Team

I'm Kati Mayfield, the founder and director of FloweRescue. I am originally from the United States and moved to Finland in summer 2016 to pursue my master's at Aalto University. I did my master's thesis research on small-scale rose growers in Ecuador, and through that became fascinated by the global flower supply chain and the sustainability problems in the industry. Flower waste is one big sustainability challenge for the industry, and I started working on FloweRescue after seeing the waste problem first-hand at our local wholesalers.

I am so excited about our organization and I have been really inspired over the past 5 years by the community which has grown around FloweRescue and our mission.

In the coming year I want to experiment with ways to deepen the well-being and community impact of our work. And to bring scale by training and inspiring people to rescue flowers and put them to good use right in their own neighborhoods.

I'm Johanna, a florist and floral designer who has long been eager to put my flower expertise to work to help people live richer lives. In fact, I was considering becoming an occupational therapist so that I could start a project working with elderly people to improve their well-being through flowers ... so imagine the perfect fit when I found FloweRescue and the Kukkia Kaikille program!

I have a background in art history studies, consider myself to be partly Italian having lived in Italy for 6 years, and now call Turku home. I live there with my husband and a sweet staffy named Alaska.

When I am not creating flower experiences for people at FloweRescue, you can find me freelancing with Studio Frö, working in my garden and traveling.

I’m Pernilla and come originally from Vaasa, but lived all my adult life in Helsinki. I have studied business and marketing, and worked since 2005 in various business and digital development roles.

I found Kati and FloweRescue at a networking event in 2019 where Kati guided us in making flower mandalas out of waste flowers. I was completely intrigued by the idea of FloweRescue and of course the beauty of flowers. Shortly after, I participated in my first flower rescue and have been coming back regularly since then.

I find working with FloweRescue rewarding in so many ways; the sustainability aspect, giving to people in need, working with beautiful flowers and of course the fantastic FloweRescue community.

I am looking forward to continuing developing FloweRescue as an active board member, so we can rescue even more flowers to give to people who need them. With my experience in strategic development as well as concept and project management, I believe I can, among other things, contribute in the strategic development of FloweRescue and expanding our concepts and network.

I'm Anna-Mari. I live in Herttoniemi, Helsinki, but I grew up in Tampere and consider myself to be a person from Tampere who just happens to live elsewhere ;) I have a degree in craft studies and cultural management and my work currently focuses on intangible cultural heritage.

One of my friends asked me to attend a FloweRescue volunteer evening with her in the fall of 2021, I enjoyed the idea and atmosphere of rescuing and have come back regularly ever since. I appreciate the values and ideology of FloweRescue and I am happy to be involved with a community trying the make the world a better place bit by bit. I have a profound interest in cultural wellbeing and for me, FloweRescue activities is a great way of producing wellbeing for others as well as myself.

I am Sanna. Currently living in Ramsinniemi, very East of Helsinki with my partner and two bullterriers (all three male and high-maintenance). Underlining "currently" as my family and friends call me a serial mover. I was born in Lappeenranta but since moving from there for work in Turku, I've been somewhat unstoppable with my moves, always making decisions on the gut feeling at that specific moment. This is my second time being based in Helsinki as I moved back from Stockholm in 2020 after what was an interesting four year professional assignment.

I got familiar with FloweRescue in 2023 via my employer at the time. The company had a sponsorship deal which led us having a flower workshop run by Kati and Johanna. It was an instant match for me hearing FloweRescue's story and the opportunities to contribute so shortly after, I attended the Kukkakeiju training. Since that, I've worked as Kukkakeiju monthly, mainly at Kannelmäki, Kinapori and also Cecilia. This voluntary work adds a huge value to my life, balancing the hectic business life and the joy of being surrounded by the lovely seniors and beautiful flowers. 

Now, I'm very much looking forward to being able to contribute to the Board work as well. I believe my ~20 years of business experience from various management positions combined with my South-Carelian positivity and social openness will be an asset to this group.