Helle-Triin Hansumäe

Municipal Architect of Tori Municipality, Estonia

As the Municipal Architect of Tori Municipality Helle-Triin leads place-making, spatial planning, and community co-creation. She heads the URBACT Econnecting pilot in Jõesuu, focusing on age-friendly public space, 30-minute territories, and sustainable everyday mobility. With experience across public and private sectors and a strong background in heritage-led regeneration, Helle-Triin turns local knowledge—across generations—into practical, fundable actions that make small towns more accessible, welcoming, and resilient.

Emma Matsson

Development manager, Age-friendly Gothenburg

Emma Matsson is the development manager for Age-friendly Gothenburg, Sweden. She has established a network of age-friendly colleages in all of the involved municipality departments and companies in Gothenburg, and facilitate the work with Gothenburg's actionplan. Age-friendly Gothenburg host a network of senior citizens called Future Developers who live all over Gothenburg and contribute voluntarily to the work. Age-friendly Gothenburg also host a collaboration-platform Årsrika Göteborg which involves different stakeholders in society, and has formed a partnership with AgeCap, Centre for Ageing and Health, University of Gothenburg.

Kurt Arne Gimre

Life Quality Project 65+, Sola Municipality, Norway

Kurt Arne has participated in the Life Quality Project 65+ since 2022. He is a retired Army Colonel with an extensive background in military leadership as commanding Norwegian Army units on multiple levels. Throughout his carrier, he has been deployed with the UN to Lebanon and Bosnia, and with NATO to Afghanistan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in military science, completed a two-year logistics program at the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College, and earned a master’s degree in National Resource Strategy from the US National Defence College.

Torill Håkonsen

Life Quality Project 65+, Sola Municipality, Norway

Toril is retired and has been a participant in the Life Quality Project 65+ in Sola municipality since 2019. Her educational background includes a degree in social work, covering all age groups, as well as a specialization in special education for children aged 0–16. Throughout her career, she has worked in mental health institutions supporting individuals with severe challenges, and she has served as a school advisor for children with learning disabilities and behavioural difficulties.

Paolo Caserotti

Professor, Dep. of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark

Paolo Caserotti is a professor in exercise physiology and the head of the Center for Active and Healthy Ageing, University of Southern Denmark. He also serves as the chairman of the Danish Gerontological Society.

One of the primary focus of his research is to develop and implement evidence-based and sustainable models within the public health care framework to i) predict the risk of functional loss and dependency in community-dwelling older citizens and, ii) implement complex interventions with focus on active life-style and behavioural change including physical activity, exercise on prescription, nutrition, social engagement and participation to reduce the risk of functional loss and disability.

He has received numerous large-scale projects with funding from European, (EU) international, national, and private agencies, including EU Interreg 4a & 5a, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ sport and COST action funding programs.

Sigrun Gaard Steinsøy

Adviser, Sola Municipality, Norway

Sigrun works with citizen participation and facilitates the “Life Quality Project 65+.” Since 2019, Sola Municipality has invited residents turning 65 years to mark the transition from working life to the next phase of life. Through this initiative, the municipality builds connections with its residents through activities such as themed meetings and collaboration with the local volunteer centre. Sigrun holds a master’s degree in citizenship and interaction and is also a qualified teacher.

Erja Rappe

Senior researcher, Age Institute, Finland

DSc Erja Rappe is a Senior Researcher at Age Institute, a Finnish expert NGO with strong competence in developing evidence-based public health initiatives for older adults. The Institute collaborates with several ministries, Wellbeing Services Counties, and municipalities. Erja specializes in age- and memory-friendly environments, the implementation of cross-sectoral development processes, and participatory research methods involving people with special needs. She is especially interested in the links between nature, green spaces, and human health. Her recent research topics have focused on how to assess the state and progress of age-friendliness, and what factors influence older adults’ sense of safety.

Natalie Turner

Deputy Director of Localities, the Centre for Ageing Better, UK

Natalie’s goal is to create more places where people can live a good later life and has been working Natalie in ageing locally, nationally, and internationally since 2010. Her team supports the UK affiliate network for the WHO’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities with a membership of around 100 places covering a population of 30 million people

She was previously a senior policy advisor at AARP in Washington, DC and Head of Programmes at Age UK London.