New coordinator for maritime spatial planning cooperation takes up her duties
The coordination of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) cooperation between all eight coastal regional councils and the Ministry of the Environment is conducted through the Regional Council of Southwest Finland. In her new role as the new Coordinator for Maritime Spatial Planning Cooperation Essi Kärpijoki will be responsible for both stakeholder cooperation and feeding key maritime spatial planning content into the national planning process. You can read more about how the coordination of MSP cooperation in Finland is run here from a news item from November 2024.
Maritime spatial planning is the most geographically extensive of the spatial planning interactions in Finland and thus requires close communication between planners from the coastal regional councils. The role of the coordinator is central in this respect. She acts as a link between the regional councils and contributes centrally to bringing planning content into the process. In addition, the coordinator is the key contact point of the MSP process to stakeholders. For any enquiries or cooperation proposals related to MSP, stakeholders can therefore from now on contact our new coordinator Essi.
We briefly interviewed our new coordinator after her first few days of work. Read below her introduction and some initial thoughts on her new role:
Who are you and where do you come from?
In the picture Essi Kärpijoki who started as the new Coordinator for Maritime Spatial Planning Cooperation in March 2025.
“I am Essi and I come from Turku, Finland. My educational background is in economics and environmental sciences. My work history includes sales and marketing, business development, purchasing and procurement, environmental and sustainability consulting, and more. In particular, I am familiar with the maritime industry and marine environment through my work. I am interested in working with maritime spatial planning because it has elements that are familiar to me through my work and studies, but it also has many new and interesting elements.“
Your first impressions of maritime spatial planning cooperation?
“My impression of maritime spatial planning after just a few days is that it is a very diverse and interesting entity! There is certainly enough new things to chew on for a long time to come.”
What are your expectations from your new role?
“Stakeholder meetings are now underway and I look forward to the upcoming discussions with them. What better way to jump into the coordinator’s boots than at the spring sectoral meetings.”
A nice memory by the sea (with a picture?)
“I like all kinds of staying and camping in the archipelago. An island bike ride is a must every summer! Here are two pictures from the Archipelago Sea: the first one is me swimming in Svinö on the back of Gullkrona and the second one is me as a shepherd on Isokari.
The new coordinator is jumping into the maritime spatial planning stakeholder work at full speed, as all marine sectors will meet in March as part of the MSP plan’s revision work, either on-site in Helsinki or remotely. Click here for a more detailed schedule of spring events.
We extend a warm welcome to Essi!
