Who is Onni?

Hi! I’m Onni-Jonatan Matilainen, and I’m running in the municipal and regional elections in Oulu. I am a full-time student at the Oulu Business School at the University of Oulu, majoring in economics – with a particular interest on environmental and macroeconomics. I also spent six months on exchange at the Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, where I had the opportunity to dive deeper into these subjects. Outside of my studies, I am actively involved in the organizational field: currently I am serving as the vice chair of Oulu Green Youth, treasurer of Oulu Greens, a board member of Oulu Pedestrians, and a student representative in the administration of the University of Oulu.

In my free time, I enjoy playing floorball or football, but recently I’ve picked up street and hip-hop dancing as a new hobby. I also love spending time in nature, going hiking. These activities help me relax and take my mind off world-improving every now and then. If I still have energy after work and studying, I enjoy reading and listening to books, particularly those focused on society and history.

I joined the Greens in March 2024, after years of reflecting on whether I wanted to be involved in party politics and how I wanted to contribute to shared issues. I’ve always been an influential-minded person, which is why I’ve been engaged for instance in the Union of Upper Secondary School Students, the Board of the Finnish Conscripts’ Union, the Board of Rethinking Economics Finland and as a student representative in my university’s administration.

I’m running in the elections because I want to help build a sustainable future in a concrete way – starting with local politics. In my political work, I strive to bring more listening, understanding and collaboration to our society. I believe that constructive cooperation is the only true solution to making sustainable decisions about our shared issues in the long-term.

If you share my values and want to support a better and more sustainable future, join me in action! You can show your support by sharing my posts, challenging my ideas, or joining my campaign team.