What does balance mean when competitiveness demands speed but society calls for strong ethical values and democratic principles?
What is the role of regulation when creativity leads the way?
November 20, 2025 10:00–15:30
Invite Only Event
IBM Finland, HELSINKI
ABOUT THE Event
Shaping the Future of Responsible AI
Hosted in collaboration with IBM as our strategic partner, the AI for Change Summit 2025 is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering focused on aligning artificial intelligence with democratic values, innovation, and global leadership.
Taking place at IBM’s headquarters in central Helsinki, the Summit brings together 100 hand-picked leaders from government, business, and research to explore how Europe can lead in building responsible, human-centered AI.
Expect powerful keynotes, policy-grounded panels and real conversations on how we balance innovation with regulation, at a time when both speed and integrity are needed.
Organized by the AI for Change Foundation, a non-profit initiative powered entirely by volunteers, this event offers high-level visibility, strategic dialogue and a platform for long-term impact.
KEY CONVERSATIONS THAT SHAPE THE FUTURE
Responsible Innovation
How do we innovate fast without losing our moral compass?
We explore ways to build AI that’s not only powerful, but principled , balancing ambition with accountability and long-term trust.
Trust as a Strategy
Trust is a competitive advantage.
This theme dives into transparency, explainability, and the human side of technology that turns compliance into credibility.
Governance That Enables Growth
The real risk isn’t regulation. This theme dives into how leaders can build guardrails that evolve with technology, protecting both creativity and credibility.
Human-Centered Intelligence
AI designed around human strengths, delivers lasting value.
We focus on leadership models that keep human judgment, creativity, and ethics at the core of technological progress.
AI for Societal Value
From productivity to prosperity, how can AI serve both business performance and public good?
This theme brings together business and policy leaders to define what responsible impact at scale truly means.
Programme Highlights
FROM CONVERSATION TO ACTION
09:30 – 10:30
Breakfast & Networking
Start the morning with a curated networking breakfast where policy meets practice. This hour is designed for meaningful introductions and open conversations before we dive into the day’s agenda.
10:30 – 10:45
Opening Remarks
AI for Change Foundation
IBM Finland Representative
Welcome words from the co-hosts, setting the tone for a day of collaboration and impact in AI leadership.
10:45 – 11:15
Keynote: Europe’s AI Future
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
A new wave of European innovation is rising, AI factories, digital gigafactories, and next-generation data ecosystems. Henna Virkkunen explores how Europe can transform regulation into an engine for trust-based growth and technological leadership.
11:15 – 11:45
Point of View
Tommi Tulisalo – Data & AI Sales Leader, EMEA, IBM Software.
Why Responsible AI Starts with Trust: IBM’s Point of View
Hear IBM’s perspective on responsible AI—why trust, transparency, and governance must be at the core of AI development, and how these principles guide real-world decision-making.
11:45 – 12:15
Keynote
Rene Eres – Thought Leader & Author
The Age of Intelligent Economies: Reshaping Value Creation in the AI Era
What happens when intelligence itself becomes the new infrastructure of growth? A look at how AI transforms productivity, strategy and value creation across industries.
12:15 – 13:00
Lunch & Networking
Enjoy lunch designed for high-level connection. Meet fellow leaders shaping the future of responsible AI across business, government and research.
13:00 – 13:30
Presentation
Tommi Tulisalo – Data & AI Sales Leader, EMEA, IBM Software
AI Agents in HR: Human-Centered, Ethically Governed
Explore how agentic AI is transforming HR into a proactive, people-first function—driving efficiency, trust, and ethical governance at scale.
13:30 – 14:05
Panel Discussion
Balancing Innovation and Regulation in the Age of AI. How can Europe remain both trusted and ambitious?
Panelists include:
Ari Huczkowski, University of Helsinki
Marina Linde, AI for Change Foundation
Lasse Käärmekoski, IBM Technology, IBM Academic Ambassador
- Antti Haapasalo, IBM, moderator
14:05 – 14:30
Closing Keynote
Salla Westerstrand – Technology ethicist, Harmless Consulting / AI Designer, Solita
Where is AI taking democratic societies? What is the price of winning the AI arms race? Who decides the direction for the future of digitalisation? Salla Westerstrand explores AI as a socio-technical phenomenon and sheds light on how we can steer the course of digitalisation towards an ethical direction.
14:30 – 15:00
Closing Reflections & Networking
Join us for a final session of insights and discussion with AI for Change and IBM
Voices Shaping the Future of AI
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS 2025
Henna Virkkunen
Executive Vice-President, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President, Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. Europe is investing in AI factories, gigafactories and next-generation data ecosystems, Henna Virkkunen explores how Europe can transform regulation into an engine for trust-based growth and technological leadership.
Rene Eres
Thought Leader, Sales Director & Author
Rene Eres is a European tech leader with 25+ years of experience driving digital transformation. He is the author of The Age of Intelligent Economies, exploring how AI is reshaping value creation and leadership. At the Summit, he shares insights on navigating disruption in the era of intelligent systems.
Marina Linde
Legal advisor and AI ethics specialist at the AI for Change Foundation
With a background in law and expertise in emerging technologies, Marina focuses on the intersection of regulation, innovation, and ethical governance. At the Summit, she serves on the panel “Regulation vs. Innovation,” offering insights into how policymakers and innovators can collaborate to build a responsible and future-ready AI ecosystem.
Lasse Käärmekoski
IBM Technology, IBM Academic Ambassador
Lasse Käärmekoski is an AI and digital transformation specialist at IBM, helping Nordic software companies and enterprises accelerate their growth through embedded AI and hybrid cloud technologies. With a background spanning analytics, automation, and partner ecosystems, he focuses on turning AI potential into measurable business impact through practical adoption and ecosystem collaboration.
Ari Huczkowski
Deputy Head of Helsinki Incubators
Helsinki Incubators is the startup incubation program of the University of Helsinki in partnership with the City of Helsinki. Since May 2022, 500+ teams, 103 companies created and 15 MEUR raised by the companies. Ari has over 25 years of experience in helping startups grow and innovation ecosystems to thrive. Lately he has explored what all you can do with different types of AI. Ari loves the Henry Ford quote “Whether you think you can – or cannot – you're right!”
Joonas Ranta
Host (MC) and AI Creative Project Lead at AI for Change Foundation
As Host (MC) and AI Creative Project Lead at AI for Change Foundation, Joonas brings together narrative, design, and tech to guide the summit, tie themes together, and ensure each session feels coherent and human-centered.
Salla Westerstrand
Technology ethicist, Harmless Consulting / AI Designer, Solita
Salla Westerstrand is a pioneering technology ethicist who helps organisations build antifragile foundations amidst digital disruption. She harnesses ethics and design to create sustainable value out of emerging technologies in times of ethical uncertainty. Westerstrand holds a PhD in Information Systems. She is AI Designer at Solita, Research Fellow at Turku School of Economics, Board Member of Sustinaires ry and CEO of Harmless Consulting.
Tommi tulisalo
Data & AI Sales Leader, EMEA, IBM Software
Tommi Tulisalo is an AI solutions enthusiast and executive. He has worked across industries with variety of customers that are transforming their customer care, sales, marketing and other functions through the use of advanced analytics and AI. He is regularly engaging with clients who are looking into scaling the use of AI responsibly across the organisation. Currently at IBM, Tommi is leading Data & AI Software Sales across Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Joonas Ranta
Host (MC) and AI Creative Project Lead at AI for Change Foundation
As Host (MC) and AI Creative Project Lead at AI for Change Foundation, Joonas brings together narrative, design, and tech to guide the summit, tie themes together, and ensure each session feels coherent and human-centered.
Tommi Tulisalo
Data & AI Sales Leader, EMEA, IBM Software
Tommi Tulisalo is an AI solutions enthusiast and executive. He has worked across industries with variety of customers that are transforming their customer care, sales, marketing and other functions through the use of advanced analytics and AI. He is regularly engaging with clients who are looking into scaling the use of AI responsibly across the organisation. Currently at IBM, Tommi is leading Data & AI Software Sales across Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Shaping a Future Where Technology Serves Humanity
A global gathering driving ethical innovation and responsible AI for positive change
