city, we invest in sustainable transportation, seize the opportunities presented by the green transition, and do everything possible to promote employment and entrepreneurship. In a society of well-being, internationality and diversity are seen as strengths, not threats.

As a decision-maker, I also want to be a bridge-builder, fostering an open and inclusive decision-making culture, and making decisions based on research and data. I want to continue my strong advocacy work, which is why I am running in the 2025 municipal and county elections.

 

Municipal Elections 2025

Below you may get familiar with the themes:

High-Quality Early Childhood Education, education and Schools

High-quality early childhood education and schooling are the crown jewels of the Finnish welfare state and key drivers of equality. Every child has the right to receive competent and expert early childhood education and schooling that supports their growth, well-being, and learning. Children, young people, and teachers also have the right to a safe, healthy, comfortable, and modern learning environment equipped with up-to-date teaching tools. No one’s health or education should be jeopardized by poorly maintained or mold-infested daycare centers or schools. High-quality education is built on sufficient resources, skilled personnel, modern learning environments, and strong pedagogical leadership. Education should be seen as an investment in the future—one worth making. In the upcoming council term, we need real action for education, not just talk.

Key actions:

• Improve teaching quality by reducing group sizes and maintaining student-teacher ratios.
• Ensure adequate resources for the learning support reform.
• Promote youth participation and democracy education at all levels of schooling.
• Guarantee healthy learning and working environments and provide essential tools such as phones and computers.
• Address the needs of minorities and secure native language education, including Sami-language instruction.
• Integrate mental health education into children’s and youth education.
• Enable continuing education for teachers and school leaders.

A Vibrant and Thriving Cultural and Event City

In a creative city, performing arts and urban culture should be recognized not only as enhancers of well-being but also as major factors in attracting and retaining residents. Cultural activities also contribute to municipal vitality, as visitors to theaters and concerts often support local businesses. The role of culture should be strengthened as part of economic and business policy. Arts and culture help foster empathy, understanding, and dialogue across social and cultural divides, promoting societal harmony. Everyone should have access to cultural services and artistic activities, regardless of their place of residence, age, background, socio-economic status, or life situation. Oulu is already a cultural city, and as the European Capital of Culture, we have a golden opportunity to make culture and events an even stronger part of our city!

Key actions:

• Ensure sufficient funding and support for cultural organizations.
• Maximize the potential of the European Capital of Culture year and ensure its lasting legacy.
• Strengthen the role of culture and events as part of economic and business policy.
• Address the needs of an increasingly international city.
• Improve advocacy for the city’s cultural and event sector.

Internationality and Diversity

Large cities are inherently international, and their competitiveness depends on their ability to attract talent from around the world. We need international expertise and workforce to remain competitive in the global market and to address demographic challenges. Oulu is growing, developing, and becoming more international! Currently, the majority of our net population growth comes from international professionals. Diversity is a strength on many levels! We must ensure effective integration services and support businesses in recruiting international talent.

Key actions:

• Implement the anti-racism action plan approved in spring 2025 at all levels.
• Ensure adequate resources for integration services.
• Support businesses in their internationalization efforts and in recruiting global talent.
• Secure essential services for an increasingly international population and promote multilingual communication.

Sustainable Growth and Transportation

A forward-looking city prioritizes sustainable modes of transportation—cycling, walking, and public transit. Oulu is already a strong cycling city, recognized internationally as the world’s winter cycling capital. We must continue supporting cycling, as it is an excellent form of daily exercise. However, public transportation still requires significant improvement. In the current council term, the ambition level for developing public transit was lacking, and we failed to seize the opportunity to make major advancements. A growing and developing city needs a truly functional and accessible public transportation system! Beyond sustainable mobility, a future-oriented city also embraces the opportunities of the green transition. Let’s make Oulu the top city for the hydrogen economy!

Key actions:

• Advance the next phase of public transportation development with significantly improved service levels.
• Preserve diverse natural areas and improve access to nature, for example, with a city-run nature bus.
• Promote cycling and build new cycling highways.
• Introduce a city bike system as part of the public transportation network.
• Explore the most suitable high-capacity public transportation solution for Oulu.
• Take bold action to capitalize on green transition opportunities.

Employment and Entrepreneurship

The employment and economic development services (TE services) have been transferred to municipalities from 1.1.2025 on.The change has been a major shift in which cities now play a central role. The focus has shifted toward promoting employment and economic vitality, which is absolutely the right direction. A society of well-being and a future-oriented city must do everything possible to boost employment and entrepreneurship. Employment promotion must be seen as a holistic effort, strongly linked to education, skills development, and economic growth. Collaboration with the welfare region and private service providers—who have extensive experience in career services—is crucial.

Key actions:

• Secure sufficient resources for employment services to provide personalized, targeted, and multidisciplinary support under a one-stop-shop model.
• Strengthen collaboration with the welfare region, especially in workability coordination.
• Partner with private career service providers to ensure high-quality employment services.
• Support businesses, especially in their startup and growth phases.
• Foster extensive collaboration with entrepreneurs and organize low-threshold events to facilitate dialogue between city officials, decision-makers, and business representatives.

County Elections 2025

Mental Health and Substance abuse Services

Investing in mental health and well-being benefits both individuals and society by supporting workforce retention and employment. The situation regarding mental health and substance abuse services in Northern Ostrobothnia has been unsustainable for too long. Long waiting lists, combined with the fact that nearly half of all disability cases stem from mental health and behavioral disorders, highlight the urgency of action. Moreover, all sectors must recognize the value of a well-supported workforce and prioritize employee well-being and resilience.

Key actions:

• Reduce mental health and addiction treatment wait times by increasing resources.
• Improve access to low-threshold mental health services, such as walk-in mental health clinics.
• Strengthen mental health expertise among social and healthcare professionals.
• Ensure seamless integration of mental health and addiction services—no one should be denied mental health support due to addiction issues or vice versa.
• Involve multidisciplinary experts and individuals with lived experience in service planning.

Student Welfare situation

The situation regarding school counselors and educational psychologists in Northern Ostrobothnia is highly challenging. Too many children are left without the support and help they need due to long waiting lists and insufficient resources. The work of school counselors and educational psychologists is invaluable and plays a crucial role in the collaboration between municipalities and the wellbeing services county. This cooperation must function smoothly, and resources must be adequate.

Key actions:

• Increase resources for school counselors and educational psychologists to a sufficient level.
• Streamline cooperation between municipalities and the wellbeing services county.
• Improve access to information, for example, in the Wilma system.

Employee wellbeing

Without skilled and well-supported personnel, we have no services. Employees are our greatest and most important resource, which is why their working conditions and wellbeing must be properly prioritized. Long waiting lists will not shorten, and service quality will not improve without sufficient resources and healthy, motivated employees. Investing in workplace wellbeing and leadership always pays off!

Key actions:

• Ensure competitive salaries and adequate resources.
• Improve employees’ opportunities to influence their work, as research shows this increases efficiency, wellbeing, and motivation.
• Provide opportunities for professional development, especially for those in leadership positions.