Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-Europe) is delighted to announce the official launch of the WIA-Europe Finland Regional Network, which will be led by Sema Çil and Svenja Fassbender.
Finland’s aerospace and space sector has quietly evolved into one of Europe’s most dynamic ecosystems. What began with student-driven projects like Aalto University’s Aalto-1 satellite has sparked a wave of global space innovation—giving rise to industry leaders such as ICEYE, Kuva Space, and Aurora Propulsion Technologies.
Backed by world-class infrastructure like the ESA Sodankylä Arctic supersite, programmes like ESA BIC Finland and ESA Phi-Lab Finland, and the national industry association Space Finland, the country continues to make major contributions to Earth observation and satellite technology.
To support and connect the diverse talent driving this growth, the WIA-Europe Finland Regional Network was established in 2026.
The organisation’s mission is to unite women and underrepresented professionals across the national ecosystem—connecting students, researchers, and senior industry experts from across the country.
Key initiatives include:
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Hybrid Panel Discussions & Industry Meetups: Bridging the gap between academia and commercial space ventures.
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Career Events & Networking: Supporting professional growth at every stage of the industry pipeline.
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Accessible Community Gatherings: Local events organised in both Finnish and English to build an inclusive, nationwide community.
Meet the Leaders:
Svenja Fassbender has a strong background in event and community management, with experience working on major international events including Berlinale, Göteborg Film Festival and the startup conference Slush.
In 2025, she joined Aalto University to support the recently established ESA Phi-Lab Finland programme. Funded by the European Space Agency, the programme provides funding and support for geospatial innovation projects. As part of her role, Svenja leads community engagement and launched the ESA Phi-Lab Ecosystem Talks, a networking series for ESA Phi-Lab and ESA BIC Finland startups and alumni. The initiative gives early-stage companies unique access to key organisations and decision-makers across Finland’s space innovation ecosystem.
As Co-Lead of the newly established Women in Aerospace Finland chapter, Svenja is committed to building an inclusive community that connects and empowers women and underrepresented professionals across the Finnish space sector.
Sema Çil is a meteorologist and remote sensing specialist, currently working as a researcher at the University of Vaasa. Her work covers satellite Earth observation, environmental data analysis, EU-funded project coordination, and research proposal development.Alongside her research, Sema has led community initiatives across Turkey, the U.K., and Finland.As Regional Network Leader of the newly established WIA-Europe Finland chapter, she is committed to building a truly national community that connects women across the country. Her goal is to bring them together with one another and with the broader WIA-Europe network, and to ensure that the next generation entering the field in Finland knows there is a community here waiting for them.
We look forward to seeing the Finland Regional Network grow and flourish!
To stay up to date with events, local updates or to join, follow the Finland Regional Network on LinkedIn >>
