Jali Wahlsten initiates and promotes Nordicamerica projects across Latin America

Ex-professional ice hockey player with a Master’s degree in Aesthetics and Philosophy. Over 30 years of living and working experience from nine countries and three continents. Eternal freelancer - inconsistent slacker by common standards - but a culturally literate and sharp sparring partner for new concept development, branding and design projects. Uncompromisingly driven by modernist aesthetics.

Nordicamerica

Latin America 2018 – Current

After his three-year tenure with Finnish-Iberoamerican Institute in Buenos Aires, Jali Wahlsten founded Nordicamerica as a vehicle for Nordic projects across Latin America. Most recent of those is ‘Desde Finlandia con amor’ (From Finland with Love), a film cycle and series of related events in Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador and Panama. Other Nordicamerica projects include Nordic Jazz Harvest ‘boutique’ jazz & food festival in Buenos Aires in 2019. Current and future plans include a new and ambitious multi-disciplinary touring event for 2023-24.

Wahlsten Limited

London 1999 – Current

Jali Wahlsten moved from Helsinki to London in 1996. After his three-year tenure as the Head of the Arts Programme at the Finnish Institute in London, he founded Wahlsten Limited as a diversified vehicle for his London advisory, marketing and sales projects. Wahlsten Limited’s blue chip client list over the 15 years included Nordic Bakery, Artek, Marimekko, Kinnasand, Snowcrash, Finlandia Vodka, Barbican Art Gallery, Victoria Miro Gallery, The Nordic Pavilion at Venice Biennale, Nokia Plc, Sonera Plc, Nanso, hasan & partners, Sanoma Oy, Design Forum Finland, Hannes Snellman Attorneys, Satama Interactive, and Result Ventures among others. Wahlsten Limited remains active for advisory projects and commissions within the UK.

International Sports Consultants Oy

International 1975 – Current

International Sports Consultants was founded in the 1970’s by Jali Wahlsten’s father Juhani Wahlsten and his American friend Joel Reingold. Juhani Wahlsten passed away in 2019 and after that Jali Wahlsten, also a former professional athlete himself, has been the Chairman of the inherited family company. The company is seeking new new brand development projects within the upmarket leisure and outdoor sports sectors.

Jali Wahlsten’s professional career within the creative industries started in London in the late 1990s.

Wahlsten’s first cultural brand was ‘Finnish Independence Day in London’. An annual multi-disciplined event and party that took place in 1996, -97 and -98. An alternative ‘ambassador’s reception’ that introduced new musicians, filmmakers, artists and performers.

In the early 2000s Wahlsten represented some of the most prestigious Nordic design brands such as Artek, Marimekko and Kinnasand in the UK, and was involved in numerous event marketing ventures in both in the UK and in continental Europe.

In 2007 he opened Nordic Bakery in Soho - the first Scandinavian cafe in London.