Metsä Group's Maija Pohjakallio appointed Professor of Practice at the University of Turku
Maija Pohjakallio, Metsä Group's Leading Climate and Circularity Expert, Docent and Doctor of Science (Technology), has been appointed Professor of Practice at the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Turku for the term 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031.
The position is part-time, and Pohjakallio will continue in her current role at Metsä. The appointment strengthens collaboration between the University of Turku and Metsä and creates new opportunities for interaction between research, education, and industry.
Pohjakallio's areas of expertise include the circular economy and polymer materials. She sees the professorship as a platform for building even stronger connections between academic research and industrial practice.
"The Professor of Practice position enables me to engage with the academic community, while my work at Metsä keeps me grounded in industrial practice. I find this combination particularly inspiring, as it allows me to interact with diverse people, ideas, and perspectives. At the same time, it creates new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and societal impact," says Pohjakallio.
According to Pohjakallio, advancing the circular economy requires new forms of collaboration between different stakeholders.
"One of the most significant barriers to developing the circular economy is society's siloed way of operating. New models of collaboration are key to overcoming these barriers."
At the University of Turku, Professors of Practice are appointed to bring diverse perspectives from different sectors of society into academia and to enhance the university's societal impact. The position may be awarded to a highly accomplished and respected expert, executive or professional.
According to Kati Miettunen, Professor of Materials Engineering at the University of Turku, the appointment strengthens the university's ability to respond to the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development and the circular economy.
"Access to up-to-date, practical insights are essential for the development of teaching and research in the field. Pohjakallio combines extensive experience from both industry and research, along with a broad understanding of the needs and operating environment of businesses in Finland and across Europe," says Miettunen.
Pohjakallio joined Metsä in 2021. Previously, she held positions at Sulapac, VTT and the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, as well as research and teaching roles. She received her doctorate in Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry from Helsinki University of Technology (now part of Aalto University) in 1996.
Further information:
Maija Pohjakallio, Leading Climate and Circularity Expert, Metsä Group, tel. +358 50595 6891
Krista Kimmo, Communications Manager, Metsä Group, tel. +358 50526 4911
Metsä Group
www.metsagroup.com
Metsä Group has its roots in the Finnish forest: our parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative is owned by approximately 90,000 forest owners. We make wood products that people around the world need every day. We focus on pulp, paperboards, tissue and greaseproof papers, wood products, and wood supply and forest services. We are committed to regenerative forestry that measurably strengthens the forest ecosystem. We promote a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion.
In 2025, our sales totalled EUR 5.8 billion, and we employ about 8,800 people.