Tomas works as a Senior Consultant in the bio-industry and energy sector

Hi Tomas, what are you working on at the moment?

I’m currently a Senior Consultant at AFRY (formerly AF and Poyry). We work in the bio-industry and energy sector. I’m part of the Bio-industry team but still work closely with our Energy team as well. We have offices around the world and we work together in international teams to help our clients understand the continuously changing markets and prepare for the upcoming transitions in their respective sectors.

What can a regular day look like at your job?

I usually attend a lot of meetings with colleagues from other offices to discuss project work. I have developed a keen sense of time zones around the world while doing this. I also occasionally travel to one of our offices, or to a client, but I try to keep travel to a minimum – including from an environmental perspective. In my daily work – outside of meetings – I work a lot on econometric optimization models that help us understand how bio-industry markets may develop in the future.

Why did you choose this programme at KTH?

First of all, I’ve always been really interested in the topic of sustainable energy. Back then and even more so now, I saw the need to switch to more sustainable energy sources. Also, the flexibility and international nature of the programme really appealed to me. The programme offered the chance to choose the preferred study direction with corresponding coursework, after a joint introductory semester. I also consider the wide range of nationalities of the other students to be a huge benefit. It has really expanded my world view and understanding of the global energy market.

Are there any insights you acquired during your studies that have been particularly useful for you in your career?

The lectures on renewable energy technologies in particular were very valuable. KTH offered great courses given by industry experts.

What were the best aspects of your studies at KTH?

A great mixture of lectures, interactive group work and self-study. It was quite an intensive programme, but it was extremely insightful.

What is your best memory from your time at KTH?

Getting an early-morning kanelbullar (cinnamon bun) with coffee from 7-Eleven before a lecture. 

What are your plans for the future?

I see myself staying in this line of work. It’s very exciting to do consulting work for clients around the world and help them understand and quantify the effects of the changing markets.