Short bio of OPP:

So my name is Olli-Poika Parviainen and my friends call me OP. I am 32 years old and I live in Tampere, Finland.

I am currently the municipal council chairman of Tampereen Vihreät (Tampere Greens). I’m also the elected deputy mayor (one of four vice mayors) of Tampere, responsible for the city’s culture, sports, business administration and education from 2nd level up.

In 2012 I was re-elected to the city council by a total of 643 votes. Thank you to all my voters! On my election page you can check out my objectives in English.

Before the city council chose me to be the deputy mayor, I was a member of the city board and held several other municipal positions. I have worked as a freelance entrepreneur and as a part-time IT teacher at a training center for immigrants. I’m also a graduate student of interactive media and a Bachelor of Culture and Arts. I have five years of experience from working in the Finnish parliament, and I currently have several responsibilities as an elected official.

I graduated from TAMK School of Art and Media in 2004. In my studies I focused, among others, on project management and computer game design. I started my graduate studies at the University of Tampere in 2010. I am interested in themes such as the democratization of information society, digital gaps and the societal potential of interactive media. I am currently doing my master’s thesis about digital games and the elderly people.

My career in social activism started when I became a co-founder of the Tampere branch of ViNO (Federation of Green Youth and Students). I was also one of the founders of national ViNO itself, and I served as chair of both organizations. I was also the chair of the Tampere Greens. I have been active in other civic associations as well.

I was electod to city council in 2008. In the previous term, I was the first vice member of our city council group. I ran for the finnish parliament in 2011. I received enough votes to be number four in our 18 person greens list, but only one of us got elected to parliament.

I like to relax by spending time with my wife and my friends, or by exercising, cycling or doing yoga. I like music, movies, reading science fiction and biographies. Occasionally you will spot me at a club or a gig.

You can find my themes for the previous parliamentary elections here.