Immigrant Council

A multicultural group having a conversation.

The Immigrant Council works proactively to promote the interests of the Tampere City's multicultural residents. They follow the services and development of the City and give statements on issues relevant to multicultural residents. The Council is also active in preventing discrimination and racism.

Tasks of the Immigrant Council

The Immigrant Council is responsible for:

  • Making proposals for the development of services related to immigrants in the city
  • Making proposals to remove barriers to equality in services and recruitment
  • Promoting intercultural dialogue and actively participating in efforts to prevent discrimination and racism
  • Participating in the city’s decision-making processes – like other councils established for special groups – by issuing statements on matters of interest and utilizing other channels of influence available to residents
  • Taking part in the handling of specific issues concerning immigrant organizations within the city administration
  • Contributing to the development of cooperation between the city and other stakeholders on immigration-related matters
  • Carrying out other tasks related to the promotion of good ethnic relations and the development of services for immigrants

Members of the Immigrant Council

The Council has 12 members. Three of them represent political parties. 

The members of the Immigrant Council for the period 1 June 2025 – 31 May 2027 are: 

Chair of the Immigrant Council

Vice Chair of the Immigrant Council

  • The Vice Chair will be elected later

Members

  • Housana Alfashtaki, deputy Yasser Rahman
  • Husam Al Tawalbeh, deputy Lama Kourdi
  • Mustafa Kara, deputy Abdulkadir Hashi
  • Natalia Lastovets, deputy Inna Huikko
  • Alexandra Matschke, deputy Lavinia Husa
  • Margarita Niemi, deputy Valentina Savolainen
  • Nilakshi Ojala, deputy Hajer Jwiad
  • Kelen Paz Guevara, deputy Mariam Sutidze-Haveri
  • Amandeep Singh, deputy Martin Puck
  • Mahmoud Machaal, deputy Farhad Noori
  • Reza Abdali, deputy Tiny Ngo
  • SM Shafiqul Alam, deputy Simón Francisco Riestra Aedo

Presenter

  • Mari Taverne, Director of Talent Attraction and Migration

Secretary

  • Ville Halonen

Meetings and themes in 2025

The Immigrant Council will meet during the autumn season of 2025 on the following dates:

  • Tue 21.10. at 16.00 – Safety
  • Tue 9.10. at 16.00 – Theme to be decided later

You can find the minutes of previous meetings in Finnish here: Maahanmuuttajaneuvosto

Contact

You can contact the Immigrant Council by sending an email to [email protected].

Mari Taverne
Presenter Service Director
Phone:
040 801 2686
Updated 11.9.2025