Inclusion Europe welcomes new president Jyrki Pinomaa
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On May 30, the change took place: Jyrki Pinomaa from Finland, long-standing board member of Inclusion Europe, took over the association’s presidency from Maureen Piggot following a two-year transition period.
Jyrki Pinomaa has decades of experience in advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Until May this year he served as managing director of Aspa Foundation, a service provider founded by the main Finnish disabled people organisations. The Aspa Foundation provides inclusive and modern housing and person-centred services for thousands of persons with disabilities in Finland. Throughout the years, he has been well connected with many European disability organisations, attending numerous conferences as a moderator or speaker.
Since 2010 Jyrki has been the president of Inclusion Finland KVTL, one of Inclusion Europe’s member organisations, and has thus had a central and visible role in raising the rights of persons with intellectual disability into daily public and political agenda in his home country.
Jyrki and his wife Marianne have four children of which two – Markus, 31 and Robin, 27 have intellectual disabilities.
During his presidency, Jyrki Pinomaa wants to pay particular attention to maintaining Inclusion Europe’s position as a well-known and trustworthy organisation both among its members and European institutions. He also wants to encourage all members to use the UNCRPD as the sharpest tool on the common journey towards a fully inclusive Europe.
Upon taking up his position, Jyrki commented:
I feel honoured and humble to start serving as president of Inclusion Europe.
The rights of persons with intellectual disability and their families are a matter of heart to me and I am fully committed to work towards the goals in our strategy and the 5 Es which give it focus:
Empower, Elect, Educate, Employ, End segregation.I am looking forward to working with our members and board of most dedicated people, as well as with our partners in European Union, disability organisations and many others.
He added: “There are no words big enough to describe my gratitude and respect towards the outstanding work of my predecessor Maureen Piggot.”
Jyrki Pinomaa’s presidency will continue for four years, with the possibility of extension of his mandate.
Inclusion Europe is glad to welcome an experienced and well-versed personality as its new president. We are looking forward to working with Jyrki Pinomaa to continue our fight for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Europe!
Other changes to the composition of the board were:
- Hannes Traxler retired as a long-standing treasurer and board member – Gerhard Kowalski is his successor as treasurer.
- Theresa Shearer from Scotland and Dana Migaliova from Lithuania got elected into the board. (For Dana it is a return to the board, as she was a member some years ago.)
In addition, Mateja de Reya from Slovenia was confirmed as board member for a second term.
Thank you to Hannes Traxler for his committed work for the organisation and welcome to the new and re-elected board members!
Easy-to-read version
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Inclusion Europe welcomes new president Jyrki Pinomaa!
On 30 May, Jyrki Pinomaa became the new president of Inclusion Europe.
He has replaced Maureen Piggot.
He is from Finland.
He has been working for many years for the rights
of people with intellectual disabilities.
Until May, Jyrki was a director of the Aspa Foundation.
The Aspa Foundation rents out homes to people with intellectual disabilities
and those who have mental health problems.
Mental health means how healthy your mind is.
From 2010, Jyrki has been the president of Inclusion Finland KVTL.
Inclusion Finland KVTL is a Finnish organisation
for people with intellectual disabilities.
It is a member of Inclusion Europe.
Jyrki has four children with his wife Marianne.
Two of their children have intellectual disabilities:
Markus, who is 31, and Robin, who is 27.
While he is president, Jyrki wants to make sure Inclusion Europe
continues to be known for being trustworthy.
He also wants to get the members of Inclusion Europe
to use the UN CRPD.
Jyrki said he is glad to be the president of Inclusion Europe.
He said that he cares a lot about the
rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
He is keen to work towards Inclusion Europe’s five aims, which are:
- Empower,
- Elect,
- Educate,
- Employ,
- End segregation.
He is looking forward to working with all kinds of people
who are also fighting for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities.
He also said that there are no words big enough to say
thank you to Maureen, for the work that she has done.
Jyrki is set to be the president for at least the next 4 years.
Inclusion Europe is happy to welcome someone
with so much experience as our new president.
We are looking forward to working towards inclusion with Jyrki!
There were a few more changes in the board of Inclusion Europe.
Hannes Traxler stepped down
from being in charge of the money at Inclusion Europe.
Gerhard Kowalski is now in charge of this.
Theresa Shearer from Scotland and Dana Migaliova from Lithuania
for elected to the board of Inclusion Europe.
We also agreed that Mateja de Reya from Slovenia
will stay on our board.
Thank you for your service, Hannes,
and welcome to the board members who are new or staying on!
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[…] At our board meeting, which took place during the World Congress, Jyrki Pinomaa took over the presidency of Inclusion Europe from Maureen Piggot. Read about this and other changes to the board in our dedicated article. […]