Mr Ylinen holds a MSc in Forestry from the University of Helsinki and has accumulated a wealth of experience in forestry of about 60 different countries, from the boreal forestry to the tropical high forests of South America, Africa and Asia to the dry miombo woodland forests of Africa. He has maintained and updated his professional skills both with further University studies as well as working in a variety of different capacities from market development and sales of forest machines to heading business intelligence of a major forestry company. Before starting his own company ten years ago he worked with Finnish Jaakko Pöyry Oy and Ekono Oy, with the US multinational Caterpillar Overseas S.A. in Geneva, manufacturer of earthmoving machinery and with Metsäliitto Cooperative.

His native language is Finnish, he is fluent in English and has good Swedish and German language skills.