Yoko Alender

Yoko Alender

City of Tartu Electoral District

13 June 1979, Tallinn
Married, four children

Education: Södra Latins Gymnasium (Stockholm) 1999; Estonian Academy of Arts, MA in architecture 2010, doctoral studies in architecture and urban planning 2022–

Career: production company Kultorg OÜ, founding member and Member of Board, Project Manager 2001–2004; architecture and production company ZiZi & YoYo OÜ, founding member and Member of Board, Architect/Project Manager 2005–2006; Urbanmark OÜ, Architect/Project Manager 2006–2007; Tallinn Culture and Heritage Department, Heritage and Environmental Areas Unit, Chief Specialist 2008–2012; Ministry of Culture, Adviser on architecture and design 2012–2014; Yoko Oma OÜ, Member of Board, trainer and consultant 2012‒

Party affiliation: Pro Patria and Res Publica Union 2013–2014; Estonian Reform Party 2014–

Membership in representative bodies: 13^th Riigikogu (Deputy Chair of Cultural Affairs Committee 2019), 14^th Riigikogu (Environment Committee: Deputy Chair 2019–2021, Chair 2021–2022), 15^th Riigikogu (Deputy Chair of Parliamentary Group 2023–2024, Chair of Environment Committee 2025–); Tallinn City Council 2013–2015, 2017–2018, 2021

Awards: Swedish Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Cross 2023

Other activities: State Forest Management Centre, Member of Supervisory Board 2021–2024; Sweden-Estonia Cooperation Fund, Member of Board 2021–2024; Environmental Investment Centre, Head of Council 2024–2025;
Estonian National Defence Course 2015;
organiser, project manager and/or press representative of events and creative projects: international ice and snow sculpture symposium 1999–2000; publishing the works of Urmas Alender (CDs, DVDs, LPs), anniversary concerts since 2000; sand mandala ceremony of the monks of Namgyal Monastery in Tallinn 2000; Leigo Lake Music Festival 2000–2003; Oriental New Year festivities in Tallinn 2000–2003; Tallinn Light Festival 2002–2004 (also co-author of the concept); anniversary concert of punk band Velikije Luki in Tallinn 2002; concerts of Kärt Tomingas in Tallinn and Tartu 2003; opening event of ABB Motors and Generators Factory in Jüri 2003; Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization Conference in Tallinn 2004; Estonian Institute of Buddhism journey to India 2004–2008 (also group leader); musical-spatial installation “inimharf” (“human harp”) in Pärnu 2005 (co-author); lighting installation Tallinna Valguskuppel (Tallinn Light Dome) 2005 (implementation); Welcome to N’estonia – “Forest Art” in Kütioru 2005 (implementation); Estonian stand at the 10th International Venice Biennale of Architecture 2006 (also co-author); café-restaurants F-Hoone 2010, Frank 2014, restaurant Tabac 2017 (interior design and Assistant to CEO), bar Fono 2021; developed training course “Spatial Planning and Designing Sustainable Living Environment” at Open Academy of Estonian Academy of Arts 2024–2025; published books “Roostevaba raamat. Ruja” (“Stainless Book. Ruja”, co-author) 1999, “Alender” (“Urmas Alender Has the Floor”, editor) 2020 and “Elu_mina_sina” 2023 (“Life_Me_You”, collection of poems by Urmas Alender, editor) 2023;
published in Estonian Jan Gehl’s “Cities for People” in 2015, Gaia Vince’s “Nomad Century. How to Survive the Climate Upheaval” in 2022, David Sim’s “Soft City: Building Density for Everyday Life” 2022 (e-book, also one of the translators), Jan Gehl’s and Birgitte Svarre’s “How to Study Public Life” 2023

Hobbies: architecture, music, travelling, healthy lifestyle 

19.06.2025