Janne Sala

Whether the topic is strengthening democratic participation or finding ways to reorganize food production chains, Janne is a rising expert in the intersection of developing societal change and climate resilience. They combine their academic education in the social sciences with sharp and international political networking to harness a global skillset for tackling present issues in the changing landscape of our world.

Alongside both their Bachelors degree as well as ongoing Masters level pursuit in Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki, Janne has studied in Hokkaido University, Japan, where they participated actively in the local Ainu people’s cultural activism and legal engagements to support the indigenous group’s sovereignty and protection of their ancestral environments. Advocating for alternative, sustainable ways of living that see societies thriving democratically alongside nature, not above it, remains a lifelong passion for Janne.

Whenever they aren’t hard at work, at the gym, or practicing kendo, Janne pursues creative arts through writing, drawing, and most passionately composing and playing music – their accordion performances have been heard millions of times by people around the world.