The Representative Council of the Student Union Kaakko convened on Thursday, November 27, 2025. During the meeting, the members of the 2026 Representative Council were confirmed, and the presidium of the council as well as the board members for the upcoming year were elected.

Nelli Kortelainen, a hospitality management student from Kotka, was elected as President of the Representative Council. Emmi Syrjä, a community educator student from Mikkeli, was elected as Vice President.

I would like to thank the council and our members for their trust! In the coming year, it’s time to focus on the things the Student Union already has and refine them. We will build the year together with the board and local associations. – Nelli Kortelainen

Members of the Representative Council:

Johanna Jokinen (Kotkan Opiskelijat)
Katriina Janhunen (Kaakon Vihreät)
Anni Miettinen (Mikkelin Pamaus)
Niina Mäkelä (Kotkan Opiskelijat)
Taneli Arosara (Kaakon Vihreät)
Lilli Peltonen (Kotkan Opiskelijat)
Jussi Kukkurainen (Kouvolasta Kaakkoon)
Tiina Kannasvuo (Independent)
Janina Laakso (Independent)
Ville-Pekka Häkkinen (Mikkelin Pamaus)
Alphonsus Ehiabhi (Independent)
Miina Kunnasto (Independent)
Mikael Viik (Mikkelin Pamaus)
Julia Takialainen (Independent)
Sagar Kafle (Independent)

Board 2026

The council also elected the board members for 2026 during the meeting. Niko Heikkilä (Bachelor of Engineering, Developing Food Technology) from the Kouvola campus was elected as President of the Board.

The Vice Presidents of the Board are:

  • Mahmudul Ruju (Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology), Mikkeli campus
  • Taneli Mäkinen (Bachelor of Community Education), Mikkeli campus
  • Teemu Taivainen (Bachelor of Business Administration, Security), Savonlinna campus

The order of the Vice Presidents will be decided in the board’s organizational meeting.

Board members elected:

  • Channa Perera (Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology), Mikkeli
  • Matias Päivä (Bachelor of Business Administration, Public Administration and Law), Kouvola
  • Sehrish Aziz (Bachelor of Business Administration, Digital International Business), Kouvola
  • Muqadas Fatima (Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing), Savonlinna

The Representative Council and the Board will begin their duties on January 1, 2026, and their term will last until December 31, 2026.

More information:

Laura Laakso
President of the Board 2025
laura.laakso@opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi
+358 44 4910 616

Nelli Kortelainen
President of the Representative Council 2026
eneko007@edu.xamk.fi

Niko Heikkilä
President of the Board 2026
dnihe001@edu.xamk.fi

Sauli Sarjus
Executive Director
sauli.sarjus@opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi
+358 50 592 7482