FLOU
Apply for the Masterclass
Aerial view of an illuminated multi-level highway interchange at night
Helsinki, Finland · 2–4 September 2026

FLOU Masterclass
on Transport Systems

A 3-day advanced programme for transport, mobility, and land use experts and decision-makers seeking stronger systems thinking and sharper tools to navigate a rapidly changing transport ecosystem.

2–4 September 2026
3 intensive days
FLOU's Office
Köydenpunojankatu 2, Helsinki, Finland
English
Programme language
Limited
Cohort size

About the programme

Supporting Strategic decision-making for transport systems

Transport systems are changing faster than strategies, regulations and organisations can adapt. What was infrastructure-led is now dynamic, data-driven and interconnected.

And yet the fundamentals have not changed. Transport systems are inherently counterintuitive. Adding road capacity can increase congestion, a single pricing decision can shift thousands of daily journeys, and infrastructure built today shapes land use for fifty years. Most professionals working on these systems have learned the technical side, but not how the system actually behaves as a whole. This programme is built around that gap. Three days of transport economics, investment logic and political reality: taught by people who work on these questions every day, in real projects, for real clients.

Content

A decisive upgrade in systems intelligence and strategic execution

Day 1

Introduction to systems

Day 1 establishes the foundations: how transport systems actually behave, and the economic forces that shape every decision around them.

    Morning

    The physics of movement

    Why transport systems surprise us. Induced demand, Braess's paradox, user equilibrium and the counterintuitive dynamics that make transport planning both hard — and fascinating. How network effects, congestion and modal choice interact in ways that defy intuition and confound standard models.

    Afternoon

    The economics of mobility

    The full cost of transport: — what drivers, operators and cities actually pay, and what they do not. Externalities, pricing logic, land value capture and the shift from infrastructure-led investment to data-led capacity building. Why the car often looks cheaper than it actually is, and what a rational pricing system would look like.

    Futures and scenarios

    How to make investment decisions that hold up as technologies and political contexts shift. Scenario planning, risk and resilience frameworks, and how to translate automation, data and emerging mobility models into investment-ready strategic options.

    Dinner

    Networking dinner

    Day 2

    Impacts and investments

    Day 2 turns insight into action: how to evaluate, justify and execute decisions that deliver measurable impact across financial, environmental and social dimensions.

      Morning

      Sustainability and equity

      Climate, sustainability and equity as strategic drivers instead of — not compliance constraints. The carbon handprint approach, distributional impact assessment, and how to evaluate transport investments against the full range of societal outcomes they produce.

      Afternoon

      Investment logic

      Why good analysis does not automatically lead to good decisions — and what to do about it. Cost-benefit frameworks, their limits, residual value, and how to make the financial and societal case for investments that standard appraisal tends to undervalue.

      Afternoon field visit

      On-site field visit

      Day 3

      Policy-making in action

      Day 3 moves from system to strategy: the policy mechanisms, political dynamics and futures tools used to steer transport under uncertainty.

        Morning

        Policy as a system intervention

        How regulation, pricing and governance actually shape behaviour in transport markets and public systems. The difference between policy that works on paper and policy that works in practice — and why that gap is often larger than expected.

        Afternoon

        Politics and decision-making

        The political economy of transport. Why technically sound proposals stall, how decisions actually get made, and what the evidence says about the gap between analysis and action. Stakeholders, coalitions, timing and the skills that transport professionals are rarely taught but always need.

        From insight to action

        Translate the programme's work into a personal action plan. What changes in your organisation, your portfolio and your decisions next week.

        Ending ceremony

        Personal reflection and certificates of completion

        Full schedule shared upon registration.

        About FLOU

        Our mission is to support impact driven decision making

        FLOU has spent a decade turning complex transport questions into clear decisions: for cities, authorities and operators across Finland and beyond.

        This three-day programme brings together a decade of work on complex transport questions, distilled into practical tools for the people shaping how transport systems evolve.

        The FLOU Masterclass distils that experience into an advanced training programme for transport professionals. Don't hesitate to contact us — we're happy to answer your questions about the Masterclass, the curriculum or group participation.

        masterclass@flou.io
        Taina Haapamäki, CEO of FLOU
        Taina Haapamäki
        CEO
        Celeste Nummelin, Masterclass Coordinator
        Celeste Nummelin
        Masterclass Coordinator

        Who should attend

        For decision-makers and experts shaping how transport systems evolve

        Designed for senior professionals working on transport systems, mobility and policy across the public and private sector. If your work influences how transport systems evolve, or how strategic decisions are made, this programme will elevate your capabilities.

        The three learning pillars of the FLOU Master Class

        Strengthen strategic capability

        — Move beyond operational thinking. Frame decisions through systems, futures and risk lenses that hold under uncertainty.

        Expand your systems intelligence

        — See transport as an interconnected ecosystem — and learn to intervene in it with leverage, not just effort.

        Prepare for the future of transport

        — Work with data, automation and emerging mobility models in ways that translate into investment-ready decisions.

        Guest speakers

        Who will you be learning from

        A curated line-up of practitioners and thinkers shaping how transport systems evolve.

        • Anni Sinnemäki
          Anni Sinnemäki
          Former Deputy Mayor of Helsinki
          Anni Sinnemäki is an experienced political decision-maker. During her term as Deputy Mayor, Helsinki has made key decisions on projects such as the transformation of Hämeentie, the city master plan based on a rail-oriented network city model, the Crown Bridge (Kruunusillat) tramway, and the Kaisantunneli bicycle and pedestrian tunnel. A background as a Member of Parliament, a minister, a party leader, and a long-serving city councillor have provided a unique perspective on the political atmosphere and how to navigate informed decision-making within it. Sinnemäki has paid particular attention to traffic safety, climate goals, and reconciling the city’s growth with environmental and nature conservation objectives.
        • Niko-Matti Ronikonmäki
          Niko-Matti Ronikonmäki
          Director of Unit at Ministry of Transport and Communications in Finland
          Niko-Matti Ronikonmäki works at the national level on transport policy and investment appraisal, focusing on how impacts are measured and how evidence feeds into funding decisions.
        • Pärtel-Peeter Pere
          Pärtel-Peeter Pere
          Former Deputy Mayor of Tallinn
          Pärtel-Peeter Pere is an Estonian Urban Strategist, Climate Politician and Former Deputy Mayor for Urban Environment at the City of Tallinn, where he led efforts on sustainable mobility, tram network development and climate-resilient city planning.
        • Touko Väänänen
          Touko Väänänen
          Senior Consultant at FLOU
          Touko Väänänen is a longstanding member of the FLOU team with years of experience in transportation systems. Touko has worked in countless projects involving transportation modelling and effects of transportation infrastructure. He has helped in improving the state of the art of transportation impact assessment in Finland by, for example, uncovering the agglomeration effects of transportation in Finland. Touko is finishing his PhD at Aalto University on the effects of transportation infrastructure improvements.
        • Anton Hagen
          Anton Hagen
          Transport Consultant at World Bank Group Ukraine
          Anton Hagen is a Ukrainian transport planner based in Lviv, Ukraine, focused mostly on urban mobility and railways. Born in Kyiv, he has obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in economics (Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Ukraine) and a master's degree in traffic and transportation management (National Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan). In 2018 Anton joined the Ukrainian team of the World Bank, taking on multiple roles including analytics, transport planning, transport economics and local support of the ongoing transport projects of the Bank. Since the full scale invasion of Russia, Anton participated in the preparation of RDNA reports and operations under the RELINC investment project. Since 2025, he is actively involved in the technical assistance on railway reform in Ukraine.
        • Lauri Kangas
          Lauri Kangas
          Senior Transport Expert at the City of Helsinki
          Lauri Kangas is a senior transport expert at the City of Helsinki, where he manages cooperation and budgeting with the city-owned transport company Metropolitan Area Transport and the regional public transport authority HSL. He has spent his career at the intersection of transport system planning and project delivery, with experience ranging from feasibility studies and investment appraisals to technical design of tramway infrastructure. His project work includes the rail network study for Helsinki’s city plan, five years on the Jokeri Light Rail project from feasibility study through to the alliance implementation phase, and the role of assistant project director on the Kalasatama to Pasila tramway and urban development project.
        • Sampo Hietanen
          Sampo Hietanen
          Owner of Aspectu and Founder of MaaS Global
          Sampo Hietanen is a Finnish entrepreneur and mobility innovator best known as the founder of MaaS Global and one of the pioneers of the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) concept. He has been widely referred to as the "father of MaaS" for his vision of integrating public transport, taxis, car sharing, bike sharing, and other mobility services into a single, seamless user experience. Through MaaS Global and its Whim app, Hietanen championed the idea that people should be able to access mobility as easily as a subscription service, reducing the need for private car ownership while improving convenience and sustainability. His work has influenced transportation policies, smart mobility initiatives, and urban planning discussions around the world.

        Practical information

        Everything you need to know before you apply

        Fees
        • €1,600 early bird until 22 July 2026
        • €2,000 full price
        • VAT rules apply
        Format
        • On-site at FLOU's Office, Helsinki
        • Limited cohort size
        • Masterclass days 9–17
        Included
        • All sessions and workshops
        • Learning materials and practical tools
        • Curated field visits
        • Welcome dinner, lunches and coffee
        • Certificate of completion

        Join FLOU Masterclass 2026

        Application form for the next cohort

        Limited seats

        We'll only use these details to reply.

        Schedule
        2–4 September 2026 · 3 days
        Location
        FLOU's Office
        Köydenpunojankatu 2, Helsinki, Finland
        Format
        Onsite · English
        Investment
        €1,600 early bird until 22 July 2026 · €2,000 after
        VAT rules apply
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        FAQ

        Frequently asked questions

        Everything else you might want to know before applying. Still have a question? masterclass@flou.io

        • Senior transport, mobility and land-use professionals in public agencies, operators, consultancies and infrastructure investors, whose work shapes how transport systems evolve or how strategic decisions are made.

        • 2–4 September 2026, on-site at FLOU's office at Köydenpunojankatu 2, Helsinki, Finland. The programme runs three intensive days, 9:00–17:00.

        • €1,600 early bird until 22 July 2026, €2,000 full price (VAT rules apply). The fee covers all sessions and workshops, learning materials and tools, curated field visits, welcome dinner, lunches and coffee, and a certificate of completion.

        • All sessions, materials and discussions are in English.

        • No. The programme is designed for decision-makers and experts from a range of backgrounds. What matters is that transport, mobility or land use is part of the decisions you influence.

        • Cohort size is limited to keep discussions sharp and peer-driven. We review applications on a rolling basis to ensure a balanced group across sectors and roles.

        • Yes — join our free webinar on 6 July at 13:00 Helsinki time for a curriculum walkthrough and live Q&A, or book a session with us directly to discuss the programme.

        • If you need help in choosing suitable accommodation for your stay, we will gladly help you do that! Just email us at masterclass@flou.io for support on this or other manners!