Mr. Porkholm obtained his M.Sc. in Technical Physics (Control and Systems Engineering) at the University of Oulu in 1978. Mr. Porkholm has worked more than 30 years in Fortum Power and Heat company in the nuclear and thermal power plant field. In 1983 -1984 Mr. Porkholm worked in OECD Halden Reactor Project in Norway at the Halden Man-Machine Laboratory as an advisor and process supervisor. In addition Mr. Porkholm has participated several times as an IAEA expert in the engineering and training simulator projects.

He has more than 25 years of experience in the simulation based process and automation design, safety analyses and development of training simulators.

His present position is Head of Modelling and Simulation Department of Fortum Power and Heat company, where he is responsible for modelling, simulation and control room HMI design.