Autumn General Meeting elects Chair and decides on 2027 membership fees26

On Saturday 24 October 2026, the Autumn General Meeting of Specia – Asiantuntijat ja esihenkilöt ry was held at Helsinki Central Library Oodi and online. The meeting elected Specia’s Chair and new Board members, approved next year’s action plan and budget, and decided on the membership fees for 2027. A warm thank you to everyone who took part, cast their vote and brought their own perspective to the discussion!

Members joined us both in person and online from different parts of Finland. Members attending online had the same voting rights as those present, so everyone could take part in the decision-making wherever they live. We caught up with each other over the coffee break, and after the meeting we moved on to an afterwork event at Lasipalatsi Lounge. There the conversations continued in a more relaxed setting, in good company and with drinks and light refreshments.

Action plan for 2027

The Autumn General Meeting approved Specia’s action plan and budget for 2027. Next year we will continue to organise member events actively across Finland. We will offer support and information to members working in different sectors, promote wellbeing through our events and bring members together, for example at afterwork events. Our popular work retreats will continue both in person in different locations and online. We will also offer training and events online, so that every member can find a way to develop their skills and build networks that suits them.

In our advocacy work, we will keep developing our activities so that our members’ voice is heard even more strongly in the decision-making of our umbrella organisation and the negotiating organisations, as well as in public debate. We will also make our work more effective and transparent, so that our members know better what we do at Specia. In the spring 2027 parliamentary elections, we will highlight skills development and employment policy. [You can read more about these themes here.]

Membership fees remain unchanged

The Autumn General Meeting decided to keep the membership fees unchanged. Changes were made only to the fees for students and recent graduates. The changes take effect on 1 January 2027.

Membership fees 2027

• Employed member: €29/month
• Reduced membership fee: €17/month
• Recent graduate during the first year after graduation: €17/month (separate application required, new)
• Member receiving earnings-related unemployment allowance from the unemployment fund: €17/month
• Student member: €6/month (€3/month without unemployment fund membership)
• Student member in the 1st and 2nd year of studies: free of charge, without unemployment fund membership (new)
• Minimum membership fee: €8/month
• Self-employed professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers: €13/month
• Retired member: €10/month

Students can join free of charge for their first two years of study

When you start your studies, you can join Specia free of charge for your first and second year of study. Free membership does not include membership of the unemployment fund or Specia’s training grant. In the third year of study, the member moves on to the student fee without unemployment fund membership, €3/month. If you wish, you can choose student membership with the unemployment fund (€6/month) or paid student membership without the unemployment fund (€3/month) from the very start of your studies. We will send our student members more detailed information about the changes.

Recent graduates can apply for a reduced membership fee

The Autumn General Meeting decided that recent graduates can apply for a reduced membership fee of €17/month for the first year after graduation. The reduced fee is applied for using an application form. We will send our graduating students more detailed information about the change.

How to pay your membership fee in 2027

Our umbrella organisation Akavan Erityisalat will send members the payment details for the 2027 membership fees early in the year. The details are updated automatically in the online member service and, if you use e-invoicing, also in your e-invoice. If you have not yet set up an e-invoice, you can do so in your online bank under the name Akavan Erityisalat. Please set it up before the 20th day of the month so that the current month’s payment details reach your bank in time.

New Board members for the 2027–2028 term

The Autumn General Meeting elected the Chair for a new two-year term and new Board members to replace those whose terms were ending. Olli Järvelä continues as Chair for a second two-year term. Terms of office are shown in brackets. “New” means that the person did not serve on the Board during the previous term.

We congratulate everyone elected and warmly thank the outgoing Board members for their work for Specia and its members!

Specia’s Board 2027

Chair
Järvelä, Olli (2027–2028)

Members
Harinen, Aino (2027–2028)
Heikkilä, Henrietta (2027)
Jopasin, Saara (2027–2028)
Kalliokoski, Timo (2026–2027)
Minkkinen, Marita (2026–2027)
Prusila, Piia (2027–2028), new
Saksholm, Maria (2027–2028)
Sandroos, Henna (2026–2027)

Deputy members
Holappa, Anne (2027), new
Mäkelä, Ulla Kaarina (2027), new
Nyman, Maija (2027)

Student representatives

Student member
Ijäs, Sanni (2026–2027)

Student deputy member
Männikkö, Elina (2027), new