On 6 December, the 104th anniversary of Finland’s independence, researcher and Associate Professor Ulla Tapaninen at the Maritime Academy of the Tallinn University of Technology received a prestigious award from President Sauli Niinistö of Finland: the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
The order is Finland’s second most important medal of merit, which is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution in the service of the Finnish state.
"I have had the privilege of working in the fascinating maritime and logistics sector for 30 years now. I have seen this field from many different sides – from shipping companies to the public sector and universities," Ulla Tapaninen remarked in a social media post.
What makes this award special is the fact that it was granted now that Tapaninen is no longer working only for Finland, but also for the Estonian maritime sector, wherein she has been sharing her knowledge of how to develop an efficient and environment-friendly maritime and logistics sector in Estonia as well.
The medal will be officially awarded to Tapaninen in Finland on 16 December.
Estonians who have been awarded the Order of the White Rose include, for example, Lennart Meri, Arnold Rüütel, and Toomas Hendrik Ilves.