Kuldar Leis is a politician with a background in economics and entrepreneurship who has been the Estonian Minister of Infrastructure since spring last year. His areas of responsibility include mobility, maritime affairs, circular economy and the living environment.

Maive Rute, who has said that she is driven by development, growth and progress, has held various senior positions in the European Commission since 2005, but has also worked as Vice-Governor of Eesti Pank and Head of KredEx. In her current position as the Commission's Industrial Policy Promoter, Maive Rute is involved in large investment and innovation projects, finding sources of finance for European competitiveness, promoting investment and ensuring economic security.

Kristel Voltenberg is the Mayor of Pärnu, committed to professional and transparent city governance, openness, a strong sense of community, and the development of entrepreneurship. She aims to support Pärnu’s growth as a modern and attractive place to live. Before entering politics, she built an extensive career in law and business. She worked for many years as a lawyer in the private sector and served as Chancellor of the Estonian Bar Association from 2007 to 2017. As an entrepreneur, she has been involved in several initiatives, particularly highlighting the founding and leadership of Mulligalerii, which focuses on travel, events, and publishing.

Janek Kadarik's work and passion has been to advocate for Rapla County and its business for almost 30 years. He actively contributes to the development of the Rapla County business environment and practical opportunities that help companies grow and contribute to the development of the region. In addition, he has been one of the leaders of the Estonian Consultants Association for many years and is dedicated to promoting the consulting sector in Estonia. Photo: Enriko Pedaksalu.

Sari Sopanen is a hotel manager with extensive experience and a tourism enthusiast. She has managed Hedon Spa & Hotel in Pärnu and Viru Hotel in Tallinn, and is currently developing a new spa hotel and conference and event center in Pärnu - a complete complex that will bring new opportunities for expanding business tourism to Pärnu. Sopanen is passionate about the development of Estonian tourism and also contributes to it as a member of the board of the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association (EHRL). Her great passion is the development of Pärnu and her goal is to make people discover that an attractive living environment in Estonia is not limited to Tallinn alone. Her motto is: “Pärnu is 24 + 1 hours a day.”

Lily Allas is a pioneer in the tourism industry and a visitor experience design enthusiast. Previously, as the theme manager for nature and cultural tourism at Visit Estonia, she contributed to the international marketing of Estonia as a tourist destination and the development of services suitable for international visitors, linking destinations, mobility options and experiences into a holistic experience. Her Master's degree in service design and management supports her customer-centric mindset in creating the best visitor experience. At Jõulumäe Health Sports Center, she focuses on developing sports tourism, creating active and life-course mobility opportunities, and designing accessible solutions.

Tõnis Arjus is Estonia’s first State Architect at the Land and Spatial Board. His role is to lead strategic spatial planning and support the development of cohesive and future-proof spatial design across the country. He heads the strategic spatial planning service, helping shape national principles for land use, representing the state in planning processes, and implementing analysis-based spatial design policies.

Kristjan Thor Vähi is a new generation real estate developer operating in three countries and specializing in the construction of large residential and business districts with a holistic concept that create the urban space of the future. With more than 10 years of operating history, the Invego group includes over 60 companies in Estonia, Latvia and Portugal and currently has 30 development projects in progress. Over 150,000 m² of residential real estate has been completed, a total of 1500 homes and 50,000 m² of commercial real estate. The largest commercial development of the Invego group is the recently completed Krulli Park business district.

Lenno Uusküla is the Chief Economist of Luminor and Associate Professor of Macroeconomics at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the University of Tartu. He has a PhD in Economics from the European University Institute in Florence and previously studied economics in Bruges and Tartu. Uusküla has worked as Head of Research at the Development Monitoring Centre, as a Senior Economist in the Economic Research Department of Eesti Pank and as an Economist at the European Central Bank, and has published research articles in leading academic journals, where his main research areas have been macroeconomics and financial stability.

Mari-Liis Küppar is the board member responsible for customer experience at the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Foundation. She has diverse experience in strategic management and implementation of products, services and customer experience in both the private sector and state-owned enterprises. She has previously led development, marketing and customer program activities at Omniva, Inbank, Baltika, Saku Õlletehas and Swedbank. She has said that she wants to help Estonian companies grow into international success stories.

Guido Pärnits is the head of Ülemiste Center and one of the key figures in the development of Ülemiste City as the largest business park in the Baltics and the Nordics. He has long-standing experience in the retail and real estate sectors, where he has focused on creating holistic and forward-looking developments. Pärnits has actively contributed to the development of the Ülemiste region into a modern work and business environment, where smart infrastructure and good connections both within Tallinn and internationally play an important role. His activities combine business, urban planning and community development, supporting the development of the region as an important mobility hub and one of the growth engines of the Estonian economy.

Kalev Kruus is an Estonian sports journalist and commentator, whose voice and face are familiar to every sports fan. His work as a commentator is wide-ranging - from rally to basketball, from television to podcasts. Kalev Kruus, who received the 5th class Order of Merit from the President in February this year, has colorful and humorous comments that make every television broadcast an experience of a kind. An experience that is comparable to the honor and pride of Lithuanians, the Žalgiris basketball hall in Kaunas.

Mihkel Nestor is an economic analyst who is interested in foreign trade, the labor market, and helping SEB bank clients make better business decisions. He is almost always associated with banking, but Mihkel has also worked as an analyst in the public sector for years. For five years, Mihkel Nestor, together with Peeter Koppel, has been hosting the podcast Nestor & Koppel, which analyzes economic prospects and the behavior of financial markets.

Peeter Koppel is an investment and financial markets expert with over 25 years of experience, who has a good understanding of the connections between macroeconomics and financial markets, and whose commentary on economic trends, market movements and geopolitical risks is always witty and straightforward. In addition to his professional work, he is also a car enthusiast who appreciates classic engineering, German precision and machine aesthetics. For five years now, Peeter Koppel has been hosting the Nestor & Koppel podcast, which analyzes economic prospects and financial market behavior, together with Mihkel Nestor.

Mikk Merekivi is the spark of Järvakandi - a member of the local council and chairman of the community committee, the organizer of the local memory game and other community events, and the leader of the region's largest food venue, Jerwencato Bistro. He is a lifelong "countryman", but he is also a great traveler, having visited more than 60 countries, and in addition, as a master of ceremonies and wedding father, he has probably been to more places in Estonia than most of his compatriots.

Marie Johanna Univer is a junior researcher and geography teacher at the University of Tartu. She was elected last year as the Estonian Youth Climate Delegate, representing Estonia at the next UN Climate Change Conference in Turkey.

Karin-Annika Luga is an active political science student who has also been an Estonian youth climate delegate since autumn 2024. She has represented the views of Estonian youth at the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil and contributed to making the voices of young people heard at the international level.

Tiit Pruuli, founder and co-owner of Go Group, has traveled around the world, written and helped publish dozens of travel and cultural history books. Recently, he received the title of Cultural Friend of the Year for his long-standing and broad support of fields ranging from literature to science, consistently strengthening Estonia’s cultural space. Pruuli has two types of business cards: on one he is listed as a railwayman, on the other as a sailor. Between 1999 and 2001, Tiit Pruuli led the yacht called Lennuk on the first round-the-world voyage ever completed by an Estonian sailing boat. He has also led Arctic and Antarctic polar expeditions aboard the sailing ship Admiral Bellingshausen. His love of railways resulted in the book “By Train from St. Petersburg to Tallinn,” and he hopes one day to write “By Train from Tallinn to Paris.

Hannes Hanso is an internationally experienced diplomatand former politician who has served as Mayor of Kuressaare, Minister of Defence, and a Member of the European Parliament. Since 2022, he has represented Estonia as Ambassador to China and is also accredited to Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Together with the “Uhhuduuri” group, he has cycled across numerous countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. At the end of 2024, he and Mart Kuus are believed to have become the first Estonians to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Petteri Portaankorva represents the development company Itärata Oy (East Railway), which is planning a new high-speed rail connection between Helsinki Airport, Porvoo and Kouvola. He has extensive experience in the transport, logistics and infrastructure sectors, having served as both a service provider and a customer.

Elmer van Buuren is a Dutch entrepreneur and rail activist who is the co-founder and CEO of the railway company European Sleeper. He is known for reviving night trains in Europe, including contributing to the creation of a direct line between Brussels and Prague.

Henric Fuchs is a long-standing expert in infrastructure and public transport, currently serving as CEO of the Bothnian Corridor. As a passionate rail passenger, he is committed to creating a seamless and efficient rail network that connects Northern Scandinavia to the rest of the world. In Sweden, as well as elsewhere in Europe, he is known as a champion for multi-purpose infrastructure, sustainable logistics and large-scale rail investments.

Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas is the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.

Under the leadership of Anvar Salomets, Estonia's largest infrastructure project of this century is progressing with the goal of completion by 2030. His long-term experience and systematic approach have helped to reach the railway construction phase, with the entire Estonian section of the route covered by construction contracts and almost half already under construction. Salomets sees Rail Baltica not only as a transport corridor, but also as a strategic investment that will open new markets for Estonian companies and strengthen regional security.

Romi Hasa is a journalist and presenter with long-standing experience in television, radio, and print media. She currently hosts the daily "Telehommiku" program on Kanal 2 and is exposed to economic and social issues on a daily basis in her work.