Life-changing year for Elina Koski, FinnCham Hong Kong’s new Executive Director While Hong Kong as such may be looked upon with uncertainty recently, FinnCham Hong Kong can, in comparison, be deemed as a beacon of stability, celebrating 35 years in 2021. However, as Hong Hong has changed a lot over the years, so has the Finnish Chamber. ScandAsia learns more from its new Executive Director (ED), Elina Koski. By Joakim Persson
C View of Hong Kong. Photo: Dennis Tang https://commons. wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_of_Hong_Kong_from_Victoria_Peak.jpg
16 ScandAsia • November 2021
ovid-19 has obviously disrupted life in general also in Hong Kong, while things are pretty much back to normal now. Businesses and expats have been forced to adapt in ways at one’s disposal, while access to the larger Greater Bay area remains off limits from those being in Hong Kong. 2021 has also meant big and positive changes for Elina Koski. First is of course the appointment as FinnCham Hong Kong’s news ED early in the year, and second is that she has become the mother of a baby boy. Elina says that she is appreciative that FinnCham HK gave her the opportunity to become its new ED even though she was just about to give birth. This managing role in the chamber was flexible in its nature also previously so the work-from-home structure that has very much become the norm during Covid-19 was already practiced by FinnCham HK previously. “I think it is a good thing, and because it’s a very independent role; you can work from wherever suits you. I am my own boss, and can decide more in this role, even if I couldn’t take maternity leave, when I started as ED. In the long run it is a great opportunity and also a flexible role,” thinks Elina, who has already lived in Hong Kong and China for a few years with her family.
